The WP is fine with a punch-less cartoon on Dr. Murthy, a highly qualified surgeon-general. But it's silent on wacko RFK Jr., who has no public health qualifications whatsoever, to head HHS. Talk about shameless pandering and gutlessness.
This is all so disheartening. I feel for the reporters, editors and staff. I wish them well and hope this can get turned around. The darkness is getting too real.
At the very least, a byline strike. Maybe a sickout on Jan 20 so they'd have to scramble for inauguration coverage. I'm still subscribing, if just to watch the fallout.
Michael Ramirez is simply pulling a Bezos — and has for a long time. I’m guessing that Ramirez must need to be strapped firmly into his chair since there is no spine to hold him up. The majority of his cartoons are factually incorrect. His portfolio consists, with little exception, of a large collection of the propaganda identity politics of the right. Both of his cartoons you featured today – are factually incorrect. It’s not just “his point of view” it is provably incorrect. Unlike Ann Telnaes, who has a spine as well as an ethical and moral center, Ramirez is ensuring he retains his job and gets a hearty thumbs up from his fledgling gruppenführer editors. He is drawing for his bosses who are on their way to turning the Washedup Post into the American version of the Vőlkischer Beobachter. His job is safe. For those unfamiliar with the elite paper Vőlkischer Beobachter it was the official newspaper of the Third Reich.
Yeah, it's the blatant (to me...) cynicism in all of this ass-kissing that chaps my ass. I suggest if you scraped away the top layer of MAGA bullshit, you'd probably find, if not a liberal --- at least an actual conservative --- frightened at the prospect of having to find another job or client in a world squirming with MAGAts.
Speaking of abject sucklication, as I wrote in the last "This just in...," apparently Fuckerberg of Meta (typo intended), has not only bent the knee but bent both knees and exposed his sinewy buttocks for the pleasure of Agent Orange. He says he is now doing away with independent fact checking on Facebook, Threads and Instagram. No doubt facts and the truth have become just too inconvenient. The tech bros are also deathly afraid of the "safe harbor" provision of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act being revised or removed making them liable for the first time for harm caused by their business model. It's the end of the world as we know it (and I don't feel fine).
I'm not sure how syndication works, but I believe her column is owned and syndicated by the Post. That would likely be difficult and expensive to unwind.
Ramirez is a great artist with an asinine attitude. Ann Telnaes or Trevor Irvin might wish to draw a cartoon in which Ramirez is kissing Bezos' behind.
Unlike Trump's "one big beautiful bill" with which he wants to bring down the US economy and with it the world's. Apparently government's the right answer there.
I think Substack folks should create an amalgam of like minded journalists (eh those who believe in, say, truth) and offer a landing pad for those who want to follow Ann and others out the door. Let’s get a daily where we can get all our news. (I appreciate that this is no trivial feat but it would certainly be a worthy one)
NO!!! I hate that WaPo will get rid of Monica Hesse's column! It is one of the best features of the publication. She consistently addresses issues that are important to everyone but through a clear lens as to how women are affected. F*ck the Patriarchy!
I cancelled my WAPO subscription. I will miss many opinion writers but I can't tell which all writers are tainted by undue influence of Bezos or will be in the future.
I'm looking forward to seeing how far Alexandra Petri pushes the envelope. If the Post "reassigns" her (to what? Style?), you know she'll be snapped up by another publication in a hearbeat—maybe even enter syndication. (If she hasn't already; I don't keep track of such things.)
In fact, Gene, I'm wondering why you didn't take the syndication route after you were dumped. Is there no market anymore for (usually) intelligent humor?
There is a fundamental realignment going on, and the Washington Post owners and management have chosen a side - unfortunately they're now pro-Darkness. It is only going to get worse in terms of their views and news. Bezos is years younger than me, so I doubt in my lifetime the Post will ever be what it once was - An Independent Newspaper. I am glad that I am no longer a subscriber.
The WP is fine with a punch-less cartoon on Dr. Murthy, a highly qualified surgeon-general. But it's silent on wacko RFK Jr., who has no public health qualifications whatsoever, to head HHS. Talk about shameless pandering and gutlessness.
This is all so disheartening. I feel for the reporters, editors and staff. I wish them well and hope this can get turned around. The darkness is getting too real.
At the very least, a byline strike. Maybe a sickout on Jan 20 so they'd have to scramble for inauguration coverage. I'm still subscribing, if just to watch the fallout.
Michael Ramirez is simply pulling a Bezos — and has for a long time. I’m guessing that Ramirez must need to be strapped firmly into his chair since there is no spine to hold him up. The majority of his cartoons are factually incorrect. His portfolio consists, with little exception, of a large collection of the propaganda identity politics of the right. Both of his cartoons you featured today – are factually incorrect. It’s not just “his point of view” it is provably incorrect. Unlike Ann Telnaes, who has a spine as well as an ethical and moral center, Ramirez is ensuring he retains his job and gets a hearty thumbs up from his fledgling gruppenführer editors. He is drawing for his bosses who are on their way to turning the Washedup Post into the American version of the Vőlkischer Beobachter. His job is safe. For those unfamiliar with the elite paper Vőlkischer Beobachter it was the official newspaper of the Third Reich.
All Heil Trump.
Excellent points, the falsehoods are so blatant, it leaves the realm of political satire and turns right into GOP propaganda,
Yeah, it's the blatant (to me...) cynicism in all of this ass-kissing that chaps my ass. I suggest if you scraped away the top layer of MAGA bullshit, you'd probably find, if not a liberal --- at least an actual conservative --- frightened at the prospect of having to find another job or client in a world squirming with MAGAts.
Speaking of abject sucklication, as I wrote in the last "This just in...," apparently Fuckerberg of Meta (typo intended), has not only bent the knee but bent both knees and exposed his sinewy buttocks for the pleasure of Agent Orange. He says he is now doing away with independent fact checking on Facebook, Threads and Instagram. No doubt facts and the truth have become just too inconvenient. The tech bros are also deathly afraid of the "safe harbor" provision of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act being revised or removed making them liable for the first time for harm caused by their business model. It's the end of the world as we know it (and I don't feel fine).
"Top?" Or "bottom?"
The common toast at Trump's inauguration parties will probably be, "Bottoms up!"
I wish Carolyn Hax would find a new home. She's the only reason I've kept my subscription.
Alexandra Petri, please! I fear she'll be too much for them to stomach soon.
David Ignatius is my choice to protect. But I do like Eugene Robinson and Tom the food taster.
I was thinking the same thing. She's the best advice columnist ever.
I'm not sure how syndication works, but I believe her column is owned and syndicated by the Post. That would likely be difficult and expensive to unwind.
Hax and the comics for me. And even the comics keep changing for the worse.
Sebastian Smee’s art criticism!
Ramirez is a great artist with an asinine attitude. Ann Telnaes or Trevor Irvin might wish to draw a cartoon in which Ramirez is kissing Bezos' behind.
The like button didn’t work for me so consider this a like!
WaPo disintegrating while TikTok is ascending portends a critical-thinking nightmare for our nation 🫠
I think that ship has sailed...
True 😫
"critical thinking" and "our nation" do not belong in the same sentence.
Unlike Trump's "one big beautiful bill" with which he wants to bring down the US economy and with it the world's. Apparently government's the right answer there.
excellent point.
I think Substack folks should create an amalgam of like minded journalists (eh those who believe in, say, truth) and offer a landing pad for those who want to follow Ann and others out the door. Let’s get a daily where we can get all our news. (I appreciate that this is no trivial feat but it would certainly be a worthy one)
I would pay an annual fee for this.
So would a ton of us
NO!!! I hate that WaPo will get rid of Monica Hesse's column! It is one of the best features of the publication. She consistently addresses issues that are important to everyone but through a clear lens as to how women are affected. F*ck the Patriarchy!
Are they brainstorming a new motto?
"Democracy is dying in darkness"
"Democracy should die in darkness"
"Let's turn out the lights on that democracy thing, whaddaya say?"
"Hey, we were right! Democracy really DOES die in darkness!"
(Could this be an Invitational theme?)
A number of people have proposed repurposing Paul Simon's lyrics from The Sound of Silence: "Hello, Darkness, my old friend."
Excellent.
"DARK enough for you? You ain't seen nothing yet." Bannon. (presumed)
Fucking A. Hesse and Hax are the only reasons I am still a subscriber.
I love Monica Hesse and I loved her columns. Fucking A.
And Petri, and the food people.
I cancelled my WAPO subscription. I will miss many opinion writers but I can't tell which all writers are tainted by undue influence of Bezos or will be in the future.
I'm looking forward to seeing how far Alexandra Petri pushes the envelope. If the Post "reassigns" her (to what? Style?), you know she'll be snapped up by another publication in a hearbeat—maybe even enter syndication. (If she hasn't already; I don't keep track of such things.)
In fact, Gene, I'm wondering why you didn't take the syndication route after you were dumped. Is there no market anymore for (usually) intelligent humor?
There is a fundamental realignment going on, and the Washington Post owners and management have chosen a side - unfortunately they're now pro-Darkness. It is only going to get worse in terms of their views and news. Bezos is years younger than me, so I doubt in my lifetime the Post will ever be what it once was - An Independent Newspaper. I am glad that I am no longer a subscriber.