Well, this is probably the most unexpected email in your inbox today.
If you're thinking, "I haven't heard from these guys in ages," you're right. We went quiet for most of 2025 to rethink, regroup, and figure out how to best serve our audience in a world where "making sense of the news" feels like a full-time job.
We're back, but we’re not the same—and that's a good thing.
As we kick off what is already shaping up to be one of the most significant years of the 21st century, our mission has been refined. The noise is louder than ever. Our goal is to cut through it.
So, What's Changing?
From now on, you'll see a sharpened focus on two key areas:
Promoting Legitimate News: We're filtering out the clickbait and rage-bait to bring you vetted, credible news sources.
Spotlighting Independent Voices: We'll be amplifying the insightful (and often underappreciated) independent creators and podcasters we believe deserve your attention.
We’re not an email-grabber program. We’re not here to farm your clicks. We're here to present factual news and explain—in plain text—why it matters to you.
What We're Tracking in 2026
The stakes are high next year. We'll be keeping a close eye on the major geopolitical stories, including:
China's looming decision regarding Taiwan.
Putin's declaration that he wants the war in Ukraine to end in Russia's favor by this year.
The escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
The devastating drug war in Venezuela.
...not to mention all the back-room deals, quiet land grabs, and economic shifts happening while everyone is distracted.
Here's the New Plan
We know your inbox is a sacred space. We won't be cluttering it.
You can expect this newsletter once a week, every Friday morning, to help you get smart before the weekend.
And for your audio fix, our podcast, This Week Explained, will continue to drop every Monday morning to get you ready for the week ahead.
A Quick Housekeeping Note
We’re committed to this work, and to keep the lights on, we’re partnering with a few select affiliate sponsors we genuinely believe in.
We are thrilled to kick this off by collaborating with Ground News. In an age of echo chambers, Ground News is an invaluable tool for seeing who is covering what, from all sides of the political spectrum.
They are offering our community an exclusive 40% discount on their Vantage Subscription.
If you, like us, feel that Ground News is a value-add to your daily news consumption, we'd appreciate you using our affiliate link. It's the best way to... take Vantage... (you knew we had to) of their best pricing this year.
That's it. We're incredibly excited to be back and to build a community of informed, critical thinkers.
If you found this newsletter valuable in the past, please share it with friends and family.
And, of course, if this new direction isn't for you, no hard feelings whatsoever. You can hit "unsubscribe" below. We'd rather have a smaller, engaged audience than a massive, passive one.
Here's to a clear-eyed 2026.