I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”

Dear readers,

I’ve been running this newsletter for over six years now, and I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced an environment like the one we are living through today. 

Conservative readers unsubscribe over us “unfairly bashing President Trump” on the same days liberal readers say they’re leaving because we are “sanewashing Trump.” Our divisions are growing. Our shared realities are becoming narrower and narrower. Our distrust seems insurmountable. 

During this period, something interesting has been happening at Tangle: Our overall audience continues to grow, but the number of paid subscribers has slowed, while the number of paid subscription cancellations has gone up. When those canceled subscribers respond to an automated message asking why they are leaving, the most common response from conservatives is “you’re too left,” from liberals is “you’re too right,” and from folks in the middle is “I’m exhausted and overwhelmed.” Simply put: The division, fractured realities, and distrust are now manifesting as a significant business challenge.

I’ve thought about the different ways we might respond to this challenge. That includes simple fixes, like putting more content behind a paywall or changing it in some way (like adding more “staff dissents”) to increase trust. 

But it also occurred to me that I could do something even simpler: Inform readers of what is happening, and ask for their help.

If you’re receiving this email, it means you are on our free mailing list. According to our reader surveys, most people who haven’t yet become subscribers have waited because 1) They don’t think they should pay for news, 2) They’re not clear on what they get as a paid member, or 3) They’re not sure they’re ready to spend the money.

Here’s the truth: Subscriptions are the #1 way we keep ourselves independent and can keep this project — with our small team of 12 — continuing into the future. We literally cannot survive without them. Since we know money is a barrier for some people, we’re offering a special 20% discount on the first year of yearly membership: just $47 for a year of Tangle’s premium offerings.

You can subscribe with that discount here or, if the full price of $59/year isn’t a barrier, support us at a full membership level by going here. And since some of you don’t know what you get as a subscriber, here’s a reminder: 

  • Our members-only Friday edition
  • Transcribed interviews, deep dives, reader-requested content, personal essays, and inside information about our business
  • Access to the entire Sunday edition, which includes unique sections not in the daily newsletter
  • An ad-free experience in the newsletter
  • Access to the comments section
  • Automatic inclusion on any additional offerings in the future

All of this costs less than $4/month when you subscribe for this discounted offer, which means you could pay for Tangle by having one fewer beer or coffee every month (or just have it all for $4 extra dollars in your monthly budget!)

These are extraordinary times. Trust in the media is at an all-time low, and political polarization is radicalizing minds everywhere. In the midst of this maelstrom, we’re trying to do something special: Bring people of different political persuasions under one roof for a shared set of arguments, facts, and analysis, all while engaging in good-faith debate and trying to better understand differing views. 

If you want to support this work, please consider joining us as a paid member. If money is an obstacle, or you just prefer a discounted rate, you can subscribe for 20% off here. You can get a full-price subscription here, or subscribe at the “Thank you” tier ($199/year) to throw some extra support behind Tangle by going here. 

Thank you, and thank you for reading.

Best,
Isaac & the Tangle team