“In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up.” – That’s the fiery resignation letter from Mariel Garza, the LA Times editorial editor, after billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly blocked the paper from endorsing Kamala Harris for president. Garza’s bold departure is sending shockwaves through the newsroom, as the paper’s liberal base is left puzzled by this unprecedented move.
For over a decade, the LA Times has exclusively endorsed Democratic candidates. With Harris as a hometown favorite, the paper’s editorial board was gearing up to endorse her—until executive editor Terry Tang dropped the bombshell. According to inside sources, Tang told staff that Soon-Shiong decided no presidential endorsements this time around, sparking outrage.
Garza didn’t hold back in her public resignation, calling the decision “perplexing” and a betrayal of the paper’s responsibility to its readers. “This is a point in time where you speak your conscience, no matter what,” she said, slamming the decision as tone-deaf, especially after the LA Times has run a series of editorials blasting Donald Trump.
Soon-Shiong finally broke his silence on social media, defending his decision as a push for “factual analysis” of both candidates, rather than partisan endorsements. But the damage is done. Garza’s exit, and the editorial board’s sudden silence on the election, marks a dramatic departure for the historically liberal paper.
As speculation grows over Soon-Shiong’s motivations, with some pointing to concerns about his daughter’s political activism, this internal battle raises a crucial question: Has the LA Times lost its editorial independence under billionaire control? The fallout continues.
