Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt resigned from the Washington Post after he stormed off a live-streamed discussion on Friday amid a dispute with two of the newspaper’s liberal columnists about Donald Trump’s claims regarding election fraud.
Hewitt, a contributing columnist for the embattled Jeff Bezos-owned broadsheet, appeared on a discussion with Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus previewing Tuesday’s election when the conversation turned to a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania, where a judge agreed to a request to extend in-person voting in Bucks County.
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee successfully sought an extension of the deadline after several people who were on line for mail ballots were turned away after the 5 p.m. cutoff on Tuesday.
“Is it me or does it seem like Donald Trump is laying the ground work for contesting the election,” Capehart asked Marcus.
“By claiming that cheating was taking place, but suing Bucks County [Pennsylvania] for alleged irregularities.”
Marcus replied that Trump has been “laying the ground work” to contest the election for months.
Hewitt then tried to get a word in, saying: “Jonathan, I’ve gotta speak up.”
“Let Ruth finish, Hugh,” Capehart shot back.
After Marcus was done, Hewitt said: “Well, I’ve just got to say, we’re news people, even though it’s the opinion section.”
“It’s got to be reported,” Hewitt continued.
“Bucks County was reversed by the court and instructed to open up extra days because they violated the law and told people to go home.”
Hewitt also mentioned the recent Supreme Court ruling that backed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s move to purge 1,600 people from voter rolls.
“We are news people, even though we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story. So, yes, he’s upset about Bucks County, but he was right and he won in court. That’s the story,” Hewitt said.
After a brief pause, Capehart told Hewitt, “I don’t appreciate being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, many times you come here saying lots of things that aren’t based in fact.”
The accusation infuriated Hewitt.
“I won’t come back, Jonathan, I’m done,” he said, ripping his earpiece out and standing up.
“I’m done. This is the most unfair election ad I’ve ever been a part of,” Hewitt continued, his face no longer visible on the screen.
“You guys are working, that’s fine, I’m done.”
Two sources familiar with the matter told The Post that Hewitt quit his job as a contributing columnist at the Washington Post moments after storming off the set.
Conservative media luminaries lauded the veteran radio host and pundit for standing up to Capehart’s badgering.
“BRAVO @hughhewitt! Factual, sober, brave and appropriately FED UP with these left-wing hacks posing as journalists,” beamed fellow conservative radio host Megyn Kelly.
The testy exchange came amid upheaval at the Washington Post over Bezos’ decision not to allow the editorial board to print an endorsement for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Bezos warned in an Oct. 28 op-ed that the paper’s staff had been “increasingly” willing to “talk only to a certain elite,” rather than the broader American public.
“More and more, we talk to ourselves,” Bezos wrote. “It wasn’t always this way — in the 1990s we achieved 80 percent household penetration in the D.C. metro area.”
The anger over Bezos’ decision led to resignations at the newspaper. It’s been reported that 250,000 readers have canceled their subscriptions in protest.
The New York Post has sought comment from the Washington Post.
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