The New York Times Magazine’s chief national correspondent Mark Leibovich paid a visit to “The Daily Show” on Monday to discuss his much-talked-about book, “This Town,” which has generated buzz for its unflattering portrayals of some of Washington’s most influential players.
In an extended interview that spanned two segments, interim host John Oliver said he found much of the book unsettling.
“There is a black heart at the center of this,” Oliver said.
“Thank you,” Leibovich said jokingly.
The author then revealed one of the “dirty little secrets” about a town that’s often maligned for extreme partisanship and dysfunction: the Beltway’s heavy hitters prefer it that way.
“Everyone focuses on how hopelessly divided Washington is. Washington is hopelessly interconnected,” Leibovich said. “I mean, there’s a maxim there that there’s no such thing as Democrats and Republicans these days, only millionaires. And in fact, the dysfunction that you see on cable sets, on the floors of Congress, things not getting done — that’s very good for business in Washington.”
