Cash-strapped Washington Post threw $1M brunch at ritzy DC venue during White House Correspondents Dinner weekend: report

The Washington Post is facing fresh employee outrage after reportedly spending more than $1 million on a brunch at a high-end venue that charges $100,000 just to get in the door — despite the fact that the paper has imposed layoffs as it lost a reported $100 million last year.The Jeff Bezos-owned left-leaning broadsheet hosted an extravagant Sunday brunch at Ned’s Club, a private venue with sweeping views of the White House and Washington monuments, according to the Status newsletter.Guests who were in town for the weekend to mark the White House Correspondents’ Dinner were treated to lavish food spreads, including generous helpings of caviar, in a display that far exceeded typical WHCD weekend budgets, Status reported.Ned’s Club in Washington, DC, is an elite members-only social club located near the White House, offering opulent dining and exclusive access to its top-tier clientele.Membership starts at $5,000 annually with a $5,000 initiation fee, but the Founders tier requires a staggering $125,000 initiation fee and $25,000 in yearly dues.Dining at the club is equally lavish, with dishes like a $195 bone-in ribeye and caviar service starting at $150, underscoring the club’s ultra-exclusive status among Washington’s elite.While media outlets often spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on related events, the Washington Post’s seven-figure tab was well outside the norm, according to the report.The event has fueled growing unease inside the newsroom, where employees have been warned repeatedly about the need for belt-tightening measures, Status reported.Inside the newsroom, morale has hit a low point, with many staffers reportedly expressing frustration over what they see as mixed signals from management.While they are asked to accept budget cuts, hiring freezes, and the elimination of certain newsroom initiatives, leadership has simultaneously greenlit high-profile, high-cost events like the WHCD brunch, according to Status.A Washington Post spokesperso...