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The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times is reportedly in the process of launching a new MAGA-leaning digital news service that will feature controversial commentator Candace Owens and pro-Trump CNN pundit Scott Jennings.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the biopharmaceutical mogul who bought the venerable newspaper in 2018, has been working with Republican strategist Eric Beach on a new media venture tentatively called LAT Next, according to the Status newsletter.
Soon-Shiong, who has demanded the Times pivot away from its left-wing bent, sparked a newsroom revolt after killing the editorial board’s endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris weeks before the Nov. 5 election.
Unlike the Times, LAT Next appears to be a digital-first platform that will feature personalities catering to a conservative audience, Status’ Oliver Darcy reported on Wednesday.
Owens has been involved in multiple controversies, particularly regarding her comments on Israel and Jews.
Most recently, she parted ways with The Daily Wire after making remarks that were widely condemned as antisemitic, escalating her public feud with co-founder Ben Shapiro over the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Despite sharing part of the Times’ branding, LAT Next is reportedly a separate entity, though the specifics of its relationship with the newspaper remain unclear.
Hints of the new venture have surfaced on social media.
Last week, Soon-Shiong revealed that the conservative Jennings, who has gotten into heated debates with left-leaning pundits on CNN, would be involved in the project. Jennings was also named to the LA Times editorial board after several members quit following the spiked endorsement.
Additional names being floated include Ana Kasparian, a progressive commentator who has expressed criticism of certain left-wing policies.
Soon-Shiong’s plans for a pro-Trump entity is said to be causing angst among staffers at the Times — particularly in light of management’s recent buyout offer for anyone who has worked at the paper for more than two years.
The Post has sought comment from Soon-Shiong, the Times, Owens, Beach, Kasparian and Jennings.
Details about LAT Next’s programming remain sparse, but sources suggest that video content will be a major focus, according to Status.
One of the key attractions is rumored to be a talk show modeled after “The View,” with Beach actively recruiting co-hosts.
Rob Schneider, the Trump-backing “Saturday Night Live” alum, had previously pitched Soon-Shiong on a conservative talk show that would model “The View.”
Schneider discussed the idea in December at the newspaper’s El Segundo offices alongside Cheryl Hines, who is married to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services, according to Status.
The venture’s connection to the Times is causing unease among its journalists, who fear that resources may be diverted from the newspaper to support Soon-Shiong’s latest initiative, the outlet reported.
Concerns about the newspaper’s direction were already mounting before the emergence of LAT Next.
In late December, Soon-Shiong held a virtual meeting with members of the Times’ opinion section after staffers expressed concern over his apparent interference in editorial decisions.
According to sources, Soon-Shiong dominated the conversation, criticizing the opinion team for being too liberal.
The meeting, described as tense and unproductive, left staffers feeling demoralized.
A little over a month later, management announced voluntary buyouts as the publication continued to lose money.
The extent of potential job losses remains uncertain, but the inclusion of relatively new hires in the buyout offer suggests significant reductions could be on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Soon-Shiong continues to exert influence over the newspaper’s opinion section.
He has reportedly directed three left-leaning columnists — Robin Abcarian, Jackie Calmes, and LZ Granderson — to scale back their contributions from two articles per week to one.
This decision has fueled speculation that the opinion section is being strategically reshaped to align with a more conservative perspective.
A recent profile in The Free Press described Soon-Shiong as having taken “the red pill,” a term associated with a right-ward political awakening.
In the article, he expressed regret over his past support for progressive causes and criticized the Times for what he described as a culture of bias.
His remarks, which included accusations that some reporters disguise opinions as facts, infuriated staff members, according to Status.
Employees who had recently dedicated extensive efforts to covering wildfires in California were particularly frustrated that instead of acknowledging their hard work, their employer chose to publicly disparage them, the newsletter reported.
