Truth Dies in Darkness: Washington Post Refuses to Correct Fake Heritage Quotes
Rob Bluey /
The Washington Post published an article Monday that fabricates two quotes attributed to Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts.
Roberts sent an email Sunday to Heritage staff announcing personnel changes at the organization. Washington Post reporters Jacob Bogage and Isaac Arnsdorf claim to have obtained the internal email, although the two quotes they cite from Roberts are noticeably different.
Below are the quotes from the Post’s article compared to Roberts’ email (emphasis added).
WASHINGTON POST: “This weekend, most of our staff, from our legal and economic centers, are departing immediately. We wish them well, though the manner of their departures speaks volumes.”
KEVIN ROBERTS: “This weekend, additional staff, from our legal and economic centers, are departing immediately. We wish them well, though the manner of their departures speaks volumes.”
WASHINGTON POST: “Heritage has always been home to voices within the conservative movement, but alignment on mission and loyalty to senior leadership are nonnegotiable.”
KEVIN ROBERTS: “Heritage has always been a home for many voices within the conservative movement—but alignment on mission and loyalty to the institution and colleagues are non-negotiable.”
The Heritage Foundation asked the Post reporters and White House editor Amy Gardner to correct the story Monday night.
According to a Heritage spokesman, a Post reporter suggested there were multiple versions of the email; Roberts sent only one email Sunday.
“They never asked to confirm their lousy information and printed it anyway because it suited their narrative,” said Cody Sargent, a spokesman for Heritage. “Garbage.”
The Daily Signal, which was founded by Heritage and now operates as an independent media organization, contacted multiple Post staffers Monday night for comment. More than 12 hours later, Post spokeswoman Liza Pluto, Gardner, and Arnsdorf have failed to respond or correct the story.
Earlier this year, Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos promised big changes at the publication, announcing the opinion pages would promote “personal liberties and free markets.” That followed the Post’s decision to withhold an endorsement from Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024.
More than 300,000 subscribers reportedly canceled in the wake of those events, and several longtime Post employees quit.