News broke earlier on Friday that the ultra-liberal Washington Post would not make an endorsement in the 2024 presidential contest (ostensibly for Democrat nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris). As my colleague Susie Moore wrote:
In a somewhat stunning turn of events, The Washington Post has declared that it will not endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election — nor will it do so in future elections. But…why now?
From the horse’s mouth:
The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.
YUGE: WaPo Declares It Will Not Endorse a Presidential Candidate This Election
David Folkenflik, author and media writer at National Public Radio (NPR), who broke the story on the Post’s Harris non-endorsement, reported on updates via his X account throughout the day, including resignations like this cozy White House pal from the paper’s editorial board (Note: some helpful context sits above the post, in this case.):
Robert Kagan is married to Victoria Nuland — the disastrous Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs for most of the Biden-Harris Administration who has done fundraisers for Harris since she became the nominee and who might end up with a plum job in the admin if Harris wins. https://t.co/V6kCpv4AoU
— Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) October 25, 2024
Not to seem boastful, but we weren’t too shabby on covering the dismal reactions to owner Jeff Bezos’ surprising move. Sister Toldjah joined in the joyous festivities, by gathering up the progressive tears that welled up, burbled, and swirled about, not unlike the deluge beneath the falls of the majestic Niagara River.
Read more:
HOT TAKES: WaPo Staffers Throw Delicious Temper Tantrums After Announcement on Presidential Endorsements
NEW: Decision to Kill WaPo’s Presidential Endorsement Came From Top Dog
One of the most satisfying parts of the whole ordeal–at least for Republicans and those on the right, has been observing those made emotional by the paper that proclaims “Democracy Dies in Darkness” as its motto. These individuals were in deep distress, and made sure to tell everyone about it on X; the glittering gems among those complaints were a few who virtue-signaled that they were canceling their subs.
One prime example: leftist author Stephen King:
After 5 years, I have canceled my subscription to the Washington Post.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 25, 2024
Also perturbed was Planned Parenthood’s President and CEO for the California Central Coast, Jenna Tosh, who wrote in an X post, about an hour after the news broke, “Wow. Canceling my @washingtonpost subscription today. Democracy dies in darkness indeed.”
Our sister site Hot Air noticed a Good Samaritan, Mark Hemingway of RealClearInvestigations, had rushed to their aid, encouraging their valiant efforts to “save our democracy” with their pocketbooks. Joan Walsh put out a warrior’s cry to … retreat?
Yes! Cancel your subscriptions to The Washington Post. It will help save our democracy. https://t.co/hsJybUIVsU
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) October 25, 2024
Walsh’s post, indeed, spurred at least one of like mind to drop WaPo–this commenter claimed she even “sent a year’s subscription cost” as a campaign donation to Harris-Walz.
Then around two hours and change after the news broke, Folkenflik reported on the number of digital subscriptions that had been canceled, per a WaPo internal memo:
As I reported on the air tonight, the Washington Post registered 1600+ cancelations of digital subscriptions in the first three hours after my story broke, according to internal WP correspondence I’ve reviewed.
That’s bananas. https://t.co/AbrSVtCkrJ
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 25, 2024
That’s not all it will foster of course. It will also elicit soaring schadenfreude among conservatives in the hours and days that follow. Yes, David Folkenflik, something sure is B-A-N-A-N-A-S, but probably not in the way you mean.
The magical, sing-along chorus of Gwen Stefani’s 2000s smash pop hit goes right here:
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