Today, news broke that Jeff Bezos, the American billionaire with a net worth of $206 B (NZ $344B), personally vetoed Washington Post’s Editorial Team from endorsing Kamala Harris.
That stops the decades-old tradition of the Wapo for endorsing Presidential candidates.
And editors have resigned - that includes Editor at large Robert Kagan. Past editors have spoken out in defiance. Staff are angry. They say this is “cowardice,” and “chicken shit” .
Wa-Po’s cartoon today (remembering their slogan is: Democracy dies in darkness):
David Maraniss, a Pulitzer-winning reporter and editor at the Post, added: “The paper I’ve loved working at for 47 years is dying in darkness.”
Another former editor at the paper, Robert McCartney, said: “Given the choice this year, it’s appalling.”
And the right have celebrated:
Last year Bezos appointed a former Wall Street Journal executive to become the CEO of Washington Post. i.e. a close Rupert Murdoch associate.
And we all know how much Rupert is hands on with his media empires and close to his teams - “personally dictating” editorials and admitting he is a person who is “not going to hold my tongue” - often promoting policies that are a far cry from his reported socialist ideals as a younger man.
Yes - Murdoch is the man who makes Prime Ministers in the UK and Australia. Most modern British PMs kissed the ring before making it:
Murdoch media dislikes Jacinda Ardern.
We know because of the many negative pieces ‘The Australian’ and Fox News did on Ardern’s tenure - as well as the lavish praise they have heaped on Luxon and his partners - calling Luxon “inspiring, a positive guy with..can-do optimism”.
But the more pivotal point here is - Jeff Bezos, America’s 2nd richest man, bent the knee.
Look I don’t need him to be
deep - his fiance asks Kim Kardashian for advice and they spend time complimenting each other. Bezos is enarmoured, spending his capital on ensuring his beloved gets her time on Vogue and invites to the NY Metropolitan Ball.
But it’s all significant and interventionist, and perhaps, predictive.
It comes days after The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board was blocked from endorsing Kamala Harris too. That billionaire CEO was Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. And the leader of their editorial team Mariel Garza resigned yesterday:
“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
And casting my mind back - one of my first posts on this Substack was: The Money of Politics and Influence where I talked about the Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav talking up Donald Trump, because he was better for business.
Zaslav oversees over 100 news networks, including CNN.
Personally I’m not optimistic. Who controls the systems? The messages?
Look - it’s crazy.
Over the last week or so Elon Musk has been handing out US$1mn cheques to encourage people to vote.
That’s illegal.
Elon Musk has also been in close and regular contact with Putin over the last two years. Is this why he gave Ukraine a hard time with Starlink during the war?
Trump consistently praises Putin. A Russian state firm and the UK Tories were embroiled in the Cambridge Analytica scandal where they harvested Facebook data to use to target political messages and campaigns that helped Trump and influence Brexit.
It’s all a circle.
And we all know that this activity just means they are all in on this Donald Trump bet.
It’s a must win for the elite class - and I don’t use that word easily.
Personally, I’ve never cared if someone is richer or more successful, but not like this.
Trump could win - and it will be really ugly for America and the world - especially those of principle -
Meanwhile the people who have spoken out try again -
In NZ yesterday, Dr Gary Payinda gave interviews to RNZ and other outlets, speaking forcefully about the conditions in Whangarei hospital and the need to prioritise that over landlords, and tax cuts to the wealthiest.
Here is the interview link: Northland ED doctor Gary Payinda speaks out on dire state of Whangārei Hospital
And I know it takes courage to stand up and speak up - especially in NZ which appears to have a low key culture. It’s hard to be blunt.
It takes courage to take action and get involved. I know because most people I talk to back out at action.
The other day I spoke to an associate who I like and I heard first hand how challenging it is for those in Health right now. The cuts are going to come down hard - and there are so many good people out there trying their best to hold things up, and hold things together.
And we have others like Health NZ CEO Apa who on a ~$950,000 or so pay packet are quite happy to do whatever it takes to please the new boss.
Everyone cuts their cloth on action - not words. That much is clear. No-one can ask another to be brave or to speak up. No-one can will another to stand up and count.
Each individual in whatever circumstances can only find their own answer, and values.
Still the system - the system is heavily skewed.
And under Atlas Network, it’s intentionally designed to silence opposition and principles and consolidate power in the hands of the few.
In NZ:
The government just appointed Richard Prebble, a former ACT leader to the Waitangi Tribunal.
They created a Fast-Track legislation specifically to override judicial decisions and community and environmental input.
Paul Goldsmith appointed an individual with an anti-trans & pro-Israel track record as NZ’s Human Rights Commissioner - against advice of course.
The government also appointed Melissa Derby, a friend of Jordan Williams, who has made negative comments about Maori and trans people, to the role of Race Commissioner.
They are consolidating and solidifying power to a very small select group and it’s only been on a year.
Again: it bears repeating - this is the playbook of Atlas Network the world over.
And Chris Trotter, who proclaims to be from the left, seems to mock those who don’t support David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill as “baddies”, - saying that not supporting the 8% party is ignoring democracy - while suggesting a referendum is good for NZ - when we all know by now the manipulation and deceit behind Brexit and Voice Australia.
And multiple publications publish him as a voice of the left. Really?
The world is topsy turvy.
Or maybe it always was like this.
Leonard Cohen:
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
EXTRA
Brooke Van Velden saying her government is pro worker and the last government was the most anti-worker government for introducing vaccine mandates.
Meanwhile, she hasn’t lifted a figure on tradies dying from silicosis.
Thanks for helping me to continue my work. Have a great weekend ahead.
MT you’re a person of courage and principle- we desperately need you in the journalism world- please keep being so reliable- we need you!!
Superb piece.