Jon Lovett: From White House Speechwriter to Podcast Pioneer
Jonathan Ira Lovett, born on August 17, 1982, is an American podcaster, comedian, journalist, and former speechwriter who has made a significant impact in both the political and media spheres. He is widely recognized as a co-founder of Crooked Media, alongside Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor, all of whom previously served as White House staffers during the Obama administration. Lovett is a regular host of the Crooked Media podcasts "Pod Save America" and "Lovett or Leave It."
Early Life and Education
Lovett's path to becoming a prominent political voice began with a strong educational foundation. He volunteered for John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004. He attended Williams College, graduating in 2004.
From Politics to Podcasting: A Career Overview
Lovett's career trajectory is marked by a transition from the world of political speechwriting to the dynamic landscape of podcasting and media. His experiences in the White House and his subsequent ventures have solidified his position as a respected commentator and media personality.
Speechwriting Career
As a speechwriter, Jon Lovett honed his communication skills and gained invaluable insights into the workings of government and political messaging. He worked for both President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when she was a United States senator and a 2008 presidential candidate.
Crooked Media and Podcasting Success
In 2017, Lovett co-founded Crooked Media with Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor. This venture marked a significant shift in his career, allowing him to leverage his political knowledge and communication skills in the realm of podcasting. Crooked Media has become a prominent platform for progressive voices, with podcasts like "Pod Save America" and "Lovett or Leave It" gaining widespread popularity. Lovett is a regular host of both podcasts.
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Crooked Media's influence extends beyond podcasting, with the company producing various forms of media content and engaging in political activism. Shaniqua McClendon currently serves as Vice President of Political Strategy for Crooked Media. Lucinda Treat is the Chief Executive Officer at Crooked Media. Michele Rosette is the Chief Financial Officer at Crooked, overseeing all aspects of the company's financial management. Sofia joined Crooked in June 2021 after spending over a decade building people and culture teams in entertainment, non-profits and tech. Sr. Elijah Cone joined the world of political podcasting after a series of content home-runs at Fox Sports.
Television and Writing Ventures
Beyond his work in podcasting, Lovett has also ventured into television and writing. He co-created the NBC sitcom "1600 Penn" and was a writer and producer on the third season of HBO's "The Newsroom." These experiences demonstrate his versatility as a writer and his ability to engage audiences across different media platforms.
"Democracy or Else"
His first book, "Democracy or Else", which he co-authored alongside his Crooked Media co-founders, was released on June 25, 2024. Tommy Vietor is a cofounder of Crooked Media, cohost of Pod Save America, and the host of the foreign-policy-focused Pod Save the World.
Personal Life
On March 17, 2025, Jon Lovett announced his engagement to Ari Schwartz, his company's Chief of Staff.
John A. Lovett: Property Law Expert at LSU
While Jon Lovett has made his mark in the media and political spheres, another legal expert named John A. Lovett excels in property law. He joined the LSU Law Faculty in January 2024. He grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and earned a B.A. from Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Indiana University-Bloomington. He received his J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1995 where he served as an Articles Editor for the Tulane Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif.
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Academic Career
John A. Lovett's academic career is distinguished by his focus on property law and land use. He has taught Civil Law Property, Common Law Property, Louisiana Sale and Lease, Land Use Regulation, Real Estate Transactions, and Property, Land Use, and Justice, a new course he created that addresses racial discrimination in property and land use law in the United States.
After law school, Lovett clerked for Chief Judge F.A. Little, Jr., United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, and Judge Jacques L. Wiener, Jr., United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit. He worked as an associate at Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans from 1997 to 2002, focusing on commercial litigation.
Lovett joined the faculty at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2002, became full professor in 2009, and served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development from 2012 to 2015. He held the De Van D. Daggett Jr. Distinguished Professorship at Loyola from 2012 to 2023.
Scholarship and Publications
Lovett’s scholarship ranges across common, civil, and mixed jurisdictions. He has published articles and book chapters on easements, covenants, and servitudes, adverse possession and acquisitive prescription, community land trusts, land reform in Scotland, the impact of natural disasters on property law and housing, and the impact of changes in our natural environment on property rights. His articles and book chapters have been published in the United States, Scotland, the Netherlands, and South Africa and have been cited widely by scholars and courts, including the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa. He is also a co-author of Louisiana Property Law: The Civil Code, Cases, and Commentary (2d edition, Carolina Academic Press 2020), a widely used casebook in Louisiana law schools.
His expertise extends to various aspects of property law, including:
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- Civil and Common Law Property: Lovett's research delves into the intricacies of both civil and common law property systems.
- Land Use Regulation: He examines the legal frameworks governing land use and development.
- Good-Faith Principles: Lovett explores the principles that mediate ownership and public access to property.
He integrates comparative doctrine, historical analysis, and policy scholarship to refine property rights, guide land‑use regulation, and inform Louisiana’s civil‑law tradition as the Newman Trowbridge Distinguished Professor at LSU Law.
Insights on Louisiana Property Law
Lovett's expertise in Louisiana property law is particularly noteworthy. He is well-versed in the state's unique legal landscape, which blends civil law traditions with common law influences.
Ownership of Submerged Land
Lovett has written about the legal complexities surrounding the ownership of submerged land on the Louisiana coast. This issue is particularly relevant due to the state's ongoing coastal erosion and the impact of sea-level rise. His research examines the question of who owns land that was once dry land but has become permanently submerged beneath the sea.
Natural Property Rights
In his research, Lovett has explored the transition from natural property rights to property conventions, using Louisiana as a case study. He has examined disputes involving natural resources like oil, trees, and water, and how these disputes are resolved under Louisiana law.
Adverse Possession by the State
Lovett has also written about the issue of adverse possession by the state, examining situations where governmental entities may acquire title to private land through long-term use and possession.
Tree Root Disputes
LSU Law Professor John Lovett commented on a Louisiana Civil Code that says that a landowner has the right to demand branches or roots of a neighbor's tree, bushes or plants that extend over or into their property be trimmed at the expense of the neighbor. "The real question would be whether the roots interfere with that person's enjoyment of their property, in this case the driveway," said Lovett.
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