The Washington Post is facing intense backlash as multiple members of its editorial board resign, and readers cancel subscriptions, following Jeff Bezos’s decision to prevent the paper from endorsing a presidential candidate. On Monday, editorial board members Molly Roberts, David E. Hoffman, and Mili Mitra stepped down in response to the decision, which was finalized after Bezos reportedly quashed an endorsement draft favoring Vice President Kamala Harris.

The controversy erupted in September when Bezos, who owns the Post, expressed doubts about endorsing in the current presidential race. Attempts by editorial page editor David Shipley to change his mind were unsuccessful. This decision has now led to significant turmoil within the Post, with some journalists voicing concerns that the move undermines the paper’s journalistic principles. Hoffman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, and Roberts have spoken publicly about their frustration, stating they can’t remain silent about what they see as the threat of authoritarianism.

The decision has reportedly sparked a wave of subscription cancellations, with an estimated 200,000 digital readers leaving since Friday. Adding to the intrigue, a meeting between executives of Bezos’s company, Blue Origin, and former President Donald Trump occurred the same day, though Bezos claims he was unaware of it. Amidst accusations of political appeasement, former Post executive editor Marty Baron called the decision a “cowardly” act.

Additionally Tachlis has learnt today that the LA Times and USA Today are not giving a endorsement.