Mixed Signals from Semafor Media Ryan Lizza on Olivia Nuzzi, RFK Jr, and the Substack-ification of a scandal
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Jan 9, 2026 
Veteran political journalist Ryan Lizza discusses his bold decision to publish an extensive Substack series about a personal and professional crisis. He reveals why New York Times coverage and Olivia Nuzzi's book motivated him to share his story. Lizza highlights the challenges he faced with legacy media, the impact of his series on his Substack audience, and his insights into RFK Jr.'s alleged influence on media reporting. With sharp critiques of traditional journalism, he reflects on lessons learned in today’s evolving media landscape.
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Substack As The Last Resort
- Ryan Lizza chose to publish his full rebuttal after mainstream outlets failed to fully investigate or block Olivia Nuzzi's narrative.
- He viewed Substack as the only reliable platform to tell his version and force public scrutiny of journalistic failures.
Editorial Risk Shaped His Move
- Lizza says Politico declined to run his story and he felt leadership 'failed the test' of defending a reporter against political pressure.
- That friction pushed him to leave and pursue the story independently on Substack.
A Year Of Wrestled Decisions
- Lizza describes wrestling for over a year between wanting to stay silent and feeling obligated to expose what he knew about RFK Jr.
- The Vanity Fair excerpt and book finally made silence impossible and prompted his serialized response.