We knew this would happen and it wasn’t hard to predict.
Two weeks ago we told you about Ben Shapiro being invited by Politico editors to write their morning
Playbook and how that triggered woke liberals into outrage all over the media, including at Politico, who read the
Playbook every morning.
At the time Politico defended the decision, saying:
“We published a piece by a very prominent writer, provocateur, and podcaster. We stand by every word in there, it was very closely edited. Mischief making has always been a part of Politico’s secret sauce. We were an upstart. Some of that sensibility is always going to be a part of this publication.”
Robert Allbritton over the decision to allow right-wing firebrand
Ben Shapiro guest-author the
Daily Beastreport.
Shapiro, who has made derogatory remarks about Muslims, African-Americans, women, LGBTQ people, and secular Jewish people, led the January 14 edition of Playbook with a essay titled “The real reason most republicans opposed impeachment,” taking shots at existing Playbook readers, and arguing that conservatives believe that Trump supporters will face “repression everywhere from social media to employment.”
The decision to publish Shapiro faced a near-immediate internal – and external – backlash.
In the letter, staffers expressed disgust with the decision, reportedly criticizing the choice to let Shapiro guest-write
UPDATE:
Ben Shapiro has responded.
Once again, my point in Politico: conservatives feel that media attacks on anyone right of center are nearly always designed as a broader attack on conservatives writ large. Politico staffers just keep proving my point, over and over again. https://t.co/ttTaq1jTOz Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 26, 2021
Here s the thing: they can t cancel me. But they can certainly make life miserable for anyone who thinks of platforming conservatives at a non-conservative outlet in the future. Which is the entire point. Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 26, 2021
Also, I hope all those staffers enjoy their Leftist Tears tumblers. Gotta keep those laptops dry for future forays into journalisming. Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 26, 2021
Two weeks ago, several Politico staff members threw a hissy fit in a video conference call with management because they dared to allow ideological diversity to exist at their publication.