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Jeff Bezos, billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the Washington Post, appears to be shifting with the nation’s political climate. In a Wednesday morning email to employees and an announcement on X, Bezos outlined the new policy for the newspaper’s opinion page.
He named two “pillars” that must be followed. “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets,” the email stated.
“We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others,” Bezos wrote.
He lamented over the once “broad-based opinion section” in newspapers’ past, conceding that the internet has replaced print publications in that aspect.
Bezos then made a bold statement that drilled deeper into the importance of providing content for everyone.
“I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity,” Bezos wrote.
Bezos noted that he offered editor David Shipley to continue his leadership of the opinion section, but Shipley “decided to step away.”
He also said that the newspaper would be seeking a new Opinion Editor “to own this new direction.”
Bezos concluded his “note” to employees with a positive outlook on the shift. “I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.”
Bezos’ decision could be somewhat related to significant financial challenges for the newspaper in recent years. The typically left-leaning publication saw a loss of 250,000 subscribers after Bezos withheld an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election.
However, his strong stance on supporting and defending American values could signal a pure intention to reignite feelings of what it means to be an American.
