New York Times reporter Matt Flegenheimer unloaded an almost 5,000-word attempt at a hit piece on journalist Bari Weiss, who founded The Free Press after resigning from the Times in 2020. The snarky tone paired with the story’s vaguely threatening cover art and the endless series of feeble jabs that don’t land suggest a failed attempt at a hit piece — with perhaps a scoop of professional jealousy in the mix?
The online headline deck carried the same vibe: “Bari Weiss Knows Exactly What She’s Doing — The founder of The Free Press has built a new media empire by persuading audiences that she is a teller of dangerous truths.” The whispered subtext: “But we know better, don’t we?”
Bari Weiss has long been blessed with two superpowers, those close to her say: She knows how to make useful enemies, and she knows how to make useful friends.
As the…
