There was a little bit of tittering and lots of raised eyebrows a couple of years in the past when The Washington Publish added what some thought was a melodramatic slogan beneath its entrance web page masthead: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
Within the years since, nonetheless, these phrases have appeared completely attuned to our gloomy political occasions and The Publish has been a frontrunner in shedding gentle on the authoritarian impulses of the Trump administration.
Now, although, the uber-wealthy proprietor of The Publish, Jeff Bezos, is the one switching off the lights at his newspaper. With the announcement that 300 Post staffers are being fired – the newspaper is being gutted. Sports activities writers – gone. Photographers – gone. Worldwide protection – severely lowered. Native protection – truncated.
This follows Bezos’ resolution in 2024 to rescind the editorial web page endorsement of Kamala Harris for president and to slim the opinion part to emphasise extra conservative and pro-business voices. Within the course of, The Publish parted methods with its two editorial cartoonists, Ann Telnaes and Michael de Adder, each of whom simply occur to be sharp critics of President Donald Trump.
The issue is just not that Bezos has taken The Publish editorial web page in a extra conservative-friendly path; house owners and publishers have at all times exercised that proper. The issue is that he seems to be taking these steps to appease the president as a way to shield his different properties from Trump’s vengeful instincts, significantly Bue Origin Enterprises, Bezos’ house expertise firm headquartered in Kent that depends closely on authorities contracts.
There was a time once I thought one reply to the monetary woes of the newspaper trade was to seek out enlightened billionaires with extra curiosity in sustaining journalism than in making a revenue. When Bezos first purchased The Publish, he gave the impression to be such an individual. In Trump’s first time period, the president’s frequent assaults on The Publish appeared to not faze Bezos. From inauguration day of Trump’s second time period, although, Bezos has lined up with different tech titans to kiss the president’s ring.
Bezos – very like Patrick Quickly-Shiong, billionaire proprietor of the Los Angeles Occasions – has proven that, even when you will have all the cash on the planet, you at all times need extra. And, if the newspaper you personal stands in the best way of endearing your self to an anti-democratic authoritarian, it’s time to show off the lights.
See extra of David Horsey’s cartoons at: st.news/davidhorsey
View different syndicated cartoonists at: st.news/cartoons
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