Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and the Washington Post

by Martin Baron

A monumental work of nonfiction that gives a first-row seat to the epic power struggle between politics, money, media, and tech -- for fans of Maggie Haberman's Confidence Man and Jane Mayer's Dark Money .

Marty Baron took charge of The Washington Post newsroom in 2013, after nearly a dozen years leading The Boston Globe . Just seven months into his new job, Baron received explosive Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, would buy the Post , marking a sudden end to control by the venerated family that had presided over the paper for 80 years. Just over two years later, Donald Trump won the presidency.

Now, the capital's newspaper, owned by one of the world's richest men, was tasked with reporting on a president who had campaigned against the press as the “lowest form of humanity.” Pressures on Baron and his colleagues were immense and unrelenting, having to meet the demands of their new owner while contending with a president who waged a war of unprecedented vitriol and vengeance against the media.

In the face of Trump's unceasing attacks, Baron steadfastly managed the Post 's newsroom. Their groundbreaking and award-winning coverage included stories about Trump's purported charitable giving, misconduct by the Secret Service, and Roy Moore's troubling sexual history. At the same time, Baron managed a restive staff during a period of rapidly changing societal dynamics around gender and race.

In Collision of Power , Baron recounts this with the tenacity of a reporter and the sure hand of an experienced editor. The result is elegant and revelatory—an urgent exploration of the nature of power in the 21st century.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Journalism, History, Audiobook, Business, Memoir

841 pages, Library Binding

Published November 8, 2023

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book pretty riveting. One of the best books I've read all year. I will definitely recommend it, particularly for Baron's take on the role of the press in combating misinformation and propaganda. One way to describe Collision of Power is the Post's tagline: democracy dies in darkness. This book is about shedding the light on the darker corners. And I feel it does so very powerfully. I couldn't put it down.

It's gripping, it covers from a first-hand perspective the inside story of some of the biggest stories of the last 10 years. Particularly interesting is the rise of Trump.

I would say that conversative readers may find this a tough read. I found Baron very even-handed but he's also speaking quite a bit about Trump and it is from the Washington Post's perspective. The book doesn't really pull any punches and is self-reflective and self-critical.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partisan hack job better entitled: “Tears of a Liberal Snowflake: My Years Running The Washington Post’s Newsroom.” Snooty and arrogant. The author’s innumerable gripes and soap box diatribes overshadow any insight on Bezos’s or Trump’s use of power and influence. You won’t catch me falling over to subscribe to the Washington Post, even after this political zealot’s overdue ousting.

[Kate (kate_reads_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is extremely hard to read as Trump is getting ready to start his second term. It’s so hard to be reminded of so many moments in his first term and know he was still elected again.

There are parts of this book that were really interesting and good to learn. But also a lot that felt like Baron being defensive and justifying the actions he took. I think this would have been a better story reported by someone else with his input.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and I love the Washington Post. The book also makes you love Jeff Bezos. And Martin Baron.
I am going to buy a T-shirt that says Democracy Dies in Darkness!


-Journalism as a calling
-Ben Bradlee as the soul of the Washington Post (Bob Woodward in an email to Bezos before the funeral)
-“A bad ass newspaper “- Bezos
-No PowerPoint; six page memos
-Be riveting, be right, and ask people to pay
-Donald Trump a salesman for the Post

[Dennis Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and the Washington Post by Martin Baron, an important new book just released on October 3, 2023. Baron is the retired executive editor of The Washington Post and before that he held the same position with the Miami Herald and The Boston Globe. He was executive editor of The Boston Globe during the Globe’s coverage of the Boston Catholic Diocese sexual abuse scandal which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003. Baron capably describes the transition of the legacy newspaper industry to the new digital age. The book opens with a dinner that Baron and Jeff Bezos the owner of The Washington Post shared with Donald Trump and several of his staff at the beginning of his presidency, foreshadowing the monumental issues to come. I was most moved by Baron’s description of the The Washington Post challenges to be economically viable while navigating the increasing pressure on journalistic integrity from within and without. A lot of news happened during his time at the Post from 2012-2021. A great ride and a great book!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one might be able to tell from the amount of time required for me to get through this book, it was not a quick or easy read. In fact, there were many times that I had to re-read a sentence or a paragraph in order to completely comprehend what Baron was relaying. That said, this book was a fantastic eye-opening explanation of events. Although Baron's career stretches over 40 years, the book is predominately about 2013 to 2021, the years he was at The Washington Post which coincided with Jeff Bezos purchase of said newspaper and 45's election to the presidency.
After reading this, I have a more positive opinion of Jeff Bezos who I have not "appreciated" because of Amazon and its affect on independent book sellers and publishers. Bezos admirably let The Post do its job without interference. T, on the other hand, still comes across as a lying, egotistical bully.
A free press is a necessary segment allowing our democracy to benefit its constituency. READ THIS BOOK!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stuff. I think this book is misleadingly titled - it was mostly about the many events that took place during the author’s time at WaPo and trump and bezos were also there / around. I was surprised by how much he likes bezos. I think I probably disagree with some of his takes about the reporting profession. But I am not a reporter and he is! Seems like a hard job.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has College SJ all over it. I stumbled upon this after the recent shakeups and news coming out of the Washington Post and how Jeff Bezos is dictating more and more of the editorial operations. I subscribed to the Washington Post in college and on and off since then. It is at the intersection of a lot of my interests between political science (my minor) and media (adjacent to my major). It is a really interesting insider account of the newsroom during a volatile time. While book was published in late 2023 and lots has obviously changed since I highly recommend reading Marty’s article in the Atlantic and some of his interviews since the recent announcements as a supplement.

[Evan Lasseter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book peels back the curtain a bit on what it was like during The Post's resurgence through a critical time in history and for news. Baron is a sharp writer, and this makes for an exciting read. The best parts are reported and reflective. I most appreciated the depth of insight into Jeff Bezos as owner of The Post.

Luckily, Baron's soapbox & doubling down on traditional journalistic constructs & norms he refuses to reframe was only a small part of this book.

It was extremely enjoyable on the whole & worth a read for any news nerd or civic-minded person.

[Dave Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and THE WASHINGTON POST" by Martin Baron delves into the complex relationship between President Donald Trump, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and the renowned newspaper, The Washington Post. The book explores the collision of power involving Trump's relentless attacks on the press, notably The Washington Post, Bezos' newspaper acquisition, and the challenges faced in maintaining journalistic integrity and financial sustainability. Baron had an inside view of the challenges while serving as editor of the Post.

The top 5 significant takeaways from the book are:

Trump's Assault on the Press:
Trump's attacks on the press extended beyond mere criticism, as he employed inflammatory language, echoing historical figures like Stalin and Hitler, raising concerns about the safety of journalists. The book underscores the potential consequences of such rhetoric on press freedom and the safety of journalists in the pursuit of truth.

Bezos' Ownership and Business Strategy:
Bezos' ownership brought financial stability to The Washington Post, enabling the launch of new blogs and technological advancements. The book details the strategic decisions made under Bezos, emphasizing the need to extract the newspaper from financial challenges and position it for growth. Bezos' hands-on approach and rapid decision-making, backed by his personal ownership of the company, facilitated transformative changes.

Election Endorsement and Subscribers Surge:
The editorial decision to endorse Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election marked a pivotal moment for The Post. Despite acknowledging Clinton's flaws, the endorsement reflected the newspaper's commitment to credible journalism. The subsequent surge in digital-only subscriptions demonstrated readers' willingness to support a publication that stood by its principles, even in a politically charged environment.

Investigative Journalism and Government Scrutiny:
The book sheds light on the challenges faced by investigative journalism, particularly the government's attempt to obtain reporters' phone records. This instance highlights the importance of a free press in uncovering information that those in power may want to keep hidden, showcasing the risks journalists face in their pursuit of truth.

Social Media, Journalism Ethics, and Trust in Facts:
The clash between traditional journalism values and the rise of social media is explored in-depth. The book discusses the evolving role of journalists on platforms like Twitter, where the immediacy of communication clashes with the need for careful editorial oversight. The tension between individual expression and institutional interests reflects broader debates within the journalism community about the boundaries between personal and professional identities.

The discussion on trust in facts emphasizes the enduring impact of authentic journalism, even in the face of efforts to undermine it. Despite the "fake news" narrative, the book suggests that a significant portion of the American public values facts and is concerned about the future of democracy, providing a nuanced perspective on the public's relationship with the media during the Trump era.

"Collision of Power" illustrates the interplay between political power, media ownership, and journalistic principles, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by The Washington Post during a critical period in American history.

My Favorite Quote From The Book:

“Journalism rooted in facts clearly had suffered an accelerating loss of trust and influence during the Trump years. Trump counted that as one of his greatest achievements. His ritual denunciations of “fake news” and “enemy of the people” had delivered results. He wanted us perceived as the “opposition party,” and among tens of millions of Trump supporters we were. But his ploy hadn’t worked as well as he’d wished. Authentic journalism had not lost all its impact. Facts still mattered—in elections, in the courts, and even (somewhat) in a polarized Congress. Maybe, I reasoned, the country was less immune to truth than I had feared. It appeared, as I’d hoped and believed, that most Americans were independent-minded, respectful of facts, and concerned for the future of our democracy.”

[Brendan Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

At 549 pages, it can be along slog, but the writing is a crisp and gripping account of recent political and journalistic history told from someone on the front lines. He makes his viewpoint clear throughout -- Trump is a dangerous liar, Bezos is a complicated man who did not interfere in the running of The Washington Post, and younger reporters are changing journalism, not necessarily for the better, by injecting their own identities and views into their social media posts and even their reporting. He is quite bitter about that last point and goes on at some length with many examples to show that they are injecting themselves into the story, which he views ultimately hurts the reputation of the newspaper he and others worked so hard to return to glory. He also rages against the paper's union far too many times. You hate the union, Marty. We get it.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Liev Schreiber, who played Baron in the Spotlight movie about The Boston Globe's reporting on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. His narration is so good that the book sometimes sounds like Baron is narrating it. Worth reading even for someone like me who followed closely almost every event he describes since he took over the Post in 2013. There are so many it's easy to forget individual events and his take on it is usually spot on.

[Christopher Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of Marty Baron’s time at wapo. Some PTSD of what it was like to work in national news media during 2016-2022, the good and the bad. A strong case for journalism.

[Lori Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little uneven for me. I was absolutely fascinated with much of what he had to relate, but some of the chapters were just a little too dull to continue to hold my interest.

[Douglas Noakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers Martin Baron's tenure as Chief Editor of The Washington Post, from roughly 2013 to 2021. Early in his career, the Graham family sold the paper to Jeff Bezos, the Amazon billionaire, who kept Baron on until he resigned. The book mainly chronicles the transfer of power and how Bezos changed the publication.

According to Baron, Bezos' time as owner has been fairly benign. Although Amazon's titan is famous for a decided antipathy to unions and pensions (the mark of a true plutocrat, in my view) he left much of the paper's reportage and editorial judgment in the hands of the professionals.

This speaks well of Bezos in light of the way other media barons (William Randolph Hearst, Rupert Murdoch, e.g.) have exerted a heavy hand on their periodicals and dailies. If anything, Bezos comes off as aloof and busy with other irons in the fire. His big bugaboo appears to have been ending the availability of "free articles" on the Post's website and catching up with The New York Times.

When Donald Trump entered the White House in 2017, the relationship the new President had with the media became adversarial in the extreme. He called the mainstream media "the enemy of the people" after all.


Trump doesn't respect the notion of a free press, preferring coverage that is subservient to his policies and caprices. Baron does his best to keep his reporters in check from "taking the bait" of an anti-pluralist populist and comes out above the fray, which is probably the best we can hope for in modern corporate media.

I will not hide my disdain for Trump. Suffice it to say, I agree with Mr. Baron's cogent defense of his former newspaper as to what kind of threat Trump represents to Constitutional government. The other matters Baron explores: the role of the editorial media in an age of Twitter (X) and Facebook, for instance, or how to deal with reporters who can't restrain themselves on social media, have a ring of experience and common sense. This book offers an overview of how hard it is to dispense daily and copious amounts of broad opinion and verifiable information in the hyper-polarized era we live in.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was fascinating. Coming from a family of journalists, I am interested in how the world views the press and how maintaining a free one is so crucial for our democracy. Baron is the top editor of the Washington Post for many years and chronicles the work that the Post did in those years. Bezos obtained the Post soon after he got the editor job and then Trump was elected president a couple of years afterwards.
Some of his writing was trying to speak to decisions that were made. I was completely unaware of the Twitter fights that caused a lot of problems for the Post in those years. I can see why people thought he didn’t look too good in his own book. As with everything there’s two sides to the story but I feel like he was genuine when he slipped and made errors to make it seem like he really tried overall to run a successful newspaper.
His epilogue on being objective was really good. He brought a new perspective on what that means. This was an interesting perspective for a memoir/nonfiction and I’m glad I read it.

[Eva Surovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have many thoughts. this book was captivating — i am so glad i read it *after* stopping journalism and i really enjoyed being able to view the way newsroom decisions were made during the pandemic, 2016 & 2020 campaigns, etc. at the same time, i didn’t agree with every choice (particularly during some of the discussion of social media & #metoo) and there was certainly less criticism of bezos than i expected. but i also understand and can appreciate the value of having a perspective more sympathetic to traditional journalism! so i am torn! at the end of the day i’ve decided that this gave me so much food for thought that it would be impossible not to rate it 5 stars ⭐️

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indispensable. Pair it with Liz Garbus’s “Page One” at getting the view from the trenches and glass offices at a premier newsroom during the Trump 2016 campaign and Trump’s first months in office. But Baron, the Post’s editor, went from holding the line on top-notch reporting to dealing with changing times in the newsroom, exacerbated by 24/7 deadlines and social media. The book placed in context things I didn’t see as a lower editor under Baron for more than a decade—Baron’s private self-criticism and his feelings of vulnerability in the organization. Baron’s now-public self-criticism is striking, from a bum headline to being kept out of the loop on the problematic Steele dossier (both things not his fault). He also writes with a wince on some of his offhand snarky interactions with the new publisher—and their often-heated arguments. In the end, one of America’s best editors, who held himself up to Spock-like detachment, endears himself by acknowledging that he, too, is imperfect and, well, human.

[Maxwell White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book looking inside The Washington Post, it’s relationship with owner Jeff Bezos, and how the outlet covered the Trump presidency.

It did seem to go back and forth at times, and I do feel like Marty used the book to complain about younger journalists, but it was overall a good read.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If i could give this book 7 stars, I would. I listened to the audio book which had the added delight of being read by Liev Schrieber. an actor I love and who portrayed Marty Baron in the 2015 movie Spotlight. Essential reading

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The parts about Bezos were the most interesting. Mostly it’s a book about trump, from the perspective of the Washington post editor. Written after Biden was elected. So the end is overly optimistic. As if we live in a country that would never elect trump again. Ha

[Lizzie Lodinsky]

Marty plz buy the post from Bezos democracy is dying in daylight

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting snapshot of a few pivotal years
I enjoy his straightforward writing style and how he explains his decisions and rationale, and whether he still agrees with the way he handled things in the past

[Eiji T]

A very revealing and compelling behind-the-scenes look at the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos' ownership.

[Debra Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book. It helps you to understand what is really involved in reporting and how difficult a job it really is.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book! very informative and puts many things into perspective especially in the realm of politics.

Baron, in this book, gives a lot of insight into the obligations of journalists and their commitments to democracy. this topic is especially relevant alongside the literal “collisions of power” going on in the background of the novels time frame - Bezos purchase of The Post, Trump’s presidency, COVID pandemic, and the rise of social media. all these things are different types of power that at different points have challenged journalists work and their roles in maintaining democracy.

I also liked the pictures and tangible insight into what work looks like inside of the Post’s newsroom.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to be a journalist - It will reenergize your goals. great perspectives and humble insights from a highly accomplished journalist (Marty Baron).

I got the pleasure of meeting Mr. Baron through my school and even in person, he remained humble, accessible, and open to questions which is not common amongst successful people. he’s a funny guy and i value his advice and lessons written in his book!

[Nadya Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m probably influenced by the fact that I listened to a talk Martin Baron gave at the Washington Post (WAPO) on this book a few days after it came out and bought a copy afterwards. Luckily, he stuck around after and signed a copy. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told him what he had to say was so interesting that I spilled a bit of hot coffee on myself and didn’t notice until a few seconds later.

This book taught me a lot about journalism, current events, history, and most importantly, not making assumptions. Stating the facts and not making emotional arguments/decisions is becoming less and less commonplace, unfortunately, whether it’s in business, politics or any other discipline.

Marty Baron does an immaculate job of discussing the challenges and opportunities he was faced with while being editor of WAPO when the newspaper was no longer family-run and during a time the President of the US himself was declaring war on the media.

Probably the most fascinating aspect of the book was hearing the true, behind the scenes accounts of how much arduous work goes into writing a journalistic piece, and what really went down with Brett Kavanaugh, the January 6th coup and other historic moments.

Thank you for your integrity, wisdom and due diligence.

#DemocracyDiesInDarkness

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is billed about Baron’s time running the Post under Bezos’ ownership and the Trump presidency, but those two pieces (especially the latter) are among the least interesting parts of the book. The Trump stuff in particular is mostly rehashing of public events expect for one dinner. The Bezos stuff is a bit more interesting but generally boils down to the fact that he’s sort of hands off.

The parts that end up being more interesting is when Baron wades into discussions about old versus new school journalism. He’s overtly critical of Ben Smith and Buzzfeed for among other things published the Steele dossier. The discussion of struggles managing Twitter use among staff also captures those kinds of issues. Baron is still quite guarded on those issues though it’s hard to tell if that may just be the kind of guy he is.

His general ethos is clearly about having high principles and exercising restraint, which largely does seem right and has served him well. But what I really wish he’d actually touched on was the nationalization of all news. Baron talks about work he did on location specific stories while in Miami and Boston. But his discussions of the Post basically never mention non-Federal DC. The scoops are national stories from places like Alabama. The Post inarguably in his time became a leading national paper. And in the epilogue he even talks about taking the Post from a regionally focused place falling apart. But that same epilogue also decries the decline of local journalism.

But the two feel intertwined. As everyone pays for the Times or the Post they don’t pay for their local paper. And while the Times does seem to still cover New York City, the post coverage of DC is a joke. For the longest time the best local news reporter was working for DCist. And lately the person providing the most insight into crime is a pseudonymous newsletter writer sifting through public documents. Now it’s great those folks have filled the void, but also just a testament to how little the Post does on the local level.

Now, I wouldn’t expect Baron to spend a ton on that. And clearly Jeff Bezos didn’t buy the Post to make sure there’s top reporting on the latest shooting. But this ignorance of the local in favor solely of the national is a real and pressing issue in journalism.

[Steven Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your new boss is the richest man in the world, and he has just purchased your place of employment? This is the situation that Martin Baron, then the executive editor of the Washington Post found himself seven months into his new position in 2013. His new boss was Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon which created an arrangement conducive to a great deal of pressure, and to exacerbate the situation further, Donald Trump announces for president in 2015 and by 2017 resides in the White House. Trump heightens Baron’s angst as he wages a war of unprecedented vitriol and vengeance against Bezos personally and the media, especially the Washington Post. The period 2013 to 2021 forms the time frame of Baron’s new memoir/history of the period, COLLISION OF POWER: TRUMP, BEZOS, AND THE WASHINGTON POST.

Baron’s book is much more than a rehashing of Trump’s war against Bezos and Amazon/Washington Post. It is a well thought out and incisive examination of a career in newspaper publishing, particularly Baron’s role as executive editor at the newspaper. Baron who had spent nearly twelve years leading the Boston Globe, recounts how he managed the Post’s newsroom and dealt with issues ranging from domestic surveillance, the #metoo movement, vetting Supreme Court candidates, to the myriad of scandals and crisis’ that surrounded Trump, the individual in addition to his administration, two impeachment trials, an insurrection, navigating internal issues at the newspaper, in addition to the comparisons between the Post and New York Times.

It is clear from the outset that the Washington Post was a target of Trump’s. The newspaper coverage of him personally and his campaign angered him, and he leaned on Jeff Bezos to get Baron’s newsroom to back off with their criticism which would continue after he was elected president.

Baron begins his memoir by explaining the background as to how Bezos came to buy the Washington Post. As the narrative continues it is clear that Baron likes and respects Bezos as he believes in the essential role of journalism in a democracy as the reason he purchased the paper. Further, Baron argues that Bezos never interfered with the paper’s coverage of Amazon, his affair and divorce, and never used his position to spread his influence. Bezos relished the challenge of turning the paper around and moving it into the digital age. Bezos’ greatest concern was whether his strategy of “shifting from relatively few subscribers paying a lot for a subscriptions to lots of subscribers paying fairly little for digital subscriptions – would actually work.” Baron reviews Bezos’ approach to management and the numerous changes he implemented, i.e.; to create a nation/worldwide network of journalists who would be a free-lance force. For Bezos it would expand the journalistic reach of the paper at “bargain basement prices.”

As one reads on, Baron rehashes the nightmare of the Trump presidency, his refusal to accept the fact he lost the 2020 election, and the events surrounding January 6th. There is little that is new here though the emphasis is on Trump’s obsession with Amazon which he believed manipulated newspaper coverage of him personally. Since he blamed the Washington Post for unfair criticism he went after the retail behemoth arguing it paid no taxes, it was ripping off the US Postal system, and it engaged in unfair trade practices. To Baron’s credit when coverage of Trump did not meet the Post’s standards he refused to publish. A good example is his handling of the Steele Dossier that accused Trump of election cooperation with Russian interference in 2016, sexual proclivities, the attempt to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, and his relationship with Vladimir Putin. In the end the document developed by a former British spy did not meet the standard the paper relied on for publication. No matter what the coverage of Trump, Baron points out in his war against the media “any questions that put him on the spot was an offense.”

Baron’s chapter dealing with the death of Jamal Khashoggi is important as it highlights Trump and his allies’ war on journalists. It is clear that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was culpable in his death, and it is interesting how Baron creates links between the Saudi leadership’s approach to critical journalism and that of Trump. Both men sought to intimidate journalists and make them live in fear. If one follows Trump’s reaction to the murder it is clear he did not care, and interestingly after his presidency his son-in-law received a $2 billion Saudi investment in his business fund. Salman would even go after Amazon because of the Post’s coverage of his government and referred to Bezos as “that Jew.”

Baron should be praised for his honesty as he navigated his relationship with Bezos and allowed a focus on Amazon’s anti-union labor practices, its marketing strategies that hurt secondary vendors, and most importantly its surveillance policies – Alexa is in your home gathering intelligence against you and your family! To Bezos’ credit he did not interfere with any of any story that involved his personal life or businesses. Further, Baron delves into issues dealing with social media, racial practices at the paper, and objectivity that brought him into conflict with younger and black journalists.

In the end Baron grew skeptical with the reporter’s combative tweets and their airing of their social views. A newspaper traditionalist Baron almost resigned amidst the covid crisis, and Black Lives Matter Movement as he felt reporters were putting their own opinions above those of the newspaper. In summation I agree with Sewell Chan’s conclusion presented in his New York Times review in which he states, “As Baron describes it, the job of an editor today revolves as much around spreadsheets, team building, labor negotiations and social media guidelines as it does around relationships with reporters and supervision of coverage. That Baron managed that high-wire act so successfully — The Post won 10 Pulitzers on his watch — in an era of wrenching changes in politics and journalism shows that newsroom leadership, however devoid of ease or glamour, remains essential.”*

*Sewell Chan, “At His Post,” New York Times, October 15, 2023.

[Rama Rao · Rating 1 out of 5]

Washington Post is a fake news media trying to sabotage democracy.

Washington Post is one of the sources of misinformation and crackpot conspiracy theories of today that is destroying democracies not only the United States but also in other countries like India and Israel. For example, the Washington Post incessantly fact-checked Donald Trump’s presidency, but now the Post does not fact-check Biden’s speeches. The platform has been taken over by Leftist journalists, liberals, and Islamists, promoting critical race theory (CRT), Black Lives Matter (BLM), ANTIFA. LGBTQ, antisemitism, and Islam has become the focus of newspaper. The Post took down a recently published cartoon in which Hamas terrorists surrounded themselves with civilians and children while fighting Isarel. The Post apologized excessively for publishing it, but the apology is unnecessary and uncalled for since the cartoon spoke truthfully. In another publication, the Post described a high-value terrorist like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an "austere religious scholar" in a 2019 obituary. They also support anti-Semitism, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas conspiracy theories, and trying to destroy democracy in India. Why would not they report or comment on their opinion column about human rights abuses in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Islamic Africa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. And not to forget Islamic savagery that is happening in African countries.

The Global Opinions Editor Karen Attiah promotes antisemitic, Hinduphobic, and anti-India opinions. The paper ignores the truth in a way that sabotages democracy. It is known for hiring controversial and biased journalists who act more like activists for liberal causes rather than as objective journalists for truth. Anti-Modi, anti-India and Hinduphobic journalists like Meena Venkataraman, Anumita Kaur, Khaled Beydoum, Rana Ayyub, and several others regularly spew venom against India but remain silent when Hindu minorities are killed, abducted, and forcibly converted in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hindus are getting killed all over India, especially in Kashmir. Indian Hindus are prevented from practicing Hindu faith by Islamists in several Indian states. Untruthful stories about Hindus in India are featured regularly in the Post and used every means possible to create anti-govt and anti-Modi sentiments.

In this book, Washington Post Editor Martin Baron shares his experience as the managing editor, and working for Jeff Bezos, the new owner. He argues that journalists at the Post must work with objectives to get the truth and report it. But the fact is the Post and other leading newspapers like NYTimes have become a place for social activists to promote their beliefs in the gospels of CRT, ANTIFA, LGBTQ and antisemitism. They supported Adam Schiff who launched an all-out political campaign built on baseless distortions against a sitting U.S. president, Donald Trump. Why did Post did not realize that Schiff politicized the Russia collusion in 2016 election when there was no evidence for it. The U.S. House of Representatives censured Schiff for engaging in falsehoods. Matt Taibbi reported “Twitter Files” in 2022/2023 that indicated the Biden campaign reached out regularly to ask Twitter to investigate and remove posts which Twitter complied. In the case of Hunter Biden laptop story, Twitter went into overdrive, falsely categorizing the story as “hacked materials” early on, then locking prominent accounts that shared it. The Post enthusiastically protected the President from its ill effects. I do not think you will miss it much if you choose not to read this book.

[Len Knighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in conservative Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, one of the delights of Sundays after church was looking at The Washington Post. My mom loved the crossword puzzle, I read the Sports section, highlighted by the masterful writing of columnists Shirley Povich and Bob Addie. My dad devoured the political news and editorials.
The Post had a huge comics section, featuring strips that could not be found in our two local papers. My favorite was The Phantom, a masked champion of justice in the jungle who often journeyed to asphalt jungles to eradicate evil.
My dad preferred the chivalrous knight of ages past, Prince Valiant.
Both heroes symbolize the men and women who Martin Baron inspired and was inspired by: the reporters and editors of The Post. We often see such journalists portrayed as sitting at their desks, pounding away on their typewriters or word processors, but Baron also tells us of those who ventured outside their newsroom walls to track down stories and, more importantly, discover the truth. Especially in the nation's capital, reporting the truth puts the people and institutions they work for in direct conflict, on a collision course, if you will, with the 45th (and possibly the 47th) President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Remember this number: 30,573. Add the words AND COUNTING to it. That's the number of lies, deceptions, misleading quotes, etc. by President Trump during this four years in office. This is the War The Post and its owner Jeff Bezos have been waging against Trump since 2015, a conflict that will continue for the next four years (assuming Trump lives that long) no matter who wins the Presidential election 32 days from the day of this writing.
To be frank, Bezos becomes a minor character in the latter third of the book, hardly mentioned at all. The focus is twofold. With 2020 hindsight (no pun intended) Baron looks back at the COVID-19 pandemic and the Presidential election, and the January 6, 2021 riot and attack on the Capitol. (I will let you call it what you want.)
One would expect this to be a very one-sided account, the Prince and Princess Valiants being led into battle by the seldom seen Phantom Baron against one whose number might be more akin to 666 than 30 thousand plus. But Baron follows his own rules of journalism, rules he insists be followed by his underlings even though the predominant attitude among the staff is contrary to his standards. He objectively praises and chastises his reporters; he does the same to himself.
In late July of this year I wrote in a review in Goodreads that Tim Alberta's book THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY "may be one of the most important books of 2024." I would add this book to that very selective list. However, a sentiment expressed by Baron and vocalized by many in the last month or so, heard by this writer, may make this book and books like it moot. The "deplorables" (you know who you are) DON'T GIVE A DAMN. Document all the thousands of lies told by Trump; spell out how dangerous he is to this Republic and its Democratic mode of government; tell the truth about him, and his minions will echo what their leader, their President, their god, said on January 6, 2021 when told that Vice President Mike Pence being taken to safety ahead of those who had breached the Capitol and would do him harm: "Who cares?" Trump told the truth years ago when he said that he could murder someone and his followers would still vote for him.
I am hoping this book might change the minds of enough voting Americans that when January 20, 2025 comes to pass, we might have seen the last of Donald Trump in any hallowed halls in Washington D.C.

Four stars waxing