Thread by @michele_norris

As of yesterday, I have decided to resign from my role as a columnist for The Washington Post — a newspaper that I love. In a moment like this, everyone needs to make their own decisions. This is the reasonfor mine. 🧵

The Washington Post’s decision to withhold  an endorsement that had  been written & approved in an election where core democratic principles are at stake was a terrible mistake & an insult to the paper’s own longstanding  standard of regularly endorsing candidates since 1976.

The reason given in no way justifies why the newspaper would abdicate its role in informing and guiding voters as it has done in making endorsements in other key races this year, and as it has done in endorsing the candidates who were running against Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

To be clear, a newspaper does not forfeit its independence in making endorsements.  An endorsement provides guidance based on muscular and independent analysis. And it provides a window into an institution’s core values.

I am deeply disappointed by The Post’s decision to reverse course and withhold a presidential endorsement in this election cycle when the excellent reporting throughout the entirety of the paper makes clear all that is at stake in the election and around the world.

I  have been proud to write occasional columns for the Washington Post over the past five years.  I have a long history at the paper, having worked as an award-winning staff writer for The Post in the late eighties and early nineties before starting a career in TV and radio.

Indeed, America has a long history with the storied newspaper that broke the Watergate scandal, published the Pentagon Papers, and has produced and nurtured so many accomplished, principled dogged and overall excellent writers, editors, cartoonists and columnists.

I have been honored to be in that number and I have always felt a deep jolt of pride every time I saw the familiar Postoni typeface in the WP newspaper logo.  That has now been replaced by disillusion.

We all know that this is the newspaper that boldly adopted the phrase “Democracy dies in darkness” as its official logo.
Actually — Democracy dies in silence.

America needs strong and sturdy journalism. Sending strength and courage to all who remain at The Washington Post.  

I will no longer be among them.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my work. The readers. My colleagues and especially the editors, copy editors, fellow columnists and graphic artists who became cherished friends. This doesn’t mean that I stop writing.  It just means that I find a new home for my work.

Stay tuned.
Stay strong.
Stay engaged. 

And Vote!

Rest of thread here ⬇️

Thanks for all your kind words. Not yet sure what’s next for my writing. Considering Substack, but for now I’ll keep busy with other projects. The podcast (Your Mama’s Kitchen) and where I regularly engage w/ all kinds of people- even those I disagree withtheracecardproject.com