Former New Yorker Fact-Checker Jasper Lo Details Illegal Firing After Union Leadership

On November 5, 2025, Jasper Lo, a previous US Army officer and fact-checker for The New Yorker, was dismissed for purported "gross misconduct" linked to his union involvement. His termination came after a dispute regarding layoffs and the shutdown of Teen Vogue, which garnered over 1.4 million views on social media. Alongside him, three other staff members, including former union leaders Alma Avalle and Jake Lahut, were also let go. The New Yorker Union is contesting these dismissals, claiming they breach collective bargaining agreements and the National Labor Relations Act. An arbitration hearing is scheduled for May. Lo, who began working at The New Yorker in August 2019, had played a role in major investigations, reflecting on the magazine's conflicting culture after his dismissal.