'Smash his toy': Commentator says Bezos 'capitulated' to fascism and urges WaPo boycott

Political commentator Elie Mystal on Friday called on Washington Post readers to cancel their subscriptions after news broke that the editorial board would not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election.

Mystal expressed outrage after the Post announced it would return to a 1960 policy of not issuing endorsements — and legendary former editor Marty Baron argued the reason was fear of former President Donald Trump.

"I'm getting sick of people saying 'cancelling subscriptions hurts the writers not the owners,'" Mystal wrote on X. "If we're being real ... NOTHING *hurts* billionaires. Being a billionaire literally buys you out of consequences."

Sir William Lewis, the knighted British executive who serves as publisher and CEO of the Post, argued in an editorial Friday the decision was not based on the characters of either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, but on American values.

"We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility," wrote Lewis.

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"We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects."

Baron disagreed.

"This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty," he replied. "[Trump] will see this as an invitation to further intimidate owner [Bezos] (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage."

Amid this debate, Mystal called on readers to hit Bezos where he argued it might hurt him the most — despite the impact it might have on the paper's journalists.

"Cancelling a subscription to a publication is pretty much the only way to register DISPLEASURE with the publication's offerings," he wrote.

"The writers cannot be expected to resign en masse (newsflash, writers are generally poorly paid and having any kind of actually paying journalism job is something most people need to hold onto). But if the WaPo loses stature and reach, some will find better places to work."

Mystal made his callout plain in a concluding X post:

"So, yes, you should cancel your WaPo subscription based on the owner's pathetic, punk decision to capitulate to fascism," he wrote. "If Bezos is going to use the WaPo as his personal plaything, the least we can do is smash his toy."