Former New York Times editor Bari Weiss dropped somewhat of a bombshell while interviewing Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on her podcast, “Honestly With Bari Weiss.”
According to Weiss, the Times refused to run an op-ed from Scott in 2020 without first checking with Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer — the op-ed on police reforms during the racial unrest that followed the death of George Floyd was ultimately rejected.
Weiss, who resigned from the Times in July 2020, told Scott she had a story to share with him when the failure of Scott’s Justice Act came up.
“I want to tell you a little story that I’m not sure if you know,” said Weiss, who claimed in stepping down at the newspaper that she was subject to “unlawful discrimination” and “constant bullying” from colleagues who deemed her ideas and views “wrongthink.”
Today, South Carolina @SenatorTimScott makes the case that the American dream is alive and well.https://t.co/3Enhaicfjf
— Honestly with Bari Weiss (@thehonestlypod) August 10, 2022
Scott commented that the bill was unsuccessful because “the Democrats really wanted the issue more than the solution,” and Weiss then explained that she was at the times when his staff submitted the op-ed on police reform and proceeded to tell Scott “why it fell apart.”
“And this is the part I’m not sure if you know. There was a discussion about the piece and whether or not we should run it,” she explained. “And one colleague, a more senior colleague, said to a more junior colleague who was pushing for the piece, ‘Do you think the Republicans really care about minority rights?'”
“Wow,” Scott replied.
“And the more junior colleagues said, ‘I think Tim Scott cares about minority rights.’ And then, and here’s the pretty shocking part. The more senior colleague said, ‘Let’s check with Senator Schumer before we run it,’” Weiss recalled.
“Are you surprised to hear that? Or does that story feel kind of representative of the way the media has treated you and maybe some of your colleagues?” she then asked.
“I am disappointed to hear that. I am not surprised to hear that,” the GOP senator said.
Scott went on to note that the Post spent “three or four months” going through records about his life.
“You have to remember that The Washington Post fact-checked my life,” he said. “I can’t tell you how disrespectful and dishonoring that entire process was — went on for three or four months as they went through records to find out whether or not my grandfather actually dropped out of the school in the third grade, their records suggested he dropped out in the fourth grade, but still didn’t learn to read.”
“They wanted to know if I had somehow hidden my silver spoon and just was using a plastic spoon instead,” Scott said. “[T]here is something national media wants to frame any conservatives, particularly black conservatives, as being disingenuous or insincere or a tool for the conservatives. When in fact the black community is consistently as conservative as any community.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, responded to the story in a tweet, suggesting the Times editorial board should resign — we know that’s not going to happen.
“If this is true, the entire NYT editorial board should resign. Because the NYT doesn’t give a damn about journalistic integrity—because they embrace their role as Dem propagandists — I expect them to do nothing. And, sadly, the corporate media will ignore,” he tweeted.
A spokesman for The Times denied Weiss’s account.
“New York Times Opinion never seeks outside approval or consultation whether to publish guest opinion essays,” spokesman Charlie Stadtlander said.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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