The Washington Post Continues to Empty Out With Big-Name Columnists Fleeing the Jeff Bezos Newspaper

We haven't seen elites clamoring for the lifeboats like this since the 1st Class floaters on the Titanic made those in steerage tread water. Earlier today, Bonchie reported that longtime Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler will be leaving the paper he has worked at for close to three decades. He becomes yet another noteworthy name to flee in what is becoming a rush for the exits. At this stage, it might make sense for them to remove the doors from the hinges.

Kessler, the 27-year veteran of The Post, will make his last column entry on Thursday, July 31. He has accepted the buyout that was set up by the new CEO of the paper, Will Lewis, who, a couple of weeks ago, reiterated the offer to anyone who could not align with the new approach to journalism. This exit strategy had been set up for those long-term staff a couple of months ago, with a final offer deadline at the end of this month. It has led to some significant names clearing out their desks and filling up the termination documents boxes.

As Left-Leaning Media Continue to Tank, WaPo CEO Drops the Hammer: 'I Can't Sugarcoat It Anymore'

It was last Monday when Jonathan Capehart announced he would be leaving. He had already stepped down from his role on the paper’s Editorial Board back in 2023 over an editorial that was printed. In a book that came out this year that largely went unread, Jonny said that he quit the board because he wanted to describe the Georgia voting law as “Jim Crow 2.0,” and another editor disagreed with him. He felt he was owed an undelivered apology and was therefore robbed of his humanity. Yes, seriously. I think the Post might actually be breathing a sigh of relief today.

Jonathan Capehart leaves the Washington Post after nearly 20 years https://t.co/VjPb1p3v8K
— Washington Blade (@WashBlade) July 23, 2025

Last week saw one of the managing editors, Krissah Thompson, take the buyout. Also leaving was Dave Jorgenson, who operated the paper’s TikTok account. (The Daily Beast described Jorgenson as being a “star,” so we have to assume his departure is significant.) But more noteworthy fixtures at The Post are also departing. It was with some surprise that Philip Bump was among those – the surprise being that he had made known his plan to leave a week earlier, and there had not been all that much in the way of coverage of his planned departure.

Yet another announced exodus was from Catherine Rampell. She, like Capehart, is in a bit of a risk-free position as they have MSNBC gigs already — which should serve as an indication of what the Post is “losing” here. In her last column, she provided a list of advice items to those endeavoring to become a columnist. I saw a need to lend a reminder that she actually managed to defy one of her own maxims last year during the campaign.

“4. That said, your goal is not to deliberately pander or provoke. Your goal is to persuade.”

And yet, ignoring your own dictum… https://t.co/jfP6iMguy5 pic.twitter.com/NRFjOI4RN8
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) July 24, 2025

Will Lewis has been working on reconfiguring the entire editorial approach of The Washington Post, as well as losing the trust of many in the newsroom, since his arrival. Among the changes he has overseen were dropping the paper’s ludicrous tagline, "Democracy Dies in Darkness,” the infamous dust-up within the offices when it was decided that the paper would not endorse a specific presidential candidate, and revamping the editorial section to be more reflective of American values.

Between these notables turning in their security badges and the flurry of recent layoffs, this is a news outlet that is poised to actually rebuild its editorial operations. While the expectations for a complete change in the way it covers the news are extreme, at least there is a hoped-for improvement and a chance to see some diverse voices from the paper.

Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.

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