Washington Post Fires Black Opinion Columnist After Quoting Right-Wing Provocateur, Sparking Credibility Concerns
Washington D.C. – The Washington Post,once a pillar of American journalism,is facing renewed scrutiny following the controversial firing of Karen Attiah,its last Black opinion columnist. The dismissal, reportedly triggered by Attiah’s criticism of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk on the social media platform Bluesky, has ignited a debate about editorial independence, billionaire ownership, and the Post’s evolving relationship with increasingly polarized political discourse.
Attiah, a founding Global Opinions editor who notably brought Jamal Khashoggi on as a columnist prior to his murder, was terminated for what Post management termed “gross misconduct,” according to a letter obtained by Oliver Darcy of CNN. The alleged offense? Posting what the Post deemed “unacceptable Bluesky posts” criticizing “white men,” including a direct quote of Kirk’s own words promoting demonstrably false and harmful rhetoric.
[image of the Bluesky post quoting Charlie Kirk, as provided in the source]
This incident has raised serious questions about the Post’s long-standing policy against employees expressing “human opinions,” a rule critics point out has historically not been applied to opinion columnists whose very role is to offer perspectives. Many argue that Attiah’s firing amounts to punishment for simply “existing without being threatened by hateful bigots.”
The firing comes amidst a broader trend of conservative figures attempting to discredit anyone who challenges Kirk’s narrative, which critics describe as divisive propaganda aimed at young people. Kirk, funded by right-wing billionaires, has built a following by disseminating misinformation and promoting harmful stereotypes.
This incident is not isolated. The Washington Post, under the leadership of William Lewis (a former executive at news Corp), has demonstrably shifted towards a more conservative editorial stance, mirroring a pattern seen at other billionaire-owned media outlets like the Los Angeles Times. Critics argue this shift prioritizes appeasing powerful interests – securing tax breaks, deregulation, and favorable merger approvals – over upholding journalistic integrity and informing the public.
“Like so many U.S.billionaire-owned major media outlets,the Post has responded to authoritarianism with the ethical equivalent of a wet farting sound,” writes Techdirt,highlighting the failures of consolidated corporate media.
The core issue, observers say, is that the extraction class benefits from a divided public, focusing on culture war issues like race and even “candy gender” to distract from systemic problems like wealth inequality and the need for fair taxation. By silencing dissenting voices and catering to extremist viewpoints, media owners like Jeff Bezos are actively contributing to the erosion of public trust and the weakening of democratic institutions.
Key Takeaways:
