Matt Taibbi

Matthew Colin Taibbi, born in 1970, is an American author, journalist, and podcaster. He began his career as a freelance reporter in Russia, eventually co-editing the controversial tabloid The eXile in Moscow. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2002, he founded the satirical newspaper The Beast and later became a columnist for publications like the New York Press and Rolling Stone.

Taibbi gained wider recognition for his reporting on finance and politics, famously describing Goldman Sachs as a "vampire squid." His work has been compared to gonzo journalism. He has authored several books, including "The Great Derangement" and "Griftopia." In recent years, his focus has shifted to culture war issues and media criticism, including his involvement with the "Twitter Files." He also co-hosted the podcast "Useful Idiots."

Matt Taibbi's journalistic journey began in Russia after college. He worked as a sports reporter for The Moscow Times and later co-edited the provocative tabloid The eXile with Mark Ames. The eXile was known for its controversial content, often aimed at the expatriate community. During this period, Taibbi also penned his first book, "The Exile: Sex, Drugs, and Libel in the New Russia," co-authored with Ames. He has spoken about struggling with heroin addiction during this time and later apologized for the "cruel and misogynistic language" in the book, describing parts as fictional satire. His experiences in Russia also included playing professional baseball and basketball, earning the nickname "The Mongolian Rodman."

Returning to the U.S. in 2002, Taibbi founded the satirical newspaper The Beast in Buffalo, New York. He then worked as a freelancer for various publications, including The Nation, Playboy, and Rolling Stone, where he covered politics. His satirical essay about the Pope's death in the New York Press drew significant criticism. Taibbi became known for his critical stance on financial institutions and politics, notably coining the term "vampire squid" to describe Goldman Sachs in a 2009 article. His style has often been compared to Hunter S. Thompson's gonzo journalism. He also hosted the podcast "Useful Idiots" and has been involved in self-publishing his work.

In more recent years, Matt Taibbi's writing has increasingly focused on cultural conflicts and the phenomenon of "cancel culture." He has been a vocal critic of mainstream media, particularly concerning its coverage of political events, including Russian interference in U.S. elections. Between 2022 and 2023, he was involved in releasing installments of the "Twitter Files," which examined the platform's content moderation policies. Taibbi continues to author books and publish his work through his platform Racket News (formerly TK News).

“vampire squid”

“off-the-cuff burlesque of truly tasteless jokes”

“fulminating political essays”

“in the waning hours of a Vicodin haze”

“an aberration from how I've behaved in the last six or seven years”