Hugh Hewitt quits The Washington Post after storming off newspaper’s live show

New York
CNN
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Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt resigned from his contributing columnist position at The Washington Publish on Friday after storming off the newspaper’s reside present over a disagreement along with his colleagues.

Hewitt’s resignation got here after an look on “First Look,” the Publish’s reside present hosted by Jonathan Capehart, alongside Ruth Marcus, an affiliate editor and columnist on the Publish, throughout a dialogue over former President Donald Trump authorized efforts in battleground states.

“Is it me, or does it look like, this week, Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for contesting the election by complaining that dishonest was going down in Pennsylvania by suing Bucks County for alleged irregularities?” Capehart requested Marcus and Hewitt.

“No election might be honest in Donald Trump’s thoughts except Donald Trump wins it,” Marcus mentioned earlier than Hewitt interjected.

“I’ve simply acquired to say we’re newspeople despite the fact that we’re with the opinion part. It’s acquired to be reported — Bucks County was reversed by the court docket and instructed to open up further days as a result of they violated the regulation and informed individuals to go residence,” Hewitt mentioned. “So, that lawsuit was by the Republican Nationwide Committee, and it was profitable.”

Hewitt was referencing a latest profitable bid by the Trump marketing campaign and RNC to increase mail-in voting within the Philadelphia suburb. On Wednesday morning, the marketing campaign filed a lawsuit claiming the county had illegally turned away “many” voters earlier than Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline to use in particular person. A Pennsylvania choose sided with the trio on the identical day.

“We’re information individuals, despite the fact that we now have opinions, and we now have to report the entire story if we deliver up a part of the story,” Hewitt added. “So sure, he’s upset about Bucks County, however he was proper, and he gained in court docket. That’s the story.”

Capehart replied: “I don’t respect being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, many instances you come right here saying plenty of issues that aren’t primarily based in actual fact.”

“I cannot come again, Jonathan, how’s that? I’m finished,” Hewitt fired again as he stood up from his chair and eliminated his earpiece. “That is probably the most unfair election advert I’ve ever been part of.”

“You guys are working, that’s wonderful, I’m finished,” Hewitt mentioned earlier than strolling off display.

After storming off the present, Hewitt confirmed to Fox Information that he had parted methods with The Publish.

“I’ve in actual fact give up the Publish however I used to be solely writing a column for them each six weeks or so,” Hewitt informed Fox.

A spokesperson for the Publish didn’t immediately touch upon Hewitt’s resignation however mentioned, “Because the newsroom’s reside journalism platform, Washington Publish Stay is understood for its dynamic conversations and thought-provoking views on prime problems with the day, similar to this morning’s “First Look” program.”

Hewitt, who joined the Publish in 2017 and hosts a nationally-syndicated radio present for Salem Media, has been one of many few conservative voices for the Publish’s in any other case left-leaning Opinion desk. His final opinion piece, certainly one of seven he has written in 2024, was a column calling for Trump’s MAGA motion to “evolve” below a second Trump administration.

Hewitt’s departure comes after a tumultuous week on the Publish, the place three members of the newspaper’s editorial board resigned in protest over billionaire Publish proprietor Jeff Bezos’ choice to not endorse a candidate within the presidential race. Within the wake of the choice, greater than 250,000 readers canceled their subscriptions, the newspaper reported.