Bari Weiss is an American journalist who built a reputation covering campus culture wars, anti-Semitism, and free speech debates before founding The Free Press, an independent media outlet launched in 2022.

Media Career

Early Reporting (2007-2017)
Weiss wrote editorials for The Wall Street Journal and helped shape the paper’s arts coverage, developing a focus on generational debates over liberal values.

The New York Times (2017-2020)
Joining the Times opinion section, she commissioned arguments across the ideological spectrum while critiquing internal pressures around speech. Her resignation letter framed a broader dispute over newsroom culture and open debate.

The Free Press (2022-Present)
Weiss founded The Free Press as an umbrella for newsletters, podcasts, and live events that feature heterodox voices discussing American politics, universities, and global conflicts.

Influence and Reception

• Prominent voice in discussions about anti-Semitism and Jewish identity in U.S. politics.
• Hosts the “Honestly” podcast interviewing political, cultural, and academic figures.
• Frequent media guest analyzing campus protests, speech policies, and the role of independent journalism.
• Organizes Free Press live forums to foster cross-partisan dialogue.

Weiss continues to build a multimedia brand that amplifies debates about liberal values and institutional trust while expanding The Free Press into a broader newsroom.