logo
Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capeheart quits editorial board over dispute with white colleague: ‘Robbing me of my humanity'

Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capeheart quits editorial board over dispute with white colleague: ‘Robbing me of my humanity'

New York Post27-05-2025

A black Washington Post opinion writer said he quit the newspaper's editorial board over a dispute with a white colleague about a piece concerning Georgia's voting laws that he didn't agree with — accusing her of 'robbing me of my humanity,' according to a report.
Jonathan Capehart, who was the only African American member of the editorial board when he quit in 2023, writes in a new book titled 'Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man's Search for Home,' that he stepped down over a dispute with another opinion editor, Karen Tumulty, the news site Semafor reported.
In his book, Capehart, who remains a columnist at the paper, writes that he clashed with Tumulty over an editorial which took issue with then-President Joe Biden's criticism of a 2021 Georgia voting law.
5 Jonathan Capehart is a Washington Post opinion columnist.
Getty Images
Biden described the law as 'Jim Crow 2.0' — a characterization that the Washington Post editorial board deemed to be 'hyperbolic.'
That didn't sit well with Capehart, who agreed with Biden's view of the law and was upset that the editorial may make it appear as if he supported the board's position that it was 'hyperbolic,' according to Semafor.
According to the book, Capehart was incensed when Tumulty later did not apologize to him for publishing it. He wrote that he felt additionally put off when Tumulty said Biden's choice of words was insulting to people who had lived through racial segregation in the South.
'Tumulty took an incident where I felt she ignored and compounded the insult by robbing me of my humanity,' he wrote in the book, which was published last week.
'She either couldn't or wouldn't see that I was black, that I came to the conversation with knowledge and history she could never have, that my worldview, albeit different from hers, was equally valid.'
Capehart left the editorial board after complaining about the incident to human resources and other senior figures at the paper, Semafor reported.
5 Capehart reportedly clashed with fellow editorial board member Karen Tumulty.
Lisa Lake
Capehart's frustrations were notable enough that after the piece was published, opinion editor David Shipley was asked to meet privately with the Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss the incident and alleged shortcomings in the paper's opinion coverage, Semafor reported.
The claims made by Capehart in his new book have also reportedly rankled Washington Post staffers, according to Semafor.
Capehart's description of the incident in his book as well as a recent discussion that he held with former Biden administration official Susan Rice at a local Washington, DC, bookstore last week has been the subject of internal recriminations at the newspaper in recent days, Semafor reported.
5 According to his new book, Capehart took issue with an editorial criticizing remarks by then-President Joe Biden.
Getty Images for Family Equality
According to two Washington Post staffers, staff have complained privately that the book publicly pitted current colleagues against each other and appeared to run afoul of the Post's editorial guidelines around collegiality, as well as rules that restrict staff from publicly disclosing internal editorial conversations.
The Post has sought comment from the Washington Post, Tumulty and Capehart.
In a statement to Semafor, Tumulty noted that the paper had repeatedly published opinion pieces criticizing Georgia's 2021 voting laws limiting ballot access, but said she would not comment further on the book or the Post's editorial processes.
5 Then-President Joe Biden described the 2021 Georgia voting law as 'Jim Crow 2.0' — which Tumulty thought was 'hyperbolic.'
Reuters
'I have a very different recognition of the events and conversations that are described in this book, but out of respect for the longstanding principle that Washington Post editorial board deliberations are confidential I am not going to say anything further,' Tumulty told Semafor.
Some current and former staff told Semafor that they felt Capehart's decision to go after Tumulty in a book and on his book tour over an editorial disagreement, as well as the actual description of the incident, was unfair to her.
'Ed board members, current and former, are honor bound not to discuss specific deliberations publicly,' former deputy opinion editor Chuck Lane said in a text to Semafor.
5 Capehart's book has reportedly rankled staffers at the Washington Post.
Christopher Sadowski
'I can only say that Karen took an unsought leadership role when the paper needed her, and performed it superbly and 100 percent honorably, despite extraordinary health challenges — for which I admire her greatly.'
The Washington Post editorial board has undergone considerable upheaval in the last nine months.
Just before the Nov. 5 presidential election, billionaire owner Jeff Bezos blocked the editorial board from endorsing the Democratic nominee, then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Earlier this year, Bezos overhauled the opinion section so that it would promote 'personal liberties' and 'free markets' — a move that prompted the resignation of Shipley.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gaza-bound ‘Freedom Flotilla Coalition' boat carrying Greta Thunberg boarded by Israeli forces
Gaza-bound ‘Freedom Flotilla Coalition' boat carrying Greta Thunberg boarded by Israeli forces

New York Post

time4 hours ago

  • New York Post

Gaza-bound ‘Freedom Flotilla Coalition' boat carrying Greta Thunberg boarded by Israeli forces

An aid vessel launched by Greta Thunberg and other international activists headed for Gaza was boarded by Israeli forces on Sunday, mere hours after Israeli officials demanded they 'turn back,' the coalition announced in a Telegram post. The Madleen ship, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail on June 1 with 12 activists onboard, including Thunberg, a Swedish peace and climate campaigner, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. 5 The Madleen aid vessel is manned by 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. Getty Images 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,' the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the crew to abandon their aid mission and called the group 'antisemitic' in a pointed jab. 'To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists — I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza,' Katz warned. 'Israel will act decisively against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations, whether by sea, air or land.' 5 The ship is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which has organized aid missions to Gaza for more than a decade. Getty Images Thunberg, 22, has been banned from entering Israel because of her stances and statements regarding the Israel-Hamas War. Shortly before the crew issued its statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy using a loudspeaker to reach the Madleen. 5 The crew first set sail on June 1. Getty Images 'The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade. If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the [Israeli] port of Ashdod,' a soldier said, according to the video. The group aboard the charity ship aims to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza's refugees, including much-needed baby formula and simple nutrition like rice. They were expected to reach the coast by Sunday after a week-long trip from Sicily, but have faced threats from Israeli officials and issues with jamming devices messing up their online tracker. 5 The crew claims to have had their communications jammed by Israeli forces. Freedom Flotilla Coalition Many residents in Gaza have been starving as a result of Israel's blockades, which have been in place throughout the Strip since 2007. The UN's reports warned that Gaza's two million refugees are at risk of an outright famine if aid is not permitted soon. 5 The crew said they were 'abducted' by the Israeli forces who boarded their ship. In early May, a separate aid ship for the same international non-governmental organization was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta. All 30 passengers onboard were safely evacuated and the coalition blamed the strike on the Israeli government. Israel didn't comment on the attack at the time. In 2010, another coalition ship on an aid mission was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops. Nine activists aboard the ship were killed and dozens more injured. A spokesperson for the IDF said that the troops were attacked after boarding the ship, claiming they acted in self defense. With Post wires

WH press secretary brushes off reports Musk ‘body-checked' Treasury chief: ‘Robust disagreement'
WH press secretary brushes off reports Musk ‘body-checked' Treasury chief: ‘Robust disagreement'

New York Post

time11 hours ago

  • New York Post

WH press secretary brushes off reports Musk ‘body-checked' Treasury chief: ‘Robust disagreement'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday downplayed reports Elon Musk 'body-checked'' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a heated meeting, calling their dispute simply a 'robust disagreement.'' Leavitt acknowledged to Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' that she wasn't in the room when the April dust-up took place but contended she wouldn't call it a 'fistfight' based on what she heard second-hand about the scrum — which supposedly included Musk ramming into Bessent's rib cage 'like a rugby player.' 'I certainly wouldn't describe it as a fistfight, Maria,' Leavitt told host Maria Baritomo after the journalist characterized it as such. 'It was definitely a disagreement, although I was not there. I didn't witness it with my own eyes. Advertisement 'When this story originally broke, I said from the podium that there have definitely been healthy disagreements amongst the cabinet and Elon Musk,' Leavitt said. 3 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday downplayed reports of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk coming to blows. Getty Images 'There were times in which they got frustrated with one another, but I think that really speaks to the heart of this Cabinet and the president's team, that they can have these robust disagreements and then still come together to do what's right for the people they are serving. Advertisement 'We have moved on from that,' Leavitt said. 'The president has moved on from it. 'And the entire administration is focusing on passing this bill,' she added of the proposed sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 'Cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government remains a critical component of this administration's agenda.' After Musk publicly went nuclear over the bill — and onetime ally President Trump — last week, presidential buddy Steve Bannon claimed the world's richest man had scrapped with the Treasury secretary two months ago. 3 Musk exploded at President Trump publicly last week amid a series of frustrations, including over the deficit. AP Advertisement 'Scott said [to Musk], 'You're a fraud. You're a total fraud,' ' Bannon told the Washington Post, recalling how Musk then rammed into Bessent's rib cage 'like a rugby player.' Eventually, multiple bystanders in the room supposedly intervened and pulled them apart. 'President Trump heard about it and said, 'This is too much,' ' Bannon added. Bannon, a former top strategist for Trump who hosts the 'War Room' podcast, has publicly called for Musk, a South African native, to be deported and for the president to invoke the Defense Production Act to seize control of his SpaceX company in retaliation for his public broadsides against the president. Advertisement Musk has not publicly commented on the alleged altercation, nor has Bessent. There had been a prior report from the New York Times alleging that the two men got into a shouting match at the same April meeting. 3 Bessent reportedly scolded Musk for overstating the spending cuts he could find with DOGE. Getty Images During the meeting, both men had pitched different candidates to lead the Internal Revenue Service. The president ultimately backed Bessent's choice. Musk had previously publicly backed then-Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to helm the Treasury Department over Bessent. Trump ended up making Lutnick the secretary of the Department of Commerce. The day of the April meeting, Bessent also allegedly needled Musk for falling far short of his goal of cutting government spending by $1 trillion with the Department of Government Efficiency.

Sanders doesn't want to try to woo ‘right-wing extremist' Musk back to Democratic Party
Sanders doesn't want to try to woo ‘right-wing extremist' Musk back to Democratic Party

New York Post

time11 hours ago

  • New York Post

Sanders doesn't want to try to woo ‘right-wing extremist' Musk back to Democratic Party

Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't think Democrats should even bother trying to woo back onetime party supporter Elon Musk after he went berserk on President Trump last week. Musk has openly admitted to backing Democrats in the past, and some party bigs believe the opportunity is ripe to now win back the tech mogul given his public mega-rift with the GOP prez — but Sanders said Sunday he has major doubts. 'I think Musk has evolved over the years,' Sanders (I-Vt.) told CNN's 'State of the Union.' 'My understanding is, he actually voted for Obama, I think, in 2008. But over the years, he has developed into a right-wing extremist. 3 Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't see an opportunity for Democrats to win Elon Musk back. Getty Images 'This is a fight between oligarchs. It's a fight among power among the few,' he said of Musk and Trump. 'And it's really an embarrassment to those of us who believe in democracy and the rule of law.' Musk and Trump's feud exploded last week when the billionaire X founder ripped the president's proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act as 'pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination.' 3 Musk exploded on President Trump last week, days after his chummy send-off from the Oval Office. Molly Riley/White House / SWNS He then contended that the president won the White House in large part because of Musk's backing and accused the administration of withholding infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's investigation files to protect the president — online accusations he later deleted. Democrats roundly cheered as the world's richest man battling the most powerful man in the world, watching their two most pronounced political adversaries go at it. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), whose district is nestled in Silicon Valley, suggested that Democrats should make overtures to Musk. 'If Biden had a big supporter criticize him, Trump would have hugged him the next day. When we refused to meet with@RobertKennedyJr, Trump embraced him & won. We can be the party of sanctimonious lectures, or the party of FDR that knows how to win & build a progressive majority,' Khanna argued. Liberal comedian Bill Maher similarly suggested Democrats should try to win Musk back over to their camp. 3 Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna has pushed Democrats to open their arms to Musk. AP Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) appeared to agree that Democrats should be open to working with Musk but was adamant that he wouldn't accept campaign contributions from the billionaire. 'This is not about right or left, it's about right or wrong,' Booker told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday. 'I welcome Elon Musk, not to my campaign. I welcome him right now, not to sit back and just fire off tweets, to get involved right now in a more substantive way.' Trump has publicly warned Musk there would be 'consequences' if he helped boost Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. But while eager to see Musk and Trump go at it, Democrats appear unsure of the best strategy to take amid the feud. Democratic strategist Brad Bannon, who hosts the progressive podcast 'Deadline DC,' told The Post he doubts Musk will enter the Dem fold again. 'I don't see much potential in that happening,' Bannon said. 'Honestly, I don't think there's much Democrats can find in common with Musk. He's the guy who has some pretty rigid, quasi fascist political beliefs. 'I don't see how they can support him, find accommodation with him, but I think they can take advantage of this big battle.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store