3/4
There was an undercurrent of fascination that went beyond journalistic intrigue, bordering on obsession. Her constant desire for updates, coupled with the tone of her inquiries, made it clear she wasn’t merely reporting: She was weaving some kind of fantasy. I could sense her emotional investment growing. In that shift, the gossip centered less on politics and more on tracking and dissecting his every move. I noticed that whenever I criticized him, pointing out what I disliked or disagreed with, she was quick to defend him. I found it odd. Her judgment as a veteran political journalist seemingly dissolved as the months progressed.She appeared like a dazed schoolgirl discussing RFK, having lost the ability to view him objectively — a red flag I noted. She had become a full-fledged Kennedy fangirl.
My suspicions were further confirmed when I noticed some of the gossip I shared began leaking.
Up until meeting her, I had managed to keep a tight grip on sensitive information.Suddenly, tidbits I mentioned in confidence to just a couple of people began circulating in mainstream circles, sometimes even reaching political assassins like Lis Smith, a high-profile Democratic strategist opposing my efforts. It became clear that someone in my life was betraying my off-the-record remarks.
Recently, I urged Denise, who had also grown close to Olivia, to stop sharing campaign information with her. “I’m sure she’s leaking whatever we give her,” I warned.
The August afternoon in Palm Beach was the last straw. While discussing Olivia's latest interview with Trump in the sunroom, a family member pulled me aside after she left. “Can’t you see what she’s doing? She’s using you for information. She isn’t interested in you; she’s interested in what you know.”
In short, I felt foolish for letting the situation drag on so long. While I appreciated our different styles and audiences, it dawned on me that her appeal —how she gained people's trust and access — was rooted in seduction.
As for the leak, I am not privy to the details of how it occurred, but based on what I know, I strongly suspect it’s what Olivia wanted all along.In recent weeks, she began dropping hints about reckless texting with RFK, each cryptic revelation feeling intentional, as if she hoped I’d press her for more — or better yet, leak it myself.
What I can relay, based on both parties involved, is that they agree on the basic facts:It was not an affair; there was no physical relationship. They met in person just once for an interview. It was, at most, “a fleeting flirtation.”
According to sources,Olivia repeatedly lied about the textswhen confronted by her editors. Several see this as New York Magazine’s excuse to attack RFK, particularly as his recent alignment with Trump has led to a polling surge for him.
With Kennedy’s endorsement comes a wave of support from suburban mothers — a valuable demographic for Team Trump. Amplifying a trite sex scandal serves to deter his appeal within this voting bloc.
Friends of Kennedy believe Nuzzi set him up. They recount that just two weeks after New York Magazine published her article, she made a flirtatious remark during a phone conversation. In response, Kennedy blocked her number. A few weeks later, Nuzzi emailed him, asking to be unblocked, claiming she had urgent information about a hit piece being prepared against him. He unblocked her for that conversation, but later that night, she sent him a provocative picture, prompting him to block her again.
For most of the next 8 months, Kennedy kept her blocked, except for a few occasions when Nuzzi contacted him from different emails and phone numbers, insisting he unblock her for urgent discussions about an imminent hit piece. Once unblocked, she bombarded him with increasingly pornographic photos and videos that he found difficult to resist. After brief exchanges, he would block her again.
Security expert Gavin de Becker is currently investigating the situation for civil litigation that Kennedy intends to file, as well as for potential criminal referrals. “This had nothing to do with romance,” said de Becker. “He was being chased by porn.” de Becker added that Kennedy had repeatedly declined multiple invitations from Nuzzi for personal meetings.
Another anonymous source(an extensive subject during Olivia’s coverage of the Trump administration)spoke critically on a call today about Nuzzi's tactics, questioning the ethical boundaries she frequently crosses. “I’ve never met Bobby, and I don’t know him or any of his people,” the source stated, establishing a lack of vested interest. They expressed concern about Nuzzi's approach, highlighting an unsettling dynamic in their interactions.
https://jessicareedkraus.substack.com/p/the-talented-ms-