Weekly Standard to shut down

The Weekly Standard, a conservative news outlet that has consistently been critical of President Trump, will shut down after 23 years, its publisher announced Friday. 

Editor-in-chief Stephen Hayes sent a note to employees referencing difficulties maneuvering the Trump presidency in announcing the magazine and news site would close.

{mosads}”This is a volatile time in American journalism and politics,” he wrote in the note obtained by CNN. “Many media outlets have responded to the challenges of the moment by prioritizing affirmation over information, giving into the pull of polarization and the lure of clickbait.”

“I’m proud that we’ve remained both conservative and independent, providing substantive reporting and analysis based on facts, logic and reason.”

The chairman of the Standard’s publisher, MediaDC, met with Hayes earlier this week amid reports that shuttering operations was possible.

The Weekly Standard was co-founded by Bill Kristol, one of Trump’s most outspoken critics from the right, and Fred Barnes, a contributor on the Sunday political affairs program The McLaughlin Group.

Critics have argued that the magazine’s frequent criticism of Trump has alienated its readers.

Kristol confirmed the closing on Twitter Friday.

“All good things come to an end,” he wrote. “And so, after 23 years, does The Weekly Standard. I want to express my gratitude to our readers and my admiration for my colleagues. We worked hard to put out a quality magazine, and we had a good time doing so. And we have much more to do. Onward!”

All good things come to an end. And so, after 23 years, does The Weekly Standard. I want to express my gratitude to our readers and my admiration for my colleagues. We worked hard to put out a quality magazine, and we had a good time doing so. And we have much more to do. Onward!

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) December 14, 2018

People at the Weekly Standard have been told to clear out their offices by 5 pm today, in case you were wondering what Clarity Media is like.

— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) December 14, 2018

–Updated at 11:33 a.m.