About the Author: Bret Stephens

Overview of My Work

Since I joined The New York Times in 2017, I’ve explored a range of topics, from China’s gradual decline to the significance of Edmund Burke, and even my grandmother’s unique advice on personal matters. I have also shared my criticisms of projects such as The Times’s 1619 Project. While often labeled a conservative, I have not hesitated to critique the current trajectory of the Republican Party. I staunchly support free enterprise, free trade, and free speech, believing in the importance of protecting democratic institutions worldwide. Moreover, I embrace the ability to change my viewpoint and express those changes openly, as evidenced by my evolving opinions on Trump voters and climate change.

Background and Experience

I hail from Mexico City and pursued studies in political philosophy at the University of Chicago, followed by comparative politics at the London School of Economics. I have a diverse journalistic background, having worked with The Wall Street Journal in Brussels, covering European issues, and serving as editor in chief of The Jerusalem Post, focusing on Middle Eastern affairs. For years, I contributed as The Journal’s foreign-affairs columnist and was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2013. My authorship includes America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder. In 2022, I was permanently barred from entering Russia by its government.

Adherence to Journalistic Ethics

Every article I write for The Times undergoes strict fact-checking and editing processes. As a national judge for the Livingston Awards, I ensure impartiality by recusing myself when submissions come from colleagues or known individuals. Reporting trips are funded solely by The Times. I refrain from endorsing books unless they are excerpts from my columns or commissioned reviews. Additionally, I participate in a few advisory boards for academic and nonprofit organizations without receiving financial or other benefits. Any work outside The Times is subject to their approval. Furthermore, I do not engage with social media platforms.