For decades, major American newspapers like The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post have played influential roles in elections through their editorial endorsements. However, this election season, both have opted for a more cautious approach, sparking debate about journalistic independence and self-censorship amid concerns about potential backlash from former President Donald Trump.
Reports reveal that The L.A. Times recently avoided endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris after owner Patrick Soon-Shiong blocked the editorial team’s initial endorsement. Editor Mariel Garza, who later resigned in protest, the decision risked portraying the paper as “craven and hypocritical,” particularly since The Times had previously endorsed Harris and criticized Trump.
“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” Garza told Columbia Journalism Review’s editor, Sewell Chan. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
Soon-Shiong defended his choice, suggesting that presenting balanced, nonpartisan information was more appropriate for readers. The decision nonetheless raised questions about editorial independence and the influence of ownership over newsroom decisions. Two other editors followed Garza’s lead and resigned as well.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post has decided it will not endorse a presidential candidate this cycle. This deviation from tradition, with the last non-endorsement in 1988, has raised concerns, especially given the paper’s history of sharp Trump critiques. Some attribute the silence to Post owner Jeff Bezos’s corporate ties to federal contracts, which Trump had previously targeted. The Washington Post editor at large Robert Kagan resigned in protest.
Compounding these concerns, recent actions from the Trump campaign hint at potential repercussions for media outlets that appear adversarial. Trump has publicly threatened to strip the major networks’ broadcast licenses, criticizing moderators for fact-checking and demanding favorable coverage. According to Protect Democracy founder Ian Bassin, this approach is “straight out of the playbook” used by authoritarian regimes to intimidate independent press.
Inside NBC, concerns about this climate of tension led to a delay in airing a documentary on Trump’s immigration policy, based on reporting by correspondent Jacob Soboroff. The network maintained that the delay was a result of scheduling around festival showings and expanded theatrical release, though some staff, including filmmaker Errol Morris, have questioned this decision.
Ben Smith, co-founder of Semafor, notes that media owners are increasingly weighing business interests against the risks of provoking a potential Trump administration. For organizations dependent on federal regulations or government contracts, the stakes are especially high. As election season heats up, the current media landscape underscores the delicate balance of journalistic integrity and political dynamics, leaving audiences to assess the impact of cautious editorial decisions on democratic discourse.
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