Bari Weiss

Bari Weiss (born 1984) is an American journalist, author, and editor, best known for her work as an opinion writer and editor at The New York Times and as the founder of Common Sense. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Weiss graduated from Columbia University and began her career in journalism with roles at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Her writing often touches on topics such as free speech, political correctness, and culture wars, positioning her as a prominent voice in contemporary media debates. In 2020, she resigned from The New York Times, citing the increasingly hostile atmosphere within the newsroom regarding her editorial stance.

Weiss's career has been marked by her controversial opinions, particularly her critique of the growing influence of the left-wing in media and politics. She is the author of the bestselling book How to Fight Anti-Semitism (2019), which explores her experiences as a Jewish woman confronting anti-Semitism in both the political left and right. Weiss is also an outspoken advocate for free speech and has argued that open dialogue and diversity of thought are essential in a functioning democracy.

One of Weiss's thought-provoking quotes is, "The thing I fear most is the silencing of free speech." This reflects her commitment to defending the open exchange of ideas. Another notable quote from her is, "Censorship, in the end, is always about power." This speaks to her belief that restricting speech is often an effort to control and manipulate public discourse, a theme central to much of her writing and commentary.