Hugh Hewitt is leaving The Washington Post after storming off the paper’s live show

New York
CNN
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Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt resigned as a contributing columnist at The Washington Post on Friday after storming off the paper’s live show over a disagreement with his colleagues.

Hewitt’s resignation came after one appearance on “First Look,” the Post’s live show hosted by Jonathan Capehart with Ruth Marcus, an associate editor and columnist at the Post, during a discussion of former President Donald Trump’s legal efforts in battleground states.

“Is it me or does it look like Donald Trump is laying the groundwork this week to contest the election by complaining that cheating took place in Pennsylvania by suing Bucks County for alleged irregularities?” Capehart asked Marcus and Hewitt.

“No election can be fair in Donald Trump’s mind unless Donald Trump wins it,” Marcus said before Hewitt interjected.

“I just have to say that we are newspapers, even though we are in the opinion section. It must be reported – Bucks County was returned by the court and instructed to open up extra days because they broke the law and told people to go home, ” said Hewitt. “So that lawsuit was by the Republican National Committee, and it was successful.”

Hewitt referred to a recent successful bid by the Trump campaign and the RNC to expand mail-in voting in suburban Philadelphia. On Wednesday morning, the campaign filed a lawsuit alleging the county illegally turned away “many” voters before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline to apply in person. A Pennsylvania judge sided with the trio the same day.

“We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story,” Hewitt added. “So yeah, he’s upset with Bucks County, but he was right and he won in court. That’s the story.”

Capehart replied, “I don’t appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, a lot of times you come on here and say a lot of things that aren’t based in reality.”

“I’m not coming back, Jonathan, how is it? I’m done,” Hewitt shot back as he rose from his chair and removed his earpiece. “This is the most unfair election ad I’ve ever been a part of.”

“You guys are working, that’s fine, I’m done,” Hewitt said before walking away from the screen.

After storming off the show, Hewitt confirmed to Fox News that he had parted ways with The Post.

“I actually left the Post, but I only wrote a column for them every six weeks or so,” Hewitt told Fox.

A Post spokesman did not comment directly on Hewitt’s resignation, but said: “As the newsroom’s live journalism platform, Washington Post Live is known for its dynamic conversations and thoughtful perspectives on the day’s top issues, such as the morning ‘First See’ program.”

Hewitt, who joined Posten in 2017 and hosts a nationally syndicated radio show for Salem Media, has been one of the few conservative voices for the Post’s otherwise left-leaning Opinion desk. His last op-ed, one of seven he’s written in 2024, was a column calling for Trump’s MAGA movement to “evolve” under another Trump administration.

Hewitt’s departure comes after a tumultuous week at the Post, in which three members of the paper’s editorial board resigned in protest over billionaire Post owner Jeff Bezos’ decision not to endorse a presidential candidate. In the wake of the decision, more than 250,000 readers canceled their subscriptions, the paper reported.