**The Washington Post Ends Decades-Long Tradition of Presidential Endorsements**

In a groundbreaking move, The Washington Post has announced it will not endorse any candidate in the upcoming presidential election, breaking a tradition that spans back to 1976. This decision was revealed in an article penned by two staff reporters, who disclosed that an editorial endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over Republican nominee Donald Trump had been prepared but ultimately shelved. The final call was reportedly made by the paper's owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The Washington Post's shift has incited swift backlash. In 2019, Amazon claimed that a $10 billion Pentagon cloud computing contract was awarded to Microsoft under dubious circumstances, alleging that President Trump exerted "improper pressure" to disadvantage Bezos, his alleged political adversary. This history of tension between Trump and Bezos adds layers of complexity to the newspaper's newfound neutrality.

Since 1976, The Washington Post has consistently backed presidential candidates, with the exception of the 1988 elections. These endorsements have universally favored Democratic candidates. Will Lewis, the newspaper's chief executive, elucidated the change in an online statement, asserting that the organization is "returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates" and emphasizing the move as consistent with the paper's values of integrity, respect for the rule of law, and human freedom.

The announcement closely follows a similar decision by The Los Angeles Times, where the editorial board head resigned in protest after the owner Patrick Soon-Shiong decided against issuing a presidential endorsement. This action, mirroring Bezos' stance, kindled further criticism and speculation about the rise of editorial neutrality among billionaire media owners.

Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron was particularly vocal, condemning the decision as "cowardice" that undermines democracy. Baron expressed concern that Trump would view the move as an opportunity to further intimidate Bezos and other media magnates, branding the decision as an instance of "spinelessness at an institution famed for courage."

The Washington Post Guild, representing the newspaper's staff, also expressed unease, indicating that the move jeopardizes the trust and loyalty of its readership. The Guild's statement highlighted cancellations from readers and suggested that the decision compromised the work and integrity of the editorial team.

Post columnist Karen Attiah voiced her dismay on social media, describing the decision as a betrayal to those who have risked their careers to advocate for human rights and democracy. The sentiment was echoed by Rep. Ted Lieu of California, who ominously tweeted about the perils of a free press yielding to fear.

As reactions continue to unfold, the implications of The Washington Post's decision are set to be closely scrutinized in the days leading up to what many consider an immensely consequential election.