A group of ancient workers in loincloths arguing with a man in a red garment about finishing a tower; he's turning the workers against each other..

Fired in the middle of a war zone

How the ultra-wealthy are dismantling labor power in America

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Odin Halvorson
Feb 08, 2026

Yes, Jeff Bezos did fire a reporter in the middle of a war zone, alongside 300 others across all sectors of the Washington Post.

This sucks on a number of levels, but two things stand out to me. First, it's another sign of our failed ability to build class power against mindless little scumbags like Jeff Bezos. Second, it's a warning about the power being exerted by a hateful few who are utterly terrified of a well-informed populace.

According to reports, among those laid off were the paper's Ukraine bureau chief and correspondent, the latter of whom was literally in a war zone at the time of the layoffs. The layoffs included hundreds of journalists and staffers, with entire bureaus being shut down, from sports to local news.

But the problem is larger than one newspaper–it's inherent in the broader context of labor power in America.

In fact, many people badmouth unions without realizing that the only reason they have working conditions that aren't truly abhorrent is because of unions.

A friend of mine worked as a union organizer, going to companies where unions actually already existed. Why? Because most of the employees didn't realize that their good benefits and pay were because they paid union dues.

My friend's job was to speak with these employees, many of whom had no idea that they were contractually part of a union, or what that actually meant. They had no idea that the reason they had healthcare or a fair wage was because of a union fighting tooth and nail for their rights. In fact, many people badmouth unions without realizing that the only reason they have working conditions that aren't truly abhorrent is because of unions.

The weakness of unions in our country is something that affects everyone, from Amazon warehouses to your local public library. Actually, this was something that I personally witnessed at the library system I used to work in.

There's a relentless attack happening on fair and strong reporting in this country

Years back, the library's union had had its teeth cut with an anti-strike clause. Now, under an administration that’s not just petty but outright hostile—pushing invasive surveillance, anti-homeless crackdowns, and even launching smear campaigns against employees (like the one against my old manager)—things have only gotten worse.

But the story doesn't end with the struggles of unions. Because the Washington Post, whatever I've thought of as reporting in the past, is one of our few remaining vital, researched sources of information. Jeff Bezos didn't just buy the Washington Post for fun or as a prestige object. He bought it because, by buying it, he is able to control the flow of information to hundreds of thousands of Americans.

There's a relentless attack happening on fair and strong reporting in this country, an attack exemplified by extremist organizations like the Sinclair Media Group, which owns a significant number of local news stations across the United States, with 294 television stations in 89 markets.

The first step is speaking up so your co-workers actually know why they have any rights at all.

And it's not just about the number of stations. The far right, alongside an established class of neoliberal elites, are the only people who are actually producing most of our consumed news. Local news sources are fading fast, and with them go our ability to be good, informed citizens.

And so, here we are, with a media landscape dominated by a handful of powerful entities and labor power that's been systematically eroded. It's a perfect storm that leaves everyday people at the mercy of corporate interests and a media that's more concerned with profit than truth.

The task now at hand, for all of us (across the political spectrum), is recognizing that these issues are interconnected and that addressing them requires a multifaceted approach. From supporting and revitalizing unions to advocating for stronger anti-monopoly laws, there's a lot of work to be done. But the first step is understanding the depth and breadth of the problem, and speaking up so your co-workers actually know why they have any rights at all.

I’m Odin Halvorson, a librarian, life coach, and fiction author. If you like my work and want to support what we do here at Unenlightened Generalists, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter for as little as $2.50 a month!

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