Sexting with Mr. Brainworms (The Nuzzi/RFK Jr scandal)

New York placed Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi “on leave” after the magazine Washington correspondent admitted to an inappropriate relationship with former presidential candidate RFK Jr.—sexting while covering the 2024 campaign. 

This week, Katelyn and Christine discuss the unfolding media scandal with equal parts humor and smart analysis, drawing from each of their experiences as Washington reporters themselves. They turn their criticism to the media gatekeepers—WTF is wrong with all of the prominent journalists caping for Nuzzi with the enthusiasm she’s poured into tradfascs in her coverage and on the website formerly known as Twitter?

After recording, Nuzzi asserted in a court filing that her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, former alleged New Yorker sex pest turned Politico bigwig, engaged in a blackmail campaign against her, allegedly exposing her online affair to New York leadership. Lizza has since been suspended by Politico, pending an investigation.

In non-sexting news: We announce our new partnership with the brand-new feminist publication The Flytrap, of which Katelyn, Christine, and eight other talented writers and artists are co-founders! Please support The Flytrap’s Kickstarter here.

Links:

• Vanity Fair: "The Reported RFK Jr.–Olivia Nuzzi “Relationship” Casts New Scrutiny on All Journalists"

• New York Post: "‘Obsessed’ Olivia Nuzzi pursued RFK Jr. ‘aggressively,’ pol had to block her repeatedly: source"

• New York Post: "RFK Jr. and star journalist Olivia Nuzzi had ‘incredible’ FaceTime sex, said they loved each other: sources"

• New York Times: "Ryan Lizza Fired by The New Yorker Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation"

• SEMAFOR: Ben Smith newsletter, September 23, 2024

• Christie Smythe: Tweet (we’ll never call it an X post)

• Marin Cogan for The New Republic: House of Cads: The psycho-sexual ordeal of reporting in Washington

• Tumblr: Said to LadyJournos, a mid-2010s Tumblr that compiled journalists’ anonymous submissions about their experiences with sexual harassment on the job

• Moira Donegan (former Cancel Me, Daddy guest!) for The Guardian: "The real victims of Olivia Nuzzi’s affair with RFK Jr are other female journalists"

• Christine Grimaldi: Tweets here and here about NPR Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg’s conflict of interest-ridden friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsberg

• Washingtonian