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 That has now been replaced by disillusion.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.
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
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Y’all ready for my mother’s fool proof, knock-em-dead, make-folks-swoon sweet potato pie 🥧 recipe??? I post it every year and even though I don’t frolic on this platform much these days - I’m back today for folks preparing their holiday spreads !!!!!!
My mother Betty was an old school cook. She kept things simple and mainly cooked by memory but thankfully she still would write out recipes on little cards that we now cherish like precious jewels -especially after her death this year in June.
A few thoughts about the ascension of Tim Walz and the spotlight on Minnesota from someone who was raised there. …..
There’s a reason @KamalaHarris referred to her new running mate as Coach Walz repeatedly yesterday. Coaches are revered members of their communities. They have tremendous influence over young people. They are the people who help you find your best self. Smart. Expect more of it
@KamalaHarris On language people will focus on and even make fun of the Minnesota accent but language is used in interesting political ways in Minnesota that you will likely see in this campaign….
Y’all ready for my mother’s fool proof, knock-em-dead, make-folks-swoon sweet potato pie 🥧 recipe??? I post it every year and today is the day !!!!!!
My mother Betty is an old school cook. She keeps things simple and mainly cooks by memory but thankfully she still would write out her recipes on little cards that we now cherish like precious jewels
My mother has beautiful penwomanship but just in case it is hard to see, here’s the whole thing written out clearly in this thread. You can improvise if you want but if you are looking for something easy that will wow the room, follow this guide
Y’all ready for my mother’s fool proof, knock-em-dead, make-folks-swoon sweet potato pie 🥧 recipe??? I post it every year and today is the day !!!!!!
My mother Betty is an old school cook. She keeps things simple and mainly cooks by memory but thankfully she still would write out her recipes on little cards that we now cherish like precious jewels
And since recipe cards are like the 45 records of old, they have a B side and here it is …..
A little story for Election Day from this 📕 book 👇🏾
Zelpha said her dad went into the voter
registration office first. He asked to register to vote. He was told
it was against the law, but if he insisted, he would have to do 2
things—pay a special tax, called a poll tax and tell Mr. McClellan
how many bubbles were on a bar of soap
Zelpha said her father “refused to pay the voting
tax and certainly couldn’t count the bubbles on a bar of soap.” So……He
wasn’t allowed to register.