Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of SkyBridge Capital, is putting his money where his mouth is. On Wednesday, he announced he's canceling his subscription to the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post, along with several other subscriptions from Magnificent 7 companies.
Scaramucci made the announcement via X, explaining the move as a show of solidarity with employees caught up in the massive layoffs hitting the newspaper. It's the kind of public gesture that gets attention in financial and media circles.
The Post Slashes a Third of Its Workforce
The Washington Post has begun widespread layoffs touching every department, cutting roughly a third of its staff, according to Reuters, which cited the Washington-Baltimore News Guild union. The New York Times reports the number is close to 300 employees.
The newsroom is losing "hundreds" of positions, including roles on the international, editing, metro, and sports desks. These cuts follow the paper's recent decision to scale back coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics amid mounting financial pressures. Executive Editor Matt Murray called it the "darkest days" in the organization's history.
The Post confirmed the news to Reuters, describing the actions as "difficult but decisive." For context, Bezos purchased the newspaper from the Graham family back in 2013 for $250 million.
Trump Ties and Controversial Decisions
Jeff Bezos, who also founded Amazon.com (AMZN), is drawing serious criticism. Some observers are connecting his decisions at the Post to his growing proximity to the White House and efforts to maintain a relationship with President Donald Trump.
In February 2025, The Washington Post rejected an ad campaign targeting Elon Musk, a move that generated significant controversy. Common Cause, an advocacy group, had planned a provocative "Fire Elon Musk" ad campaign, which the Post turned down despite having entered a $115,000 deal with the organization.
Trump later publicly praised Bezos for the changes he's implemented at the newspaper. The timing and optics haven't helped Bezos's case with critics who see these moves as politically motivated rather than purely business-driven.
