Shashi Tharoor's son Ishaan among 300 fired from Washington Post
What's the story
The Washington Post has laid off over 300 journalists and staff, more than a third of its editorial workforce. Per reports, the cuts have mostly affected the newspaper's foreign bureaus, local reporting teams, sports desk, and large parts of the business division. The move has been described as a "dark day" for global journalism by many current and former staff members.
Notable departures
MP Shashi Tharoor's son laid off
Among those laid off is Ishaan Tharoor, a senior international affairs columnist at The Washington Post. He is the son of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. In an emotional post on X, he confirmed his layoff and expressed heartbreak for his colleagues. "I have been laid off today from The Washington Post... I'm heartbroken for our newsroom and especially for the peerless journalists who served the Post internationally," he wrote.
Shared grief
Other journalists express heartbreak over layoff
Other journalists have also expressed their heartbreak over the layoffs. Ukraine correspondent Lizzie Johnson said she was "devastated" after being laid off in the middle of a warzone. New Delhi Bureau Chief Pranshu Verma and Berlin Bureau Chief Aaron Wiener also confirmed their layoff on X, calling it a privilege to work at The Washington Post. Reports suggest several senior correspondents and editors across regions, including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America, are among those affected
Twitter Post
'Fired in the middle of a warzone'
I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated. https://t.co/dVCLF39YV1
— lizzie johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) February 4, 2026
Management critique
Former editor slams Bezos for 'eroding reader trust'
Former executive editor Marty Baron slammed the layoffs as "among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations." He blamed "ill-conceived decisions from the very top," including a controversial editorial page overhaul. Baron accused owner Jeff Bezos of eroding reader trust and driving away subscribers and senior journalists. He warned that the public would now be denied "ground-level, fact-based reporting in our communities and around the world that is needed more than ever."
Industry impact
Layoffs raise questions about future of international coverage
The scale of the layoffs indicates a major contraction of The Washington Post's global footprint. Foreign correspondents, who are usually the backbone of its award-winning international coverage, seem to have been among those hardest hit. Observers are concerned about the future of costly on-the-ground international journalism amid digital disruption and declining trust in traditional media outlets. The Post has also reportedly closed its Books section, canceled the Post Reports podcast, and curtailed Metro and international coverage.