Former Los Angeles Times legal columnist Harry Litman publicly announced his resignation this week, criticizing the paper's owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, for what he perceives as appeasing President-elect Donald Trump. During an MSNBC interview with Nicolle Wallace, Litman expressed his belief that the Times, under Soon-Shiong's leadership, is shirking its duty to challenge Trump's perceived threats to democracy by adopting a less partisan stance.

Litman echoed sentiments he shared in a recent Substack post, stating he felt compelled to resign because he could no longer be associated with an organization he believes is prioritizing personal interests over journalistic integrity. He contends that the Times, and Soon-Shiong specifically, are "cowering" to Trump. This follows Soon-Shiong's controversial September announcement that the paper would not endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election, a departure from the paper’s previous endorsements of Democratic candidates since 2008.

This decision ignited considerable backlash, particularly among liberal staff members, leading to the resignation of three editorial board members. Soon-Shiong has since reaffirmed his commitment to non-partisanship, aiming to establish a new editorial board to foster reader trust. The appointment of conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings to the editorial board last month further underscores this shift. Jennings expressed support for Soon-Shiong's vision, describing it as "important and groundbreaking."

Litman argued that newspapers play a crucial role in holding power accountable, particularly in the face of what he views as Trump’s concerning actions. He emphasized the Times’ responsibility to "push back" against perceived threats to democratic institutions. The former U.S. Attorney, appointed by President Bill Clinton, reiterated his resignation on his Substack page, explicitly stating his unwillingness to work for a paper he believes is "appeasing Trump and facilitating his assault on democratic rule."

Adding to the evolving landscape at the Los Angeles Times, Soon-Shiong recently revealed plans to implement an AI-powered "bias meter" to assess the objectivity of news and opinion pieces. He envisions this tool as a way to provide transparency to readers about potential biases in the content they consume, with a projected launch date of January. The Los Angeles Times has not yet responded to requests for comment on these developments.