Jeff Bezos has defended The Washington Post's decision to end its tradition of endorsing presidential candidates, arguing it aims to increase the newspaper's credibility and combat perceptions of bias. He stated that endorsements do not influence undecided voters and instead foster a perception of non-independence. The decision, announced shortly before the election, has led to significant backlash, with over 200,000 digital subscribers canceling their memberships and several staff resignations. Critics, including former Post editor Marty Baron, have condemned the move as cowardly and damaging to democracy. Bezos emphasized that there was no 'quid pro quo' involved and acknowledged the poor timing of the announcement. He expressed a desire for the decision to have been made sooner, away from the heightened emotions of the election season.