Blocked and Reported

Premium: Nuzzi vs Lizza, Round 10

December 2, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The preview for the premium episode of Blocked and Reported focuses heavily on the ongoing saga involving Olivia Nuzzi and her romantic partners, particularly Ryan Lizza and RFK Jr., highlighting Nuzzi's pattern of dating older, famous men. 
  • The hosts engaged in a lengthy, tangential discussion about current events, including a controversy involving Hassan Piker and a detailed, fact-checked detour into the history of Israeli presidents and the composition of modern car wiring (soy-based insulation attracting rodents). 
  • The hosts characterized Olivia Nuzzi as a talented but ethically questionable reporter whose career has survived past controversies, such as entering Corey Lewandowski's home uninvited, but whose personal choices remain a source of fascination and enjoyment for the podcast hosts. 

Segments

Podcast Preview and Nuzzi/Lizza Setup
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The preview for the premium episode of Blocked and Reported confirms a deep dive into the Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza situation.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce the premium content focusing on the Nuzzi/Lizza matter, noting Katie’s thorough analysis of the situation. Access to the full discussion requires a premium subscription at blockedandreported.org. The preview ends shortly after the hosts begin an unrelated tangent.
Hassan Piker Dog Collar Tangent
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(00:00:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts briefly revisit the ‘Dog Collar Gate’ controversy involving Hassan Piker, noting the alleged manufacturer confirmed the device was a shock collar.
  • Summary: The initial exchange involves playful conflict between the hosts regarding conversational habits. This quickly transitions into an update on the ‘Dog Collar Gate’ story. The status of the controversy remains unresolved, with the alleged manufacturer having weighed in on the device’s function.
Trinity College Dublin & Herzog Park
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(00:01:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Trinity College Dublin is reportedly facing calls to rename a park honoring former Israeli President Chaim Herzog to ‘Free Palestine Park’.
  • Summary: The hosts examine an Instagram post regarding Hassan Piker’s honorary patronage at a university philosophical society, which leads to a discussion about Trinity College Dublin. They note the controversy surrounding the park named after Chaim Herzog, who was president in 1983. The hosts briefly debate the founding date of Israel (1948 vs. 1949).
Katie’s Skate Park Purchase
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(00:05:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie has purchased land containing an indoor skate park and has decided to take up skateboarding at age 42 to utilize the facility.
  • Summary: Katie reveals she purchased property that includes a large indoor skate shack, prompting her to start skateboarding lessons. She expresses nervousness about being witnessed by children while learning, especially since she is meeting Jesse at the park later that day. She plans to wear protective gear for her first lesson.
Nuzzi Memoir and Scandal Enjoyment
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(00:09:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir, ‘American Kompromat,’ is being released, prompting the hosts to revisit the ongoing scandal surrounding her taste in men.
  • Summary: The hosts acknowledge the release of Nuzzi’s memoir and express their enjoyment of the scandal, despite Nuzzi being someone they generally like. They critique her pattern of dating older men, noting that Ryan Lizza was married with children, unlike Keith Olbermann, which creates a different ethical calculus regarding collateral damage.
Olivia Nuzzi’s Career History
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(00:11:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Nuzzi’s career launched at age 20 following a public feud with Anthony Weiner’s communications director, who called her a ‘slutbag, twat, and cunt’ after she wrote a critical piece.
  • Summary: Nuzzi gained early notoriety while interning for Anthony Weiner, leading to harsh public condemnation from a campaign staffer. She later covered the Trump campaign early on at the Daily Beast, establishing herself as a rising star before moving to New York Magazine in 2017. Her career is characterized by being a dogged reporter who frequently becomes part of the story.
Nuzzi’s Lewandowski Incident
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(00:18:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Nuzzi entered Corey Lewandowski’s home uninvited while reporting on Hope Hicks, took a photo of him passed out, and then publicly wrote about the illegal entry in an interview.
  • Summary: While profiling Hope Hicks, Nuzzi entered Lewandowski’s home after knocking repeatedly and finding the door unlocked, taking a photo of him. She admitted this action to the Columbia Journalism Review, demonstrating both dogged reporting instincts and poor judgment by publicizing her ethical breach. New York Magazine defended her actions at the time.
Nuzzi’s Age Gap Relationship History
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(00:20:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Nuzzi’s romantic history includes Keith Olbermann (34-year gap, who paid for her college) and Ryan Lizza (20-year gap, who was married), culminating in her relationship with RFK Jr. (38-year gap).
  • Summary: The hosts categorize Nuzzi’s type as famous, significantly older men, noting the power imbalance in the relationship with Olbermann when she was a freshman. The relationship with Lizza is seen as more understandable as they were both established political reporters, though Lizza had a ‘Me Too’ moment that cost him a gig. The relationship with RFK Jr. represents the largest age gap discussed.
Age Gap Discourse and Power Dynamics
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(00:22:31)
  • Key Takeaway: While acknowledging that power imbalances exist in large age-gap relationships, the hosts caution against automatically assuming the younger person is being exploited, especially when the older partner is not married.
  • Summary: The hosts debate the ‘ick’ factor of large age gaps, noting that the presence of collateral damage (like an existing spouse) makes the Lizza/Nuzzi situation more unethical than the Olbermann/Nuzzi dynamic. They cite Sarah Siskin’s experience with Nick Gillespie (twice her age) to illustrate that the younger partner may initiate breakups due to the age difference. The discussion concludes that while exploitation is possible, judging the younger person’s motives (e.g., financial benefit) is complex.