Washington Post Loses Pulitzer Winner Jonathan Capehart Amid Editorial Exodus

Jonathan Capehart, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist known for his criticism of President Trump, has accepted a buyout from The Washington Post amid significant editorial changes implemented by owner Jeff Bezos. Bezos directed the paper's opinion section to focus exclusively on "personal liberties and free markets," a shift that has resulted in a wave of resignations and buyouts, including longtime journalists such as David Shipley, Ruth Marcus, and Joe Davidson. Capehart's departure follows an ultimatum from Washington Post CEO Will Lewis urging employees who do not feel aligned with the new editorial direction to resign. The editorial upheaval began last year after Bezos blocked the paper's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, leading to subscriber losses and staff unrest. Capehart, who will continue his roles on MSNBC and PBS, had previously resigned from the editorial board over a dispute involving racial implications in an op-ed and had been openly critical of Trump. The exodus reflects broader internal tensions and declining trust among the newsroom under Bezos and Lewis' leadership.