Washington Post opinion editor Adam O'Neal resigns after a year

Adam O'Neal announced his departure as the Washington Post’s opinion editor, effective August 31, 2026, after roughly one year in the role. He was hired by owner Jeff Bezos in early 2025 to reorient the opinion section around two pillars – personal liberties and free markets – a mandate that led to the exit of his predecessor, David Shipley.

In a staff memo, O'Neal highlighted that user time on the Opinions site more than doubled in his first six months and that editorial pageviews grew by triple‑digit percentages, with increases in search traffic and new subscription starts. A replacement has not yet been named. The shift sparked criticism from former editors who said it conflicted with the paper’s tradition of editorial independence. Acting publisher and CEO Jeff D’Onofrio also issued a memo accompanying O'Neal’s farewell.