Jeff Bezos wrote an opinion in the Washington Post about what he believes are irrelevant presidential endorsements and I take it at face value, but, these decisions are white flags and not reassurances.
There are many, many reasons for journalists to be concerned about the state of their craft that spans education all the way to prison sentences.
The Washington Post lost a brave and magnificent man and journalist in Jamal Ahmad Khashquji. I am not certain what kind of pain that left at The Post, but, I miss him. I can only imagine how brilliant his writing might have been with the Middle East engaged in deadly confrontations. He would have been brilliant and no doubt helpful.
Some of the mistrust goes back to the Iraq War and how people involved in the media kissed the ring of the likes of Carl Rove for the reporting on the war. I believe Judith Miller did a lot of damage by being a stenographer rather than a journalist.
But, that aside (although history of the decline should be pursued) it hurt terribly for President Biden to meet with MBS without justice for Jamal and his family.
There is also Evan Gershkovich who returned from wrongful incarceration in Russia. Certainly, President Biden can be given forgiveness by The Post for any indiscretion with MBS.
There are currently four innocent journalists that have a passion for freedom, being held for trial because they were reporting on the politics of Alexei Navalny. It is very alarming to Americans that care about human life, the quality of life, and the power of unfit government willing to toy with life.
There were two Hong Kong journalists sentenced to sedition. Another worry for a newspaper owner in a country where a brutally insane candidate threatens American lives. Jake Tapper confronted Vance over that reality.
I believe it was yesterday or the day before when President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden awarded metals of bravery to 30 some people and organizations for the humanities and art. It is within those disciplines where sincere freedom lives and the RIGHT to expression of free will. Lavar Burton was a recipient and he gave a magnificent speak to how the arts and humanity provide the vapors of which we live.
A political voice preserves freedom and liberty and now, today, the greatest of the writers and reporters are silencing themselves in a complex and uncertain world.
In confronting authority mired in the power of fear and hatred, the best voice is within grace. Bill Clinton was a magnificent diplomat and understood the value of grace and the human spirit.
I think American journalism needs to find their best voice going forward, as a hostile president will have to be confronted and not pandered to for press passes. Being candyasses won’t bring admiration by the American people. Quite the contrary, they will laugh.
Bezos and all those in his position can state they are reminiscant for the past and decisions made long before they were out of diapers, but, that is just another excuse to retreat.
Let’s hope President Harris will be understanding when The Post wants interviews and press passes.
I would be asking myself where Evan Gershkovich would be today if Trump was more interested in Russian money rather than American freedom.
