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The Washington Post turned dark with Bezos’ decision not to endorse a presidential candidate, more precisely, Kamala Harris, who had been approved by editorial board members.

This noted newspaper with an excellent history of journalistic service to the American people now, tragically, looks to be in the shadow of one of the country’s billionaires.

‘…every little thing that we do has consequences for those around us.’

___Timothy Snyder

Thank you, Timothy Snyder.

We shall not obey in advance.

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VoteVets.org Masters of the Air: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr_tKAQ20Dg&t=5s

Bezos' Blue Origin execs met with Trump in TX, & then Bezos orders WaPo editorial bd not to endorse Harris/Walz!

Staff pls hold a massive walkout that would send a resounding message to a spineless &/or corrupt owner.

Democracy Dies in the Darkness: the choice is a lawless, depraved sociopath, convicted felon & fascist to the core vs a former prosecutor AG Senator VP. Spineless &/or corrupt media barons betraying the fundamentals of democracy & the rule of law...CANCELLED my subscription.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUZl26wJm5A

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'Jeff Bezos has so far declined to comment on the situation, even as his own paper’s journalists reported that it was Bezos who ultimately spiked the planned endorsement. A source with knowledge told CNN on Friday that an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris had been drafted before it was squashed.' (CNN, excerpts)

'In the last 24 hours, at least one editor has resigned, and high-profile Post staffers have publicly expressed their dismay as many in the paper’s Opinion section are furious over how the situation was handled.'

'Former Post executive editor Marty Baron, who led the paper under Bezos during the first Trump administration called the decision an act o'f “cowardice.”

“To declare a moment of high principle, only 11 days before the election that is just highly suspect that is just not to be believed that this was a matter of principle at this point,” 'Baron told CNN’s Michael Smerconish on Saturday morning.'

“Bezos has other commercial interests, a big stake and Amazon, he has a space company called Blue Origin,”' Baron said. ' “Trump has threatened to pursue his political enemies and he rewards his friends and he punishes his perceived political and think there’s no other explanation for what’s happening right now.”

'Robert Kagan, a Post columnist and opinion editor-at-large who had been with the paper for 25 years, publicly resigned on Friday as a direct result of the non-endorsement.'

“This is obviously an effort by Jeff Bezos to curry favor with Donald Trump in the anticipation of his possible victory,” 'Kagan told CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront on Friday.'

“Trump has threatened to go after Bezos’ business. Bezos runs one of the largest companies in America. They have tremendously intricate relations with federal government. They depend on the federal government.”

'On Friday, Trump met with executives from Blue Origin, the space exploration company owned by Bezos, hours after the Post announced its decision Friday. The company has a $3.4 billion contract with the federal government to build a new spacecraft to scuttle astronauts to and from the moon’s surface.'

'Trump advisers and supporters have been crowing since both the Post and the Los Angeles Times’ 'billionaire owners stepped in to prevent their papers from endorsing Harris. (CNN) See link below.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/26/media/washington-post-jeff-bezos-endorsement-turmoil/index.html

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Cowardice.. and shameful..

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Thank you Fern—it’s so great seeing your post! I “unsubscribed” to WaPo last night so that I could sleep knowing I was NOT going to continue to support the higher echelons of that once great paper. It saddens me beyond my feeble words because of the many fine journalists that I will miss (Carol Lenonnig, Jonathan Capehart, Deborah Rubin, Philip Rucker, etc., etc.). Thank goodness for Dr. Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson.

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So good to 'see' you Linda. I'm am grateful to you for mentioning several of WAPO's outstanding journalists, and I would add the investigative and natural science work done by the paper. It was with particular sadness about the paper's journalists and journalism in America that I absorbed the decision made by Bezos.

We need a powerful campaign in the US in support of local, statewide and national 'Free-Press'. It is crucial that the people know the facts. There are various ways to get news based on journalistic principles to Americans. This needs to be a top priority. With technology, colleges and universities ... there are ways to afford the truth...where is the will!

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This is how we hurt many other people and channel ourselves for this satisfaction of dubious effect. The paper was and is doing good work other than this shameful act by its owner which is having plenty of reverberation. I think you mean Jennifer Rubin.. but so many others.

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Fern I so love your posts—your excellent explanations are so helpful 🗽

There hasn’t been but a very few days that I have been able to recommend Dr. Snyder and HCR Substack sites. I volunteer for the Metro St. Louis League of Women Voters and the opportunities for sharing information has been encouraging for me. That said, I’m in the blue dot of a red state so can only hope that our extremely hard work registering voters this year makes a difference.

I refuse to be a victim of our state’s “minority ruled” legislature—fighting back the best way I know by being part of an organization that simply presents FACTS, and hoping I live long enough to see some sanity return to a state that gave us Harry Truman.❤️🤍💙

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WAPO is a paper with an excellent history and an organization of people, good people, excellent reporting and opinion writers. We will not cancel. Bezos decision does not wipe away that serve or the value we need to continue..value that reverberates. Bezos is getting duly shamed. I will not obey in advance to punish along with punishing everyone else and myself. Ditto for Amazon/Whole Foods. Tesla? hesitating about that. I have no idea how many are making themselves feel good by cancelling and boycotting. This takes a massive and long term sustained response. We don't have the time nor, I think, the communal will. And what will it change?

Maybe the shaming will have effect.

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