Patrick Soon-Shiong Blocks Harris Endorsement Over Gaza Conflict
- Patrick Soon-Shiong's internal email expressed his disapproval of endorsing Kamala Harris due to her stance on Israel's actions in Gaza.
- His decision prompted resignations from members of the editorial board and resulted in thousands of canceled subscriptions.
- The episode demonstrates the increasing challenges media organizations face when navigating political endorsements amid public distrust.
Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, cited the ongoing Gaza war as a reason to reject the paper's endorsement of Kamala Harris for president. In an internal email, he criticized Harris for her support of Israel's military actions in Gaza, labeling them as genocide. This decision sparked significant backlash within the editorial board, leading to the resignation of three members and a wave of subscription cancellations. Soon-Shiong's actions echoed similar moves by other media outlets, indicating a broader hesitation among influential publishers to endorse political candidates amid rising public skepticism toward the media. His daughter, Nika Soon-Shiong, highlighted the moral imperative to oppose perceived crimes against humanity, drawing parallels to her family's history in apartheid South Africa. The controversy underscores the difficulties media organizations face in navigating political endorsements in a highly polarized environment.