As a feminist, I am alarmed and disgusted by Olivia’s behavior throughout this series, but especially in this segment. Weaponizing a domestic violence court, an institution meant to protect survivors, at the direction of a man in order to silence you and threaten your life and livelihood is unconscionable. It is not only a grotesque abuse of power, but does profound damage to victims who need these protections.
Olivia should be ashamed and RFK should be impeached immediately—or at the very least, disbarred.
I am deeply sorry this happened to you. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to revisit what you endured, but this story implicates people who hold real power over all of our lives, and because of that, the world needs to know. Anyone who tells you not to write about this is completely missing the point.
Of all the sleazy details revealed in this one, the sleaziest of all is using the domestic violence court as a political cudgel. It’s an absolute disgrace.
I am so sorry you got caught up in this trumpian bullshit. RFK jr. is more evil and disgusting than I thought possible and Olivia willing implemented the cruelty on to you. What a jerk!
I hope the people who commented negatively to your earlier parts to this story have continued to read them, especially this one. Why should you remain silent after the steps taken to destroy you in order to protect such a disgusting person. Kennedy has made the worst mark on that last name.
I have admired both you and Nuzzi as writers. This is illuminating, and I understand why you had to write it, although I’d have hoped you would have made it as publicly available as she did her side. Your last sentence was compelling, and it’s the reason I’ll never read another word Nuzzi writes.
Well, that $127,000 unpaid legal bill is probably the first reason it’s not free. But, also this is his job. I don’t work for free. I don’t expect anyone else to.
I understand that. What I meant was, by posting most of his story behind a paywall, he is depriving much of his audience from important information they should see.
I knew this was building up to something cataclysmic, but I didn’t realize it would be this detailed, demonstrative and devious. Thank you for your continued journalistic tone coupled with the appropriate emotional layers - this is beyond necessary- it’s vital to expose these monsters - much respect
I hope you file a civil lawsuit to recover the two book advances and your legal fees from this ordeal. Possibly a criminal one? I don’t think ON has much money but she needs to reimburse you. I also hope you can sell the movie rights to your story - it’s got a little bit of everything and isn’t over yet. Wow!
Ryan, I really hope you find a way to recoup your legal fees and whatever other expenses (mental, emotional, and material) you've incurred. But what I keep coming back to is that -- whew -- at least you didn't marry her! Stay strong.
You know ... if RFKjr was just another faithless sex addict with a trail of grotesque stories behind him, I would say, whatever. Men like him destroy all sorts of lives. We can't punish all of them.
But this man. This man now controls a major segment of the US economy. Ninety-five billion dollars, give or take a few hundred million. HHS is the biggest non-military agency in our government, with 80,000 employees.
This man is trained in environmental law. He knows nothing about medicine, biology, or human health. This man has all this authority and power because he brought a block of misinformed and dangerously ignorant voters to the 2024 election -- people he helped to misinform.
So when I read about the ugly details of how one pathetic young woman turned herself inside out to help him land where he is, it's hard to contain my rage.
What Nuzzi was so ready to do to Lizza is shoddy, vicious, and disgusting, but I might not care if the result of her behavior wasn't so catastrophic for the entire country, and for those in other countries who have depended on us in a thousand ways.
She could have tried to stop this. Can we imagine a world in which she doesn't protect "Bobby?" In which she used what she knew to at least try?
2. Litigators are (generally) horrible law partners, in my experience on the transactional side of things, but a cross X is, of course, essentially the "the record" and the witness's answers frequently don't matter. The tab is painful, not being able to actually see her take an oath not to lie under oath and then see her lie anyway must feel hollow and unsatisfying, but the cross examination tells the story. And it's brutal. The intersection of intelligence and lack of conscience is a dangerous place.
3. I doubt you can disclose it (maybe you have in another context but I missed it)-but what was the tip from Josh Barro? (This question is motivated by the truly feral part of me. The only reason I know that ON exists is that during Trump Term One I was drawn to Josh Barro's performatively cynical Twitter feed by some bizarre need to understand why he was-I'll truncate it-such a self important asshole without having earned the right to be one.) He an ON seemed to be drawn to each other, which now makes perfect sense. I thought their inside jokes elevating themselves at the expense of other people were gross and I just DID NOT LIKE HER. Like ON, Josh Barro seems to lack any capacity for self reflection. He has also, I believe, said zero about all of this. So, prurient interest motivates me to ask.
4. I know nothing about domestic relations matters. I do know that in most jurisdictions, a defendant/respondent can make a counterclaim against a plaintiff/petitioner for, effectively, frivolous litigation/baseless claims which include not only damages but attorneys fees. I'm certain anyone owning attorneys fees to the tune of 130k has already considered this, and perhaps the procedural posture of the case didn't lend itself to this, but based on my passing familiarity with this type of relief relative to her ginned up bullshit, is there any relief to be had. (The American Canto book sales are so robust she's got to be rolling in cash.)
5. With each new installment the her journalistic/ethical breaches grow more obviously acute. And, if I recall, most pleadings are signed under penalty of perjury. It's now abundantly clear that Olivia Nuzzi isn't capable of telling the truth. "Truth" is a thing. It's not a relative term. People's interpretations of what is or is not true are filtered by their experiences, perspectives, world views in many cases. Not in this one. She was/is just LYING. To all the people who say "but she's a great writer"-maybe, but so are many, many other people. Just look at the people who post daily/weekly here in Substack. And hundreds of those people (minimally) write as well as Nuzzi and don't cause this kind of wreckage. So the comments about how this 32 year old being uniquely talented and somehow being uniquely equipped to write about politics. Bullshit. There is nothing special about Olivia Nuzzi that she didn't manufacture and sell. (Sorry Ryan. I know you were engaged to her.) I don't wish her ill as a human being. I just hope that no one who "matters" takes her seriously in writing/publishing circles. Ever.
6. Her "stunt" calling the president on the Friedland podcast is just more evidence of performance/ lack of seriousness. It's not funny Olivia. So you have Donald Trump's phone number. Why are you embracing this and acting on it? Why is Friendland indulging this stupidity? No serious person is laughing. Have you read any of your book reviews Livvy? It's not just a bad book. People are questioning your morality and ethics. This lurching around between victim, bottle blonde Joan Didion without the literary chops and "fuck it all burn the house down" nihilism should only be given enough attention to reinforce my point #5 - that she should never have a serious audience again. If she has an audience again, they will be per se unserious.
7. I think I have unloaded everything I had left to say. I will of course continue to read (without complaining about my subscription) because I agree with The New Yorker. This is an inflection point in journalism. And that the point being missed over and over again about the "revenge porn" folks. But they are too superficial to see it (while simultaneously, apparently, not wanting to miss anything porn-adjacent because they refuse to unsubscribe but continue to whine about NEEDING to subscribe.)
End of rant. Will return to regularly scheduled snarky, superficial comments lacking in any substance.
Here I am again, reading this, putting aside my important work this week making my famous Ginger Chip cookies for the women in my husband's aquacise class. I truly hope you will go onto writing novels after this, Ryan. You combine the labyrinthian plot twists of Ross Macdonald with the exuberant dismay of my other favorite Ross, Ross Thomas. I will now finish the cookies. The aquacise ladies have no idea what goes into the media stories they read and believe.
I'm still unclear on why you couldn't have written all of this before the election (and/or the RFKJ confirmation). Was there some sort of gag order for you not to speak until the post-election trial?
And why don't you get on the phone with Cheryl Hines right now?
As a feminist, I am alarmed and disgusted by Olivia’s behavior throughout this series, but especially in this segment. Weaponizing a domestic violence court, an institution meant to protect survivors, at the direction of a man in order to silence you and threaten your life and livelihood is unconscionable. It is not only a grotesque abuse of power, but does profound damage to victims who need these protections.
Olivia should be ashamed and RFK should be impeached immediately—or at the very least, disbarred.
I am deeply sorry this happened to you. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to revisit what you endured, but this story implicates people who hold real power over all of our lives, and because of that, the world needs to know. Anyone who tells you not to write about this is completely missing the point.
Of all the sleazy details revealed in this one, the sleaziest of all is using the domestic violence court as a political cudgel. It’s an absolute disgrace.
I am so sorry you got caught up in this trumpian bullshit. RFK jr. is more evil and disgusting than I thought possible and Olivia willing implemented the cruelty on to you. What a jerk!
I hope the people who commented negatively to your earlier parts to this story have continued to read them, especially this one. Why should you remain silent after the steps taken to destroy you in order to protect such a disgusting person. Kennedy has made the worst mark on that last name.
She should be shunned from society and go to prison. Same for RFK, Jr.
I have admired both you and Nuzzi as writers. This is illuminating, and I understand why you had to write it, although I’d have hoped you would have made it as publicly available as she did her side. Your last sentence was compelling, and it’s the reason I’ll never read another word Nuzzi writes.
Well, that $127,000 unpaid legal bill is probably the first reason it’s not free. But, also this is his job. I don’t work for free. I don’t expect anyone else to.
I understand that. What I meant was, by posting most of his story behind a paywall, he is depriving much of his audience from important information they should see.
The Talented Ms. Nuzzi by Jessica Reed Kraus https://youtu.be/inFMHQo2jzw
I knew this was building up to something cataclysmic, but I didn’t realize it would be this detailed, demonstrative and devious. Thank you for your continued journalistic tone coupled with the appropriate emotional layers - this is beyond necessary- it’s vital to expose these monsters - much respect
I hope you file a civil lawsuit to recover the two book advances and your legal fees from this ordeal. Possibly a criminal one? I don’t think ON has much money but she needs to reimburse you. I also hope you can sell the movie rights to your story - it’s got a little bit of everything and isn’t over yet. Wow!
I recommend Mr. Lizza *not* spend any more money on lawyers.
Nuzzi ex boyfriend Keith Olbermann discuss their relationship
https://youtu.be/vtTOlkVG2qU
Ryan, I really hope you find a way to recoup your legal fees and whatever other expenses (mental, emotional, and material) you've incurred. But what I keep coming back to is that -- whew -- at least you didn't marry her! Stay strong.
You know ... if RFKjr was just another faithless sex addict with a trail of grotesque stories behind him, I would say, whatever. Men like him destroy all sorts of lives. We can't punish all of them.
But this man. This man now controls a major segment of the US economy. Ninety-five billion dollars, give or take a few hundred million. HHS is the biggest non-military agency in our government, with 80,000 employees.
This man is trained in environmental law. He knows nothing about medicine, biology, or human health. This man has all this authority and power because he brought a block of misinformed and dangerously ignorant voters to the 2024 election -- people he helped to misinform.
So when I read about the ugly details of how one pathetic young woman turned herself inside out to help him land where he is, it's hard to contain my rage.
What Nuzzi was so ready to do to Lizza is shoddy, vicious, and disgusting, but I might not care if the result of her behavior wasn't so catastrophic for the entire country, and for those in other countries who have depended on us in a thousand ways.
She could have tried to stop this. Can we imagine a world in which she doesn't protect "Bobby?" In which she used what she knew to at least try?
jFc.
Ryan:
1. Holy shit.
2. Litigators are (generally) horrible law partners, in my experience on the transactional side of things, but a cross X is, of course, essentially the "the record" and the witness's answers frequently don't matter. The tab is painful, not being able to actually see her take an oath not to lie under oath and then see her lie anyway must feel hollow and unsatisfying, but the cross examination tells the story. And it's brutal. The intersection of intelligence and lack of conscience is a dangerous place.
3. I doubt you can disclose it (maybe you have in another context but I missed it)-but what was the tip from Josh Barro? (This question is motivated by the truly feral part of me. The only reason I know that ON exists is that during Trump Term One I was drawn to Josh Barro's performatively cynical Twitter feed by some bizarre need to understand why he was-I'll truncate it-such a self important asshole without having earned the right to be one.) He an ON seemed to be drawn to each other, which now makes perfect sense. I thought their inside jokes elevating themselves at the expense of other people were gross and I just DID NOT LIKE HER. Like ON, Josh Barro seems to lack any capacity for self reflection. He has also, I believe, said zero about all of this. So, prurient interest motivates me to ask.
4. I know nothing about domestic relations matters. I do know that in most jurisdictions, a defendant/respondent can make a counterclaim against a plaintiff/petitioner for, effectively, frivolous litigation/baseless claims which include not only damages but attorneys fees. I'm certain anyone owning attorneys fees to the tune of 130k has already considered this, and perhaps the procedural posture of the case didn't lend itself to this, but based on my passing familiarity with this type of relief relative to her ginned up bullshit, is there any relief to be had. (The American Canto book sales are so robust she's got to be rolling in cash.)
5. With each new installment the her journalistic/ethical breaches grow more obviously acute. And, if I recall, most pleadings are signed under penalty of perjury. It's now abundantly clear that Olivia Nuzzi isn't capable of telling the truth. "Truth" is a thing. It's not a relative term. People's interpretations of what is or is not true are filtered by their experiences, perspectives, world views in many cases. Not in this one. She was/is just LYING. To all the people who say "but she's a great writer"-maybe, but so are many, many other people. Just look at the people who post daily/weekly here in Substack. And hundreds of those people (minimally) write as well as Nuzzi and don't cause this kind of wreckage. So the comments about how this 32 year old being uniquely talented and somehow being uniquely equipped to write about politics. Bullshit. There is nothing special about Olivia Nuzzi that she didn't manufacture and sell. (Sorry Ryan. I know you were engaged to her.) I don't wish her ill as a human being. I just hope that no one who "matters" takes her seriously in writing/publishing circles. Ever.
6. Her "stunt" calling the president on the Friedland podcast is just more evidence of performance/ lack of seriousness. It's not funny Olivia. So you have Donald Trump's phone number. Why are you embracing this and acting on it? Why is Friendland indulging this stupidity? No serious person is laughing. Have you read any of your book reviews Livvy? It's not just a bad book. People are questioning your morality and ethics. This lurching around between victim, bottle blonde Joan Didion without the literary chops and "fuck it all burn the house down" nihilism should only be given enough attention to reinforce my point #5 - that she should never have a serious audience again. If she has an audience again, they will be per se unserious.
7. I think I have unloaded everything I had left to say. I will of course continue to read (without complaining about my subscription) because I agree with The New Yorker. This is an inflection point in journalism. And that the point being missed over and over again about the "revenge porn" folks. But they are too superficial to see it (while simultaneously, apparently, not wanting to miss anything porn-adjacent because they refuse to unsubscribe but continue to whine about NEEDING to subscribe.)
End of rant. Will return to regularly scheduled snarky, superficial comments lacking in any substance.
Keep writing Ryan!
Hell of a final line. Damning that this was what her life and career amounted to.
Here I am again, reading this, putting aside my important work this week making my famous Ginger Chip cookies for the women in my husband's aquacise class. I truly hope you will go onto writing novels after this, Ryan. You combine the labyrinthian plot twists of Ross Macdonald with the exuberant dismay of my other favorite Ross, Ross Thomas. I will now finish the cookies. The aquacise ladies have no idea what goes into the media stories they read and believe.
I, for one, especially enjoyed the fantasy cross examination. Ginger chip cookies sound delicious!
I did, too, Regina! My Ginger Chip Cookie recipe is here at the bottom of the post https://pollysnewsletter.substack.com/p/recuperation-cuisine-cookys
Please cut out the bullshit and tell me what this is all about in 25 words or less.
Hi Daniel. I can boil it down to 8 words for you:
You have free will don't read or unsubscribe.
Grow up! This is embarrassing to let the world know you have the reading comprehension of a 4 yo!
I have canceled my subscription.
Thanks for announcing it.
I'm still unclear on why you couldn't have written all of this before the election (and/or the RFKJ confirmation). Was there some sort of gag order for you not to speak until the post-election trial?
And why don't you get on the phone with Cheryl Hines right now?