The Mirror

Politico CEO Was Drawn To Nikki Finke’s ‘Viciousness’

Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
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Politico President and CEO Jim VandeHei admitted to The New York Times this week that he was drawn to Hollywood entertainment reporter Nikki Finke‘s viciousness.

In the end, however, the feelings weren’t mutual.

Finke said she has no real passion for Washington.

“Jim VandeHei, the chief executive of Politico, said he had tried to hire her because she is ‘tenacious, fearless and vicious,’ and ‘unafraid to rattle the rich and powerful.’ But she did not relish the prospect of starting from scratch, has never really loved Washington and has decided that she cannot work for anyone else again.” 

As The Mirror previously reported, it’s hard to imagine Politico taking the risk of bringing on a reporter who could potentially blow up the pub’s cozy relationships all over Washington — and potentially around the world. (Think Finke hanging out at the European Commission in Brussels. Or Finke sitting around the Rosslyn newsroom listening to Politico management inflate itself with praise.) Still, the idea of Politico raging against the rich and power is a really nice thought.

Can you even imagine Politico‘s in-house ad for her? Or Capitol Hill Bureau Chief John Bresnahan lowering himself to take her seriously?

Finke’s detractors can finally relax. According to the NYT, she has officially been silenced and won’t be able to cover the entertainment industry online for 10 years.

So she’s turning to the next best thing – no joke, fiction writing.