"the magazine’s recently hired opinion editor, Trump-backing conservative activist and attorney Josh Hammer" https://www.thedailybeast.com/it-took-newsweek-three-days-and-a-staff-revolt-to-apologize-for-kamala-harris-birtherism-op-ed?source=twitter&via=desktop

"Hammer—a former Ted Cruz aide and member of the Federalist Society and the right-leaning Claremont Institute, who joined Newsweek in May after writing for Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire"

So, this is really important and we should be up in arms about it.

For some time there has been a movement to essentially launder orgs that don't actually make real journalism as legitimate.

See also: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/two-sites-that-amplify-hoaxes-given-special-treatment-at-trumps-briefings-despite-restrictions/2020/08/14/8579032e-de6e-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html

When folks from places that have little to zero credibility can assume the imprimatur of legacy orgs like Newsweek you get stuff like that racist Kamala piece

And then you have the editor of Newsweek DEFENDING an argument that is so obviously racist. Obviously specious.

And it's almost always weaponized and defended under the auspices of free speech.

See also: The Atlantic hiring a guy who said women who have abortions should be hanged.

Thank heavens for @JessicaValenti and the big stink she made about it until they reversed course.

But this stuff is really dangerous.

News organizations have editorial standards for a reason—because they have a duty to truth, and they have a duty to readers.

And there are still too many people in posit of power at these places who are willing to let bad faith actors use that to propagate lies.

News editors HAVE to be more discerning about this stuff.

They must. And furthermore, displaying terrible judgement like this SHOULD cost you your job.

The truth is too important. Democracy is too important.

And marginalized people should not have to go bat with news organizations about their own right to exist. About their humanity. About their citizenship. About self-determination.

Because once you're having to debate your claim to your own inalienable rights, you've already lost.

That is not a debate that reputable news organizations with a commitment to truth should be engaging in.

Stop letting yourselves be bamboozled in the pursuit of ends that are fundamentally at odds with democracy.

And put people in charge who know better.