Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

I’ve known the name of Ronan Farrow but not much about his credentials except the Pulitzer Prize he won for the Weinstein story. I got to know a bit more about him when I read the recent book She Said by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kanter, who were his fellow recipients of the prize for their part in the exposé of the sexual harassment allegations. So, when I got to know about this book and some related controversy surrounding it, and also watched Chris Hayes’s remarks at the time of the release, I knew I had to pick it up. And wow have I been blown away.

“Enjoy” is such an unsuitable word to associate with this book because it talks about some very deeply disturbing topics, but the way Farrow writes it makes it feel like a thriller show more novel with multiple POVs, with some dry and sarcastic humor thrown in, which makes it a riveting experience - I was so drawn by the story in these pages that I stayed up very late in the night to finish it; I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to sleep without knowing how it ended.

I assumed initially that this book might feel repetitive because the contents of She Said are still very much ingrained in my mind, and while some women who came forward with their stories were the same in both the books, Farrow managed to talk to so many other women and discover a pattern of abuse, intimidation and coverup that was revolting. Every experience that these women share and how it has adversely affected their life over the years is very very difficult to read, and Farrow’s anguish at being the one who was listening to them first hand and having the responsibility of bringing their abusers to light, is very palpable in his writing.

But what makes this book even more interesting but also scary to read is the kind of pushback he got in his efforts to bring his reporting to light. This is a journalist who believes in the values of the news organization he works for, loves his job, and just wants to do extensive reporting and be able to provide a voice to the number of women who had been so brutally silenced. But the way he is directly and indirectly blocked by his own bosses at NBC from proceeding disturbs him deeply and it shows in his many conversations with them, trying to justify how important his reporting was but being told it wasn’t enough - not that it’s surprising because women’s voices are never believable enough. And if silencing by his bosses is just one part of the story, the underhanded illegal surveillance tactics used by Weinstein to scare him into not pursuing his story reads like a spy thriller, and if I didn’t know that he is currently alive and well, I would have been much more scared for Farrow’s life while reading the book. As he becomes increasingly consumed by his investigation while also being paranoid about being surveilled, it affects his own long distance relationship with his partner. Their arguments but also Jonathan’s quiet support bring a little humor and personal touch to this book and I really appreciated that. And it was actually very sweet and incredibly nerdy the way Farrow proposed to Jon (I really don’t wanna spoil it) and it was nice to see that they survived the intensity of those years.

The threads of cover up go from news organizations to DA’s offices to state and national politicians to a veritable who’s who of lawyers to international private intelligence companies - and while this may have been surprising to me a few years ago, it just seems par for the course of powerful people protecting more powerful people. While many of us have been disillusioned by the powerful among the politicians or Hollywood getting away with their harassment using their hordes of lawyers, it’s definitely more shocking to read about legitimate famous news organizations like NBC which pride themselves on being the voice of truth for the people, doing the same when it comes to protecting the higher ups in their executive, creating a hostile atmosphere for the women who work there and ultimately silencing them with money and NDAs. While there are many journalists with integrity working at these places like Farrow and McHugh etc, news reporting is also ultimately a business and the higher ups seem to be more concerned about their bottom line and protecting their powerful friends rather than worrying about journalistic ethics. Especially the reporting about the rape and sexual harassment allegations against Matt Lauer are very hard to read, and I can’t even fathom what these women go through just to be able to work at a place they admire. Thank god for the people at The New Yorker who had enough principles to let Farrow complete his investigation and report it thoroughly.

In conclusion, I just want to say that you should read this book. If you are someone who is disappointed everyday by unreliable news reporting and the spin machine employed by powerful individuals, this book will feel like a ray of light and give you some sense of hope that there are many journalists of integrity who are trying very hard to bring the truth out into the open while fighting many battles in the background to make it happen, and Farrow rightly calls this a love letter to journalists. This can also feel hopeless and scary at times because of the massive cover up machine across numerous organizations that make sure powerful men are never held accountable, but it’s still an important book. And ultimately, it’s a testament to the strength of many many women who decide to come forward with their stories, reliving their trauma in the process and hounded by their abuser’s PR machine and letting their lives be upended again, but finally coming to the conclusion that enough is enough and raise their voice so that future generations of women might have it a little easier. show less

***NO SPOILERS***

“Catch and kill” is a term from the tabloid world that refers to tabloids’ purchase of scandalous stories with the express intent of burying them. Ronan Farrow used the term more generally here as he detailed the accusations of abuse surrounding Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and Donald Trump.* Countless people “caught and killed” to protect these men.

This book does three things well, pulling them together to paint a complete picture of what happened behind the scenes: It details the stories of abuse; it illustrates how power is abused and how common that is; and it highlights the extensive protections afforded those who are powerful, beloved, influential, or a combination of these. Had these men been regular show more joes, they would have been caught earlier (although not necessarily punished accordingly, or at all). They are just three of many famous figures accused of hideous crimes, but what happened with them can be applied to so many of the others. With great power comes the benefit of the doubt, denial, and protection.

Throughout my reading, what stood out to me was Harvey Weinstein’s bizarrely wide reach; the man had friends and supporters everywhere. He was involved in politics, charities, and a large percentage of movies made. He had many contacts in the legal world and even the fashion world. Farrow was double-crossed more than once because he confided in someone he assumed didn’t know Weinstein, or knew him but didn’t support him. Weinstein’s contacts everywhere most definitely helped protect him—directly and indirectly.

On the greater level, I was struck by how much those close to Weinstein, Lauer, and Trump bent over backward to protect them. This is where the subtitle of Catch and Kill comes in. Spies scared victims into silence (and attempted to with Farrow); endless lies from lawyers and coworkers protected the perpetrators; and a huge network of people conspired to suppress the stories. The litigation teams were stunningly ruthless, terrorizing victims and doing everything in their power to thwart Farrow’s investigation.

Ironclad non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) figured prominently in these stories as they were used liberally to shut up victims forever. I’ve been frustrated over the years to note that many people think that when victims are “paid off,” it’s proof that victims were blackmailing the perpetrator. This book explains how this reasoning is wrong. The NDA preserves the perpetrator’s reputation while allowing for continued abuse.

Readers who think they already know all about the abuses need to think again. Behind the scenes, so much happened that news outlets wouldn’t have the space to report on, if they even wanted to. It took this meticulous 448-page book to do that. Additionally, as a (now former) employee of NBC, Farrow was in the unusual position to be able to speak from an insider’s point of view. He interacted with Matt Lauer, who was a kind of mentor, and was close to the bigwigs protecting him. His characterization went a long way toward making Catch and Kill page-turning.

I do have one criticism that concerns crucial word choice. At least two times, Farrow used the word “consent” or “consensual,” saying something along the lines of, “The interactions eventually became consensual…” Given the power differential in the encounters, the perpetrator’s harassing persistence, and the victim’s fear of extensive retribution, she never consented. He means she relented. She resigned herself to the situation. She surrendered.

Nevertheless, Catch and Kill is superb, thorough, dedicated to the truth. I admire Farrow’s courage and greatly respect his personal ethics. He worked to exhaustion every day for months to expose these scandals, eventually getting the story published in The New Yorker. And although The New York Times broke the story before The New Yorker, Farrow was the one who began investigating first and refused to back down despite significant obstacles. Really, given the numerous roadblocks, it’s astonishing these accusations ever came to light.

Anyone with the slightest interest in these cases will want to read Catch and Kill. This may be the definitive work on what happened.

*Focused on in that order. Farrow devoted most attention to Weinstein, then Lauer, then Trump.

Read-alike: [b:She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement|44767249|She Said Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement|Jodi Kantor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573830483l/44767249._SY75_.jpg|69397793]

Complementary viewing: The documentary "Untouchable"

Update, March 4, 2020: Shame on Hachette. Ronan Farrow Cuts Ties With Publisher Hachette Over Woody Allen Memoir show less

A disturbing read, but not a surprising one. With the pacing of a thriller writer, Ronan Farrow recounts the story behind first his investigation into Harvey Weinstein's career of sexual assault, harassment, and bullying, and NBC News' attempt to block the findings of that investigation and of other ones into the assaults committed by Matt Lauer and other NBC staff. Farrow's journalistic experiences do fit quite naturally into the thriller genre—he was, after all, being digitally and physically surveilled by a cut-throat international private espionage firm hired by Weinstein.

Some other parts of the story feel like a less natural fit. The scenes where Farrow recounts the effects which the stress of it all had on his relationship with show more his boyfriend have a slightly queasy feel, as if the result of an editor's red pen telling Farrow that he needs to humanise himself more. This is not to discount the very clear toll that his work took on Farrow and on his family, but he would clearly much rather that the book remain focused on the survivors, the abusers, and their enablers. There are depressingly many in the latter two camps.

Catch and Kill is an indictment of predators and the people who cover for them (whether out of fear, greed, or misogyny) that will leave you wanting a shower once you've finished reading—all the more so because its publication hasn't brought anything to a close. Neither Weinstein nor Lauer are in jail; Noah Oppenheim and his ilk are still in charge at NBC; and the patterns of complicity that Farrow lays out here prevail in so many other industries. show less

Have you ever had the sneaking suspicion that people in power will go to great lengths to cover up each other's evil deeds? Well, this book will prove you right. It will also piss you off, but it's so worth reading. Glad that there are still some journalists in the world like Ronan Farrow willing to stand up to corruption and abuse.

Gripping and enormously difficult at the same time. Also, often, absurd. The enormity of the networks in which men like Weinstein and Trump move and hide is staggering, and at the same time, the individual foibles of these men, and the people who helped them--their egos, their prurience, their certainty that money and power really can make anything disappear--all of that lends itself to a rich and ridiculous tapestry that almost makes you forget what's at the center of this story (these stories, this unending matryoshka doll of stories). Farrow doesn't forget it though, and he doesn't let you either. I can't write in any real way what reading the accounts these women give felt like, as a survivor. It's bigger than belongs on Goodreads, show more at the very least.

I did laugh at the National Enquirer's brief period of constantly soliciting dick pics from Ronan Farrow. show less

Although non-fiction, it reads like & has the pacing of a thriller. I sped through the pages. Fortunately, I had the benefit of hindsight in knowing that Weinstein was convicted & has been sent to jail (at least temporarily). His sentencing is Wednesday & he faces up to 29 years in jail.

While quite a bit of the story is public now & you are probably familiar w/ lots of it, the book provides so many more details. Not only is it infuriating to read about the multiple assaults & rapes, but also the pervasive culture of cover-up among the rich/powerful/political/media. For Pete's sake, there was an undercover investigative group w/ Mossad training who worked on a psy-ops & smearing campaign to discredit victims & journalists working on the show more story. And that's just one piece of many. Weinstein's friendships & area of influence & bribery were so vast that even the prosecuter's office (at one point) was ok looking the other way. The sheer level of complicity & cover-up is just staggering. Staggering.

I, of course, applaud the victims who have come forward to share their stories & to help pursue finding justice. I applaud Ronan Farrow & his NBC producer, Rich McHugh, for sticking with the story through threats & more, ultimately ensuring the story made it to the public. Farrow's legal background w/ his journalistic chops make him a formidable & fierce force to be reckoned with. I can only hope he continues to pursue the hard stories like this one during a long, long career.

It's pretty obvious that there are many, many more guilty parties. Many more people need to go on trial & head to jail. Weinstein's case is just the tip of the iceberg. show less

If it were fiction, I’d call Catch and Kill a tightly plotted psychological thriller with twists and turns so crazy it will make your hair stand on end. The fact that it’s nonfiction is horrifying.

Ronan Farrow’s reporting is excellent: candid, precise, empathetic. It is also so devastatingly heartbreaking I’ve been able to think of little else since finishing the book.

So good. So necessary. So pantshittingly scary…