David Brooks to Leave The New York Times After 22 Years

David Brooks, an Opinion columnist for The New York Times, wrote a farewell column published Jan. 30, 2026, saying he will leave the paper after 22 years to "try to build something new." Brooks reflected on his time at the paper and his background, saying he originally set out to promote a moderate conservative political philosophy informed by thinkers such as Edmund Burke and Alexander Hamilton.

The column emphasizes what Brooks describes as Americans' collective loss of faith—religious and otherwise—and links that decline to events and trends including the Iraq war, the financial crisis, the effects of the internet, the rise of China and the presidency of Donald Trump. He cites a recent historical study finding public discourse more negative than at any time since the 1850s, notes that only 13 percent of young adults say America is heading in the right direction, that 69 percent say they do not believe in the American dream, and that 77 million Americans voted for Trump in 2024, all presented as part of his diagnosis.

As a remedy, Brooks urges a revival of humanism and culture, arguing that cultural change precedes political change and pointing to a "Great Conversation" across the humanities.

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