Poynter is reporting on new details emerging from "Regime Change," an upcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about the Trump administration. It said Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos privately told then-President-elect Donald Trump in December 2024 that the Post was "the worst investment I ever made."
Poynter said Bezos made the comment during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, after Trump's second election but before he took office. Bezos reportedly expressed frustration with the Post's staff, stating they "don’t listen." Trump, in turn, called the newspaper "really unfair." The book also reveals that Bezos had previously intervened in October 2024 to prevent the Post from endorsing Kamala Harris for president. Following these events, Bezos reportedly overhauled the Post's opinion section, leading to resignations, and the newspaper laid off approximately 300 journalists. Status' Jon Passantino wrote that Trump privately mocked Bezos and Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg for their attempts to ingratiate themselves with him.
Poynter also highlighted other revelations from "Regime Change." It said Disney, which owns ABC, settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $16 million in December 2024. Trump had sued over ABC News' George Stephanopoulos' on-air comment that Trump was found "liable for rape" in the E. Jean Carroll civil case. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, not rape under New York law. The initial settlement offer was $3 million for charity, which Trump's team rejected.
In other media news, Poynter noted that Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich married Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick over the weekend. It said Trump publicly mocked Heinrich's relationship with Fitzpatrick in May, pointing out Fitzpatrick's voting record against him. Fox News stated it has policies to ensure no conflicts of interest for its journalists.