Ryan Lizza, the former chief White House correspondent at Politico, has announced his exit from the publication, citing deep dissatisfaction with its failure to address the true threats undermining democratic integrity—particularly concerning what he refers to as the "second Trump era." Launching his new journalistic venture 'Telos' on Substack, Lizza expressed frustration with legacy media’s complacency amid growing political decay and the perilous direction of the United States.
Having joined Politico in 2019, Lizza revealed his recent departure was driven by his conviction that the outlet is failing to meet the pressing demands of this volatile political moment. He envisions ‘Telos’—named after the Greek term for purpose—as an attempt to present a clearer, less compromised perspective of Washington’s unraveling.
At the heart of Lizza’s critique lies Politico’s inadequate handling of a controversy involving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In early 2024, it was revealed the federal government was spending $8 million on subscriptions to Politico—a figure seized upon by former President Donald Trump and his allies, who framed it as "government subsidies." Rather than challenging this framing with robust journalistic integrity, Lizza claims Politico’s leadership opted to avoid confrontation, effectively acquiescing to political pressure and undermining media independence.
Lizza also condemned Politico’s conciliatory gesture of sending a White House correspondent to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February—a move he described as pandering to a “sewer of media bashing” and enabling activists orchestrating what amounted to "an unconstitutional third term for Trump," describing efforts that border on coup-like strategies to subvert electoral norms.
Personal turmoil has also shadowed Lizza’s professional journey. Earlier in the year, his ex-fiancée Olivia Nuzzi’s connection with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary, sparked scandal. Allegations of manipulation and leak accusations clouded their public narrative, although these remain unverified. Nonetheless, such distractions underscored the dysfunction pervading political journalism and Washington’s elite circles.
Lizza further highlighted a disturbing trend of executive overreach and intimidation under Trump—particularly targeting influential law firms like Paul Weiss. The firm, renowned for its pro bono lawsuit against the far-right Proud Boys after the January 6 Capitol riot, capitulated under the threat of losing federal contracts by curtailing efforts deemed hostile to Trump. Shockingly, Paul Weiss allegedly scrubbed public bios of lawyers involved in investigations against Trump’s circle, including Jeannie S. Rhee’s significant role alongside Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. Lizza condemned these actions as "1984-level" self-censorship—law firms erasing their own histories to appease government pressure.
Media compliance extended beyond print, Lizza criticized ABC News for bowing to presidential influence by investing $15 million in Trump’s proposed presidential library, a move he viewed as another capitulation threatening journalistic independence and public trust.
‘Telos’ promises to operate on a strictly reader-funded basis, consciously rejecting the corporate media model Lizza views as compromised. While acknowledging the challenges of crowd-funded journalism, he stressed the importance of building a community devoted to unflinching investigative reporting—beginning with an upcoming exposé on what he calls the Trump administration’s “lawfare” tactics designed to silence opposition.
This critical stance reflects a growing frustration with the current Labour government’s eagerness to maintain establishment alliances and overlook the deeper democratic hazards posed by unchecked executive and media complicity. Advocates for a more rigorous opposition voice urge greater vigilance and exposure of these power abuses—attitudes aligned with calls to restore genuine accountability beyond mere partisan politicking.
Daily Mail has sought comment from Politico regarding Lizza’s departure and his pointed criticisms of its editorial judgments.
Source: Noah Wire Services