Key Points
- Robert Allbritton, billionaire co-founder of Politico, plans to expand his digital news outlet NOTUS into “the next great Washington newsroom.”
- Allbritton learned of Washington Post journalists considering departure while on a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado, and instructed his editor to recruit them.
- He commits about $10 million this year to double NOTUS staff from 50 to 100 journalists by year-end.
- Nine journalists joined NOTUS, including seven from the Washington Post; Dana Milbank, a Post columnist for 26 years, praised Allbritton in his departure statement.
- NOTUS, launched in 2024 by the non-profit Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI), focuses on politics, policy, and training young journalists.
- Expansion follows turmoil at the Washington Post, including layoffs, closure of sports and books sections, and tensions over owner Jeff Bezos’s decisions on endorsements and editorial pages.
- Allbritton, son of the late financier Joe Allbritton, sold Politico previously and now funds NOTUS as a non-partisan outlet.
Washington, D.C. (Evening Washington News) April 23, 2026 – Robert Allbritton, the billionaire attempting to establish the next major Washington newsroom through expanding NOTUS, has committed significant funding amid an exodus of talent from the Washington Post.
Why is Robert Allbritton Expanding NOTUS Now?
As reported by staff writers in the Wall Street Journal, Robert Allbritton was riding a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado, when he learned that several leading reporters from the Washington Post were contemplating departures from the publication.
In response, Allbritton texted the editor of his news venture, Notus, stating, “Take them all.” This moment marked the start of aggressive recruitment for what Allbritton envisions as a revitalised Washington journalism hub.
PressWatchers reported that Allbritton announced on Monday his plan to bankroll
“the next great Washington newsroom,”
renaming and doubling the size of his existing 50-person digital outlet called NOTUS, which stands for News of the United States.
NOTUS was launched in 2024 as a politics-and-policy news site and a training ground for aspiring public affairs journalists.
Allbritton plans to invest about $10 million into the venture this year, aiming to expand the newsroom to 100 journalists by the end of 2026.
Fox News media coverage noted that NOTUS, established in 2023 by the non-profit Allbritton Journalism Institute, announced in a staff memo that nine journalists were joining, seven of whom had worked at the Post.
Dana Milbank, who had been a columnist at the Post for 26 years, released a statement praising NOTUS publisher Robert Allbritton, the son of the late financier and media mogul Joe Allbritton who previously co-founded Politico. In his Facebook post dated 16 March, Milbank wrote,
“I’m delighted to report that, after 26 years at the Washington Post, I’m leaving to join a bold new journalistic venture backed by Politico founder Robert Allbritton.”
Milbank described it as a “scrappy and fearless national news organization” funded by
“a public-spirited media owner who uses his billions to support journalism above all else, who isn’t afraid to hold the powerful to account and who cares deeply about the Washington community.”
What Triggered the Washington Post Exodus?
The expansion comes against the backdrop of significant turmoil at the Washington Post. Fox News detailed that the paper has faced newsroom upheaval and financial struggles in recent years.
In October 2024, just days before the presidential election, owner Jeff Bezos quashed the Post’s expected endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, sparking liberal backlash.
Bezos further inflamed tensions in February 2025 by overhauling the paper’s editorial pages, which fuelled staff departures and subscription cancellations.
MessageBoxNews reported on significant layoffs announced by Post leadership, gutting the Metro section, firing most international correspondents—including one in a war zone in Ukraine—and shuttering the sports and books sections.
PressWatchers noted that the Washington Post was gutted by its billionaire owner Jeff Bezos last month, creating an opportunity for Allbritton’s initiative. Milbank’s column at the Post, described as trenchant political commentary, was axed by what he implied were Bezos-aligned decisions.
Who is Robert Allbritton and What is NOTUS?
Robert Allbritton founded Politico with others before selling it. He now leads the Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI), under which NOTUS operates as a non-profit. Semafor quoted Allbritton in 2023 stating,
“With NOTUS — News of the United States — we wanted to create something new and innovative in the world of journalism: a non-profit newsroom whose primary mission is to train the next generation of aspiring journalists by putting them in collaboration with the very best editors and reporters in D.C., all in the service of producing the non-partisan, trustworthy news that Washington needs.”
Earlier, in February 2025, NOTUS and AJI announced the “Washington Bureau Initiative,” partnering with local newsrooms nationwide. Supported by a $500,000 grant from the Google News Initiative, it aims to provide accountability reporting on Congress, the White House, and federal agencies’ impacts on local communities.
PressWatchers highlighted excitement in political journalism circles over this development, positioning NOTUS to seize the mantle left by the Post’s challenges.
How Does This Fit Journalism Trends?
The WSJ article frames Allbritton’s move as a direct response to Post vulnerabilities exposed during his Aspen trip. Fox News coverage of Milbank’s departure included his full praise for Allbritton without direct criticism of Bezos, maintaining a focus on the new opportunity.
Milbank’s statement on Facebook elaborated on joining a venture that prioritises journalism and community accountability. No sources reported specific names of the other eight NOTUS joiners beyond the seven ex-Post staffers.
Allbritton’s history includes building Politico into a major player, sold prior to this NOTUS phase. The initiative remains non-partisan, per its founding mission.
Background of the Development
NOTUS originated in 2023-2024 under AJI, with a launch focused on training and non-partisan reporting. It grew through initiatives like the 2025 Washington Bureau partnership. Allbritton’s Politico success provided the foundation, while recent Post events—from the 2024 endorsement block to 2026 layoffs—accelerated the expansion announcement in March 2026. The Aspen incident preceded the formal staff memo on new hires.
Prediction: Impact on Washington Journalists
This development offers Washington journalists alternative employment amid Post instability, potentially stabilising careers through doubled staffing and $10 million funding. It provides a platform for policy and political coverage, including training roles, which could retain talent in D.C. rather than prompting broader exodus. Journalists may gain from Allbritton’s commitment to accountability reporting, affecting their output by enabling work at a growing, community-focused outlet.
