Funny everyday jokes: Who Owns The New York Times?

Friday, January 30, 2026

Who Owns The New York Times?

I start most of my mornings reading a paper copy of The New York Times. I don't read it because I trust it. In fact, if I only read the Times, it's hard to understate just how misinformed I would be.

I read it because it remains the most influential media institution in America. The stories it chooses to tell — and the specific way it tells them — shape the platform of the Democratic Party and the national discourse.

But there is a deeper layer to this influence. The Times, which loves "Democracy," is actually a hereditary monarchy. It was purchased by Adolph Ochs in 1896 and has stayed in the same family for five generations. Today, it's run by his descendant, AG Sulzberger, who serves as publisher. This newspaper is possibly the most powerful cultural institution in the country, passed down like a crown. Same family. Same mission. Same influence.

So when Sulzberger writes something, it matters. Right after the 2024 election, he published a long op-ed defending the Times as a "neutral arbiter of truth." He claimed the press fosters the "mutual understanding" that allows a divided nation to come together.

It sounds noble. But anyone paying attention knows how false that is. One quote from him stood out to me:

"As polarization and tribalism strain our societal bonds, the press fosters the mutual understanding that allows a diverse, divided nation to come together with common purpose."

Actually…the media has done the exact opposite. If you want to know why this country is so divided, look at what The New York Times has done over the past decade. They have played a central role in convincing millions of Americans that:

Conservatives are racist
Trump is a fascist
There were no legitimate objections to vaccine mandates
Child sex-changes are not only harmless, but morally necessary
America is irredeemably racist
Black Americans are hunted by police
White Americans are born with privilege
Censorship was necessary

And now, the Times is intentionally misreporting the work of ICE agents. By casting the deportation of violent criminals as a "predatory campaign," they polarize the public into believing the government is hunting immigrants. It is a dangerous distortion that makes it harder for us to unite on something as critical as national security. It is putting more lives in danger.

These radical ideas — reported as objective stories — broke families. They turned conversations into confrontations. Family reunions became war zones. Kids stopped talking to their parents. People we loved were torn apart by media narratives that were never rooted in truth, but in ideology.

And it's true — having these conversations is hard, especially when partisan outlets often ignore the human complexity of the crisis entirely. And others just leave out the facts.

That's why I started Upward News.

Become a Member: 20% Off

My parents fled Soviet communism for freedom; they raised me to love this country, and I refused to watch our media mirror the propaganda they escaped. I walked away from a safe career in tech because I realized that if we could present facts stripped of this sanctimony, maybe families could start seeing the world clearly again. Maybe we could repair some of what was lost.

We are trying to build a bridge. Our team is proof this mission works. Our Managing Editor, Brandon, was once a Bernie Sanders supporter. He joined us because he saw through the fake narratives that he once believed. He understands the "other side" because he was there.

But we are at a critical point.

We've started out this year slowly because I was focused on surprise small business hurdles at the end of last month. If we are going to hit our goals this year — during one of the most critical midterm cycles in a long time — we need your help.

The New York Times is able to divide America because millions of subscribers bankroll them. Us? We're just David going up against Goliath. And we've said no to dark money so we can say yes to you.

As a member, you get full access to all our reporting — the stories we pour ourselves into every day, delivered straight to you. Plus, you'll be able to share our work with the people you love — even the ones who see things differently.

Become a Member: 20% Off

We can't do this without you,

Ariel David