The New York Times' opinion section has further reduced its conservative representation following the departure of longtime columnist Ross Douthat, who has joined CBS News as a correspondent for "60 Minutes." Douthat's exit leaves the Times with 12 featured columnists, only two of whom identify as conservative.
These remaining conservative voices, David French and Bret Stephens, have both been vocal critics of former President Donald Trump. Both have publicly declared their support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, according to reports.
Douthat's move to CBS News was facilitated by Bari Weiss, former opinion editor at The New York Times, who resigned in 2020, citing ostracization and bullying from colleagues. Weiss's departure followed a controversy over a 2020 op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton, which led to significant backlash from liberal Times staff and the dismissal of several opinion editors.
Shifting Conservative Representation
Prior to Douthat's departure, The New York Times opinion pages featured a broader spectrum of views. However, the current lineup of columnists is largely liberal, including figures such as Jamelle Bouie, Maureen Dowd, Thomas Friedman, M. Gessen, Michelle Goldberg, Ezra Klein, Nicholas Kristof, Carlos Lozada, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Lydia Polgreen, and Bret Stephens. While French and Stephens are identified as conservative, their public stances have largely aligned against Trump.
This dynamic is reflected in the paper's editorial board, which has not endorsed a Republican presidential candidate since Dwight D. Eisenhower nearly 70 years ago, consistently endorsing Democratic candidates for the past 17 elections.
Recent commentary from Times columnists has highlighted internal divisions and external controversies. Thomas Friedman expressed ambivalence about the downfall of the Iranian regime, stating he felt "torn" if it would politically strengthen Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Nicholas Kristof faced international criticism for a report on Palestinian prisoners that was later contested. Michelle Goldberg also had to retract part of her coverage of a Maine Senate candidate accused of sexual assault.
In a video released shortly after Trump's 2024 election victory, ten New York Times columnists, including Douthat, French, and Stephens, shared their negative predictions for a potential Trump administration. Lydia Polgreen suggested Trump would "fulfill his promise to be a dictator on Day One."