Show Notes
One of the core tenets of Tangle’s mission is ideological diversity. As a big-tent news organization, we believe that we can be a space for readers of all political backgrounds to hear arguments from across the political spectrum.
As I look around today’s media landscape, something occurs to me: It’s becoming a hobbyhorse of political commentators to beat up on the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Both moderate Democrats and Republicans attack it constantly, as do independents. And in my own writing, I’ve overtly criticized the DSA. Indeed, it’s hard to find writers unapologetically defending DSA — especially in the mainstream press.
So, in late July, I put out a call on social media for a writer who would pen a piece for Tangle that was different — for a writer who would make the case for the DSA, its platform, and its record. A few hours later, Ross Barkan shot me a direct message.
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“Am I the idiot?” For this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Kmele defends his position on AI deregulation as Ari channels some reader criticisms to him. Then, Isaac asks, “Am I the idiot?” over one of his recent takes and reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent return to the Senate, before Kmele gives a touching tribute to the passing of a literary giant. Check it out here.
Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here.
We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice:
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Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.
This podcast written by: Ross Barkan and audio engineered and edited 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, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Tuesday, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s (R) campaign released an advertisement featuring his opponent Amy Acton’s (D) mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her daughter of lying about her childhood and urging Ohioans to vote against her. The ad has generated backlash after Acton’s campaign and news outlets highlighted that Acton’s stepfather, whom Arthur remained married to until his death, was charged with sexually assaulting Acton when she was 12.
In today's episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss a controversial Ohio campaign ad, the prospect of a Democratic midterm wave, riots in France, and the challenges of separating political narratives from facts. Last but not least, our grievances. Its a good one!
This is the debut edition of “A Grain of Saul,” a fresh newsletter from me, Isaac Saul, within the Tangle ecosystem. It’ll come out every week or two, and I’ll use it to explore controversial ideas, hot debates, trending stories, and some political-adjacent issues that don’t make it into Tangle. We’re giving these first few editions away for free, then it’ll be going behind a paywall as a perk for paying members only. Enjoy!
On Wednesday, October 14, Ukrainian officials reported that its access to the services it uses to coordinate drone missions was hampered, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy toward the country amid its war with Russia. The disruption came on the heels of a deal to buy Russian diesel, an executive order lifting sanctions passed by Congress in September, and comments from President Donald Trump accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war.
For the past month, protests and riots have broken out across France, with violence and disorder significantly escalating over the weekend. In mid-September, high school students began demonstrating against a perceived lack of resources in schools; parents, college students, teachers and trade unions later joined the effort, and it has since broadened into nationwide unrest over cost-of-living concerns. French officials say that far-left groups are primarily responsible for the escalation into rioting and looting, while some French politicians and U.S. political leaders suggest the protests underscore deeper issues linked to immigration.