Ta-Nehisi Coates

They were all my political compatriots and you were firing, like you were letting go of the reporters

and bringing in people who just kinda, like I would say that's bad.

I would say that's bad for journalism.

I would say also that some of the commentary, like I read, like we had this culture, man, where people are in love with debate, right?

And so I read these comments about how the newsroom needs to be a place where people can vigorously disagree.

Well, yeah, maybe, but newsrooms tell stories.

That's what they do.

And then sometimes people disagree.

But the purpose of it isn't to debate.

That's not why it exists.

You understand what I'm saying?

I don't write actually to debate.

You know, sometimes debates will come out of it.

You know, but it's not, I'm not motivated.

It's not the thing.

Like in all of the beautiful places, you know, I worked at the Atlantic for 10 years and it was like home to me.

You know, I worked at Washington City Paper for five years.

It was like home to me.

Did we debate sometimes?

Yes.