LA Times editor Mariel Garza resigns after owner blocks Harris endorsement plans

The Los Angeles Times' editorials editor resigned Wednesday after the newspaper's plans to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election were blocked by billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, the Columbia Journalism Review first reported.

The big picture: "Of course it matters that the largest newspaper in the state ... declined to endorse in a race this important," wrote Mariel Garza in her resignation letter, published by the CJR, which noted Trump's campaign called the L.A. Times' decision the "latest blow" for the California presidential candidate.

• "It makes us look craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist. How could we spend eight years railing against Trump and the danger his leadership poses to the country and then fail to endorse the perfectly decent Democrat challenger — who we previously endorsed for the US Senate?"

Driving the news: Garza told the CJR by phone that she was resigning "because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent" and in "dangerous times, honest people need to stand up" and this is how she's standing up.

What they're saying: Soon-Shiong wrote on X Wednesday that the editorial board was asked to "draft a factual analysis" of positive and negative policies of each candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these affected the U.S.

• The board was asked to provide its "understanding of the policies and plans enunciated by the candidates during this campaign and its potential effect on the nation in the next four years," Soon-Shiong said.
• "In this way, with this clear and non-partisan information side-by-side, our readers could decide who would be worthy of being President for the next four years."

The Los Angeles Times Guild said in an online statement that it's "deeply concerned about our owner's decision to block a planned endorsement in the presidential race."

• The Guild added that it's "even more concerned that he is now unfairly assigning blame to Editorial Board members for his decision not to endorse" and was "still pressing for answers from newsroom management on behalf of our members."

Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.