Tangle

At Tangle, we want to be a source of trustworthy news, thought-provoking analysis, and robust community engagement. As part of that commitment, we interact with the community in several forums — the website comment section, our Subtext texting service, our Reddit page, our staff email, and at live events. We also answer reader and listener questions throughout the week in our newsletter and podcast. Every few months, after we’ve built up a queue of queries from readers and listeners, we dedicate a Friday edition to answering some of your questions and feedback en masse.  Today, we’re opening up the mailbag to tackle a range of topics, from press accountability, to the true cost of the Iran war, to the Hurricane Helene recovery, to a Texas law mandating Biblical teachings, and much more. We’ve pulled our whole editorial team together for this one, and identified which member of the staff was responsible for answering each question, though the whole team participated in editing every reply.  In the spirit of this edition, let us know your thoughts (and other questions) in the comments. Enjoy! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, Carina Pacheco, Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past week, lawmakers have expressed increasing concern about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, roughly three weeks after the senator was hospitalized for still-unknown reasons. The hospitalization is the latest in a string of health-related incidents for McConnell, which have raised questions about his fitness for office. On Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) asked McConnell’s office to provide a “[full] update” on the senator’s status, citing increasing concern “about the current state of your health and wellbeing.” Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Audrey joins the pod.In this week’s episode of Suspension of the Rules, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead dropped into Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s chair while he enjoys paternity leave. We discussed the Graham Platner scandal, whether he would actually drop out (we got our answer last night), and why we think the allegations are credible. Then, we talked about Mitch McConnell’s mysterious health issues (a topic we dive into today). Check it out here. 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: Should we have age limits for Congress? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Tangle Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead to discuss the Graham Platner controversies and their credibility, as well as Mitch McConnell's health issues. Last but not least, our grievances. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. Voting ends soon.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 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, 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.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. Voting ends soon.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. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.  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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. Vote for Tangle!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 “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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 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. Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. Vote for Tangle!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. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.  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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. 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.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. How we’re celebrating.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. 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. What’s up with Britain?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. 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: Access to Friday editions, our most original contentAccess to the comments sectionAd-free newsletters The full Sunday edition, including reader essaysAccess to our entire archive of exclusive contentIt 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that federal law protecting prisoners’ religious exercise does not extend to a lawsuit brought by an incarcerated Rastafarian man who sought damages after prison officials forcibly shaved his head. The man, Damon Landor, sued both the Louisiana Department of Corrections and several of its officers individually under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which defines the religious rights of people held in institutions that receive federal funding. However, the Court’s majority found that the law does not apply to the prison officials named in the suit, as they had not entered into a formal agreement with the federal government.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Mamdani, Gabbard, and some media controversy.On this week’s episode of Suspension of the Rules, the team wades into the wider implications of Mamdani’s kingmaking in NYC, the controversy surrounding Tulsi Gabbard’s supposed association with a “cult leader,” and a debate about whether Tara Palmeri should have published an interview excerpt a congresswoman asked her to remove. You can 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. 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 Supreme Court’s ruling? 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on today's mega episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele cover the reflecting pool controversy, the historic election in New York that has upended the Democratic establishment, Tulsi Gabbard and a very strange story about a cult leader, and a debate about whether or not Tara Palmeri should've released her recent interview.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday, the House passed a comprehensive housing affordability bill 358–32, sending the measure to President Donald Trump to sign into law. The bill, titled the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, seeks to increase housing supply by rolling back construction regulations, expanding financing options, and restricting institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in most circumstances. The Senate voted 85–5 to pass the bill on Monday. After originally scheduling a signing ceremony today, Trump announced he would cancel the signing until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. He has not indicated that he would veto the bill. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! A conversation with Tim Urban.Why are otherwise intelligent people unable to resist falling into echo chambers, and how do some get out? That’s what Executive Editor Isaac Saul recently discussed with Tim Urban, the creator of Wait But Why and author of the book What’s Our Problem? A Self-Help Book for Societies. The conversation flows from there, covering the information ecosystem, artificial intelligence, and the future of journalism. Check it out here! 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 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have broken through in primary races for local and national seats. Headlined by figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), democratic-socialist candidates have challenged incumbents in strongly Democratic areas, seeking to pull the party toward more progressive positions on key issues.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! A conversation with Tim Urban.Why are otherwise intelligent people unable to resist falling into echo chambers, and how do some get out? That’s what Executive Editor Isaac Saul recently discussed with Tim Urban, the creator of Wait But Why and author of the book What’s Our Problem? A Self-Help Book for Societies. The conversation flows from there, covering the information ecosystem, artificial intelligence, and the future of journalism. Check it out 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. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.  Take the survey: Do you think a democratic socialist could be a viable presidential candidate in 2028? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Saul interviews Tim Urban, author of the book What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies and creator of the popular blog Wait But Why. Tim does an incredible job at explaining how the big divide between the left and the right doesn't really explain whats going on in our country and what he thinks the solutions could be. 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 Diet 75. 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 Sunday, Vice President JD Vance and a team of U.S. negotiators met with Iranian officials in Switzerland to begin peace negotiations. The vice president took a leading role in finalizing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Iran and the U.S. signed last week, and on Sunday, Vance called for a broad reset of relations after nearly four months of war. He also rebuked Israeli politicians for their criticism of the recent MOU, drawing scrutiny from some conservatives and raising broader questions about his prospects as a future party standard-bearer.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! The Father’s Day episode.In a special Father’s Day edition of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are joined on the podcast by two guests: Executive Producer Jon Lall and Isaac’s father (and Tangle editor) Bailey Saul. The five of them represent different phases of fatherhood — from soon-to-be father to dad of two school-aged children to three-kid veteran (and grandfather) — and discuss what they’ve learned through their separate experiences. You can listen to the special edition 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. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here.  Take the survey: How much responsibility do you think Vice President Vance has for negotiating an end to the war in Iran? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, both the United States and Iran remotely signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the two countries after more than 100 days of conflict. The White House also announced the details of the 14-point plan, which included calls for the U.S. and Iran to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz and commits the United States to facilitating a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! The Father’s Day episode.In a special Father’s Day edition of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are joined on the podcast by two guests: Executive Producer Jon Lall and Isaac’s father (and Tangle editor) Bailey Saul. The five of them represent different phases of fatherhood — from soon-to-be father to dad of two school-aged children to three-kid veteran (and grandfather) — and discuss what they’ve learned through their separate experiences. You can listen to the special edition 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. 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 memorandum of understanding? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele are joined by Executive Producer Jon Lall and Tangle editor/father of Isaac Saul, Bailey Saul for a special Father's Day edition of SOTR. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that in 2027, the United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube (but not YouTube Kids). Several other countries have passed similar bans, but the UK’s measure will go further, blocking features like live-streaming and communicating with strangers while gaming. Furthermore, Starmer said the regulations will restrict access to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships for users under 18 and may also impose curfews on social media use for under-18s. Ad-free podcasts are here! 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: Will social media bans be effective? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosted a mixed martial arts fighting event on the South Lawn of the White House, billed as a celebration of the United States’s 250th anniversary this summer. The event, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, was held in front of approximately 4,000 spectators, including top Trump administration officials, active military members, and high-profile business executives. Some lawmakers criticized the cost and aesthetics of the event.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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 “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 White House hosting a UFC fight? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has served as a mediator in peace discussions between the United States and Iran, announced that the two countries reached a deal to end their conflict. The Pakistani leader said that both countries would immediately cease military operations and formally sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, though the text of the memorandum has not been released.  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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: How would you characterize the progress in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The things I've published in Tangle that make me groan. Friday is upon us. Mazel tov for surviving another week. I’m Isaac Saul, and before we jump into a very fun (and humbling) Friday edition, I wanted to let you know that the Tangle team has arrived in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and… well… it’s as advertised. Gorgeous, rolling hills and woods, a quaint downtown, and great restaurants and spas peppering the area — you can feel the town’s embrace of its history of relaxation and recuperation.  We’ve got 48 hours until our matinee live show on Sunday afternoon, and it’s not too late to get tickets. I am fully confident in saying you won’t regret it. Special shoutouts to our sponsors for the event, The Dignity Index and Incogni, who helped make all of this possible! I’ll have more to say about these awesome organizations and products this weekend. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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. 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 Tuesday, June 2, California held its primary elections, including closely watched races for governor and Los Angeles mayor. In the mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) advancedto the general election, while first-time candidate Spencer Pratt (I) finished third. Pratt had been in second place the day after the primary, but Raman overtook him as mail-in ballots came in after Election Day, leading some Republicans to claim the results were fraudulent.  The latest Suspension of the Rules.This week’s episode is a “review of all the things we said last week” special, with updates on the mayoral race in Los Angeles, the screwworm cases in Texas, and the NBA Finals in New York. Plus, Isaac and Kmele debate whether AI slop should be banned for political ads. Check it out here! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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: Do you think California’s system allows for fraud or should be reformed? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, huge news from the Ari Weitzman household, screwworm has arrived, more election fraud conspiracies and Kmele and Isaac debate whether or not AI should be banned for campaign videos. It's a good one! We’re coming to the stage!In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are coming to West Virginia to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to? It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you get your tickets now. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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, June 1, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) published an op-ed in The New York Times proposing the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, a law that would transfer a 50% ownership stake in artificial intelligence (AI) companies into a federal sovereign wealth fund through a one-time tax. “The creative work of millions of people… has essentially been stolen by some of the wealthiest people in the world,” Sanders said. “It’s time for us to reclaim it.” Simultaneously, President Donald Trump has been in discussions with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (the maker of ChatGPT), about transferring equity of the company into a government-run “public wealth fund.” Trump has also suggested the government could take equity stakes in other leading AI developers.  Why are World Cup tickets so expensive?After much anticipation, the first games of the World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico will begin on Thursday at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Associate Producer, longtime soccer/football fan, and Portsmouth supporter Aidan Gorman started looking for tickets — but what he found was a story. Today, Aidan explores the high cost of World Cup tickets and FIFA’s embrace of dynamic pricing. Check out our latest video here! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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 “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 partial government ownership of AI companies? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, federal and state law enforcement officials have clashed with protesters gathering outside Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. At least 90 people have been arrested over the course of the protests, including 61 on the night of Sunday, May 31, on charges including assaulting federal officers, disorderly conduct, rioting and resisting arrest. The demonstrators allege poor treatment of detainees, which federal immigration officials deny. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re coming to the stage!In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are coming to West Virginia to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to? It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you get your tickets now. 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: Are you concerned about conditions at immigration detention centers? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, 60 Minutes executive producer, Nick Bilton, fired the show’s longtime correspondent Scott Pelley following a confrontation during a staff meeting in which Pelley criticized Bilton and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Pelley’s firing is the latest shakeup at the show and network since Weiss took the head role in October 2025; Pelley and other former correspondents have accused Weiss of interfering in editorial decisions in an attempt to cover the Trump administration in a more positive light.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re coming to the stage!In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are coming to West Virginia to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to? It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you get your tickets now. 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 Scott Pelley’s dismissal? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Tangle, we don’t discriminate against good ideas based on where they come from. A person on our sales team can have a fantastic pitch for an editorial change we should make, and just because it came from the sales side and not a senior editor doesn’t mean we’re going to ignore it. I’ve learned over the years that I have the great privilege of working with a lot of brilliant people, with smart ideas, who have interesting things to say, who can also write even though they aren’t on our editorial team. So when Candida Hall, our head of product (and featured employee in the October 2025 edition of Press Pass), pitched the idea for a story about small-town revitalization and her experiences in Appalachia, I was immediately intrigued. Over the last few months, Candida has been working on this story with our Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, and today, I’m thrilled to share it with our audience. I hope you all enjoy. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re coming to the stage!In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are coming to West Virginia to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to? It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you get your tickets now. 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: Candida Hall 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, California held its primary elections, headlined by the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races. With 56% of the votes counted in the gubernatorial primary, conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) leads former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) with 27.6% and 25.6% of the vote, respectively. Businessman Tom Steyer (D) is third with 19.8%. Separately, with 62% of the votes counted in the Los Angeles mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) leads all candidates with 35% and will advance to the general election. Former reality television star Spencer Pratt (I) has earned 29.9%, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) is third with 22.8%; the race for the second spot in the runoff is still too close to call.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re coming to the stage!In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are coming to West Virginia to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to? It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you get your tickets now. 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: Do you think Spencer Pratt could win the Los Angeles mayoral election? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, are Republicans maybe finally standing up to President Trump? We get into the L.A. mayoral race and Spencer Pratt as well as a literal horror story unfolding at the border followed by our grievances where we say good bye to Ari's favorite sandwich shop. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that he is naming housing official Bill Pulte to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) once Tulsi Gabbard steps down as director at the end of the month. Pulte is currently the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), an independent agency regulating federal mortgages, where he oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Gabbard is resigning to support her husband during his battle with a rare form of bone cancer, and the White House has not advanced a nominee to serve as Gabbard’s permanent replacement. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Less than two weeks.Our in-person gathering in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is rapidly approaching, and we’re building out a great program for the main event on Sunday, June 14. Come join Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, The Daily co-creator Andy Mills and The Free Press’s Kat Rosenfield for a lively discussion on AI and national politics, with additional opportunities to hang out with the full Tangle team. A limited number of tickets are still available — get yours before they’re gone! 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 Bill Pulte becoming acting DNI? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, the Trump administration launched its app for Trump Accounts, which will seed tax-advantaged investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 with $1,000 in an effort to support long-term financial stability for future U.S. adults. While the accounts won’t be funded until at least July 4, the program’s official launch date, parents of eligible children can now open accounts through the Internal Revenue Service.  Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Less than two weeks.Our in-person gathering in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is rapidly approaching, and we’re building out a great program for the main event on Sunday, June 14. Come join Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, The Daily co-creator Andy Mills and The Free Press’s Kat Rosenfield for a lively discussion on AI and national politics, with additional opportunities to hang out with the full Tangle team. A limited number of tickets are still available — get yours before they’re gone! 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: How would you use a Trump Account? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal published an exposé on the behavior of Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the Maine Senate race. According to The Journal, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, disclosed to his campaign last August that she had discovered sexually explicit texts between Platner and multiple women on his phone last spring. Furthermore, The Journal found that Platner has an active account on Kik, a private-messaging app often used to arrange sexual encounters. Also on Saturday, The New York Times revealed that Gertner had disclosed this information to a senior aide who later left the campaign, and Platner had been sending explicit messages to up to 12 women. The reports represent the latest controversies in Platner’s campaign to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November’s election. New and improved comments.In case you missed our announcement in Friday’s edition on our favorite reader essays, our publishing platform Ghost has rolled out several new commenting features! Comment replies now nest more easily, helping you keep track of conversations, and you can now dislike comments that you think violate our commenting guidelines.  To read more about these changes, you can check out our FAQ page. And to experience them yourself, comment below! 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: Who do you think will win the Maine Senate election? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tangle staff picks our favorite reader essays. Finally, an update.If this list excluded your personal favorite reader essay, we hope you’ll share that piece in the comments. And once you’re in the comments section, you may notice some changes. After a lot of demand from our readers, and after a lot of work with (and mostly by) our publication platform, Ghost, we’re thrilled to announce several new commenting features! Comment replies now nest more easily, helping you keep track of conversations. You can also now downvote comments that you think violate our commenting guidelines.  To read more about these changes, you can check out our FAQ page. And to experience them yourself, comment below! Our next event!Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14 for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, Suspension of the Rules. Tickets are on sale now! Why Berkeley Springs?  It’s an American gem. Incorporated in 1776, history abounds — George Washington used to visit with his ill brother, who believed the springs could improve his health. Now, it’s known for its greenery, spas, and resorts. Speaking of history, we’ll be recording live inside the historicStar Theatre.Berkeley Springs is just a few hours from Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; Philly; Maryland; New Jersey; Ohio; and even parts of Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re looking for a summer weekend getaway, this is it!Right now, this is the only live event on our schedule. We’re hoping to hold a few more this year — but for now, it’s the only one we can guarantee!Most of the Tangle team will be in attendance, which is unique. Unlike past events where it’s been just me and a few others, this is shaping up to be an opportunity to meet and interact with the full team.We have already sold over half of our VIP tickets, and general admission tickets are going fast. This is a small theater, so to secure your tickets before a sellout, you should hop on it now! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Tangle Staff 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, May 21, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released a report examining the party’s performance in the 2024 elections. The 192-page postmortem argued that Democrats must “organize everywhere to Win Anywhere” and particularly advocated for a “renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South.” However, the organization distanced itself from the document’s findings. In a Substack post accompanying the report’s release, DNC Chair Ken Martin said, “I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it.” Announcing our fourth guest for West Virginia!We’re excited to announce that Free Press columnist Kat Rosenfield will join our on-stage lineup at Tangle’s next in-person event in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 14. Kat will share the stage with Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, and Longview Editor Andy Mills for a conversation about artificial intelligence and national politics. We’re excited to bring the Tangle community together for the latest installment of our live event series, and we’d love to see you there. Tickets are moving fast, and you can get yours here! Our latest episode of Suspension of the Rules.After some discussion of aliens last week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele move on to the next big thing: athletes using steroids! After some discussion of cheating in sports, they dive deep into the electoral ramifications of Tuesday’s primary runoffs. Plus, Isaac addresses some criticisms, the guys speculate on Rep. Thomas Kean’s (R-NJ) absence, and Kmele tries to defend the indefensible. Watch the most recent episode here! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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 would you want to see from a 2024 DNC postmortem? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules: we go deep on the Texas Senate primary results, the Enhanced Games and the missing congressman nobody is talking about. Last but not least, a very good grievance section where Ari grosses us out a bit... It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday, Texas voters participated in a slate of primary runoff elections, including a highly publicized Republican Senate primary between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton defeated Cornyn by a 27.6-point margin and will go on to face state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the general election. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! What are monopolies?Recently, Executive Editor Isaac Saul sat down for a conversation with political commentator and author of the BIG newsletter Matt Stoller to discuss monopoly and antitrust law. The two discussed the reach of corporations, the power of billionaires, the prevalence of wealth inequality, the collapse of Spirit Airlines, and more. You can listen to the interview in our podcast feed or watch it on our YouTube channel! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today's “This day in history.” 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: Who do you think will win the Texas Senate election in November? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation, effective June 30, to support her husband as he fights a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard will become the fourth cabinet secretary to leave the second Trump administration, following former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who were fired, and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned in April. President Donald Trump said that Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director when Gabbard officially departs.  A special day.Heads up: Our publishing platform just launched a new feature that makes it extremely easy to give a Tangle subscription as a gift to friends or family. If you think someone in your life needs Tangle, you can click here to gift them a subscription! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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 DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s job performance? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Saul interviews American political commentator and author of the newsletter BIG, Matt Stoller. Monopoly and antitrust law is one of the most complicated topics to cover in the US right now and Matt Stoller is one of the most interesting writers on the topic. We brought Matt on to share his world view, background and the lens of which he is processing this crazy monopoly and antitrust news that seems to be becoming more and more a story thats at the center of our politics. We talk corporations and their effects on all of us, billionaires and wealth inequality, Spirit Airlines, and much more. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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.

I have not been very happy with the president. And I haven’t been shy about that. Like most independents, with whom Trump currently has a net –33 approval rating, I’ve found the first 16 months of his presidency alarming, frustrating, and disappointing. Less than a year into his new term, I was already writing about how things had gotten pretty bad. I’ve since written about the self-dealing and corruption, which came before the Justice Department slush fund and the IRS deal promising to never investigate or audit his business or his family for any past tax returns. After his “Praise be to Allah” social media post, which included the open threat of a war crime, I said the president seemed unwell and unfit for the job. It seems as if he innovates a new norm-breaking indignity every day, and I think being “honest,” “independent,” and “nonpartisan” necessitates calling those things out... What do you think? We’re curious to hear from our readers. In your mind, what have been the biggest pros and cons of the second Trump term so far?  Our next event!Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14 for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, Suspension of the Rules. Tickets are on sale now! Why Berkeley Springs?  It’s an American gem. Incorporated in 1776, history abounds — George Washington used to visit with his ill brother, who believed the springs could improve his health. Now, it’s known for its greenery, spas, and resorts. Speaking of history, we’ll be recording live inside the historicStar Theatre.Berkeley Springs is just a few hours from Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; Philly; Maryland; New Jersey; Ohio; and even parts of Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re looking for a summer weekend getaway, this is it!Right now, this is the only live event on our schedule. We’re hoping to hold a few more this year — but for now, it’s the only one we can guarantee!Most of the Tangle team will be in attendance, which is unique. Unlike past events where it’s been just me and a few others, this is shaping up to be an opportunity to meet and interact with the full team.We have already sold over half of our VIP tickets, and general admission tickets are going fast. This is a small theater, so to secure your tickets before a sellout, you should hop on it now! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 8, President Donald Trump announced Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire. Both sides accused the other of violating the truce, and heightened strikes resumed when it ended on May 11. Over the weekend, Ukraine conducted an overnight drone attack on Russia, including strikes in Moscow, killing at least four and injuring 12, according to local officials. The Ukrainian military launched over 1,300 drones in the attack, which Russian state media called the worst in a year. The offensive followed last week’s large-scale Russian bombardment that killed at least 24 Ukrainians and injured dozens more.  Our next event! Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14 for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, Suspension of the Rules. Tickets are on sale now!  A new Suspension of the Rules.Aliens, antisemitism, GOP infighting, and some scorn for nature: This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele chopped it up about the latest primary results, the UAP disclosures (proof of aliens), a scary Democrat in Texas, and Trump’s new anti-weaponization fund — plus, wild deer, noisy birds, and aggressive turkeys. This one’s got something for everyone to love (or hate). Check it out here! Ad-free podcasts are here! 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: When do you think the Ukraine–Russia war will end? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules: we go deep on some UAP/alien chatter, Trump's growing power, the gigantic slush fund made from tax payer money going to the aggrieved and more. Last but not least, a very good grievance section. It's a good one. Our next event!Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14 for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, Suspension of the Rules. Tickets are on sale now! Why Berkeley Springs?  It’s an American gem. Incorporated in 1776, history abounds — George Washington used to visit with his ill brother, who believed the springs could improve his health. Now, it’s known for its greenery, spas, and resorts. Speaking of history, we’ll be recording live inside the historicStar Theatre.Berkeley Springs is just a few hours from Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; Philly; Maryland; New Jersey; Ohio; and even parts of Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re looking for a summer weekend getaway, this is it!Right now, this is the only live event on our schedule. We’re hoping to hold a few more this year — but for now, it’s the only one we can guarantee!Most of the Tangle team will be in attendance, which is unique. Unlike past events where it’s been just me and a few others, this is shaping up to be an opportunity to meet and interact with the full team.We have already sold over half of our VIP tickets, and general admission tickets are going fast. This is a small theater, so to secure your tickets before a sellout, you should hop on it now! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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.

The midterm primaries officially began on March 3, and on Tuesday, primaries were held in states across the country. Elections in Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama drew particular focus, where Republican candidates were facing challenges from President Trump or crowded fields for the party’s nomination. Our next event! Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14 for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, Suspension of the Rules. Tickets are on sale now!  Ad-free podcasts are here! 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: How much control do you think President Trump has over the Republican Party? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that, as part of the settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, it would create a new fund that could “issue formal apologies and monetary relief” to individuals and entities who claim to have suffered from lawfare and DOJ weaponization. The anti-weaponization fund will receive $1.776 billion from the federal government’s judgment fund used to settle and pay other cases. Five people, appointed by the Attorney General, will oversee the new fund; one of the five must be chosen in consultation with congressional leadership.  We want to see you in person soon!Early-bird VIP tickets have sold out for our event in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, but you can get a few general admission tickets left after early bird sales, which you can find here. If you want to read Isaac’s speech in full — and access all future Friday editions, Sunday editions, and ad-free daily newsletters — become a Tangle member today for just $6/month! Ad-free podcasts are here!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 about the anti-weaponization fund? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, President Donald Trump departed China after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which the leaders discussed trade deals, diplomatic relations, the Iran war, and other issues. Trump and Xi each spoke favorably about the other and emphasized their interest in a mutually beneficial relationship between the countries, though the two sides did not mutually announce any major commitments. Trump’s state trip to China was the first U.S. presidential visit to the country since Trump’s 2017 visit during his first term. Isaac’s message to college students.On the last stop of his whirlwind college speaking tour, Executive Editor Isaac Saul implored students at St. Olaf College to “choose decency.” In this divided country, Isaac said, “be one of the fair ones. Be curious. Be open-minded. Be willing to say you’re wrong. Don’t treat politics like a team sport but as an opportunity to explore your own views, challenge your beliefs, and adopt new principles and ideas if you find them compelling.” To share what he’s been saying to America’s college students over the past five weeks, we published Isaac’s whole speech on Friday. You can read it here. If you want to read Isaac’s speech in full — and access all future Friday editions, Sunday editions, and ad-free daily newsletters — become a Tangle member today for just $6/month! Ad-free podcasts are here!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 “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 should be a president’s top priority in managing the U.S.–China relationship? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The message Isaac gave to a group of students at St. Olaf College in Minnesota at the end of his campus tour. Ad-free podcasts are here! To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest Suspension of the Rules.Isaac, Ari and Kmele let loose a bit in today’s episode, discussing Sen. Rand Paul’s son hurling antisemitic remarks at Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s possible political ambitions. Plus, what were some lessons the media should have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic? Check out the latest here! 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April, which showed an increase of 3.8% from a year earlier, slightly higher than economists’ expectations. The latest inflation figures represent the highest annual increase since May 2023, up from 3.3% in March. On a month-to-month basis, prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% after rising 0.9% in March. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.4% for the month, its highest pace since January 2025. Our latest Suspension of the Rules.Isaac, Ari and Kmele let loose a bit in today’s episode, discussing Sen. Rand Paul’s son hurling antisemitic remarks at Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s possible political ambitions. Plus, what were some lessons the media should have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic? Check out the latest here! Ad-free podcasts are here!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 “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: How concerned are you about inflation? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules: Sen. Rand Paul's son's big drunken mistake, a break down of the hantavirus, and this week's notable internet clips including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2028 prospects . Last but not least, a very good grievance section. It's a very good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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, 18 Americans returned to the United States from a cruise ship where passengers had contracted a rare strain of hantavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) transported the passengers to specialized quarantine facilities in Nebraska and Georgia; one American tested positive for the virus. As of Tuesday afternoon, three deaths — a Dutch couple and a German woman — nine confirmed cases and two more suspected cases have been linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. The modern moon race.For more than 50 years, no human has set foot on the lunar surface. But now, the United States, China, Russia, and others are all planning to return — not just to visit, but to stay. In our latest video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores why the world’s great powers are suddenly dead set on getting back to the moon, and how the race could shape the future beyond Earth. https://youtu.be/j-6etWMgNv0?si=uSqf6nN9saY_RfzG Ad-free podcasts are here!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 “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: How much is your social circle discussing the current hantavirus outbreak? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past week, the United States and Iran have exchanged communications over plans to end the war between the countries, though talks have yet to produce a breakthrough. On Monday, President Donald Trump said the pause in fighting is on “life support,” calling Iran’s most recent response to a U.S. peace proposal unacceptable. Separately, the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed to commercial traffic, with the U.S. and Iran exchanging fire in the waterway last week.  Help us reach 100,000.The Tangle Instagram has grown into a valuable source for breaking news and political analysis that tens of thousands of followers rely on. Soon, that number will tip into six figures (shoutout Russell Nystrom, our social media editor!). Unlike many other news organizations or influencers, we don’t buy followers. We grow the channel organically — and we’re currently sitting at approximately 91,000 followers, with an internal goal of reaching 100,000 by the start of summer. So… if you haven’t already — and are looking for a dependable breaking-news source to complement the newsletter’s in-depth analysis — please consider giving us a follow! Ad-free podcasts are here!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 “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: How do you think negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are going? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down a redistricting measure recently passed by voters that would have allowed the legislature to adopt a new congressional map designed to give Virginia Democrats a 10–1 advantage in the U.S. House. In a 4–3 decision, the court found that the process of putting the measure on the ballot violated the state constitution, affirming a county judge’s ruling. The decision will keep the current map — under which Democrats have a 6–5 advantage — in place for the 2026 midterms, though state Democrats said they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Your criticism, Isaac’s response.“When an article takes off, I write a follow-up piece addressing those criticisms and questions. I do this because I think engaging with our audience is an important way to gain trust and an important exercise in humility and intellectual honesty.”  — Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul On Friday, we published a roundup of feedback to Isaac’s recent report exploring potential corruption in the second Trump administration. Isaac offered his response to some of the most common criticisms he received and answered a few questions his piece prompted. You can read 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. 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 Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, I published an exhaustive 6,000-word essay on the self-dealing and potential corruption of President Donald Trump’s second administration. I shared clips of the article on X, and it went viral. The initial feedback from readers within and outside the Tangle community overwhelmingly asked us to drop the paywall on the piece. After a few hours, we did. Since then, we’ve been inundated with comments, criticism, and questions. Usually, when an article takes off like this, I write a follow-up piece addressing those criticisms and questions. I do this because I think engaging with our audience is an important way to gain trust and an important exercise in humility and intellectual honesty. I often engage with feedback by quoting specific readers and then responding directly to what they said in a Q&A format. That’s exactly what I’m doing today. Ad-free podcasts are here! To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Here is the piece Isaac is responding to: Corruption in the Trump administration?“After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it.” Gold phones, Qatari planes, Syrian golf courses, cryptocurrency schemes, ballroom donations. Market moves, board seats, lawsuits dropped, lawsuits threatened. Pardons, prosecutions, profits, profits, profits… This past Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul waded through all of it in a thorough exploration of the charges of corruption against President Donald Trump. In case you missed it, you can read the piece here. We’ve also decided to make this Friday edition open to everyone, so please share it with anyone you think would be interested! 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. 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 Tuesday, Indiana held primary elections for the 2026 midterms. The state Senate primaries were closely watched after President Donald Trump supported challenges against incumbent Republican state senators in response to their opposition to a mid-decade redistricting plan last December. Six Trump-backed candidates defeated incumbent lawmakers, while another won an open-seat primary. Only one incumbent opposed by the president, Greg Goode of Terre Haute, has won their election.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest Suspension of the Rules.This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss today’s newsletter topic: party primaries, Indiana, and gerrymandering. Things also get heady as they discuss whether billionaires should exist and unpack a ChatGPT criticism of last Friday’s edition on corruption in the Trump administration (which you’ll read more about tomorrow). To go deep on today’s story, preview tomorrow’s or just hear a debate over the wealth disparity, check out the latest Suspension of the Rules! 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 will be the future of gerrymandering in the United States? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming up on todays episode of Suspension of the Rules: Trump gets revenge on the Indiana GOP, we talk about Kmele and billionaires and CNN with Abby Phillip, and then a long conversation about ChatGPT's fact checking of Isaac's article on Friday which was titled "The everything, everywhere, all at once corruption story". Last but not least, a very good grievance section where Kmele actually knocks it out of the park. It's a very good one! Corruption in the Trump administration?“After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it.” Gold phones, Qatari planes, Syrian golf courses, cryptocurrency schemes, ballroom donations. Market moves, board seats, lawsuits dropped, lawsuits threatened. Pardons, prosecutions, profits, profits, profits… This past Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul waded through all of it in a thorough exploration of the charges of corruption against President Donald Trump. In case you missed it, you can read the piece here. We’ve also decided to make this Friday edition open to everyone, so please share it with anyone you think would be interested! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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, May 4, the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a lower court’s order that mifepristone, a drug commonly used in early-term abortions, can only be prescribed and dispensed in person. The order pauses the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’s decision to prevent the drug from being accessed by mail. In a brief order, Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees appeals from the 5th Circuit, paused that court’s order until May 11, restoring telehealth access to the drug and giving challengers until May 7 to respond. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Do Americans see each other as immoral?Back in March, the headline was everywhere: “Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” the title of a 25-country study from the Pew Research Center. Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth interviewed one of the study’s coauthors, Jonathan Evans, and Pew’s associate director of global attitudes research, Laura Silver, to talk about Americans’ national pride, partisan differences, and the state of professional polling. You can listen to the interview here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ todays “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: How do you think the Supreme Court should rule on the challenge to remote mifepristone prescriptions? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in March, the headline was everywhere: “Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” the title of a 25-country study from the Pew Research Center. Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth interviewed one of the study’s coauthors, Jonathan Evans, and Pew’s associate director of global attitudes research, Laura Silver, to talk about Americans’ national pride, partisan differences, and the state of professional polling. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Lindsey Knuth 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, April 30, the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the department’s 76-day shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. government history. The House of Representatives and the Senate each had passed separate bills to end the shutdown; on Thursday, the House approved the Senate’s legislation in a voice vote under suspension of the rules, and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law the same day. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Isaac on Breaking Points.Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s Friday report on allegations of corruption in the second Trump administration has driven a massive response across the Tangle community — and among those who are newly discovering his work.  This morning, Isaac went on Breaking Points with Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti to discuss the piece. You can check out the interview on their YouTube channel at 3:00 PM ET. 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 will be the impact of the DHS shutdown? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, Spirit Airlines announcedthat it was canceling all flights and beginning an “orderly wind-down” of its operations. The budget airline had been struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it hasn’t posted a profitable year since 2019. President Donald Trump had sought a deal to bail out the company before its shutdown but failed to reach an agreement with bondholders. About 17,000 Spirit employees and contractors are expected to lose their jobs; union representatives are negotiating with the airline to grant compensation packages to affected workers. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Corruption in the Trump administration?“After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it.” Gold phones, Qatari planes, Syrian golf courses, cryptocurrency schemes, ballroom donations. Market moves, board seats, lawsuits dropped, lawsuits threatened. Pardons, prosecutions, profits, profits, profits… This past Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul waded through all of it in a thorough exploration of the charges of corruption against President Donald Trump. In case you missed it, you can read the piece here. We’ve also decided to make this Friday edition open to everyone, so please share it with anyone you think would be interested! 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 caused the closure of Spirit Airlines? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm pleading with you to look at the president's self-dealing. FULL EPISODE. Ad-free podcasts are here! To enjoy this podcast ad-free and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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. 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.

I'm pleading with you to look at the president's self-dealing. Ad-free podcasts are here! To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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. 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 Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Louisiana must redraw its congressional map, finding that one of the state’s majority-black districts was unconstitutionally gerrymandered based on race. The decision weakens — but does not strike down — Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or color. In the wake of the decision, several states could move to redraw their congressional maps based on the Court’s guidance, an effort that is expected to benefit Republicans.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Suspension of the Rules.Isaac, Ari, and Kmele take on partisan gerrymandering and the Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act in the latest episode of Suspension of the Rules. After you finish reading today’s edition diving deep on the topic, check out the latest video for more discussion — plus an exploration on the recent assassination attempt against President Trump, the White House ballroom, and a dramatic “fight me, bro” challenge issued by a former Tangle interview guest. Watch the new episode here! 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 Supreme Court’s decision? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele cover a ton of the latest breaking news from this week including the controversial scotus ruling which significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act. They then talk about the White House correspondence dinner and the assignation attempt on President Trump as well as our first ever celebrity fight between two media members, one of which who was a recent guest on the tangle podcast. Last but not least, a very good grievance section were we cover who is the most athletic and why. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 heard oral arguments in Chatrie v. United States, a case exploring whether the practice of scanning cell phone data of individuals based on proximity to a crime is constitutional. The case is the first time the Supreme Court has considered the use of “geofence warrants,” which enable the police to cast wide digital dragnets to investigate a suspected crime. The justices appeared split on the decision after two hours of arguments; the Court is expected to issue a decision before the end of the summer. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Calling all Minnesotans!This Saturday, May 2, Isaac will be speaking at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, about 45 minutes outside of Minneapolis. First, he’ll be moderating a panel on innovations in journalism at 10:30 AM CT; then, he’ll deliver a closing address at 2:30 PM CT. If you’re in the Twin Cities area on Saturday, consider coming out! It’s free and open to the public (no tickets required). More information is here. 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 about geofence warrants? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, April 21, the Justice Department announced an 11-count indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with financial crimes, including wire fraud and making false statements to a federally insured bank. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the nonprofit organization secretly sent over $3 million to informants inside extremist groups without telling donors what their money was being used for. The SPLC denies any wrongdoing and plans to fight the charges. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! California’s Republican candidate for governor.As the midterms approach, we’ll interview some candidates from across the political spectrum who are in high-profile, fascinating races. In California, Republican Steve Hilton — a former Fox News host and British politico — is on track to become a general election nominee. Hilton knows he’s an underdog, but he sat down with Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul to share why he’s focusing on deregulation, the climate agenda, and housing in his campaign to turn California red:  https://youtu.be/pHHADjuyUBQ?si=HWhiOu47hK4srZ0w 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 indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, a gunman fired shots at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which was hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. The Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump and other senior leaders, and none of the guests were injured. One Secret Service officer was shot while engaging the suspect outside the ballroom, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously wounded. The gunman allegedly sent a manifesto to his family before the attack, suggesting that he intended to kill the president and other administration officials. He was charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers using a dangerous weapon. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! How Christians think about their politics.I think Americans of various political and religious stripes often forget that we do live in a pluralistic society — one where Christians, or Jews, or Muslims, or atheists inevitably bring their theology to the ballot box or to the policy debate. And when that happens, those religious beliefs do inform our national identity — but that is not necessarily a bad thing.In last Friday’s edition, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead explored some Americans’ concerns about the rising influence of “Christian nationalism” in the U.S. government, breaking down what this term means, the influence of Christian beliefs on both sides of the aisle, and how we should think about that influence. You can read it here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Had you heard of the theories that Saturday’s incident was staged? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The specter of Christian nationalism, and discussion of American Christianity more broadly, has risen to the cultural forefront in recent months. Hegseth and Wilson advocate for a Protestant vision of America in the halls of the military. The majority-Catholic Supreme Court receives both praise and criticism for its handling of religious freedom and gay rights cases. The Trump administration (which has several prominent Catholic members, including the vice president) and the Vatican’s rocky relations famously came to a head just weeks ago when the president criticized the pope for opposing the war in Iran. And the rising star of Presbyterian seminarian and staunch progressive James Talarico in Texas has opened new conversations about Christian politics, including debates and divisions among other prominent Christians about how to receive him. In the background of all these recent examples is the ongoing debate about whether American Christianity is undergoing a revival — that is, whether a country that has long been on a decades-long shift away from Christianity is suddenly re-embracing faith. Our nation has a long tradition with Christianity. However, it also has a long tradition of keeping Christianity (or any religion) outside of our government. For a lot of Americans who believe in the principled separation of church and state, Christian nationalism has become a primary concern — particularly among secular or non-Christian Americans. The prominence of Christianity in U.S. politics, and in right-wing politics in particular, is intimidating. That’s especially true when the precepts that underlie Christian political activity aren’t well understood, and when a wide variety of people claim to be working from the same religious principles but disagree on fundamental issues like abortion and welfare and marriage and immigration.  But not all Christian political activity is, in fact, Christian nationalism. Much of it is actually normal political activity, simply based on an underlying Christian worldview — no different from political activity that’s based on a secular worldview, or a Muslim worldview, or a Jewish one. In fact, the term Christian nationalism is often ill defined, even among those who use it for themselves — sometimes used as a call for total Christian control of the government and sometimes used simply to describe political figures who speak publicly about their faith. Ad-free podcasts are here! To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, Virginians voted 51.5%–48.5% to approve a constitutional amendment allowing the state to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. The new map will shift several districts in Democrats’ favor, potentially turning the current 6–5 split to a 10–1 advantage. The referendum comes amid a broader mid-decade redistricting push by Democratic- and Republican-controlled states that began last summer in Texas, and it is facing a challenge in the Virginia Supreme Court.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest Suspension of the Rules.On our most recent episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the Virginia redistricting vote — and the gerrymandering war that surrounds it. Plus, a 30,000-foot view of the political landscape: Is Trump pivoting for the midterms? How are voters responding to the war and the economy? Are any cabinet members on the way out? Will Kmele finally have something to complain about? All will be answered in today’s episode! 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: Would you support a redistricting effort in your state? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Russell Nystrom 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele cover a ton of the latest news. They chat about whether or not Trump is making a midterm pivot, Kash Patel controversy, the latest on Iran and the big Virginia redistricting. Last but not least, a very good grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Wednesday, April 15, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed a pied-à-terre tax, an annual surcharge on New York City residences valued above $5 million owned by those who primarily live outside the city. Mamdani and Hochul claim the measure would raise $500 million in annual revenue to help address the city’s budget shortfall; if enacted, it would be the first pied-à-terre tax in New York’s history.  Get more from Tangle!We try to make opening every newsletter exciting, and today we’re adding a little extra excitement with a special membership offer: A 25-hour window to get 25% off our yearly subscription bundle. We’re calling it our “25 for 25” sale. That’s ad-free newsletters, ad-free podcasts, and every single piece of members-only content we’ve ever published in the past and will publish in the future — Friday editions, Sunday editions, special interviews, podcasts, transcripts, Press Pass, and more. You unlock everything, all for just $6.25/month for the first year. But it all expires at 1 PM ET tomorrow. Grab it here.  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 about the proposed pied-à-terre tax? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the House and Senate passed a short-term renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), reauthorizing the law until April 30. Republican leadership pivoted to the stopgap measure after a group of 20 House Republicans voted against an 18-month extension that President Donald Trump had endorsed. Congress is now expected to debate adding new privacy measures to the law before next Thursday’s deadline.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest video.Maritime issues have been a constant in the news this year — from drug boat strikes in the Caribbean to blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. At Tangle, we tend to focus on the issues that involve American vessels or the U.S. military. But Associate Producer Aidan Gorman wanted to dig into a story about what could be the largest fleet on the open oceans: Chinese fishing vessels.  Aidan goes deep on the issue, talking to experts and surfacing the context, in the latest video on the Tangle YouTube channel. Check it out here! 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: Do you think Section 702 should be reauthorized? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf of Oman. The vessel is the first ship seized by the U.S. Navy since it began blockading the gulf on April 13. Iran said on Friday it would remove all restrictions on commercial ships passing through the strait, then closed the waterway again on Saturday in response to the ongoing U.S. military blockade. That day, gunboats linked to Iran reportedly opened fire on two ships attempting to transit the strait.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Data center development: Yes or no?Data center construction is quickly becoming a hot-button issue in the United States. Tech companies seek sufficient computing power for their artificial intelligence products, but local communities push back on the projects’ footprints. On Friday, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman and Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth took part in the first-ever Tangle debate edition, arguing for and against building more data centers.  You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, 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: For how long do you believe the war in Iran will last? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Isaac Saul interviews Republican front runner for Governor of California Steve Hilton. Steve Hilton is a British American conservative commentator, former Fox News host and has had a fascinating career in politics over seas and now here in America. Now, with Trump's endorsement and Eric Swalwell dropping out of the race, Steve Hilton has quickly shifted to the top prospect while Democrats figure out their next move for a candidate. Its a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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.

Today, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman and Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth debate their positions on the future of data centers. Each will share an “opening argument” covering the tenets of their perspective, then they’ll respond to each other’s points. Their primary arguments were developed in isolation, then shared simultaneously on Thursday. After reviewing the other’s piece, they developed their rebuttals.  We hope this format models constructive disagreement. Most importantly, we hope it is thought-provoking and encourages you to discuss these issues among friends and family, in our comment section, or over email. As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback.  Before we begin, we’d like to know what you think. We’ll ask your position on data center construction coming into this debate and then again after — tell us your initial thoughts here! Ad-free podcasts are here! To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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: Ari Weitzman & Lindsey Knuth 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 7, artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic announced that it would not release its newest AI model, called Claude Mythos Preview, to the general public, citing potential security risks. Instead, Anthropic released the model to a select group of about 50 companies that will test its capabilities in a defensive security initiative known as Project Glasswing. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Isaac interviews Casey Newton.Recently, Isaac Saul sat down with journalist and Hard Fork cohost Casey Newton to unpack a major shift happening in tech: the growing legal and political push to hold social media companies accountable for how their platforms are designed. You can check it out here! 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: How impactful do you think Anthropic’s Mythos will be? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about the intraparty conflicts that are happening upon the MAGA movement and President Trump pushing their boundaries further. They then get into the controversies with Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, why demons are suddenly being talked about in the political world and more. Last but not least, a almost very solid grievance section no thanks to Kmele. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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.

Last Friday, a former staffer for California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) accused the Congressman of making unwanted advances, sexual assault, and rape. Three other women also came forward to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct, describing a pattern of sending explicit messages through Snapchat. Swalwell denies the allegations, but apologized for “mistakes in judgment” and dropped out of the gubernatorial race after losing prominent endorsements. The Los Angeles and Manhattan District Attorneys are investigating Swalwell over the alleged misconduct. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Isaac interviews Casey Newton.Recently, Isaac Saul sat down with journalist and Hard Fork cohost Casey Newton to unpack a major shift happening in tech: the growing legal and political push to hold social media companies accountable for how their platforms are designed. You can check it out here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, and today’s “Under the radar.” story ⁠here⁠ and the “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 are the implications of Hungary’s election? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Isaac Saul interviews tech journalist and author of the newsletter Platformer and co-host of the podcast Hard Fork about all the ways the ground is shifting under our feet right now with the constantly developing world of artificial intelligence. Its a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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 Sunday, Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz Party in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, unseating the 16-year incumbent. With 98% of the vote counted, Orbán and Fidesz had won 56 parliamentary seats, while Magyar and Tisza Party won 137 seats, giving it a two-thirds supermajority. Orbán had been supported by the Trump administration, which viewed him as a key ally in the European Union (EU).  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Behind the scenes.Once a month, we release a members-only newsletter called Press Pass that pulls back the curtain on our work, shares insider updates on our business, and lets you in on the big debates and events taking place behind the scenes. Each edition also includes a profile of a team member. This month, Isaac wrote about his experience engaging with Gen Z on college campuses, and we profiled Senior Editor Will Kaback. You can check it out here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, and today’s “Under the radar.” story ⁠here⁠ and the “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 are the implications of Hungary’s election? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after peace negotiations with Iranian officials failed to produce a breakthrough. While Iran has largely restricted transit through the strait over the past month, it has allowed some ships to pass through by paying a toll; in other cases, vessels linked to friendly nations like China have been granted passage. President Trump suggested the U.S. blockade will shut down the waterway entirely, though U.S. Central Command later said the blockade would not apply to ships passing through the strait to or from non-Iranian ports.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest edition.Senior Editor Will Kaback’s answer to a question about Tangle being too left-leaning in our mailbag edition on Friday drove a lot of discussion in our comments. So did Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster’s answer to a question about the Artemis II mission. However, if you’re on our free list, you missed out on Kmele’s answer — as well as a slew of answers to questions about AI, the Supreme Court, Trump’s management of the Covid pandemic, and more. To get access to the whole Friday edition, and join the conversation in our comments section, subscribe today! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, and today’s “Under the radar.” story ⁠here⁠ and the “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: How do you think negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are proceeding? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An essential part of Tangle is engaging with readers — through live events, email exchanges, and now in social channels like Reddit and our new texting platform, Subtext. One of the things we’ve done since the beginning is answer a reader question in our main newsletter. Over time, we’ve gotten more questions than we can answer — but many of the questions that haven’t made it into the daily newsletter or podcast are still worth answering.  So every now and then, we devote a members-only Friday edition to getting to our backlog of reader questions. A lot of these allow us to get into more detail and cover ground we might not cover in the daily newsletter, so we love the opportunity to dig in and go deep. Today, the entire Tangle editorial team is answering questions on everything from whether we’ve started to lean more left, to how we spot AI-produced content, to what has actually happened to DOGE. It’s a wide-ranging, jam-packed, fun edition. Enjoy! Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Lindsey Knuth, Kmele Foster 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about Iran's 10 point ceasefire plan and their thoughts on the war to date. Isaac challenges Ari and Kmele's knowledge of the Artemis II mission with a fun new game. Last but not least, a very solid grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening to commercial shipping. President Trump announced the deal less than two hours before his 8:00 PM ET deadline for Iran to lift its restrictions on the strait or face strikes on civilian infrastructure. Trump also said that the U.S. received a 10-point peace plan from Iran he believed to be “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re hiring.Tangle is hiring for two full-time positions: an in-person role as an associate editor and executive assistant to our founder, Isaac Saul, and a fully remote position as a video editor. The deadline to apply for both positions is May 1. 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: How long do you expect the war with Iran to last? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the White House released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, featuring an increase of 42% in defense spending to $1.5 trillion and a 10% decrease in non-defense spending to $660 billion. Specifically, the White House requested the budget to increase the capacity of the Navy, give pay raises to troops, resupply munitions, invest in critical resources, and build a “Golden Dome” missile defense system. The administration characterized the non-defense spending it had identified to cut as part of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and “woke programs” that drive government waste.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! New interview!Before break, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman sat down with former New Jersey Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. Whitman explains her philosophy toward environmental regulation, why she left the Bush administration, and what she thinks has changed under President Trump. Plus, what even is the endangerment finding? You can watch the interview here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, the “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 the White House’s budget proposal? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Ari Weitzman interviews former governor, EPA administrator and author Christine Whitman about the direction of the EPA today, where we're heading and more. To keep up with Christine Whitman today please visit https://www.forwardparty.com/ Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 In a post on Truth Social Sunday morning, President Donald Trump appeared to set a deadline of 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, April 7, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. In a preceding post, the president suggested that he will authorize strikes on civilian energy and transportation infrastructure if the demand is not met, writing, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****n’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” In a Wall Street Journal interview later on Sunday, Trump said Iran would “lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country” if they block the strait beyond Tuesday.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! The return of decency.“According to polling from Pew, 79% of Americans would characterize our political discourse negatively — and 90% say they feel exhausted by politics,” Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote on Friday. “A survey from Gallup supports this view; 69% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats say inflammatory rhetoric has gone too far, up 16% and 9%, respectively, since 2011. And I think — I hope — what happens next is that Americans develop a thirst for the novelty of decency.” Check out Isaac’s piece, where he makes the case that decency is about to make a comeback. You can read it here. 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: Do you think Trump should enforce his deadline by bombing Iranian infrastructure? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I had told you in 2020 that shopping malls would make a comeback, you probably would have laughed in my face. And rightly so. Online shopping has been growing for years as its convenience, ease, and value have become too hard to pass up. To a new generation of shoppers, the experience of going out to a brick-and-mortar store to try on clothing or test out a new vacuum seemed silly and archaic — why waste that kind of time at a mall when you could have someone show up at your door with your order and then just return it if you didn’t like it, often free of cost? Covid-19 only increased that value and accelerated the death of America’s malls. Yet, today, malls are making a comeback — and with the group you’d least suspect: 18- to 24-year-olds. That’s right, the Gen Z kids are so tired of interacting entirely in digital spaces that they’ve started to return to shopping malls, finding pleasure in the same exact thing older generations did: the social experience of hanging out with your friends outside of the house. This cohort made 62% of their general merchandise purchases in-person last year, 10% more than shoppers aged 25 and older. And overall foot traffic at malls was up 4.5% in the first two months of this year compared to last. I think the resurgence of U.S. malls is emblematic of the human experience. A little bit of anything can be fun, refreshing, cathartic, or even exhilarating. But a lot of something — say, eight hours of screen time a day — can start to feel pretty crappy.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele steel man and tin man arguments for and against the war in Iran. They chat about the Meta court ruling that happened while on break. A new segment where the boys really suspend the rules and last but not least, a very solid grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. While a majority of justices seemed skeptical of the Trump administration’s argument that the order should be upheld, several conservative justices appeared similarly unconvinced by the plaintiffs’ case. President Trump attended the arguments, a first for a sitting president, though he left before they concluded.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Get texts from us.After oral arguments in the birthright citizenship case concluded yesterday, subscribers to Tangle’s free SMS messaging service, Subtext, got a first peek at Isaac’s analysis of the case.  For more instant commentary on the biggest stories, as well as chances to help Tangle choose daily topics and occasional looks behind-the-scenes, join our Subtext channel by clicking here or texting TANGLE to (850) 338-9163. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our "The road not taken." ⁠here⁠. story 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: How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Monday, March 23, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee, a challenge to a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted after Election Day. Several conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the challengers, who argued that the state law violates federal statutes defining the date of elections. If the Court rules in favor of the challengers, more than a dozen states with similar laws could be affected. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! A scientific survey of Tangle readers.Every day, we share an informal survey on our daily topic to get a sense of reader sentiment and show Tangle subscribers what their fellow readers may be thinking. This survey is not at all scientific. However, a team of researchers wants to take a more rigorous look at you, our readership. Today, we are sharing an opportunity to participate in an independent study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota examining how Tangle readers engage with other people about politics. It would be incredibly helpful for us if you participated. The survey is anonymous, takes five minutes, and gives you the option to enter a lottery for a $200 Amazon gift card. Take the survey here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our "Under the radar." ⁠here⁠. story 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: How do you think the Supreme Court should rule in this case? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early Friday morning, the Senate passed a bill that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2026, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and some parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Later that day, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would not bring the bill to a vote. The House instead passed a separate bill that would fund DHS in its entirety for eight weeks. Both the House and the Senate have begun a two-week Easter recess, and neither bill is expected to be considered during that time.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! And, we’re off…Our new, moderated, members-only comments section is officially live on the Tangle website. A big shoutout to everyone who participated yesterday — including a few readers who caught today’s correction and clarification. Tangle’s editors noticed an immediate and obvious change in tone of the comments, with much more level-headed disagreement, fewer instances of namecalling, and zero immediate or obvious comments we had to moderate. It’s a great start to what we’re trying to build. Thank you all. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our 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: How do you think DHS should be funded? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Potential ground operations in Iran. On Saturday, The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is planning for weeks of ground operations in Iran. According to defense officials, current plans are focused on targeted raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops. President Donald Trump has not decided whether to approve ground operations, but reports from the past week indicate that the Pentagon is developing options for a “final blow,” which could combine troop deployments with an escalated bombing campaign.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think the U.S. will deploy troops to Iran? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is a two part Special Edition mega episode on Tangles most requested topic, Jeffrey Epstein. If you have not listened to part 1 of this story yet please take a moment to do so before listening to part 2. To tackle this long, controversial and deeply complicated story, Isaac Saul decided to independently interview two journalists who have been looking at this story through two very different lenses. The two guests are Michael Tracy and Tara Palmeri. Michael Tracy is very skeptical and worried about how this story has percolated in pop culture whereas Tara Palmeri is trying to elevate the stories of the woman who have accused Jeffrey Epstein of assault as well as pushing back on the "manosphere" narrative from people like Michael Tracy who she things are trying to rewrite the Jeffrey Epstein story and downplay the crimes that he has been accused and convicted of. Interviewing both separately ensures both can get their reporting and opinions across without debate which allows our listeners to form their own opinions based off of the research and opinions they both have collected through all of their journalism on Jeffrey Epstein. Be sure to listen to both part 1 and part 2 of this mega Special Edition. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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.

Today's episode is a two part Special Edition mega episode on Tangles most requested topic, Jeffrey Epstein. To tackle this long, controversial and deeply complicated story, Isaac Saul decided to independently interview two journalists who have been looking at this story through two very different lenses. The two guests are Michael Tracey and Tara Palmeri. Michael Tracey is very skeptical and worried about how this story has percolated in pop culture whereas Tara Palmeri is trying to elevate the stories of the woman who have accused Jeffrey Epstein of assault as well as pushing back on the "manosphere" narrative from people like Michael Tracey who she things are trying to rewrite the Jeffrey Epstein story and downplay the crimes that he has been accused and convicted of. Interviewing both separately ensures both can get their reporting and opinions across without debate which allows our listeners to form their own opinions based off of the research and opinions they both have collected through all of their journalism on Jeffrey Epstein. Be sure to listen to both part 1 and part 2 of this mega Special Edition. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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 todays Special Edition, Senior Editor Will Kaback interviews Brad Carson, former congressman, former president of the University of Tulsa, former senior pentagon official and veteran. Now Brad Carson is at the center of one of the most important policy debates, how and when to put guard rails on artificial intelligence. We dig into why Ai is becoming one of the biggest political issues today. Are we ready for whats coming with artificial intelligence? Listen to find out. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Senior Editor Will Kaback interviews military and veteran journalist Jasper Craven who has been reporting deeply on the VA and the people inside of it. We break down what the VA actually does, why it's been targeted for reform and cuts by the Trump administration and what the recent exodus of staff can mean for the millions of veterans that rely on it. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of my primary goals with Tangle is to build the most trusted political news outlet in the world. Two important ways we’re working towards that goal are 1) responding transparently to audience feedback, and 2) creating a special place for our community to interact, debate, and learn from each other. Today, we’re making a series of announcements in service of those two objectives.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Lindsey Knuth, Candida Hall 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted 51–48 to begin debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act. The bill would require citizens to present documentation confirming their citizenship when registering to vote and require photo identification to vote in federal elections. Tuesday’s vote formally initiates discussion of the bill on the Senate floor, a precursor to a potential final vote.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Stranded in the Middle East.When the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran at the end of February, airspaces shut down and commercial flights were cancelled across the region. For Americans in the Middle East, the following days were marked by chaotic attempts to evacuate and inconsistent communication from U.S. embassies. Associate Producer Aidan Gorman has experienced embassy evacuations firsthand, and in our latest YouTube video he breaks down what happened, what should have happened, and the stark realities of evacuation policies. Check it out here: Join us on Reddit!Over the past year, our community on Reddit has been growing — as have the discussions about our coverage. In the past month, threads titled “Under-discussed Topics around Iran War,” “The State of the Union was bad, but not for why Tangle thinks,” and “Justice for Isaac’s lost right socks” have garnered a lot of participation. If you want to start a discussion on a specific issue, a broad theme with our coverage or anything to do with the Tangle podcast, join our Reddit community at r/TangleNews! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the SAVE America Act? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Cuba’s electrical grid failed, causing a blackout that affected the island’s nearly 11 million inhabitants. Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that it was investigating a complete disconnect of the island’s grid, which sparked both violent and non-violent protests. After 29 hours, power was restored to most of the island, although much of the country remains without service as of Wednesday morning. Cuba has been experiencing worsened power disruptions since the United States increased its economic pressure on the island. On January 11, President Donald Trump announced he would prevent Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba, then announced heightened tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba on January 29.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Stranded in the Middle East.When the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran at the end of February, airspaces shut down and commercial flights were cancelled across the region. For Americans in the Middle East, the following days were marked by chaotic attempts to evacuate and inconsistent communication from U.S. embassies. Associate Producer Aidan Gorman has experienced embassy evacuations firsthand, and in our latest YouTube video he breaks down what happened, what should have happened, and the stark realities of evacuation policies. Check it out here: Join us on Reddit!Over the past year, our community on Reddit has been growing — as have the discussions about our coverage. In the past month, threads titled “Under-discussed Topics around Iran War,” “The State of the Union was bad, but not for why Tangle thinks,” and “Justice for Isaac’s lost right socks” have garnered a lot of participation. If you want to start a discussion on a specific issue, a broad theme with our coverage or anything to do with the Tangle podcast, join our Reddit community at r/TangleNews! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the current situation in Cuba? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past week, the Trump administration has begun providing initial updates on its plan to reimburse $166 billion in tariffs collected over the past year that the Supreme Court invalidated in February. Approximately 330,000 importers are expected to be eligible for refunds, which must be paid with interest.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Join us on Reddit!Over the past year, our community on Reddit has been growing — as have the discussions about our coverage. In the past month, threads titled “Under-discussed Topics around Iran War,” “The State of the Union was bad, but not for why Tangle thinks,” and “Justice for Isaac’s lost right socks” have garnered a lot of participation. If you want to start a discussion on a specific issue, a broad theme with our coverage or anything to do with the Tangle podcast, join our Reddit community at r/TangleNews! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Do you think tariff refunds will be disbursed? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past two weeks, a series of attacks has taken place across the United States, with suspects allegedly linked to Islamic terror groups or ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our latest.In the last few days, we’ve published a couple of subscribers-only editions that you may have missed. Last Friday, Senior Editor Will Kaback published the latest installment of his “Whatever happened to…” series with a look at net neutrality. Then, over the weekend, Executive Editor Isaac Saul interviewed The New York Times’s David French about James Talarico, Trump, and writing for The Times. Thank you for subscribing to Tangle and supporting the work that goes behind special editions like those. If you’d rather watch, check out Isaac’s conversation with French in full on our YouTube channel here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 could have prevented the recent attacks? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Isaac Saul interviews columnist at The New York Times and one of the cohost to the podcast Advisory Opinions, David French. They get into the Iran War, the volcanic blowback to his piece about James Talarico, some thoughts about what its like being a moderate Christian in today's Republican Party, and the big stories he's keeping his eyes on going into the future. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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.

This is the third piece in an ongoing series we’ve dubbed “Whatever happened to…?”  Modern news cycles routinely highlight emerging stories with warnings of dire consequences or large societal shifts, but just as often, those stories fade away without a clear conclusion or follow up. As part of Tangle’s efforts to model more constructive journalism, we’ve launched this series as a way to shed light on the big stories we’ve forgotten about and explore why the media’s initial coverage didn’t match up with the eventual outcome.  Our first two pieces covered the 2022 baby formula shortage and the 2023 forecast of the Great Salt Lake’s imminent collapse. Today, we’re covering the 2017 repeal of net neutrality.  As always, we’d love to hear what you think about this story and series — and your ideas for future installments.  — Will Kaback, Senior Editor Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Live Nation Entertainment Inc. reached a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) a week into its antitrust trial. The government had argued that the company’s subsidiary Ticketmaster constituted an illegal monopoly over the ticketing industry. As conditions for the settlement, Ticketmaster agreed to provide a standalone ticketing system for third-party use, divest from exclusive arrangements with up to 13 amphitheaters, reserve 50% of tickets for nonexclusive venues, and cap ticketing service fees at 15% for events in amphitheaters it owns.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the settlement? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk all the latest on the Iran war, when we might be leaving, the Strait of Hormuz, potentially boots on the ground, and a lot of debate about the justifications and reasonings of being in this war still. Last but not least, a very solid grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 92,000 in February and unemployment rose from 4.3% to 4.4%. Healthcare, along with leisure and hospitality, accounted for the majority of losses, though the BLS recorded losses in nine of the 14 sectors it tracks. The numbers fell short of economists’ expectations, raising concern about the stability of the labor market.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Did you know?We’ve got more offerings than just the Tangle newsletter. The daily email is where you get long-form, deeply considered analysis of the day’s big issues. But for up-to-the-minute coverage, breaking news, video clips and snap analysis from our team, you should follow our Instagram and sign up for Subtext. Both are completely free and provide two of the best ways to connect personally with the Tangle staff and community. For even more community engagement, check out our Reddit page.  You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the latest jobs report tells us about the U.S. economy? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday marks 11 days since the United States and Israel launched joint attacks against the Iranian government and security forces, with several significant developments over the weekend.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Two new interviews.We have two new interviews out this week for your listening pleasure. In the first, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman speaks to Tyler Austin Harper, a staff writer at The Atlantic. After Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead’s exploration into literacy on Friday, the conversation is timely — Tyler and Ari discuss funding for the humanities and what role universities should play in the future of education. You can listen here.  In the second interview, Senior Editor Will Kaback talks with the author and cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams about his new book, Summer of Our Discontent, which explores the social and political changes that followed from the nationwide protests in the summer of 2020. You can listen here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 U.S. military actions in Iran? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, managing editor Ari Weitzman interviews staff writer from The Atlantic and former professor at Hamilton College, Tyler Austin Harper about his new story at The Atlantic about the Mellon Foundation and what its doing to higher education. A conversation that spans the bounds from why humanities matter? To Whether or not we should be focusing on them in the first place? All the way to what do we want out of colleges and should we even be learning humanities at these universities? Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that he will reassign Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to replace her as secretary. The decision marks the first announced departure of a cabinet secretary in the second Trump administration. Noem will be reassigned to the new anti-drug-trafficking office position of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! The literacy crisis.A growing body of evidence suggests the United States is in a literacy crisis, with cascading consequences for younger generations. This issue reaches back decades, but some promising solutions are within reach, too. Drawing on the lessons from the “Southern Surge” in reading improvements, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead takes stock of U.S. literacy education and makes the case for a national reading revival. You can read it here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 Mullin replacing Noem? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The literacy crisis is one of the most profound problems facing Gen Z and Gen Alpha. As my generation ages up into the workforce and the citizenry, lower literacy rates mean a decline in the ability to understand the world around us — including the laws and political texts upon which this country was built. And if fewer Americans understand the texts that shape our society, our society will be susceptible to changing for the worse, forgetting the whys and the hows that built the most successful, prosperous nation on earth. In the belly of that forgetting lies the possibility of national decline. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, the conflict in Iran, which began over the weekend with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some members of his family, and several other top Iranian officials, continued into a sixth day. Since the initial strikes on Saturday, Israel has ramped up its attacks, with heavy strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian military infrastructure in Tehran. As part of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military has struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran and “struck or sunk” over 20 Iranian ships, according to U.S. Central Command. According to human rights group HRANA, more than 1,000 civilians— including 181 children under the age of ten — have died so far in the conflict.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Further viewing.In yesterday’s Suspension of the Rules podcast, Isaac, Ari and Kmele discuss the argument for the Iran war, the primary results in Texas, and the “Good guy of the week” — Sen. John Kennedy. You can watch the whole thing on YouTube. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: How has your life been impacted since the U.S. launched a direct attack on Iran? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele breakdown where we're at with the conflict in Iran as well as the latest results with the primary elections in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas, a good guy of the week nomination and last but not least, a very solid grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday, voters in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas voted in party primaries to elect candidates for federal, state, and local offices in the 2026 midterms. In the Texas Democratic Senate primary, state Rep. James Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, while Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will head to a runoff in the Republican Senate primary. In North Carolina, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) won their respective party’s Senate primaries. Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Cotton (R) won renomination for a third term in Arkansas’s Republican Senate primary and will face farmer Hallie Shoffner (D) in the general election. The rise of measles.Last month, we covered measles outbreaks in different states across the country, leading the United States to the brink of losing its elimination status with the disease for the first time in over two decades. For our latest YouTube video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman takes a look into what’s driving the rise in cases, and the role that vaccines have to play. You can watch the video here! Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Who do you think will win this year’s Texas Senate election? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to immediately cease their use of the artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic’s technology after it declined to allow the Pentagon unrestricted access to its models. Later in the day, Defense Secretary Hegseth directed the Pentagon to designate Anthropic as a “supply chain risk to national security,” which he said would bar contractors, suppliers, or partners doing business with the U.S. military from conducting commercial activity with Anthropic. Shortly after, OpenAI announced it had agreed to let the Pentagon use its AI models within classified systems.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! A special report.We know that all eyes are on Iran right now, but we also wanted to highlight a special report from West Texas we broke over the weekend. Last week, the Trump administration waived a series of environmental laws and regulations to begin awarding contracts for border wall construction in Texas’s Big Bend region, where Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul owns land. Isaac wrote about what he’s hearing from residents, the reason he’s opposed to a wall, and why he hopes Trump abandons the plan. This is a special report, available for free to all readers. You can read it here.  You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the military partnering with AI services? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Will Kaback interviews cultural critic, writer and author Thomas Chatterton Williams about his new book Summer of Our Discontent. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes against Iran, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders. President Donald Trump said the ongoing mission, called Operation Epic Fury, will target Iran’s nuclear facilities, military capabilities and regime leaders, adding that Iranian citizens should prepare to take over the government. The attack marks the Trump administration’s second operation against Iran, following airstrikes targeting the country’s nuclear facilities in June 2025.  Upcoming livestream. At 8:00pm ET tonight, Executive Editor Isaac Saul is going live on YouTube with updates on the situation in Iran and to answer questions from the Tangle community about the conflict. You can submit your questions ahead of time here, or tune in to the livestream at 8:00pm and ask in the chat.  Join us at 8:00pm here. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 about going to war with Iran? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved even-numbered years — because I absolutely love the Olympics. They combine my two truest boyhood passions: sports and America. I was a sports-obsessed little Pittsburgh kid. When I was nine, I won a contest at a local video rental store ahead of Super Bowl XXX by correctly identifying the first points the Steelers ever scored in a Super Bowl as a safety. Before I even entered junior high, I’d been to several dozen Penn State football games with my dad, and probably about a dozen wrestling meets. I can still name the four Pittsburgh Penguins who won gold medals with the Czech Republic at the 1998 Nagano Olympics (Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, Jiri Slegr, and Robert Lang) as well as each of their Pittsburgh jersey numbers (68, 82, 71, 20). I was star-struck when I got to be a ball boy for a Team USA soccer game in Hershey, PA, and actually got to feed Mia Hamm the ball for a throw-in.... Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, in his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act (SITA), a bill that would bar members of Congress and some immediate family members from trading individual stocks. The line led to one of the few instances of bipartisan applause during Trump’s speech, and the president’s reference renewed discussions over efforts to curtail lawmakers’ trading.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: How do you think Congressional stock trading should be reformed? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele are joined by Eli Lake, columnist at The Free Press as well as the host of the Breaking History podcast. They chat about President Trump's State of the Union address and Iran. The boys then go on to talk more about the winter olympics and a couple race controversies that happened this week. Last but not least, a very solid grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Tuesday night, President Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term (Trump addressed a joint session of Congress last year, but it was not an official State of the Union). During the speech, Trump focused predominantly on domestic issues, but said that he would “never” allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. His speech lasted approximately one hour and 48 minutes, surpassing last year’s speech as the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Trump’s address? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Isaac Sauland 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year ago, we wrapped up a months-long series following five undecided voters across the country — people who, like millions of Americans, were trying to sort through the noise of a divisive, turbulent election at a moment when trust in institutions was fraying, norms were being tested, and the stakes of the decision felt unusually and perilously high. From March of 2024 until the week of the election, we followed their reactions to criminal trials, assassination attempts, debate meltdowns, convention chaos, and a last-minute change at the top of the Democratic ticket. In the end, they all made a decision, some definitively, some reluctantly.  Now it’s February 2026. Donald Trump is one year into his second term, and we wanted to check back in. How do they feel about the vote they cast? What’s surprised them? What’s worried them? And what has given them hope? We reached out to all of our original participants. Zahid chose not to return for this follow-up for reasons he didn’t disclose. But Claire, Brian, Diana, and Phil were willing to pick the conversation back up — and reflect on where they are now, one year later. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! You can⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to Tangle by clicking here⁠⁠⁠ or drop something⁠⁠⁠ in our tip jar by clicking here.⁠⁠⁠ The Undecideds is a Tangle Media Production This episode was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall Interviews were conducted by Magdalena Bokowa, Will Kaback, Jon Lall, and Ari Weitzman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, Mexican security forces killed cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as “El Mencho” — and multiple others in a military operation assisted by U.S. intelligence in Tapalpa, Jalisco, in Western Mexico. Oseguera was wounded in a violent clash with Mexican special forces and died while being flown to Mexico City. In response to the killing, shootouts, explosions, and over 250 vehicle blockades and arson attacks spread across Jalisco, as well as the nearby states of Michoacán, Guanajuato, Colima, and Tamaulipas.  Follow the State of the Union live with Tangle. Tonight, President Donald Trump will deliver the first official State of the Union address of his second term. Tangle will be covering the event live on our social media channels, sharing clips and instant analysis, so be sure to follow us on:  InstagramFacebookXBlueSkyNot a social media person? Sign up for our Subtext messaging service to receive a recap at the end of the night. You can sign up here or text TANGLE to (850) 338-9163. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Mexico’s stance against the cartel should be? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the Supreme Court voted 6–3 to strike down most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, finding that the president exceeded his authority when he imposed duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court’s ruling invalidates the president’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which imposed a 10% baseline duty on U.S. trading partners as well as steeper tariffs on individual countries. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! ICYMI.Last Friday, we ran a little experiment: How would ChatGPT do if we had it write a Tangle take? Isaac gave his opinion on the future of AI, asked ChatGPT to try to mimic him, then evaluated how well it delivered its take. That piece generated a lot of interest, questions, and criticism — and in case you missed it, you can read it here and join the discussion in the comments. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the Supreme Court’s ruling? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, the artificial intelligence discourse hit a new fever pitch. It started with a viral post on X, titled “Something Big Is Happening,” which racked up tens of millions of views. The post was written by Matt Shumer, the CEO of the AI personal assistant company HyperWrite. It’s long, but it’s worth your time. The thrust of the post is this: Artificial intelligence is improving much faster than most anyone seems to understand, and the rate of improvement is accelerating. AI’s capability has exploded in the last six months, Shumer says, and people who played with AI tools two years or 12 months or six weeks ago have no idea how much better they are today.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Ari run the show classic style while Kmele takes a little breather with his family. Due to popular demand they talk more on the Epstein files and they offer some measured and slightly controversial responses to some of the critisizm. Ari does a deep dive into the EPA Endangerment Ruling and tries hard to get Isaac on the same page. Last but not least, a very good grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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.

Last Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 130,000 in January, its strongest monthly growth in over a year, while the unemployment rate fell from 4.4% to 4.3%. The healthcare sector accounted for most of the growth with 82,000 new jobs, but declining employment in state and federal governments, finance, and the information sector offset some of those gains. The release was delayed five days due to the partial government shutdown, which ended on February 3. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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.  Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Additional reading today performed by Lindsey Knuth. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, February 12, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency had rescinded the “endangerment finding,” a 16-year-old determination that allowed past administrations to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The EPA previously said that it would pursue curtailing the rule in July, claiming that the deregulation would save the auto industry an expected $54 billion. By repealing the endangerment finding, the EPA removes the scientific and legal justification for federal regulation of greenhouse gases. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the endangerment findings removal? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Additional reading today performed by Lindsey Knuth. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 12:01 on Saturday, February 14, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partially shut down after lawmakers in Congress failed to come to terms on a deal to fund the department through September. Senate Democrats are demanding funding be tied to reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), a stance they have maintained since Alex Pretti and Renee Good were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Who is ICE?At the heart of the issue we’re covering today are the enforcement actions taken by DHS agents in Minnesota. To get a full perspective on this issue, we highly suggest reading our Friday edition answering readers’ questions about ICE and CBP — who these agents are, what authority they have, and the scope of DHS’s immigration enforcement. You can read that piece here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: How long do you think the DHS shutdown will last? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three years ago, I had a fun idea for Valentine’s Day: I would bring my wife Phoebe on the Tangle podcast. My idea was that the two of us could sit down, have a glass of wine, and talk about our lives, Tangle, Phoebe’s first year of law school, a little bit of politics, and have a few good laughs. But, as I probably should have expected, the show took on some more depth. We got very personal. We talked about the challenges of our relationship, of our move from New York to Philly, and of trying to bounce back in the post-Covid world. Immediately after publishing the episode, I was inundated with emails from people saying how much they loved the episode, how candid it was, and how interesting my very smart and quick-witted wife was as a guest. So, in 2024, we did it again. And then again in 2025. And now, in 2026, with the fourth-ever Valentine’s Day podcast, I think we can officially call it a tradition. Last year, when we recorded the podcast, we were less than a month into having our first child, and Phoebe was entering her last semester of law school. This year, we discussed Phoebe’s experience so far as a public defender, her thoughts on cash bail, what has surprised her about the job, how she feels defending people guilty of real crimes, and what being a mom and an attorney is like. We then shared our favorite things about our son and some nice things about each other (because it’s Valentine’s Day, after all). Also, we break some personal news. So, today, I’d like to say Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you enjoy the episode (and this new tradition). Also, Phoebe says if the comments section is mean, she’s not coming back — so be nice. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered by Jon Lall. 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.

Just over a year into Donald Trump’s second term, one of the most common requests from readers has been to revisit that conclusion and my prediction that much of the Project 2025 agenda would be struck down through legal challenges or abandoned by Trump. Today, we’re doing just that. We’ll start with a refresher on Project 2025, then lay out which policy goals from Project 2025 have been implemented, which goals the administration is pursuing but hasn’t yet implemented, and which goals it has abandoned or actively undermined. Finally, I’ll revisit our coverage of Project 2025 from before the election. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Russell Nystrom, Isaac Saul and Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about the Winter Olympics, Kmele's defense of President Donald Trump's racist social media post, the DHS negotiations and more. Last but not least, a very good grievance section. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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.

In recent weeks, the United States has built up its military presence in the Middle East while conducting negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group arrived in the Arabian Sea on January 26, bringing an additional 5,700 U.S. troops to the region. On Wednesday, the Pentagon reportedly told a second aircraft carrier group to prepare for deployment, while President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss diplomatic and potential military strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian officials met for indirect talks in Oman on Friday, February 6, for the first negotiations between the countries since the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think U.S. military intervention in Iran is likely? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays Special Edition, Isaac interviews Sarah Isgur, co-host of the podcast Advisory Opinions and author of her new book Last Branch Standing, a deep dive into the inner workings of the Supreme Court. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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.

In January 2026, the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) released a report finding that murders and violent crimes in the United States decreased significantly in 2025. According to the report, the murder rate in 35 large U.S. cities fell 21% last year — the biggest one-year drop ever — to what could be its lowest level since 1900. Furthermore, 11 of 13 types of violent crime tracked by CCJ all decreased in 2025; drug crimes increased by 7% while the rate of sexual crimes remained unchanged. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Our recent video.As the Trump administration pursues its immigration agenda, many federal agents from different law enforcement agencies have been reassigned to help with new initiatives. How many agents does this apply to, and how much time are they spending focusing on immigration? Tangle’s Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explored these questions in a recent video. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 is causing the decrease in violent crime and homicides? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, the Trump administration rolled out TrumpRx, a government website offering consumers discounted prices for common prescription drugs. The platform functions as a hub for consumers, connecting them to manufacturers’ sites or offering coupons for purchases at pharmacies. President Donald Trump said TrumpRx will create millions in consumer savings, with those savings likely concentrated among the uninsured.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! In the foxhole.In this month’s members-only edition of Press Pass, Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote about the challenges facing the media industry, how our political divisions are starting to show up as a business challenge, and some changes to Tangle on the horizon. Plus, our employee feature this month is Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth. In case you missed it, the edition went out at 3 am ET last night (instead of the intended 3 pm) — but you can read it here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 TrumpRx? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, The Washington Post laid off approximately one third of its staff, including hundreds of reporters in its newsroom. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the cuts to the company, saying its approach required “a new way forward and a sounder foundation.” The layoffs have created uncertainty about the future of the outlet, which has long served as a leading U.S. news source but has recently struggled to retain readers and improve its business model.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Answering your questions about ICE.The Trump administration’s heightened immigration operations have prompted a flood of questions about how different immigration agencies work, the legality of their tactics, and the rights of citizens and noncitizens alike. In last week’s Friday edition, we tackled the most frequently asked questions about Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, featuring insights from a wide array of experts. You can read it here.  You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Who do you think is responsible for layoffs at The Washington Post? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last couple of months, our inbox has been inundated with questions about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Readers from across the political spectrum are trying to separate fact from fiction: Can ICE actually arrest U.S. citizens? What are my rights when a Border Patrol officer talks to me? How are all of these agents being trained amid a massive hiring push by the Trump administration?  Online and in the opinion sections of news outlets, misinformation has been rampant. In our own coverage, we’ve tried to address some of these questions, but the answers are often legally nuanced and impossible to sum up in a single sentence, a post on X, or a thirty-second TikTok video.  Today, though, we’re going to address them in detail.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Audrey Moorehead, Russell Nystrom 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele are chatting live in person about the Epstein files, opinions about Jasmine Crockett, The Washington Post lay offs and an airing of grievances section where Isaac airs it out about why his Tangle team is incompetent. It's a good one! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Friday, the Justice Department published approximately three million pages of materials related to the government’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said this release concluded the department’s review of files related to Epstein, having released roughly 3.5 million pages in total. The release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed in November 2025 with near-unanimous Congressional approval.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the latest Epstein release? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday, the House voted 217–214 to pass a full-year funding package for several federal agencies, excluding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending a four-day partial government shutdown. The funding bill previously passed the Senate 71–29, after Democrats pushed to remove appropriations for DHS following the shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota in January. 21 Democrats voted for the measure in the House, while 21 Republicans voted against it. President Donald Trump signed the bill on Tuesday, funding most federal departments through September 30; the deadline to fund Homeland Security was set for next Friday, February 13.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: When do you think Congress will reach a solution to fund DHS? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced his nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, choosing him to succeed current Chairman Jerome Powell when Powell’s term expires in May 2026. The nomination will now go to the Senate for confirmation, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has vowed to block its advancement in the Senate Banking Committee until a Justice Department probe into Powell is resolved.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Warsh’s nomination? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday night, former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with federal civil rights violations for his alleged actions at a protest inside a Minnesota church in January. The Department of Justice charged Lemon, activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, Minnesota-based journalist Georgia Fort, and six others with conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of church congregants and with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Lemon, who has maintained that he was covering the protest as a journalist, was released without bond after appearing in federal court on Friday afternoon. His next hearing is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re hiring.Applications are open for a part-time role on the Tangle editorial team. This remote position will involve in-depth research and editing work on the daily newsletter, as well as opportunities to contribute to our podcast, YouTube, and social media channels. We are accepting applications until Tuesday, February 10 at 11:59 PM ET. To learn more about the position and how to apply, click here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the church protest? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kanye West says he’s sorry.  And I forgive him. I first wrote about West’s antisemitic rants in 2022, when he began engaging with the world of antisemitism. And, in some narrow ways, I defended him: I pleaded with people to accept that some of the stereotypes he was calling out were actually tied to realities we should discuss, that we can explain the overrepresentation of “The Jews” — my people — in the entertainment industry, while also calling out West when his ranting tipped into paranoia and conspiracy. In the months and years since, West — who now goes by Ye — has been using increasingly unhinged language. His reality has become more and more divorced from the one you and I share. He apologized in 2023, then took it back; by 2025, he was back to posting Nazi propaganda on social media, selling merchandise adorned with swastikas, and dropping club anthems lionizing Hitler. His social media activity made clear that he was either all the way down the rabbit hole or in the depths of a mental crisis, and following him went from angering to amusing to alarming. I stopped defending him and started blaming him for the rise in antisemitism among his fans, and more broadly for the normalization of antisemitism across our culture.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about how you should actually handle interactions about law enforcement, a little bit about Kanye West and then a heated grievance section about 5k worth of podcasting gear being stolen from Isaac's office. Isaac then wraps up the episode with a great interview with Elliot Williams, about of his new book Five Bullets, the story of Bernie Goetz and the shooting that tore New York City and the country apart. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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, President Donald Trump announced that border czar Tom Homan would go to Minnesota to oversee immigration enforcement efforts. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who had previously spearheaded the operations, reportedly left Minnesota on Tuesday along with an unspecified number of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents; Bovino returned to his previous post in California. Separately, two Customs and Border Patrol agents who fired guns in the Saturday shooting death of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti were placed on leave; Bovino had previously shared that the agents had been reassigned to another state but were still working. The moves follow widespread, bipartisan scrutiny of DHS over Pretti’s death and the earlier shooting death of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think DHS should adjust its methods? Let us know.  Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, South Carolina officials reported that measles is transmitting rapidly in the state, with 789 confirmed cases so far. South Carolina is the fifth state to accumulate at least 100 measles cases since January 2025, joining Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas (where the first cases in 2025 were reported). During the current outbreaks, over 150 children have been hospitalized with measles; two children and one adult (all unvaccinated) have died from measles complications, the first such deaths in the U.S. in a decade. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! We’re doing a deep dive.One of the most frequently asked questions from readers over the last few weeks has been about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) hiring and training practices. We’re putting together a story to better understand exactly what that process looks like, and the experience for agents on the ground. If you or anyone you know works for DHS, or its enforcement arms of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), we’d love to talk with you and learn more. Just drop us a line on Signal by searching our username @tanglenews.96 or clicking the link here (you’ll have to download the app to message). You can also reach out to [email protected]. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the measles outbreaks? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 14, the Trump administration announced the start of “phase two” of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the second phase will transition from “ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.” On Thursday, President Donald Trump formally launched the Gaza “Board of Peace,” initially presented as a transitional body to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. However, the board’s charter has since been expanded to cover a broader mandate for peace globally, raising questions about how it will interact with the United Nations (UN).  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Want to get texts from Tangle? Since October, over 13,000 Tangle readers have joined us on Subtext, our free SMS messaging service that lets us connect directly with readers. Subtext subscribers can weigh in on our coverage through topic polls, receive analysis on developing stories straight from Isaac, and get occasional peeks behind the scenes at Tangle’s operations. You can sign up for Subtext here! (Note: Subtext is currently only available for subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.) You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 about the prospect of peace in Gaza? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following an altercation with federal agents. Earlier this month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renee Good, 37, in her vehicle in a Minneapolis neighborhood, setting off large-scale protests. The latest shooting led to renewed calls from state officials for President Donald Trump to pull federal immigration enforcement agents out of the state.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Want to get texts from Tangle?Since October, over 13,000 Tangle readers have joined us on Subtext, our free SMS messaging service that lets us connect directly with readers. Subtext subscribers can weigh in on our coverage through topic polls, receive analysis on developing stories straight from Isaac, and get occasional peeks behind the scenes at Tangle’s operations. You can sign up for Subtext here! (Note: Subtext is currently only available for subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.) You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the latest DHS shooting in Minnesota? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 months ago, we laid the groundwork to evaluate President Donald Trump’s second term as objectively as possible. Our goal was to take a few objective metrics to judge a president’s success: Things like economic data, promises kept, and the sentiment of American citizens. Given how much analysis and opinion we engage with every day, we thought we could refer back to these benchmarks periodically as a nearly unimpeachable way to judge the president’s performance. When I think back to this time 12 months ago, one big detail stands out: I wasn’t here. In fact, with the timing of a true troll, my son was born on the day of Trump’s inauguration. Just days before, we had published the set of metrics we’d use to evaluate the president. It was the last major piece we published before I stepped away from Tanglefor a month. Now, here we are. Trump’s second term is now one year old (just like my son), and I’m back in the driver’s seat, ready to use the metrics we developed last year to evaluate the Trump administration. Before we get started, I want to give a quick note about our process. The benchmarks we chose to track are mostly hard metrics, but with a few qualitative assessments. We wanted to include things that are easy to measure (like gas prices) as well as some things that take a little more effort to evaluate (like whether the administration has kept a promise or not).  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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 todays mega episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele answer some of the biggest questions regarding the first year of Trump's presidency. What happened how you expected in year one of Trump? What surprised you? The biggest pros and the biggest cons? All these questions and more get answered by Isaac, Ari and Kmele in this episode. Last but not least, The Airing of Grievances section. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Wednesday, President Donald Trump addresseda gathering of prominent global figures at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The conference comes amid rising tensions between Europe and the United States over Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland, and several world leaders gave critical remarks about the U.S. prior to the speech. However, later on Wednesday, Trump said that he discussed a framework of a deal related to Greenland with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte that gives the U.S. “everything we needed.”  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Want to get texts from Tangle?Since October, over 13,000 Tangle readers have joined us on Subtext, our free SMS messaging service that lets us connect directly with readers. Subtext subscribers can weigh in on our coverage through topic polls, receive analysis on developing stories straight from Isaac, and get occasional peeks behind the scenes at Tangle’s operations. You can sign up for Subtext here! (Note: Subtext is currently only available for subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.) You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the speeches from Trump and Carney at Davos? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, January 15, President Donald Trump announced several proposals to lower health insurance costs, which he called “The Great Healthcare Plan.” The healthcare-reform framework focuses on four broad initiatives: lowering drug prices, lowering insurance premiums, holding big insurance companies accountable, and maximizing price transparency. Although the White House has not announced specific legislative proposals to enact the policy, Trump specified he would seek to make more medications available over the counter, regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and require insurance companies to explain their costs in simple and clear language. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Want to get texts from Tangle?Since October, over 13,000 Tangle readers have joined us on Subtext, our free SMS messaging service that lets us connect directly with readers. Subtext subscribers can weigh in on our coverage through topic polls, receive analysis on developing stories straight from Isaac, and get occasional peeks behind the scenes at Tangle’s operations. You can sign up for Subtext here! (Note: Subtext is currently only available for subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.) You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Which healthcare reforms would you support? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has escalated his efforts to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark that he says is vital to national interests. The president has not ruled out using military force to take control of the island, while also threatening to impose tariffs on European nations who oppose the move. Many leaders of member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have condemned Trump’s comments and expressed concern that he is jeopardizing the stability of the alliance.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Greenland’s relationship with the U.S. should be? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Isaac Saul and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of my favorite things about Tangle is the process that happens before publication — the one our readers and listeners never get to see. I’ve been thinking a lot about this in recent months: How much debate, dialogue, and discussion goes into everything we publish. How much I learn from the conversations we have pre-publication. How desperately our country needs more of what I believe our staff models every day. I also think a lot about how trust in the media is at an all-time low, and all the innovative ways organizations like ours could try to win that trust back. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Diet 75. 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 todays show Isaac, Ari and Kmele revisit the ICE shooting in Minneapolis, MN. Next they talk about whether or not Isaac/Trump have crossed the rubicon on the Jerome Powell investigation. They then have a discussion about the intra-party wars that are happening right now on the right. Last but not least, a very sweet The Airing of Grievances section. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced a pair of actions to address rising homeownership costs. On January 8, the president directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — government-sponsored mortgage-finance companies — to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds to bring down mortgage rates. On January 7, Trump said he was “taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes” and would ask Congress to codify those rules. The president said he will share more details about his housing affordability plans in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! The roots of travel nightmares.If you’ve flown commercially in the past decade, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in irritants — delays, cancellations, shrinking seats, and, broadly, a system that seems built to exhaust customers rather than help them. In our latest YouTube video, we break down the source of these problems, why they’re so persistent, and why recent efforts to solve them have failed. It’s one of our most in-depth investigations yet, and we’d love for you to check it out. https://youtu.be/cs242CC8rCc?si=kuG3rlWRyS33RT-A You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Which do you think would be more effective, Trump’s proposal or Ari’s? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During oral arguments on Tuesday, the Supreme Court appeared likely to uphold state laws banning anyone other than biological females from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. In West Virginia v. B.P.J., the mother of a transgender girl brought a challenge to a state law in West Virginia; in Little v. Hecox, a transgender woman wishing to compete at the college level challenged an Idaho law. Together, the legal challenges claim the laws violate the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in programs that receive federal funding. Although the justices are expected to rule similarly in each case, the Court is considering the challenges separately. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the challenges to these laws? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, The New York Times reported that the U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Columbia has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The investigation reportedly focuses on Powell’s June 2025 congressional testimony about the central bank’s renovation of its Washington headquarters. Shortly after the first reports surfaced, Powell confirmed that he had received grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department threatening a criminal indictment. The chairman called the investigation “unprecedented” and said the administration is threatening legal action to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the DOJ subpoenaing Powell? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has prioritized the United States’s influence in the Western Hemisphere, often antagonizing nearby countries and seeking to increase control of critical resources. Last week, after the U.S. captured and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump and his top officials threatened Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico with similar military action and renewed his focus on acquiring Greenland.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the “Donroe Doctrine?” Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mission of Tangle is to be a big-tent media organization — and one way we do that is by exposing people to a wide range of opinions.  In each edition, someone on our staff also writes “My take” as a way to share our own perspective on the day’s topic. Last year, our process began to evolve when I had my first child in January and spent a portion of the start of the year on paternity leave. Throughout 2025, we continued featuring more takes from other writers on the team, and we debuted our “staff dissent” section.  I never intend to be the authoritative, final voice on any issue — though of course I feel more strongly on some topics than others. Rather, I think of it as an act of transparency for me (or a staff member) to share their own views, and as an opportunity to try to offer unique and fresh perspectives that may not exist elsewhere.  One of the things I loathe most about the media generally — and one of the reasons I created Tangle — is that outlets too often let their pundits fire off hot takes with zero accountability. This lack of accountability extends beyond media spaces and pervades society, from the halls of Congress to the executive offices of our biggest corporations.  So, in my ongoing attempt to live my values, I started a tradition of dedicating the first Friday edition of every new year to grading some of my previous writing. Here’s our process: A couple of months ago, my team and I started looking through our archives to 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. Of course, if you spend a year analyzing hundreds of issues, you are bound to get a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. Yet, to my delight, this year was our best year yet in terms of our overall “grades.” I think the growth of our team has genuinely made us more reliable and measured — and it’s fun to see the results. Below, we’ll share key excerpts from our writing, a brief “reflection,” and then a grade on the A-to-F scale (that the writer of the take and editors have agreed on). We’ve had the writer reflect on their own work, and then came up with final grades as a team.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Written by: Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On todays show Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about the breaking news in Minnesota with a fatal shooting by an ICE officer to a US citizen. They then have a discussion about the meaning behind all of Trump's tactical military successes and Venezuela. Next, they talk about the January 6th anniversary and last but not least, The Airing of Grievances. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Wednesday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a woman in her vehicle during an operation in a Minneapolis, Minnesota, neighborhood. Federal officials claimed that the woman was attempting to run over ICE agents, while local officials said the officer acted recklessly. The incident comes amid heightened tension in the city and state, which has become a focus of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the shooting? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In late December, protesters in Tehran, Iran, took to the streets over rising costs and economic conditions in the country. Larger demonstrations erupted across Iran in the following days, with crowds gathering in major cities and provincial centers to protest economic conditions, government restrictions, and broader grievances with the country’s political system. Iranian authorities responded with a mix of violent suppression and internet disruptions; a spokesman for the Iranian government has claimed the unrest is driven in part by foreign interference. President Donald Trump said the United States supports the Iranian people’s right to protest and threatened Iran not to harm protesters, posting on social media on Friday, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think the current protests will lead to the end of the Islamic Republic? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced he is ending his reelection campaign for a third term. In his announcement, Walz cited the state’s ongoing fraud scandals as the basis for his decision, saying, “Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.” The governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate has come under increasing scrutiny for his handling of the fraud schemes, which were concentrated in the state’s Somali-American community and have drawn national attention in recent weeks.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the fraud in Minnesota? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early Saturday morning, the United States military conducted air strikes in Venezuela and carried out an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been indicted in the Southern District of New York and charged with “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.” In a press conference later in the day, President Donald Trump said that the United States will assume control of Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the U.S. operation in Venezuela? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Editor Will Kaback interviews one of the worlds most traveled persons Chris Arnade of Chris Arnade Walks the World. His insights and perspectives of the world, politics, immigration, and class are especially unique and we dive deeper into all of it in this interview.For more information on Chris Arnade and his travels visit the link below: https://walkingtheworld.substack.com/ Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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: Will Kaback 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tangle Managing Editor Ari Weitzman chats with Laurie Styron, the executive director of CharityWatch.org, about the validity of different charities, what to look out for before you denote money to any charities, the good and the bad, and what charities should we keep an eye out for. This is a very important discussion to check out especially before you make your end of year donations. For more information on Charity Watch go to: https://www.charitywatch.org/ Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 Ari Weitzman 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Editor Will Kaback interviews Simon Bazelon about the state of our current politics and where it is headed, the kinds of issues that will resonate most with voters, and the kind of policy platforms that are going to be winning for political candidates moving forward. For more information on the Deciding to Win report that Simon Bazelon was the lead author on go to https://decidingtowin.org/Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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: Will Kaback 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, December 25, President Donald Trump announced that the United States Africa Command conducted strikes on Islamic State (IS, or ISIS) targets in the state of Sokoto in northwestern Nigeria. According to a military official, a U.S. Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea fired over a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, hitting insurgents in two IS camps. The strikes were conducted with the consent of the Nigerian government, and no civilian casualties have been reported. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the strikes in Nigeria? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Will Kaback 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, December 21, CBS announced that it was pulling a scheduled 60 Minutes segment on the Venezuelan men deported to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador in March. CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss decided to delay the segment hours before it was set to air on the long-running television show, saying that it needed additional reporting. 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the segment, criticized Weiss’s decision to “spike” the story as political in a widely reported memo to her colleagues. Shortly thereafter, the streaming app for a Canadian CBS affiliate ran a version of the segment that was shared online in the U.S., sparking debate about Weiss’s justification for the move and broader editorial changes at CBS News.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Weiss’s decision? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dear listeners, First and foremost, a programming note: The Tangle team will be off Wednesday through Friday, but we’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday and for a few days next week before the new year. I hope you all have a merry Christmas and happy holidays, and you get to enjoy some time off from the news (we’ll update you on everything you missed when we’re back, so feel free to take a break). Second, as we head into this period of winter vacation, I wanted to thank you all for an incredible year. We’re still a bit short of our end-of-year subscription goal (so if you haven’t yet, please go subscribe or gift a subscription!), but on the whole, it’s been another fantastic year for Tangle. A few brief highlights, if you’ll indulge me:Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the Justice Department (DOJ) released a trove of files related to the government’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including photographs, handwritten notes on his stationery, and evidence seized at his properties. The latest release is the most substantive disclosure of documents related to Epstein yet; however, lawmakers from both parties immediately raised concerns about significant redactions and omissions from this batch. Over the weekend, the DOJ releasedadditional documents and removed others from the government website.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Do you think DOJ will release files that incriminate any of Epstein’s associates? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, today, I’m going to run it back and see how I do. As I did in 2021, I’m going to accompany each prediction with a one- to two-sentence explanation and a “confidence rating” (or “CR”), so you can see how strongly I hold the belief. The scale is 1 to 10, with 10 being maximum confidence and 1 being lowest confidence.  However, I’m not including any prediction that I don’t think has a higher than 50% chance of coming true (otherwise I’d just be throwing darts randomly at the wall). So the 1–10 rating is more like a 51% to 100% rating than 0 to 100. I’d love to hear what you think, or hear predictions of your own. Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered 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 todays show Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about Trump's very insensitive tweet about Rob Reiner, the Susie Wiles piece and more. Kmele then jumps into an interview with National Review's Senior Writer Charles C.W. Cooke. The guys then give some very questionable law advice in todays The Airing of Grievances section. Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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.

At 9 PM ET on Wednesday, President Donald Trump delivered an address from the White House highlighting what he views as the major accomplishments of the first year of his second term and criticizing his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for the country’s ongoing issues. In the 18-minute address, Trump mainly focused on his immigration and economic agendas, and he announced a $1,776 “warrior dividend” for members of the military. Notably, he did not address the United States’s rising tensions with Venezuela.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 did you think of Trump’s speech? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, a gunman killed two Brown University students and wounded at least nine others in an attack on the university campus in Providence, Rhode Island. According to authorities, the shooter entered a classroom where students were reviewing for a final exam and opened fire before fleeing. The suspect has not been caught, and a manhunt is underway.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Do you think the number of mass shootings in the U.S. will change? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Indiana Senate voted 31–19 to reject a redrawn congressional map designed to increase the number of GOP seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. President Donald Trump and national Republicans pushed for the new map and lobbied the state’s Republican leadership to back the effort. In the end, 21 Republican senators joined all 10 Democratic senators in opposing the bill, leaving it short of the 26 votes required to pass.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 Indiana’s vote implies for other gerrymandering efforts? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, two gunmen opened fireon a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing 15 people and injuring dozens of others in the country’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996. According to authorities, the shooters were a father and son, and the father was shot and killed by the police while the son sustained “critical injuries.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism”; investigators have said they are still working to understand the shooters’ motives.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options:  Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it’s an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn’t share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you’d like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: How do you think Australia should respond to this attack? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something I’ve learned over the years of talking about “The Jews” is that it helps to think critically about the things people are saying and address them head on. It has been my experience that antisemitism, like racism, thrives when swimming in ignorance.  So my message for Jews, or friends of Jews interested in combatting antisemitism, is this: We have nothing to hide! It’s okay. All we need is defenders who know our history and aren’t ignorant enough to be tricked by antisemitism. You can let your guard down and address these issues honestly.  And, today, in an effort to walk the walk, I’d like to do just that. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered 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.

Today on Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele are joined by Andy Mills from the prolific podcast The Last Invention for possibly one of the more important conversational topics we can all be having right now. They talk about the current state of artificial intelligence development and what the future holds and what we should potentially do about it. After that conversation, the guys chat further about the EU v. X controversy, some breaking news about an oil tanker we seized off the coast of Venezuela, and the latest from the Trump administration about checking non citizens social media backgrounds before entering the country. Lastly, a good grievance section where Kmele drops the ball again and forgets the prompt. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Trump administration announced a $12 billion bailout for farmers in response to “temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.” Most of the money — $11 billion — will be distributed as one-time payments through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, which supports row-crop farmers producing goods like corn, soybeans, oats, and cotton. The remaining funds will be used to support farmers producing crops not covered by the FBA. The aid comes as U.S. farmers report persistent challenges caused by trade disruptions linked to President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the farm bailout? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the European Commission (the executive arm of the European Union, or EU) announced that it is fining the social media company X $140 million for breaching transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission accused the U.S.-based social media company of deceptive use of its “blue checkmark” validation feature, lack of advertisement transparency, and failure to provide access to public data. X owner Elon Musk responded to the European Commission’s announcement of the fine by calling the post “B******t.” Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think the EU’s enforcement is an overreach, or appropriate? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, the Trump administration released its 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), a document outlining the administration’s priorities for U.S. foreign policy. In the document, the administration provides overviews of its policies in the Western Hemisphere, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Key goals include refocusing on regional relationships, increasing economic power while avoiding conflict in the Pacific, protecting freedom and security in Europe, pursuing lasting peace and economic partnership in the Middle East, and maintaining U.S. dominance in the technological sector. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the 2025 NSS? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Will Kaback 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8–3 to eliminate a longstanding recommendation that all newborns receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. The committee instead recommended that women who test negative for hepatitis B should consult with their doctors to determine whether their babies should be given the first dose of the vaccine, suggesting that the initial dose be administered after the infant is at least two months old. The committee voted on the change after it heard presentations from several vaccine critics; no Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) subject-matter experts presented to the panel.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: How does the latest change affect your trust in CDC vaccine recommendations? Let us know.  Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About a year ago, a Tangle staff member introduced me to a writer named A.M. Hickman. He had just published a fascinating piece on his Substack, Hickman’s Hinterlands, arguing that America wasn’t unreasonably expensive — Americans themselves were simply demanding more out of their lives: living in urban hotspots, seeking out fancy apartments or big houses, refusing to take bets on up-and-coming areas. Hickman told this story through his personal lens; he resides in upstate New York (but, as you’ll see in a moment, is also a bit of a nomad) in a rural, dilapidated town that also happens to be incredibly cheap and quite beautiful. I loved the story; it felt like a fresh narrative, delivered in a wholly unique voice. I began devouring Hickman’s writing — on class, on the birth of his daughter, on the death of his mother, on what it’s like to travel via bus through rural America, and even on his longing (and our shared affection) for the desert.  So, a few months ago, I got Hickman on the phone and pitched him on the idea of writing for Tangle. What stories was he turning over in his head? What piece did he want some help with from a sharp and unique editorial team? What was he working on next?  He was brimming with ideas, but one in particular caught my attention: a story about how he missed being homeless. Hickman had spent years as a kind of nomadic “bum” (his words) hitchhiking across America, and in a flourish, he described all the ways in which he felt more alive and more intellectually stimulated during that time in his life than any other. I was intrigued, and I pushed him for a draft. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 written by: A.M. Hickman and edited and engineered 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.

Today on Suspension of the rules, Lydia Moynihan from the New York Post joins the show to argue with Isaac over the Venezuelan boat strikes, the Trump economy/affordability crisis, and socialism spreading amongst democrats. Ari joins us for the back half of the show to discuss more about the Somali fraud scheme issues happening in Minnesota. Last but not least an enjoyable grievance section. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Tuesday, Matt Van Epps (R) defeated State Rep. Aftyn Behn (D) in a special election to represent Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District (TN-07). Van Epps, a former Army officer endorsed by President Donald Trump, received roughly 54% of the vote for a nine-point victory over Behn, a former social worker and community healthcare organizer. Former Rep. Mark Green’s (R) resignation in July triggered the special election, and the race drew national attention and significant outside spending. Van Epps’s win preserves the 220–213 majority Republicans held prior to Green’s resignation.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Watch our most recent live event.In October, we hosted a live event at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, California. The evening provided us with another opportunity to meet and mingle with Tangle readers and featured a round table discussion on issues relevant to California. Executive Editor Isaac Saul hosted a discussion with Alex Thompson, Ana Kasparian, and our own Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster on immigration, gerrymandering, the 2028 presidential election, and more.  Today, we’re releasing the video of that full discussion. You can watch it on our YouTube channel here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 the special election signals about next year’s midterms? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of people with defrauding Minnesota social programs since 2020, and recent reporting has highlighted the links between the fraud schemes and the Somali-American community. In November, a report authored by Ryan Thorpe and Christopher Rufo and published in City Journal — a periodical funded by the conservative think tank The Manhattan Institute — highlighted the fraud’s concentration among the state’s Somali community and claimed the funds were partially directed to the Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the agency would be opening an investigation into Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) oversight of the programs beset by alleged fraud; the House Oversight Committee opened its own probe into the programs on Tuesday.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Watch our most recent live event.In October, we hosted a live event at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, California. The evening provided us with another opportunity to meet and mingle with Tangle readers and featured a round table discussion on issues relevant to California. Executive Editor Isaac Saul hosted a discussion with Alex Thompson, Ana Kasparian, and our own Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster on immigration, gerrymandering, the 2028 presidential election, and more.  Today, we’re releasing the video of that full discussion. You can watch it on our YouTube channel here! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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.  Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, the White House said that on September 2, the military carried out a follow-up strike on a suspected drug-running boat in the Caribbean after two boat occupants survived an initial strike. The statement follows a Washington Post reportpublished Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized military action to kill everyone on board the boat (though it is unclear whether he was aware of the second strike on the two survivors). If carried out as described, the second strike may have violated international law by killing incapacitated enemy combatants.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 the strikes on alleged drug boats? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, a gunman opened fire on West Virginia National Guard troops stationed near the White House in Washington, D.C, striking two service members. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries, while Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition. The suspected shooter was also shot but is expected to survive. The suspect was identified as an Afghan national who worked with a Central Intelligence Agency-backed unit before coming to the United States in 2021 through a Biden administration program that resettled Afghan asylum seekers. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, in addition to potential terrorism charges.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 we can learn from the recent shooting? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talk more about the Trump/Mamdani meeting as well as some more on the implications of Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation. The guys debate a bit about nationalism on an individual level. In lieu of the airing of grievances Isaac challenges Kmele and Ari to share some political related gratitude and they deliver. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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 Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced that she will resign from Congress on January 5, 2026, citing the Republican Party’s handling of the government shutdown and her public falling out with President Donald Trump. Greene, who was elected to Congress in 2020 as a pro-Trump candidate, recently clashed with the president over foreign policy, healthcare, and the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Reminder.We won’t be sending our normal newsletter for the rest of the week as the team takes a short break to recharge and celebrate Thanksgiving. However, keep an eye out for an email from us tomorrow with a special episode of Suspension of the Rules, available as both a podcast and YouTube video. We hope you have a great Thanksgiving, and we’ll see you next week! You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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 Marjorie Taylor Greene’s retirement demonstrates? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, President Donald Trump hosted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D) at the White House, where they met in private before answering questions in the Oval Office. Despite sharp mutual criticism in recent months, Trump and Mamdani were notably cordial, expressing a shared desire to address cost-of-living and safety issues in New York City. The president in particular surprised some observers by complimenting the mayor-elect and expressing optimism about his incoming administration.  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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 Trump and Mamdani’s friendly meeting? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My 10-point platform. If I were running for president (I never would, but thank you to those so confident in me you’ve suggested it), I would go after the middle band of American politics. I would do this not because I think centrist policies always produce the best outcomes (though they often do) or because all my political views always land in the center (they don’t). Instead, I would try to appeal to the middle band because I think they are underrepresented in today’s politics, and the right candidate with the right framing of moderate politics could win in a landslide. But most importantly, I think their priorities are often sensible and fair. Ad-free podcasts are here!To unlock the rest of this episode and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! our piece on Tylenol and autism  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 written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered 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.

Today on Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talk about the Trump and MBS meeting, Trump's extreme threats to Democrats, gerrymandering wars turning around on republicans as well as the James Comey indictment. Isaac also addresses some of the Epstein Israel situation. Last but not least the airing of grievances. Ad-free podcasts are here! To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! 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 edited and engineered 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.

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is visiting the United States this week to discuss U.S.–Saudi security partnerships and business relations. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump welcomed MBS to the White House for a private conversation and Oval Office meeting where they took questions from the press. The next day, MBS met privately with Democratic and Republican members of Congress, and Trump spokeat the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum. Throughout the visit, Trump and MBS expressed optimism about future U.S.–Saudi relations, including Saudi Arabia’s participation in peace negotiations in Gaza and the potential for bilateral business agreements. Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: How do you think U.S.–Saudi relations should advance? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Will Kaback 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed legislation to reopen the government that contained several additional provisions, including a ban on products made with THC derived from hemp. The ban reverses a provision in the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized the sale of hemp products with a low concentration of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC); that 2018 measure inadvertently allowed for legal production of THC-infused drinks, creams, gummies, oils, and vapes. The new provision is not an outright ban on all hemp and hemp products, but it narrows the definition of lawful hemp and imposes restrictions on both total THC limits and cannabinoids synthesized from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).  Ad-free podcasts are here!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, our “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: Do you think Trump should pivot on affordability? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has announced or proposed several measures to address the cost of living. These moves come against the backdrop of an uncertain economic outlook, as voters have expressed concern about rising prices and financial markets have experienced significant selloffs. While President Trump has maintained that the economy remains strong, some Republicans have called on him to refocus his agenda on affordability issues ahead of the 2026 midterms.  Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! My chat with Alex Thompson.Before our recent live event in Irvine, California, I got the chance to sit down with Alex Thompson. I asked him about his best-selling book, Original Sin, on the cover-up of President Joe Biden’s mental decline; the lessons the press should learn from the scandal; and who he thinks will run for president in 2028. I was surprised by his candor, and fascinated by his answers. Check out the interview here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “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: Do you think Trump should pivot on affordability? Let us know. Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was written by: Ari Weitzman 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, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.