Jonathan Capehart leaves The Washington Post: We can’t ‘ignore’ threats to democracy

Jonathan Capehart leaves The Washington Post: We can’t ‘ignore’ threats to democracy “Unapologetic patriotism is incomplete if it doesn’t allow for a mirror to be held up to America, her people and her president,” Capehart said.

Aug. 1, 2025, 3:55 PM EDT

By Allison Detzel

Jonathan Capehart, co-host of MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” is opening up about his decision to leave The Washington Post after almost two decades. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist addressed his departure from the paper while filling in for Lawrence O’Donnell on “The Last Word” Thursday evening.

“On Jan. 5, 2007, a call with Fred Hiatt changed my life,” Capehart began. “I was dying a slow death at a corporate public relations firm during my second departure from journalism.”

At the time, Hiatt was the editorial