Veteran tech reporter Kara Swisher is trying to put together a team of wealthy investors to buy The Washington Post from billionaire Jeff Bezos, Axios reports.
Bezos hasn’t indicated any interest in or willingness to sell, but Swisher is apparently hoping the storied paper has become enough of a headache that he will entertain offers.
The Amazon founder and chief executive has come under fire recently for attempting to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump.
During the presidential election, he killed the Post editorial board’s planned endorsement of Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.
After Trump won re-election, Bezos donated $1 million to his inaugural fund and joined him for dinner at his private Mar-a-Lago club.
Critics say it’s all part of an attempt to bolster Bezos’ other business interests, including his space tech company, creating a conflict of interest with the paper.
Budgetary and management issues have also reportedly led to turmoil at the Post. “The Post can do better,” Swisher told Axios. “It’s so maddening to see what’s happening.” A banker has been helping her come up with a plan to recruit a board of civic-minded investors who want to help increase revenues and re-energize the newsroom.
