New York Times columnist Ezra Klein isn't content with opining about the Democratic Party — he's positioned himself as a powerbroker inside of it.

Why it matters: Klein's columnist-turned-operative role is raising concerns inside the Times and the Democratic Party, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

• Through his columns, hit podcast, private briefings with Democratic lawmakers and his bestselling book "Abundance" with reporter Derek Thompson, Klein has shaped the party's strategies and policies in President Trump's second term.

Driving the news: Klein has spoken privately this year to potential 2028 candidates such as former Vice President Harris, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, people familiar with the conversations told Axios.

• He's also spoken with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on the sidelines of public events, and their teams have been discussing Shapiro appearing on Klein's podcast.
• When Newsom signed a California deregulation law aimed at making it easier to build housing, he posted on X: "We're urgently embracing an abundance agenda" — a reference to Klein's book that argues Democrats need to back pro-growth policies.

Klein's column in early September urging Democratic senators to shut down the government to confront Trump's expansion of executive power was influential in the senators doing just that for an unprecedented 43 days, according to Senate Democratic officials.

• "Should Senate Democrats partner with Senate Republicans to fund this government? I don't see how they can," Klein wrote — words that spread throughout Senate offices.
• After some moderate Senate Democrats said last weekend that they were going to vote to end the shutdown, Klein urged Democrats to keep fighting: "If I were in the Senate, I wouldn't vote for this compromise."

The intrigue: Klein also privately briefed Senate Democrats at their summer retreat.

• Klein's role in the partisan event raised internal concerns at the Times, people familiar with the situation told Axios. The Times typically has frowned on such actions by its journalists, even opinion columnists.
• A Times spokesperson said Klein attended the event to discuss his book and told his editor in advance.

Jill Abramson, the paper's former executive editor, told Axios she doesn't see a conflict.

• "It's true that this is a blurry line between journalism and politics and governing. But he's in the opinion category and not covering news — that's a little blurry itself."
• "I'm a stickler for staying in your lane," she added. "I think his lane is the Ezra-lane and I don't see him crossing a line. I'm assuming the New York Times is cool with it."
• Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha said: "Ezra is a tremendous talent .... he talks to people across the ideological spectrum; it's essential for his reporting to have those conversations, and he approaches them as a journalist. All of this makes him an ideal opinion columnist and host."

• Klein did not respond to a request for comment.

Klein's large audience and brand has endeared him to some of the Times leadership.

• His columns consistently have some of the outlet's biggest online traffic, according to people who have seen internal numbers.
• Deputy managing editor Sam Dolnick, an influential member of the Sulzberger family that owns the Times, has been privately promoting Klein inside the paper and to other media reporters over the past year, people familiar with the matter told Axios.
• Klein also changed his appearance — working out and growing a beard — which he acknowledged recently "has changed my public image more than I would have thought."

What they're saying: Some Democratic officials advising potential presidential candidates are worried about Klein's influence with party elites at a time when the party is trying to win back working-class votes, having suffered from being cast as too elite and coastal.

• Klein isn't the person to guide Democrats out of the wilderness, they argue.
• "You're telling me this man who sits in a f**king West Elm-decorated office is going to be the thought leader for Democrats?" one Democratic aide to a potential presidential candidate said.

Go deeper: Sign up for the Axios 2028 newsletter