A Los Angeles Times columnist has lashed out at the newspaper’s owner for “ingratiating himself” with Trump in what he called a “shameful capitulation.”
Harry Litman, 66, lashed out at Patrick Shoo-Shiong as he dramatically announced his departure and the reason behind it on Thursday.
“I do not want to continue working for a newspaper that appeases Trump and facilitates his attack on Democratic rule for cowardly reasons,” Litman wrote in his resignation.
“My resignation is a protest and a deep-seated reaction against the behavior of the newspaper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.”
According to the announcement, the veteran legal columnist had written for the California-based publication for more than fifteen years posted on his Substack newsletter.
When speaking with MSNBC Following his attention-grabbing post, Litman called the move “cowardly,” suggesting Shoo-Shoing is “threatened by Trump.”
‘I don’t think there’s any other conclusion, but the owner of the LA Times has decided to ingratiate himself with Trump to go that way, to be in his own words ‘fair and balanced,’ and I think just that this is not a time for balance,” Litman told MSNBC.
“I think they’re cowering and worrying about their personal belongings and they’re just being threatened by Trump.” he claimed, adding, “that really is a shameful capitulation.”
Harry Litman, 66, announced his resignation from the liberal newspaper on Thursday after accusing the newspaper’s owner, Patrick Shoo-Shiong, of trying to “appease” Donald Trump.
Litman said his resignation was “a protest and a deep-seated reaction against the behavior of the newspaper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong (photo)’
Litman’s departure follows three other editorial board members who resigned earlier this year after Soon-Shiong blocked the more than 140-year-old newspaper from publishing an endorsement for the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
Nearly 2,000 upset readers canceled their subscriptions after Shoo-Shiong — who bought the LA Times for $500 million in 2018 — dropped its endorsement.
Shoo-Shiong’s move was just part of his plan to make the LA Times “impartial.” Fox News reported.
His plan also includes the creation of a new editorial staff and a website ‘bias meter’.
“If we were honest with ourselves, our current opinion writers have gone very left, which is fine, but I think to achieve balance you also have to have someone who is going in the right direction, and more importantly, someone who is going in the right direction. in the middle,” he said.
Last week, Shoo-Shiong announced that conservative commentator Scott Jennings would join the paper’s editorial staff, another decision that sparked enormous controversy.
“He wanted to hedge his bets in case Trump won — not even to protect the newspaper’s fortunes, but rather his multibillion-dollar interests in other areas,” Litman criticized.
Nearly 2,000 upset readers canceled their subscriptions after Shoo-Shiong — who bought the LA Times for $500 million in 2018 — dropped its endorsement. Pictured: The Los Angeles Times headquarters in El Segundo, California
“He wanted to hedge his bets in case Trump won — not even to protect the newspaper’s fortunes, but rather his multibillion-dollar interests in other areas,” Litman criticized.
“Soon-Shiong threw the paper to the wolves. That was cowardly.’
During his appearance on MSNBC’s Deadline: White House, the 66-year-old former columnist argued that newspapers “have an important role to play,” especially now that Trump has won a second term.
“Trump has conquered the political arena, perhaps the Supreme Court, and he is now going after the FBI, possibly the military, and in reality they are one of the few institutions capable of standing up and pushing back,” Litman said. .
Along with his former employer, Litman took a closer look at Jeff Bezos, who owns another traditionally liberal outlet, the Washington Post, and similarly blocked the paper’s endorsement of Harris.
More than 250,000 readers canceled their Washington Post subscriptions after Bezos blocked approval, representing nearly 10% of their subscriber base.