Dear readers,
One thing I’ve realized from a career in covering the news is that staying so plugged in often evokes feelings of negativity. At Tangle, we try to combat this in small ways, like with our “Have a nice day” section at the end of every newsletter and podcast. We also make a conscious effort to write about solutions and problem-solvers, not just dysfunction and corruption.
Today, I’m excited to share some unambiguously good and happy news: My wife just gave birth to our first child. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the experience of seeing my son slide into our lives from some other dimension, squealing and shivering and pink, but I know I won’t ever be the same. It was, as most parents attest, the most miraculous and awe-inspiring thing I’ve ever witnessed — a life experience that is genuinely unparalleled.
I have so much more to say about what I experienced in the last 48 hours and the last 10 months, and how it relates to so many political issues in our country (healthcare, abortion, paternity leave, parenting, and more), but for now, I want to share one quick observation from my time supporting my wife through pregnancy: America seems very pro-child right now. Spend enough time online or in the commentariat, and you’d probably think a huge swathe of Americans hate kids, are anti-family, or don’t appreciate the beauty and magic of pregnancy and children. The supply of articles about people not having kids, not wanting kids, and plummeting fertility rates seems endless. Of course those articles are based on real events and accounts, but my personal experience has been the complete opposite.
Every single person I’ve told my wife was pregnant — stranger and family alike — has lit up at the news, shared some beautiful wisdom or advice, and proceeded to ask caring and thoughtful questions about her health and how we were holding up. Every parent I’ve spoken to has said some variation to me of “it’s the best thing ever.” Stressful, sure. Sleepless, maybe! But unendingly rewarding, unquestionably fun, and eternally fulfilling. This kind of feedback came from people from across political affiliation, class, race, religion, and more. Cynics might suggest these are just polite things to say to expecting parents, or that this positivity will all change now that the baby is here, or that my perception is warped because I’m the dad — not the pregnant mom.
I can’t deny my experience has been vastly different from my wife’s, and maybe I’m hanging onto the positivity in an uneven way. But this response struck me as at least a bit surprising, and a nice surprise, too. I’ve felt nothing but love and support. And that felt worth writing here.
Of course, I’m sharing this news with you all not just because I am overjoyed, but also because it will impact some things here at Tangle in the coming weeks, and I wanted to explain what’s going to happen now.
Longtime readers know my history with Tangle, but some of you who are new here may not. The short version is that I started this newsletter alone, over five years ago, on a platform called Substack. I sent my first email to 13 friends and family, working on Tangle around my day job as an editor from 5 am to 8 am and 6 pm to 9 pm every day. I’ve published thousands of newsletters and podcasts since, all in what is essentially the same format we have today: a neutral introduction, what the left and right are saying, and then my take.
Until 2023, I was doing most of that writing alone. Magdalena, our head of social media and ad operations, has been with me since the second year. But it wasn’t until 2023 that I hired Ari, Jon and Will, and we started bringing in intern cohorts and part-time editors to help. Today, our mailing list has over 300,000 subscribers, our work is read all across the world, and we have as many as 10 people working on Tangle in any given week.
Through the 2019 Democratic primary, the 2020 presidential race, the pandemic, the 2022 midterms, the 2024 presidential election and everything that has happened in between, I’ve never really stepped away from Tangle. We take healthy breaks for the holidays, like the 10 days off we just had around Christmas, but those “breaks” usually consist of me catching up on work I’m behind on and doing all the tasks that fell through the cracks while we were churning out newsletters and podcasts every day.
But with my son here — my first child — I’m actually taking a deep breath, taking my hands off the steering wheel, and leaving the newsletter in my team’s hands for the next few weeks.
I’m nervous but also confident: My team is curious, open-minded, fair, and brilliant. They penned today’s newsletter, which I read as a consumer (for the first time!) and thoroughly enjoyed. They know my values, live and breathe Tangle’s mission, and understand our voice. Frankly, they’ve picked up much of the work that goes into producing the daily newsletter and podcast already, while I’ve focused on writing the “My take” section, hosting our podcast, and producing our members-only Friday editions. For the next few weeks, though, I’m going to let them take control of everything, and I’m going to focus on my family.
Editorially, the most important thing for you to know is that while I’m out, the “My take” section will be written by a different member of the Tangle staff, who will be identified in each newsletter. We’ll include a note atop each “My take” section to remind you that it isn’t me writing that day’s take, and you’ll be able to file all your criticisms and compliments with whoever is filling in (have fun!), as they won’t be representing my views.
To be candid: I’m not entirely sure when I’ll be back. I’m shooting for at least a month of uninterrupted paternity leave, and I’m going to try to keep my nose out of the day-to-day and just enjoy the daily Tangle newsletter (for the first time ever) as a consumer. I should be easing my way back in late February, and I presume we’ll be back to normal operations sometime in March (though all of this is subject to change based on the needs of my family).
In advance, I’d just like to thank you all for a few things: First, for supporting our work, which has given me a stable job in the media industry for the last five years — and made it possible for me to support my family. Second, for understanding why I’m taking this brief break, and also for trusting the people I’ve put into place to carry on Tangle’s mission. And third, for helping us prove that there are so many people out there in the world who are still willing to engage the other side, have their minds changed, and better understand people they disagree with — even in times as divided and difficult as these.
I appreciate you all. I hope you enjoy a little something different these next few weeks. And I’ll see you soon.
Best,
Isaac