Open Tab: Lachlan Cartwright

Lachlan Cartwright, a veteran tabloid journalist and former executive editor, details the mechanics of "catch-and-kill" schemes—the practice of purchasing exclusive rights to damaging stories to suppress them for the benefit of powerful figures like Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein. This conversation traces Cartwright's career trajectory from his early days in Australian media to his high-stakes tenure at the *National Enquirer* and his eventual transition to independent media. Beyond these professional revelations, Cartwright reflects on the profound personal intersection of his career with his father’s terminal illness and his own journey of coming out. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the resilience required to navigate the ethical pitfalls of legacy media and the entrepreneurial drive behind his successful, independent newsletter, *Breaker*, which now operates as a profitable, subscriber-funded platform.