The Washington Post is facing a reckoning. A wave of layoffs announced earlier this week has sparked outrage and concern within the media industry, prompting commentary from public figures like Stephen Colbert and raising questions about the future of the storied newspaper under the ownership of Jeff Bezos.
Colbert addressed the cuts during Wednesday’s monologue on “The Late Show,” characterizing the situation as a “murder” of the publication. He quipped that the paper was “black and white and dead all over,” and pointedly noted he sourced the news of the layoffs from Philadelphia’s ABC 6 Action News rather than the Post itself. “No pressure, ABC 6 Action News,” Colbert joked, “But, from here on out, it’s just you and the New York Times.”
The comedian went on to suggest Bezos’s decision was his “worst decision” ever, though he later amended that to “second worst” after displaying a photo of Bezos in a cowboy hat, referencing his Blue Origin space flights. Colbert highlighted reports that Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray attributed the cuts to declining audiences and sagging subscriptions, wryly noting the information was behind a paywall. He concluded by framing the Post’s former motto, “Democracy dies in darkness,” as having been replaced with “Democracy: Die! Die! Die!”
The layoffs, described as a “strategic reset,” represent a significant downsizing of the newsroom. The plan includes scaling back international coverage, ending the sports section “in its current form,” and restructuring the Metro desk. The Books section has also been eliminated. These cuts follow previous rounds of voluntary buyouts in 2023 and 2025, which reduced the newsroom staff from over a thousand to under eight hundred.
The situation at the Washington Post has been years in the making. Jeff Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million from the Graham family, promising “a new golden era” and financial runway to avoid further shrinking. Initially, the paper saw profitable years, particularly during the 2016 election and the subsequent Trump presidency. However, losses mounted in 2023 ($77 million) and 2024 ($100 million), leading Bezos to authorize the recent, drastic cuts.
The response to the layoffs has been swift and critical. Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly slammed Bezos, accusing him of making cuts to appease former President Trump. Notably, Bezos himself has remained silent on the matter, despite letters from Post staffers urging him to reconsider the cuts.
The current crisis at the Washington Post underscores the challenges facing the news industry as a whole. Declining readership and subscription numbers, coupled with the rise of digital platforms, have created a difficult financial landscape for traditional media outlets. The Post’s situation is particularly poignant given its historical significance and its role as a pillar of American journalism.
The layoffs have also prompted reflection on Bezos’s ownership. While he initially pledged to invest in the paper, the recent cuts suggest a shift in priorities. The question now is whether the Washington Post can navigate these challenges and maintain its journalistic integrity and influence in the years to come. As of , the future remains uncertain.
The impact of these cuts extends beyond the individuals who have lost their jobs. The elimination of the Sports and Books sections, along with the scaling back of other departments, represents a loss of specialized coverage and expertise. The decision to end the signature podcast further diminishes the Post’s ability to reach new audiences and engage with readers in innovative ways.
The Atlantic described the situation as a “public tragedy,” particularly for those with personal connections to the paper. The cuts are not simply a business decision. they represent the dismantling of an institution that has played a vital role in American democracy for nearly 150 years.
