Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart has reportedly accepted a buyout and is leaving the paper after more than 18 years. His departure follows a string of high-profile contributors leaving amid concerns over the Washington Post’s editorial direction shifting rightward, influenced by Jeff Bezos’ changes. Capehart, who previously served on the editorial board and was a Pulitzer Prize winner, has been vocal about the paper’s editorial stance, including accusations against colleagues and criticism of Trump.
Capehart’s exit is part of a broader trend of senior contributors leaving the paper. Recent departures include Ann Telnaes, David Shipley, Ruth Marcus, Eugene Robinson, and Joe Davidson, all of whom have expressed concerns about the paper’s editorial direction shifting rightward, especially following President Trump’s re-election. These changes have caused significant backlash within the newsroom, leading to a decline in morale and prompting the newspaper to offer buyouts to staff who are no longer aligned with the new editorial direction.
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of the Washington Post, announced a shift in the paper’s editorial stance, emphasizing support for personal liberties and free markets, with opposing viewpoints left to be published by other outlets. This policy has been met with criticism from some within the newsroom, with one staffer telling Fox News Digital that morale has collapsed. Editor Matt Murray introduced a buyout program in May, encouraging those who did not align with the paper’s new editorial direction to consider leaving.
Capehart’s relationship with the Washington Post has been increasingly acrimonious. In his recent memoir,