Harry Litman resigned from the LA Times because the publisher's pro-Trump

[Dennis Donovan]

Talking Feds Substack - Why I Just Resigned From The Los Angeles Times

Harry Litman
Dec 05, 2024



I have been a contributor to the Los Angeles Times op-ed page in some fashion for more than 15 years. For the last three years, I have been the Senior Legal Columnist, writing regular weekly columns about Trump’s legal troubles, the Supreme Court, and a wide range of other topics. The Times also permitted me to cover Trump’s trial in New York and the 2024 Democratic convention.

My editors have been skilled, quick, and fair. I have been able to write whatever I like, including blistering criticism of Donald Trump.

I’ve been proud of my work and proud to be part of the Times, the most prominent and storied newspaper west of the Mississippi. It’s got gravitas—and 45 Pulitzers to show for it—combined with a California flair that complements the constant variety and zaniness of my adopted state.

But I have written my last op-ed for the Times. Yesterday, I resigned my position. I don’t want to continue to work for a paper that is appeasing Trump and facilitating his assault on democratic rule for craven reasons.

My resignation is a protest and visceral reaction against the conduct of the paper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Soon-Shiong has made several moves to force the paper, over the forceful objections of his staff, into a posture more sympathetic to Donald Trump. Those moves can’t be defended as the sort of policy adjustment papers undergo from time to time, and that an owner, within limits, is entitled to influence. Given the existential stakes for our democracy that I believe Trump’s second term poses, and the evidence that Soon-Shiong is currying favor with the President-elect, they are repugnant and dangerous.

Soon-Shiong’s most notorious action received national attention. The paper’s editorial department had drafted an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Soon-Shiong ordered them to spike it and make no endorsement in the election. (Soon-Shiong later implied he had just ordered up a factual analysis of both candidates’ policies, but that’s at best a distortion: he plainly blocked an already drafted Harris endorsement.) It is hard to imagine a more brutal, humiliating, and unprofessional treatment of a paper’s professional staff. Three members of the editorial page resigned in protest and 2,000 readers canceled their subscriptions.

/snip

Good for him.

[tenderfoot]

1. I cancelled my subscription when Soon-Shiong axed the endorsement.

I do not regret it.

[ultralite001]

2. A Pulitzer-worthy editorial...

Thank you, Harry Litman...

"...when the chips were [are] down, [billionaires are] choosing to appease, not oppose, a criminal President with patent authoritarian ambitions."

Shout it from the rooftops, folks...

[BoRaGard]

3. Saluting Mr. Litman

[Jean Genie]

4. A man of honor

Well done, Harry. You da man!

[Cheezoholic]

5. There's a real patriot. Big props to Mr. Litman n/t

[obamanut2012]

6. Such a shame -- the LA Times and Miami Herald still did outstanding investigative journalism

Now, at least for now, the Miami Herald is still there.

[canetoad]

7. I love Harry

He's principled and knowledgeable.

[Cha]

8. Yes, TY & Harry Litman a Patriot Not a Toadie a la Mika & the morning

Subservient.

[arthritisR_US]

33. You nailed it luv🥰👋

[onecaliberal]

9. This is what needs to happen on a large scale.

[calimary]

34. YES!!! MOST DEFINITELY!!!

Last edited Fri Dec 6, 2024, 04:18 AM - Edit history (1)

I hope this toadying to the donald sends the toadies into bankruptcy.

Looks like there’s room for some new newspaper sources. Got a recommendation?

[LoisB]

10. Good for him. I subscribe to him on YouTube. I like him.

[NJCher]

20. I just subscribed

I used to catch him on TV but I don't watch it anymore, so I went to youtube to subscribe.

I really admire someone with the ethics to do this.

[LoisB]

22. So do I. He also was not one of those people screaming for Joe to step down. He's kind of dry but very

knowledgeable and informative.

[BigmanPigman]

31. I noticed that too.

In July I was keeping track of who was forcing whom to act and it was obvious. The big Dem corporate donors, the corporate media and political insiders were turning on a dime. I wrote the names of who did a 180, I called people and complained and then I said FUCK YOU! When I voted in Nov I voted with this in mind. They are traitors in my opinion. They do NOT represent us, they rarely have. They represent raking in more and more $$$$$$$$$$$. Nothing changes and the Dems are as dirty as the GQP sometimes. That is when I stopped watching the "Dem" news sites. It was obvious that they were being told what to do and say...all for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I have watched Harry for years and I respect his opinion. He is experienced and clear and objective. I didn't think I could respect him more but here I am. Thank you Harry, you are a person with self respect and integrity.

[LoisB]

32. Exactly. I did the same. People I followed and previously respected turned on President Biden on a dime.

I unsubscribed to them at the first "Biden needs to withdraw".

[arthritisR_US]

35. So who did you both vote for?

[Dem4life1970]

37. Anyone who didn't vote for VP Harris

voted for Trump.

If you sat on the couch, you voted for Trump.

If you voted forJill Stein, you voted for Trump.

If you wrote in "Uncommitted" you voted for Trump.

[LoisB]

43. Please see my reply #42. I am not a political giant but I am also not politically ignorant. I think you missed the

point. I cut off anyone who jumped on the "Joe must step aside" bandwagon - their opinions now mean nothing to me. Joe Biden is one of the best Presidents we have ever had and I would have been proud to cast my vote for that 81 year-old had he been on the ticket.

I don't vote Republican, I don't vote 3rd party, I don't stay home, and I have never done a write-in vote. What ticket do you think I voted for? Not that it is anyone's business except mine.

[Dem4life1970]

47. Hi Lois...

..that was not directed at you. I just went off on a stream of consciousness rant about the 8-10 million 2020 Biden voters who stayed home, voted 3rd party, or pulled the lever for the Orange felon. Republicans seem to understand the "binary choice" thing better than Democrats. They vote R-no matter who is on the ballot (as we have witnessed the last 9 years). Sorry, not meant to be directed at you at all!

[LoisB]

48. Thank you. I apologize for my somewhat angry response. We need to stand together now more than ever.

[Dem4life1970]

49. You're welcome...and thank you for your gracious response. I agree we need to stand together!

[arthritisR_US]

44. I so agree!

[LoisB]

42. I don't throw away my votes on fringe or third party nobodies. I have never voted for a Republican and I vote in

every election (federal, state, local), I have never voted "uncommitted", nor have I ever done a "write-in" vote. Now, who do you think I voted for?

[arthritisR_US]

45. You are my people!

[PortTack]

11. It's what real patriots do! Thank you Harry

[StarryNite]

12. Much respect for Harry Litman.

Shame on the Times.

[erodriguez]

13. Don't obey in advance.

[El-Capitan]

14. The problem with canceling our subscriptions is that these newspapers will die on the vine.

Not saying we shouldn't cancel as a protest.

But, when these newspapers go, there's nothing good that is similar to replace them.

Harry Litman has done the right thing, as long as his very good reasons are well-known.

[NJCher]

21. that's what Jonathan Alter

said at the recent appearance he made at our library's series "Open Book Open Mind."

It is troubling. I agree with you that when they go, there is nothing to replace them.

[Dem4life1970]

38. A paper that did what the LA Times did and

is doing, is already dead.

[SheilaAnn]

15. My new hero, Harry Litman. A patriot in every sense of the word. n/t

[SheilaAnn]

16. My new hero, Harry Litman.

[SunSeeker]

17. K & R

[Buns_of_Fire]

18. South Africa isn't sending us their best, it seems.

Along with his other billionaire buddy E. Loon Musk, Soon-Shiong apparently has a soft spot for Nazis.

Mr. Litman, your stock just went up 100% in my book.

As for E. Loon and Patrick, their stock was never worth anything to me in the first place.

[bdamomma]

19. Mr. Litman

You are a very principled person and contributed much needed knowledge for your readers.

Mr. Litman chose the right path.

[oldmanlynn]

23. Really will this have any impact?

I mean, money talks, bullshit walks the oligarchs have the money they control what happens unfortunately for us

[choie]

28. It's called having an ethical compass.

N/t

[dlk]

24. Soon-Shiong must not be a student of history

Otherwise he would be aware of just how well appeasement actually works.

[Blue_Tires]

27. He's got some kind of cutting edge

Medical tech company, and he's buddy-buddy with Melon Husk... Like all the other tech bros, he's looking to cash in after doing Donnie a favor...

Ironically, his daughter is a far left activist and daddy has pulled a lot of political strings in L.A. to keep her out of trouble...

[Farmer-Rick]

30. Good info

We need to know the enemy.

[bluboid]

25. "...Three members of the editorial page resigned in protest & 2,000 readers canceled their subscriptions."

nothing more needs to be said!

[dchill]

26. Give 'em hell, Harry!

[iluvtennis]

29. Bravo Harry Litman!

[WA-03 Democrat]

36. Harry is awesome

Walks the walk!

[live love laugh]

39. Proving once more the media is the root cause of America's dilemma.

Quick facts
…
PATRICK SOON SHIONG

Born: July 29, 1952 (72 years), Gqeberha, S. Africa
Spouse: Michele B. Chan
Net worth: $6.9 billion USD (2024) – Forbes
Children: Nika Soon-Shiong, Luke Harold Soon-Shiong
Siblings: Terrence Soon-Shiong
Professions: Investor, Entrepreneur, Teacher, Researcher, Philanthropist, More
Education: Univ California, Univ British Columbia, Univ Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

[Magoo48]

40. Dude, Respect.

[BlueGreenLady]

41. Thank you, Harry, for your valiant stand. n/t

[Rafi]

46. He should have been Attoreney General instead of Garland.

trump would be in prison.