Taylor Lorenz has lost her Vox Media podcast deal after sparking controversy with her comments on the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 40-year-old journalist described Thompson’s killer as a “national hero” in a post that many critics deemed inflammatory and dangerous.
Lorenz later attempted to clarify her position, stating she wasn’t advocating for violence, but her suggestion that healthcare executives “deserve to suffer and die” only deepened the backlash. The timing of Vox’s decision to part ways with Lorenz suggests the company may have been distancing itself even before her remarks about Thompson.
The podcast, titled Power User, was announced earlier this year as part of Vox’s strategy to attract prominent voices. However, Lorenz’s radical rhetoric seems to have undermined her potential. Her earlier departure from the Washington Post likely contributed to the instability of her position. Officially described as a resignation, reports suggest the Post cut ties after Lorenz misled editors about a social media post accusing President Joe Biden of war crimes.
Lorenz’s reputation has been on a downward trajectory since leaving the New York Times, where she faced criticism for her focus on White House advisor Kellyanne Conway’s teenage daughter. Now operating as an independent journalist, Lorenz has embraced increasingly extreme positions, alienating former colleagues and employers.
This latest fallout underscores the risks of inflammatory commentary in professional journalism. Vox Media’s decision reflects a broader unwillingness to associate with rhetoric that borders on incitement, even as Lorenz continues to draw attention online.
