Harry Litman resigns, calls out L.A. Times owner for cowering to Trump

In December 2024, Harry Litman, a longtime contributor to the Los Angeles Times, announced his resignation from the newspaper. Litman has been part of the publication for over 15 years, serving as the senior legal columnist and possessing a background as a former U.S. attorney and deputy assistant attorney general. His departure was driven by concerns over the changing editorial direction imposed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper's billionaire owner. Litman expressed that he could no longer support a publication that he believed was appeasing Donald Trump, whom he accused of conducting an assault on democratic governance. Litman mentioned specific instances where Soon-Shiong forced the paper to adopt a tone more sympathetic to Trump, including an incident where the owner ordered the spiking of a drafted endorsement for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. This editorial decision has been characterized by Litman as 'brutal, humiliating, and unprofessional.' His actions were not simply a personal choice; they were a protest against the perceived cravenness of the paper's ownership, which he felt undermined the integrity of the journalism that the Times should uphold. The controversy surrounding newsroom independence has heightened, especially given the implications of the upcoming presidential elections. Litman emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the potential for Trump to secure another term poses an existential threat to democratic principles. His criticism extended to the planned introduction of a so-called 'bias meter' that Soon-Shiong intends to implement, which Litman views as a misunderstanding of fair reporting. He argued that balanced journalism should not equate to presenting Falsehoods and lies as equal to the truth. Trump’s record of dishonesty, according to Litman, necessitates that journalists clearly identify and challenge such Falsehoods. Following his resignation, Litman granted an interview with MSNBC where he reiterated his concerns, claiming that the current trajectory of the L.A. Times indicates a worrying trend of capitulation to Trumpian narratives. He believes this situation reflects broader issues within media organizations regarding their editorial autonomy in the face of commercial interests. This resignation marks a significant moment not only for Litman but for the media landscape in which editorial independence is increasingly challenged by ownership priorities.