The New York Times opinion pages lack representation for about half of the U.S. voting population. After conservative columnist Ross Douthat joined CBS News, The Times features 12 columnists, including Jamelle Bouie, Maureen Dowd, David French, Thomas Friedman, M. Gessen, Michelle Goldberg, Ezra Klein, Nicholas Kristof, Carlos Lozada, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Lydia Polgreen, and Bret Stephens.
Currently, only David French and Bret Stephens are conservatives. Both have publicly opposed Donald Trump and supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Douthat’s departure further decreases conservative voices at The Times.
Bari Weiss, who now heads Douthat at CBS, resigned from The Times in 2020 amid a backlash from far-left staff. Her resignation followed controversy over a Tom Cotton op-ed calling for federal troops to quell civil unrest, leading to social media upheaval and staff changes in the opinion section.
The political views of The Times columnists are reflected in recent commentary. Thomas Friedman expressed concern about supporting the fall of the Iranian regime, viewing it as a victory for figures like Trump and Netanyahu. Nicholas Kristof sparked outrage by reporting on allegations of rape involving Palestinian prisoners, and Michelle Goldberg walked back her praise for Senate candidate Graham Platner following allegations of sexual assault.
The New York Times editorial board also displays a strong liberal bias. It has endorsed Democratic presidential candidates for the last 17 elections. Notably, it has not supported a Republican candidate since Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, The Times released a video with columnists including Douthat, French, and Stephens discussing potential negative outcomes of Trump’s administration. Opinion pages do not feature anyone who has openly supported Trump.
By contrast, The Washington Post has seen changes under Jeff Bezos. He shifted its opinion section to emphasize personal liberties and free markets, causing disagreement among liberal critics. Opinion editor Adam O’Neal, speaking last year about the paper’s liberal readership, emphasized plans to expand its reach.
With Douthat’s exit from The Times, conservative voices dwindle further, particularly those opposing Trump.
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