Overview of 879. - Olivia Nuzzi (How Long Gone)
This episode features journalist and author Olivia Nuzzi in conversation with hosts Chris Black and Jason Stewart. They discuss her new memoir American Canto, the fallout from her highly publicized relationship (and its role in her exit from New York Magazine), her move to Malibu and role at Vanity Fair, how she thinks about public fury and online mobs, and her perspectives on politics, celebrity, and storytelling. The episode also includes a fair amount of wide-ranging, informal banter (fashion, Uggs, restaurants), and several sponsor reads.
Guest snapshot: Olivia Nuzzi
- Profession: Political journalist, author, West Coast editor at Vanity Fair.
- New book: American Canto — a memoir/dispatch about the last decade of American politics, Trump’s rise, and Nuzzi’s personal story (some names redacted in the book as a deliberate literary choice).
- Background notes from the conversation: grew up writing alt-weeklies (Tri-City News), started in the public media world young (~age 20), previously worked at New York Magazine, has made music under the name Livy (song "Jailbait").
Key topics discussed
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The book and the publicity surrounding it
- Why she anonymized many real-life figures (the “Washington Republican”) to make the story more universal and less immediate-reportage driven.
- She expected backlash when resurfacing publicly; she expected noise and “madmen charging at [her] with an axe.”
- Her goal: a text that might matter long-term (10–30 years) rather than immediate spectacle.
- The book is not written to curry favor with mobs; she didn’t write a vengeance book.
- On audiobook choices: chose to capture Trump’s “spirit”/syntax rather than do an impression.
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Media, mobs, and public life
- Distinction between loud online mob actors and thoughtful readers — she believes “smart people” are usually not very loud online.
- She sees much of the online fury as depersonalized: people turn individuals into caricatures to be used in larger cultural fights.
- On criticism: learned to read it for perspective, not be crushed by it; some critics can offer interesting vantage points.
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Politics as character drama
- Nuzzi describes politics as fertile ground for character study because stakes are huge and people in politics “really want things.”
- Her interest in the psychology and ambitions of political figures led to the book’s approach.
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Trump as performer/writer
- Discussed Trump’s rhetorical style and mastery of memeable phrases — called him a “master cyber bully.”
- Tied aesthetics (e.g., blondness) to politics — referenced Hitchcock’s idea that “blondes make the best victims” when talking about victimization and performance in politics.
- Noted examples of Trump going “off script” and how that affects teleprompter readings.
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Personal life and habits
- Lives in Malibu, likes hyper-local reporting, follows Malibu Times.
- Not drinking or using recreational drugs currently; chooses to stay chemically clear during high public scrutiny.
- Enjoys adrenaline activities (speeding, skydiving), wants to learn stick shift for a ’65 Mustang.
- Past long-term relationship (12 years) ended badly; joked about needing a conservatorship.
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Culture and other figures
- Admiration for Lana Del Rey and other songwriters who tap cultural undercurrents.
- Thoughts on Britney Spears and public treatment of women in crisis — empathy for Britney, concerns about conservatorship.
- Favorite interviewers and interview formats cited: Howard Stern, Dick Cavett archives, Letterman, Larry King, and Joe Rogan; she listens to many audiobooks.
Notable quotes & short takeaways
- On anonymizing people in the book: “It felt right… to remove this story from immediate reportage and make it more universal.”
- On online hostility: much of it “doesn’t feel about me… it feels like this tribal, ancient war that will always be waged.”
- On Trump’s rhetorical craft: “He’s the most successful cyber bully of all time.”
- On attention as currency: “The most valuable commodity in the world is our attention… I take that super seriously.”
What this episode is useful for
- Readers interested in: behind-the-scenes political reporting, the ethics of writing about public figures, and how a journalist navigates intense personal scrutiny.
- People curious about American Canto and Nuzzi’s rationale and craft decisions (anonymizing real figures, long-term goals for the book).
- Fans of media criticism and contemporary takes on Trump’s rhetorical methods and celebrity culture.
Practical next steps / recommendations from the episode
- If you want to follow Nuzzi’s current writing: check Vanity Fair’s West Coast/Hollywood issue (she discussed pieces in that issue and an excerpt from her book).
- If you’re interested in Nuzzi’s framing of the Trump-era Washington psyche, read American Canto for her first-person perspective and longer argument.
- For context on the media and long-form interview tradition she mentions: check archives of Dick Cavett, Letterman, and Stern (many clips available online).
Sponsors & episode notes
The episode contains multiple sponsor reads and promotions:
- Dart Collective (wedding/event DJs) — contact michael@dart-collective.com referenced.
- DripDrop (electrolytes) — promo code HOWLONG for 20% off.
- Aura Frames (digital frames) — promo code HOWLONG for $35 off Carver mat frames.
- Bub’s Naturals (collagen peptides) — promo code HLG for 20% off.
- Chevron Rewards mention.
Final impression
This episode balances promotional banter and informal chat with a substantive conversation about authorship, public scrutiny, and the making of a memoir about power and spectacle. Nuzzi comes across as deliberately literary-minded about craft choices, pragmatic about public reception, and reflective about how the internet flattens individuals into symbols. If you want context on how a contemporary political reporter thinks about narrative, performance, and lasting value, this episode and American Canto are good follow-ups.