Washington Post’s Resident Media Hack Departs Paper For Mainstream Competitor

Erik Wemple announced Wednesday on social media that he’s leaving The Washington Post after 14 years.

In a post on X, Wemple said he accepted the newspaper’s buyout offer and will soon take on a new role at The New York Times. Wemple will cover media from Washington for The New York Times’ Business section starting in September.

“After 14 very, very happy years writing opinions on media at the Washington Post, I am taking the newspaper’s buyout offer. In September, I will begin work at the New York Times covering media from Washington for the paper’s Business section,” Wemple wrote.

After 14 very, very happy years writing opinions on media at the Washington Post, I am taking the newspaper’s buyout offer. In September, I will begin work at the New York Times covering media from Washington for the paper’s Business section.

— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) July 30, 2025

Wemple’s tenure at The Washington Post wasn’t without controversy. In 2016, Wemple, along with other prominent media figures, faced criticism for ignoring the racial purge lawsuit against the paper, despite its significant legal implications. Wemple refused to cover the case.

Wemple had a long-running feud with Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson. During Carlson’s tenure at Fox News, Wemple frequently criticized his style and coverage, often targeting his rhetoric and media tactics. Wemple posted on X to criticize The Atlantic for being too kind to Carlson, even though the piece was actually critical, portraying Carlson as a snobby elitist with little sympathy for his liberal neighbors. (RELATED: Politico Staff Revolts After Ben Shapiro Authors Playbook)

In 2018, Wemple published a story about a lawsuit involving Carlson and former Daily Caller contributor Evan Gahr, which was eventually settled. Wemple showed no self-awareness, mocking Carlson while referring to his own blog in the collective “we” form and noting how Gahr enjoyed needling both Wemple and his wife Stephanie Mencimer of Mother Jones.

Carlson responded to Wemple’s coverage and accused The Washington Post of dishonesty for omitting Gahr’s history of mental illness. Wemple, in turn, reacted on X, sarcastically dismissing Carlson’s comments, claiming that no amount of formal address would earn him the respect he said Carlson was seeking.

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