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Copyright: © 2020
In my small attempt to live my values, I like to dedicate the first Friday edition of every new year to grading some of my previous writing. Here’s our process: About two months ago, I told my team to start looking through our archives and flag instances where we took a strong position on a defining story in the past year. I also sorted through reader criticisms, feedback, and suggestions about articles to revisit.
Then, we went back to evaluate that writing and settled on a grade for how we did.
We published over 200 newsletters last year, so we don’t grade every single one. Instead, we focused on newsletters covering the biggest stories of 2024 — those that garnered the most public attention and reader feedback.
I'm going to share with you key excerpts from my writing, a brief "reflection," and then a grade on the A-to-F scale (that my editors and I have agreed on). A lot of this, obviously, is subjective. So as always, we welcome your feedback.
This is a preview of today's special edition that is available in full and ad-free for our premium podcast subscribers. If you'd like to complete this episode and receive Sunday editions, exclusive interviews, bonus content, and more, head over to tanglemedia.supercast.com and sign up for a membership. If you are currently a newsletter subscriber, inquiry with us about how to receive a 33% discount on a podcast subscription!
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up! You can also give the gift of a Tangle podcast subscription by clicking here.
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On December 29, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away at age 100. Carter served one term after defeating Gerald Ford in the 1976 election, then lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan. Carter’s administration faced several distinct challenges, including double-digit inflation, energy shortages, and the Iran hostage crisis. His post-presidency was associated with humanitarian works and efforts to address global conflicts.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you think of Jimmy Carter’s legacy? Let us know!
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Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Tuesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will end its fact-checking program across Instagram, Facebook and Threads, instead instituting a feature similar to X’s “Community Notes,” which crowdsources content reviews. The company will also relax limitations on controversial topics, like immigration and gender identity, and will allow for more political content to appear on users’ feeds. Furthermore, Zuckerberg announced that Meta will work with President-elect Donald Trump to combat censorship across the world.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you think Meta’s content moderation should look like? Let us know!
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Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In recent weeks, the H-1B visa program has prompted vigorous discussion about the U.S. immigration system, foreign workers, and the tech industry. The debate has proved divisive among supporters of President-elect Donald Trump and has sparked disagreement on the left. Most notably, tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk voiced strong support for H-1B visas to help them access skilled international talent, while proponents of restrictionist immigration policies and progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) argued that the incoming Trump administration should scale back or eliminate the program.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you think is currently the biggest threat to national security? Let us know!
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on New Orleans’s Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring 35 others. Additionally, the attacker reportedly planted multiple improvised explosive devices in the area, but they did not detonate. Investigators said the suspect appears to have been inspired by ISIS, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and was flying an ISIS flag from the truck's rear bumper during the attack. The attacker was killed in a shootout with the police.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you think is currently the biggest threat to national security? Let us know!
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomasl. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's episode, Managing Editor Ari Wietzman talks with Jill Escher, an autism research philanthropist (Escher Fund for Autism), real estate investor who provides low-income housing for adults with developmental disabilities, former lawyer, and mother of two children with nonverbal autism. In this discussion, she highlights the increasing prevalence of autism, the frustrations with current research methodologies, and the need for more innovative approaches to understanding causation. Escher emphasizes the importance of exploring non-genetic factors, such as environmental exposures, advocates for increased funding and attention to these areas, and touches on the societal perceptions of autism and the balance between acceptance and the urgency to find answers.
This is a preview of today's special edition that is available in full and ad-free for our premium podcast subscribers. If you'd like to complete this episode and receive Sunday editions, exclusive interviews, bonus content, and more, head over to tanglemedia.supercast.com and sign up for a membership. If you are currently a newsletter subscriber, inquiry with us about how to receive a 33% discount on a podcast subscription!
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up! You can also give the gift of a Tangle podcast subscription by clicking here.
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today is Christmas Eve, which means the Tangle team is about to step into our annual holiday and New Year break. If you are new here — as many of you are — here's what you need to know: I believe in working hard, playing hard, and pacing ourselves. I know the media business is a difficult one, so I work myself to the bone and push my team to bring their best every day, too. But I also know that many people in the news business burn out and fail, in part because of how demanding it can be. So, we take regular breaks to position ourselves to win in the long run.
To that end, we'll be off from now through Friday, January 3rd.
Over break, we’ll share an edition with our favorite content from the year, as well as a special New Year’s edition of the Sunday for paid subscribers. Barring any major breaking news, it's likely that you won't get a normal newsletter from us until Monday, January 6, 2025. After a long, exciting and grueling election season, I'm looking forward to the team coming back refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to go.
I'm also going to ask all of you to take our end-of-year survey. This survey is a way for us to take your feedback constructively to improve Tangle, and also a way to check in on who exactly is reading Tangle today. To show my appreciation, and to motivate submissions and feedback, anyone that takes it will be added into a drawing for a $250 gift certificate (so long as you leave your email). We’ll announce the winner on January 6.
As we head into this break, I encourage you to step back as well. The news can be frustrating, stressful, and depressing. This time of year is a great time to take a brief hiatus, spend some time with family or friends, and generally try to get outside and give yourself a break. When we come back in 2025, we’ll be sure to update you on everything you missed.
Happy holidays,
Isaac & and the Tangle team
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
A quick reminder that you can give the gift of Tangle! We have gift subscriptions on our website that are discounted to encourage buying them for your family member, friend, or colleague (especially those who you struggle to discuss politics with!). Click here to spread the love.
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed a stopgap funding bill into law, averting a prolonged government shutdown after last-minute negotiations in the House and Senate. The continuing resolution (CR) is a scaled-down version of a bill that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) released on Tuesday but scrapped a day later. The new CR, called the “American Relief Act, 2025,” funds the government at current levels through mid-March while providing roughly $100 billion in natural disaster aid and $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
A quick reminder that you can give the gift of Tangle! We have gift subscriptions on our website that are discounted to encourage buying them for your family member, friend, or colleague (especially those who you struggle to discuss politics with!). Click here to spread the love.
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you think of the funding bill passed by Congress? Let us know!
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomasl. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the last couple weeks, I've been accused of being "out of touch" more times than I ever have in my entire life. The criticisms have mostly been for "my take" on the murder of Brian Thompson and then my response to reader feedback on that take. As frustrating as the criticisms have been, I also realized the problem was partially my fault. While I've touched on the topic a lot, I've never written explicitly about class and class politics — or my upbringing — here in Tangle. So on today's episode, I'm going to do just that.
This is a preview of today's Friday edition that is available in full and ad-free for our premium podcast subscribers. If you'd like to complete this episode and receive Sunday editions, exclusive interviews, bonus content, and more, head over to tanglemedia.supercast.com and sign up for a membership. If you are currently a newsletter subscriber, inquiry with us about how to receive a 33% discount on a podcast subscription!
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Today's podcast was written by Ari Weitzman and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Wednesday, House Republican leadership scrapped a bill to temporarily fund the government after President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and House Republicans came out against the effort. The sudden change of course comes just days before current government funding runs out on Friday night, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has not indicated whether he will pursue a new bill to avert a shutdown.
Note: This is a developing story. The information in this section is up-to-date as of 11:30 am ET on Thursday, December 19.
Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up!
A quick reminder that you can give the gift of Tangle! We have gift subscriptions on our website that are discounted to encourage buying them for your family member, friend, or colleague (especially those who you struggle to discuss politics with!). Click here to spread the love.
You can read today's podcast here, our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here.
Take the survey: What do you want the House of Representatives to do with the funding bill? Let us know!
You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.
Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.
Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle’s social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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