The unpredictability of American politics is always captivating. A demonstration of this is the 2024 Presidential election where events changed the course of traditional expectations. Joe Biden went head to head against the force of nature named Donald Trump in a debate, with Biden’s lackluster performance shocking many. One could say Biden’s clumsy display spelled the beginning of his downfall in the re-election race.
Notably, Kamala Harris also took her chance in the political limelight and entered a debate against the formidable persona that is Donald Trump. Expectations were low, but she managed to give a moderate performance that momentarily sparked optimism in her dwindling campaign. However, this spark wasn’t enough to ignite a victory and she succumbed to what we could regard as an inevitably unsuccessful campaign.
Astoundingly, the 2024 Presidential election saw Donald Trump receive an overwhelming majority of the popular vote and again secure his hold on the Electoral College, paving the way to his postponed return to the White House. This victory marked Trump’s belated second term, a turn of events that left even the most seasoned political pundits astonished.
Adding to this unexpected turn of events, three leading left-leaning newspapers made a dramatic shift on their candidate endorsement decisions. A particularly intriguing fact when you remember that all three – The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times – had been stepping stones for Democratic candidates, endorsing Barack Obama twice, followed by Hillary Clinton, and then Joe Biden.
The 2024 election was a different ball game. Careful observers thought that these liberal-oriented newspapers would choose Kamala Harris as their champion. However, the narrative took an unforeseen right turn. Only The New York Times bestowed its endorsement on Harris, while its counterparts took a different approach.
The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times made headlines for refraining from endorsing either Harris or Trump. This new direction demonstrated by The Washington Post was fortified by their announcement of inexplicably breaking away from the norm of endorsing candidates in the presidential general elections, both then and in future.
The reason given was a newfound respect for their readers’ capability to independently decide for whom to cast their votes in these impactful American elections. An unprecedented move that illuminated the previously obscure principles of the publication and surely left many in disbelief.
This change of heart from The Washington Post was further highlighted by the newspaper’s owner. They, after having the publication under the Meyer-Graham family for over eighty years, openly expressed their viewpoint on this seemingly radical move. His stance highlights personal liberties and unfettered markets, a view one could see as a move away from traditionally left-leaning undertones.
As for The Los Angeles Times, their owner and Executive Chair requested a thorough factual analysis of the policies of both Harris and Trump during his first term from the editorial board. The executive also tasked them to evaluate the campaigns led by Trump and Harris and understand their potential impact on the nation in the following four years.
Intriguingly, despite this seemingly meticulous approach, the editorial board did not divulge any endorsement. Silence reigned supreme as their response, an intriguing departure from their past outpourings during election periods.
Focusing on the future, one can’t help but anticipate the effect of these new decisions regarding presidential general election endorsements in the 2028 election cycle. Particularly of interest will be the choices made by The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times.
One thing to remember is the undeniable power that these newspapers possess. They have not only shown their influence but also their willingness to either stick by their partnerships or break them as and when they see fit. Such power opens up infinite possibilities, and one is left pondering over what their endorsements will be for the elections in 2028.
Amidst all this uncertainty and dramatic disruptions, the only certainty that remains is the constant unpredictability of the political arena. The expectation of the unexpected is the norm. And as events have proved, this holds especially true in the game of American politics.