I canceled my WaPo Subscription as soon as I heard of their cowardice. I believe we are all in this together. I am with Kamala Harris, and I thank you for your strong, positive words. Mary
I canceled my WaPo subscription as well. From the paper that brought down Richard Nixon and gave us the Pentagon Papers, the cowardly weaselling out of making a statement on this presidential election was a bitter blow.
Lesson #1 from Timothy Snyder's invaluable book "On Tyranny" reads as follows:
1. Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.
A lot more than 2000 cancellations by now. Thank you for this piece, Charlotte. As a political journalist this WaPo decision must have hit hard. I’m more afraid for our democracy than ever if our news outlets are losing their willingness to hold elected officials accountable.
I also cancelled my subscription. I called Bezos a lily-livered coward in my explanation for doing so, after I enumerated a list of reasons that the Orange Yam isn’t fit to be President.
I also cancelled. And I do hope the good reporters and journalists will find new homes. I am trying to reduce my reliance on billionaires. I’m off X-Twitter, no Prime or Kindle, no NYT.
The Guardian is a great, employee-owned newspaper which I am happy to support.
Thank you for sharing your reasoning. I've been debating hard about whether to cancel on principle or try to continue to support the journalists who are trying to do their critical work with integrity and are being silenced. When I saw Ann Telnaes' (whom I'd like to support) editorial cartoon, I was struck by how especially awful this was for those inside. I read how Bezos started out supporting independence. This cowardice and complicity cannot be supported, though. I will be going to cancel my subscription just as I did with NYT for similar cowardice.
I have increasingly been switching my subscriptions to smaller papers still run with integrity and to independent writers. I will continue to do that here with your thoughts as well. Thank you.
Thanks Charlotte - I also cancelled my subscription and my main regret is the staff who will suffer (not least of all the person who delivers my Sunday edition, who we always tip for the holidays). You have laid out the concerns so well.
I want to elaborate on my decision. In principle, I believe that the media should, by-and-large, maintain journalistic objectivity. We have far too little of that, which, I believe is contributing to the divisiveness of the country.
However, when I heard that Jeff Bezos wants to "take WaPo back to its roots" of not endorsing political candidates, I tagged that as pure "malarky" as Joe would say. Bezos is just looking out for his own interests, pure and simple. That's why I cancelled.
Thank you for this piece, Charlotte. I completely agree with everything you’ve written, but my heart breaks for the journalists at the Post who do such remarkable reporting day after day after day. I feel similarly about the LA Times, which is teetering on the edge already after massive layoffs this summer. I fear for the loss of more reporters in both our nation’s capitol and the largest West Coast city. The NYT has been terrible this election season…are we supposed to turn to them alone? Wouldn’t canceling our Amazon shopping be a better way to hit Bezos where it hurts? Asking because I’m struggling with this choice myself!
I've thought since Bezos bought WaPo that he wouldn't resist putting his thumb on the scales. I'm surprised it took him this long, but not as an act of pure cowardice. His greed won out & it's a sad day for journalists & all of us who care about America.
I canceled my WaPo Subscription as soon as I heard of their cowardice. I believe we are all in this together. I am with Kamala Harris, and I thank you for your strong, positive words. Mary
I canceled my WaPo subscription as well. From the paper that brought down Richard Nixon and gave us the Pentagon Papers, the cowardly weaselling out of making a statement on this presidential election was a bitter blow.
Lesson #1 from Timothy Snyder's invaluable book "On Tyranny" reads as follows:
1. Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.
Such a great post!
I'm with you. But now who can we trust for independent news? I am so sad.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has endorsed Kamala Harris for President. They would be pleased to have you subscribe.
also The Boston Globe.
I subscribe to both the Globe and the Phil.Inquirer. Great papers. Also cancelled the Wash Post.
The guardian
The Lever; The 19th. I’m sad, too, but not giving up.
I cancelled when Lewis was hired.
I think cancelling Amazon Prime is the next logical step.
I agree. I’ve been thinking that for several months now but haven’t done it yet. Now, I think I’m left with no other choice.
Already did this. Wish I could cancel again.
A lot more than 2000 cancellations by now. Thank you for this piece, Charlotte. As a political journalist this WaPo decision must have hit hard. I’m more afraid for our democracy than ever if our news outlets are losing their willingness to hold elected officials accountable.
Lewis and Besos, it seems, are breaking Tim Snyder's first rule of defying fascism: Do not obey in advance.
I also cancelled my subscription. I called Bezos a lily-livered coward in my explanation for doing so, after I enumerated a list of reasons that the Orange Yam isn’t fit to be President.
I also cancelled. And I do hope the good reporters and journalists will find new homes. I am trying to reduce my reliance on billionaires. I’m off X-Twitter, no Prime or Kindle, no NYT.
The Guardian is a great, employee-owned newspaper which I am happy to support.
Thank you for sharing your reasoning. I've been debating hard about whether to cancel on principle or try to continue to support the journalists who are trying to do their critical work with integrity and are being silenced. When I saw Ann Telnaes' (whom I'd like to support) editorial cartoon, I was struck by how especially awful this was for those inside. I read how Bezos started out supporting independence. This cowardice and complicity cannot be supported, though. I will be going to cancel my subscription just as I did with NYT for similar cowardice.
I have increasingly been switching my subscriptions to smaller papers still run with integrity and to independent writers. I will continue to do that here with your thoughts as well. Thank you.
Thanks Charlotte - I also cancelled my subscription and my main regret is the staff who will suffer (not least of all the person who delivers my Sunday edition, who we always tip for the holidays). You have laid out the concerns so well.
I wasn't aware of the non-endorsement. I just cancelled my subscription.
I want to elaborate on my decision. In principle, I believe that the media should, by-and-large, maintain journalistic objectivity. We have far too little of that, which, I believe is contributing to the divisiveness of the country.
However, when I heard that Jeff Bezos wants to "take WaPo back to its roots" of not endorsing political candidates, I tagged that as pure "malarky" as Joe would say. Bezos is just looking out for his own interests, pure and simple. That's why I cancelled.
I am cancelling too!
Thank you for this piece, Charlotte. I completely agree with everything you’ve written, but my heart breaks for the journalists at the Post who do such remarkable reporting day after day after day. I feel similarly about the LA Times, which is teetering on the edge already after massive layoffs this summer. I fear for the loss of more reporters in both our nation’s capitol and the largest West Coast city. The NYT has been terrible this election season…are we supposed to turn to them alone? Wouldn’t canceling our Amazon shopping be a better way to hit Bezos where it hurts? Asking because I’m struggling with this choice myself!
I've thought since Bezos bought WaPo that he wouldn't resist putting his thumb on the scales. I'm surprised it took him this long, but not as an act of pure cowardice. His greed won out & it's a sad day for journalists & all of us who care about America.
I also cancelled. This is hardcore fascism.
I canceled my subscription also.