The Powers That Be: Daily Can the Washington Post Be Saved?
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Feb 11, 2026 
Dylan Byers, media reporter and host of The Grill Room podcast, breaks down the turmoil at The Washington Post and its leadership shakeups. He discusses viral PR missteps, Bezos' push for data-driven growth, debates over national versus regional strategy, AI and product experiments, and the high stakes for newsroom morale and international coverage.
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CEO Absent During Layoff Fallout
- Will Lewis was photographed at the Super Bowl after layoffs began, which went viral and angered staff.
- Matt Murray learned Lewis had left Washington only after seeing the photo, highlighting communication breakdowns.
Bezos Pushes Data-Driven News Strategy
- Jeff D'Onofrio is a placeholder CEO and Bezos emphasizes data-driven story selection.
- That stance revives long-standing tensions about audience-led journalism versus traditional editorial judgment.
Articulate A Clear, Concrete Strategy
- Leadership must articulate a concrete path forward instead of repeating digital-first platitudes.
- Say what you'll do, then align the newsroom and execute against that plan.