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Lizza and the Lawyers
Ryan Lizza’s exit from POLITICO has exploded into a messy divorce—with free speech, newsroom politics, and non-disparagement clauses all colliding.
Oliver Darcy
April 28, 2025
Ryan Lizza. (Photo by Remon Atala for Status)
On Saturday night, as the nation’s top journalists packed into the overstuffed Washington Hilton for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one familiar face was conspicuously absent: Ryan Lizza. Lizza had very much intended to be there—so much so that, I’m told, a ticket to the black tie affair had been negotiated into his exit agreement with POLITICO. But instead, he found himself a few blocks away at The LINE Hotel, mingling with independent creators at Substack’s inaugural party.
It wasn’t where Lizza had hoped to spend the evening. He told me he wanted to be at the dinner to support his friend Eugene Daniels, this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association president. But a simmering legal standoff with POLITICO, now edging toward a full boil, prevented him from attending as a guest of the Axel Springer-owned outlet.
In fact, over the past week, Lizza’s departure from POLITICO has morphed into something far messier than a simple split—becoming an increasingly ugly divorce, complete with legal threats, public recriminations, and a brewing free speech fight. What began as a quiet exit agreement has spiraled…
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The Washington Post building. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Status Scoop | WaPo's Million-Dollar Brunch: Throwing a WHCD weekend party isn’t cheap—but The WaPo took spending to a new level this year. I'm told that the Jeff Bezos-owned paper, which has faced deep financial struggles and laid off staff earlier this year, spent more than $1 million on its Sunday brunch at the Ned’s Club, an exclusive spot overlooking the White House and monuments. A spokesperson for The WaPo did not offer comment. But guests at the event were treated to…
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