The Washington Post and LA Times recently blocked publication of their respective presidential endorsements, just days before the 2024 election. 

The owners of each company authorized each decision, preventing each newspaper’s editorial board from endorsing presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Jeff Bezos, who owns The Post, wrote in an Op-Ed that the move aimed to quell public concerns about unfair bias in journalism. 

However, his decision faced criticism from staff members, subscribers and the public. The former Washington Post editor Marty Baron called the move a “betrayal,” citing the danger of private companies intervening in public journalism during an election. 

Other critics have argued the timing of the decision aims to minimize blowback from a potential Trump administration. The Post has reportedly lost 250,000 subscribers since the move became public.

Although endorsements close to an election are unlikely to influence polling numbers, the timing of these decisions draws attention to what might have otherwise been an insignificant announcement in a consequential election.