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Copyright: © 2020
On Monday, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), accused him of raping her in 2021. Politico, which first published the report, corroborated aspects of Racicot’s account after speaking with a man whom Racicot dated after Platner, as well as reviewing messages between her and her therapist and an acquaintance. Platner denied the accusation but said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” A significant number of Congressional Democrats, including many lawmakers who previously endorsed Platner, have called on him to drop out of the race.
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Tangle is up for the first-ever Newsletter People’s Choice Award, and voting ends on Saturday. We’re currently in the lead (out of 112 nominated newsletters), but we need your help to bring it home. If you haven’t already, we’d appreciate it if you could cast a vote for us! Note: Be sure to confirm your vote in your email after you submit the form.
You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Under the radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
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Take the survey: Should Platner drop out? Will he? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Audrey Moorehead and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court held that a federal law limiting the amount of money political parties could spend in coordination with campaigns violated the First Amendment. The Court’s vote was 6–3 along ideological lines.
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We’re nominated for the 2026 People’s Choice Newsletter Awards, and we’d appreciate it if you could take a moment and cast a vote for us. It’s quick and easy (just be sure to confirm your vote in your email after you submit the form) — the link to vote is here.
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Take the survey: What do you think of the Court’s ruling? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Will Kaback and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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On Saturday, the United States marked 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, establishing the original 13 American colonies as a new, independent nation. In addition to the traditional fireworks and parades, cities and states held special celebrations reflecting on the country’s history for its semiquincentennial. In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered to celebrate across the capital. While some of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” event was canceled or delayed due to extreme weather — including a temporary evacuation of the National Mall — the president delivered an address on the Mall, followed by a massivefireworks display.
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To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Click HERE to get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership.
We’re nominated for the 2026 People’s Choice Newsletter Awards, and we’d appreciate it if you could take a moment and cast a vote for us. It’s quick and easy (just be sure to confirm your vote in your email after you submit the form) — the link to vote is here.
You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Under the radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
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Take the survey: How do you feel about America on its 250th birthday? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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Dear readers,
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, much ink will be spilled about where we are as a nation: what we’ve overcome, what’s broken, what works, and where we’re going.
Like many Americans (and American writers), I’ve been ruminating on this anniversary from many angles. But today, my mind is stuck on one specific part of our country’s story: The freedom of the press, and the power of the “publish” button. I don’t take it for granted that I have the ability to immediately reach half a million readers directly, and millions more indirectly, at any moment, with a few clacks on the keyboard and a couple clicks of the mouse. Despite the ease of that feat, it was never guaranteed — not technologically, culturally, or legally — until very recently. Few of us have taken time to reflect on how we got here, why we’re here, and how important it is to spend the next 250 years keeping the spirit of the American press and press freedom alive.
Tangle, like all daily news publications, descends from Acta Diurna(“daily acts”), the posted announcements of political and social events in Rome. Starting in 59 BC, these notices were often carved into stone or metal and alerted the citizenry to the happenings of the government. Despite serving as an act of transparency — and functioning as a new democratic norm — Acta Diurna were distinct from today’s news outlets in an important way: They were authorized narratives of the government, first ordered by Julius Caesar.
Still, every newspaper and form of mass media can trace its origins back to this practice, though the posted notices would evolve over millennia into myriad new formats and media. By the 17th century, the Dutch had “corantos” (currents of news), which pulled together foreign journals and translated them for the country’s citizens. Rudimentary newspapers were popping up across European countries and Japan at this time, too. In 1621, the first English corantos appeared in London, and by 1702, The Daily Courant was publishing, well, daily.
But it was never easy.
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Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Supreme Court expert Sarah Isgur to cover this weeks controversial rulings and tells us why all the people freaking out about SCOTUS are wrong. Last but not least, a pretty gross grievance section. It's a good one!
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You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast was hosted by: Isaac Saul and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Jon Lall.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued two decisions on the president’s power to remove leaders of federal agencies. In the first case, Trump v. Slaughter, the Court voted 6–3 to strike down a federal law that limited the president’s power to fire Federal Trade Commission (FTC) members. In the second, Trump v. Cook, the Court voted 5–4 that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role while her legal challenge to President Trump’s attempt to fire her plays out.
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This weekend is the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring its independence, and this month marks seven years since we launched Tangle. To celebrate, Executive Editor Isaac Saul is penning an essay tomorrow on the history of press freedom and why we must continue to embrace the spirit of a free press in the years ahead. Keep an eye out for the special July 4 edition, which will land in your inbox around 12 PM ET.
You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
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Take the survey: What do you think of the Slaughter and Cook decisions? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Audrey Moorehead and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, ruling 6–3 in Trump v. Barbara that the order is unlawful. Three Republican-appointed and three Democratic-appointed justices comprised the majority, though Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented in part. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch each authored dissents.
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Last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation. If it feels like the country’s leaders are always coming and going, that’s because… they are. With Starmer’s departure, Britain will have had six prime ministers in 10 years. Each entered office promising stability; each left amid deep public dissatisfaction. In our newest YouTube video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s going on across the pond. Watch it here.
You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Under the radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
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Take the survey: What do you think of the Court’s decision? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled 5–4 to uphold a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward. In its ruling, the Court rejected the challengers’ argument that federal statutes setting a national Election Day required ballot receipt by that day. Instead, the Court held that Election Day refers to voters choosing a candidate, which is fulfilled when voting is completed, not when ballots are received. The ruling comes four months before the 2026 midterm elections and ensures that Mississippi’s law will remain in place for the state’s elections.
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You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Take the survey: What do you think of the decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Will Kaback and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued two decisions on U.S. immigration policy. In the first case, Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, the Court ruled 6–3 that the federal government can turn back asylum seekers before they cross into the United States. In the second, Mullin v. Doe, the Court also ruled 6–3 that courts cannot review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determinations on groups’ eligibility for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), clearing the way for the Trump administration to remove Haitian and Syrian TPS holders from the U.S.
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To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!
You can read today's podcast here and today’s “Under the radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Take the survey: What do you think of each ruling? Let us know.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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The expected and unexpected of parenting.
Dear readers,
Before we get into today’s very personal Friday edition, I wanted to remind you that we paywall our Friday editions. We fundamentally believe reliable news and great writing should be accessible — so we’ve made a habit of giving roughly 80% of our content away for free. But we are also primarily supported by Tangle members (who provide 90% of our revenue) to keep this project running.
Members get very specific benefits:
It costs just $59/year to become a newsletter member, or less than $5 per month. If you bundle that with our podcast membership, it’s $99/year, or about $8 per month.
So, when you run into the paywall in today’s edition, please consider pushing through it with a membership. It unlocks a tremendous amount of value for you, and it keeps us 100% independent as a media organization!
Best,
Isaac
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.
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