The hottest News Substack posts right now

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The sad and self-inflicted decline of the Washington Post, in one chart

Silver Bulletin • 785 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
📰 News Journalism Newspapers Political Coverage
  1. The Washington Post has lost a lot of political influence recently, falling from near-parity with the New York Times to a much smaller share of political “mindshare.”
  2. Owner interventions and editorial shifts — like cancelling endorsements, changing leadership, and letting go of columnists — prompted big subscriber cancellations and staff departures that have hurt the paper’s finances.
  3. The Post’s decline highlights how fragile national news brands are in a fractured media ecosystem, where changes in ownership or identity can quickly create winners and losers and leave fewer truly comprehensive outlets.

The Afrikaners Welcomed to America—and the Ukrainians Forced to Leave. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 431 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
📰 News Immigration Foreign Policy Crime Technology Elections Sports Society
  1. America’s refugee policy is being applied selectively: some groups, like white South African Afrikaners, were welcomed but now struggle with poor housing and scarce support, while many Ukrainians who fled war are stuck in legal limbo or forced to leave after relief programs were paused.
  2. A large DOJ release of Jeffrey Epstein-related videos contains disturbing footage that exposes more of his network, but the files are massive and hard to search or browse.
  3. Drones are moving into everyday life with cheap, practical uses—pizza delivery, disaster relief, even catching car thieves—signaling a fast-growing drone age with broad social effects.

End The Witch Hunt

Public • 228 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
📰 News Politics Law Investigations Media Society Justice
  1. The release of the Epstein files is a historically important disclosure that exposes troubling behavior among powerful people.
  2. The documents have sparked a moral panic and a wave of cancellations, with many losing jobs or reputations for having known or corresponded with Epstein despite no clear evidence of criminal guilt.
  3. Society should resist mob justice and rely on the legal system to determine guilt, since treating any contact with Epstein as equivalent to condoning his crimes risks false accusations and dangerous precedent.

Tyler Cowen on AI’s Great Leap Forward. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 431 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📰 News Technology Politics Culture International Sports Business Opinion
  1. AI just hit an inflection point where systems can write and improve their own code, meaning progress could accelerate far faster than before and many software roles and markets may be disrupted.
  2. Public life is growing more contentious — from immigration debates and protest interruptions to polarizing entertainment moments — showing deep cultural and political divisions.
  3. As technology and politics shift quickly, preserving human habits like open conversation, critical thinking, and defending free expression becomes more important than ever.

UPDATE: Woman charged with homicide of Mika Westwolf 

Popular Information • 19890 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
📰 News Crime Justice Indigenous Investigation Media
  1. A woman has been charged with the homicide of Mika Westwolf after initially facing lesser charges
  2. Investigation into Mika Westwolf's death gained national attention after being under-resourced and misfocused initially
  3. Mika Westwolf's mother engaged in a campaign raising awareness about her daughter's case and other missing and murdered Indigenous women
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Democrats may have found their media counterweight to Fox News

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
📰 News Media Politics Business Technology Entertainment Music
  1. Small, partisan video outlets on platforms like YouTube are reaching millions with tiny teams, giving Democrats a possible counterweight to Fox News.
  2. Live creators and short-form video are outperforming expensive mainstream productions, and newsrooms are using AI to quickly turn long content into lots of shareable clips.
  3. Media companies are shifting toward “experiences” and new revenue plays — from newsletter sponsorships to sports-betting tie-ins — while the music industry and legacy outlets wrestle with how to handle AI.

A Legal First That Could Change Gender Medicine. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 528 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
📰 News US Politics Health care Technology Legal News Immigration Economy Culture
  1. A landmark malpractice verdict brought by a detransitioner could reshape how courts and states regulate gender‑affirming care for minors and make clinicians’ decisions subject to far greater legal scrutiny.
  2. Autonomous AI agents are beginning to form their own forums and interactions, raising new worries that bots could develop independent behaviors and create risks we aren’t prepared to manage.
  3. Political and cultural tensions are realigning: Trump‑era moves on immigration, the arts, and economic appointments are fueling protests, alienating some voters, and drawing intense public and legal scrutiny.

How Bari Weiss pushes propaganda to please the powerful

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 712 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
📰 News Journalism Ethics Political Influence Media bias Foreign Policy Corporate Power
  1. Bari Weiss presents herself as a free-speech, reformed-liberal voice but uses that posture to promote wealthy tech, libertarian, and pro-Israel figures while relentlessly criticizing the left.
  2. New ownership and executives with close ties to rich, pro-Israel donors are steering editorial priorities to amplify their political and business interests.
  3. That shift has led to selective sourcing, uneven reporting and criticism, and a loss of credibility and viewers for the network.

Cardinal Dolan’s Exit Interview. De-escalation in Minneapolis. Allie Beth Stuckey Responds to Hillary Clinton. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 449 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
📰 News Politics Religion Education Technology Finance Crime International Culture
  1. Timothy Cardinal Dolan is retiring after 17 years as a blunt, influential voice for the American Catholic Church, and he’s been active in political and religious debates, notably speaking out on rising antisemitism.
  2. Big political announcements often don’t change outcomes: promises to disband the Department of Education haven’t come to pass, and ICE’s reported pullback in Minnesota coincided with local actions that still enabled federal immigration enforcement.
  3. Technology is shaking institutions and norms: AI and stolen exams have undermined the integrity of top high school math contests, while tech stocks and Bitcoin have fallen as markets rethink risky, growth-focused assets.

In the UK, The Free Press Is Adults Only

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1697 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📰 News Media Censorship Free speech Regulation Technology UK politics
  1. The UK’s Online Safety Act, meant to protect children, is being used to block or restrict ordinary news and commentary.
  2. Regulators are interpreting “objectionable” content very broadly, which lets censorship spread beyond clearly harmful material.
  3. These rules end up hurting free speech and public debate by chilling independent thought and the search for truth.

From New York Times Shanghai bureau chief to U.S. intelligence contractor

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 895 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
📰 News Investigative National Security Intelligence Cybersecurity China Media Government
  1. A former New York Times Shanghai bureau chief founded a China-focused media and intelligence company that depends heavily on U.S. government customers and has spent money lobbying defense and intelligence budgets.
  2. The company and partners like DarkOwl publicly demonstrated leaked Chinese credentials and said they conduct collection behind the Chinese firewall, even showing passwords from the Naz.API breach.
  3. Close ties to Pentagon contracts, intelligence-affiliated partners, and “government-only” briefings blur the line between journalism and private intelligence work, which risks fueling distrust between the U.S. and China.

Parricide

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1613 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📰 News Crime Local news Public Safety Mental health Real Estate Law enforcement Community
  1. A brutal murder happened on that block when a mentally disturbed young woman was released and then stabbed her mother, and she’s now back in confinement.
  2. The house where the killing occurred was bought, cleaned and renovated, then sold again, showing that properties with violent histories can be resold and aren’t always searchable in public records.
  3. The offender contacted the new owner from the institution with threatening messages, and the institution assured the owner the woman would not be released.

‘Charlie began taking in a lot of harmful ideological messages’

Wrong Side of History • 622 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
📰 News Politics Society Policing Immigration Education International Culture
  1. The British state is portrayed as mixing authoritarian impulses with farcical incompetence, prioritising ideological conformity and community appeasement over honesty and effectiveness.
  2. A government-backed Prevent programme and related materials treat questioning mass immigration as a dangerous or extremist mindset, framing research or debate as risky and pushing counselling or referrals for youths who engage with those ideas.
  3. Institutional priorities like hitting diversity targets and managing 'community relations' are producing practical harms and contradictions — from bad hiring decisions and police deference to reduced opportunities and inconsistent restrictions for teenagers.

How to hire a dark net hitman

How to Survive the Internet • 139 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
📰 News Crime Investigation Journalism Podcasting
  1. There are dark net sites that seem to offer hitmen for hire, but many are scams. People might pay money, but they often get nothing in return.
  2. A journalist and his team discovered real dangers behind these sites, revealing 175 kill requests and helping authorities make 34 arrests. This shows the serious risks involved.
  3. Podcasts can have a big impact on solving crimes. By working with law enforcement, journalists can help protect people and uncover hidden dangers in the digital world.

Iran’s Reluctant Prince. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 431 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
📰 News International U.S. Politics Middle East Conflict Diplomacy Business Technology Society
  1. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s shah, is being looked at by some as a possible transitional leader if the regime falters, but he’s a complicated and imperfect figure.
  2. The U.S. is both threatening military action against Iran and pursuing last-ditch diplomacy, demanding steep concessions like ending nuclear and missile programs and stopping support for proxy groups.
  3. The news cycle is volatile: domestic politics face a partial government shutdown and high-profile congressional/legal fights over the Epstein files, while internationally big stories include SpaceX buying xAI, deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine, and the Rafah crossing reopening in Gaza.

How the FBI Is Searching for Nancy Guthrie

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 259 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
📰 News Crime Law enforcement Investigation Federal Agencies Media Coverage
  1. An 84-year-old woman vanished from her home near Tucson, and doorbell camera footage shows a masked person with a gun at her front door.
  2. Investigators have released few details and faced early stumbles, so they are relying on limited clues like the video to guide the search.
  3. A veteran FBI hostage-rescue founder is providing expert analysis on how the bureau is likely handling the case and interpreting the scant evidence.

After 35 years in prison, Charlie Vaughn is free

The Watch • 832 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
📰 News Crime Law Justice Investigations Government Human Interest
  1. A man with a severe intellectual disability spent 35 years in prison for a murder he did not commit after giving a coerced confession and receiving poor legal representation.
  2. Systemic failures — including inadequate public defense, prosecutorial and investigative problems, misuse of jailhouse informants, and the restrictive AEDPA law — made it extremely difficult to correct his wrongful conviction.
  3. Sustained legal advocacy and community support secured his release via an Alford plea, giving him housing, care, and the opportunity to continue fighting to clear his name.

‘Russians hungry but not starving’

Wrong Side of History • 460 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
📰 News Media Journalism Foreign Policy History Opinion Forecasting
  1. Journalists and media pundits often make attention-grabbing predictions and are frequently wrong because they have no skin in the game and have strong ideological biases.
  2. Predicting foreign policy is especially hard since it depends on culture, personalities, and many interacting factors, so disciplined non-specialists (superforecasters) can sometimes outperform supposed experts.
  3. Even respected newspapers and intellectuals can badly misjudge major events — for example, influential commentators once praised Ayatollah Khomeini and underestimated the dangers of the Iranian revolution.

UPDATE: A case study in unethical journalism

Popular Information • 14406 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
📰 News Journalism Media Ethics LGBTQ+ Education Credibility
  1. Popular Information reported on a school district in Florida instructing to remove books with LGBTQ characters.
  2. Social media played a role in spreading the report which was later confirmed by various media outlets.
  3. There was controversy surrounding a news report from certain TV stations presenting a different story and eventually taking down the report.

Jeff Bezos has given up on the Washington Post

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
📰 News Media Journalism Digital Platforms Social media Publishing Advertising
  1. The Washington Post’s recent moves, like cancelling planned Olympic coverage, suggest ownership is prioritizing cost cuts and managing decline rather than investing to grow the business.
  2. YouTube’s push toward Shorts is reducing reach for longform videos, making discovery more algorithm-dependent and forcing creators to rethink formats and monetization.
  3. Newsrooms are using citizen-shot video as raw material but adding reporting and context—names, dates, and follow-up—to correct narratives and provide the fuller story.

‘They Messed with the Wrong City.’ Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 454 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
📰 News Politics Immigration Crime Technology Religion Culture International
  1. Protests in Minneapolis have mounted fierce local resistance to federal deportation operations after the killing of Alex Pretti, and residents think that pressure may force a policy turnaround.
  2. The return of the final hostage from Gaza ends an 843-day effort to ‘bring them home,’ leaving survivors and families with a complicated mix of relief and grief and tough questions about what comes next.
  3. AI is already shaping religious life—many sermons may be co-written with machines—which raises real questions about whether and how AI should participate in spiritual practice.

Former DEA official's alleged co-conspirator in attempt to launder cartel money is infamous former CIA operative

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1444 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
📰 News Crime National Security Intelligence Law enforcement Drug Trafficking Legal
  1. A former senior DEA financial official and Robert Mario Sensi were indicted for allegedly trying to support the CJNG by laundering $12 million and offering advice on fentanyl production and weaponized drones.
  2. Robert Mario Sensi is an infamous ex‑CIA operative with a long record of legal trouble, including a conviction for stealing $2.5 million, SEC liability in a pyramid scheme, and a recent bankruptcy filing.
  3. Sensi allegedly offered to procure drones capable of carrying kilograms of explosives, and his combination of intelligence ties and criminal history makes the accusations a serious national and international security concern.

This Week in Canada: The Tragedy of Tumbler Ridge

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
📰 News Crime Politics Economy Public Safety History Social Issues
  1. A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge killed eight people and injured 27, but the motive remains unclear and claims that the 18-year-old shooter was medically transitioned are unconfirmed by health authorities.
  2. U.S. lawmakers are siding with Canada over tariffs, and discussions of tariff relief are gaining momentum.
  3. Political tensions are rising, with renewed talk of Alberta separatism reportedly getting help from the U.S., and public attention turning to past political moments like the 'Shawinigan Handshake'.

what the epstein dump is and is not

bad cattitude • 195 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📰 News Investigations Crime Justice Corruption Leaks Media
  1. The email dump is not a single smoking gun, but its huge volume can create patterns that, taken together, may point to wrongdoing even if individual messages don’t prove anything.
  2. The files contain lots of odd euphemisms and coincidences—pizza, dentist talk, 'beef jerky', strange ranch activity and unusual transactions—that make the situation highly suspicious but also ambiguous, so careful verification is essential to avoid misreading jokes or false claims.
  3. Powerful actors appear to be downplaying or obscuring the matter and the network seems active rather than bygone, so persistent, cautious investigation and document validation are needed despite political and psychological barriers.

This Land Is Not Your Land

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1265 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
📰 News Indigenous rights Canada Local Politics Rural Issues
  1. Some recent court decisions in Canada say land may rightfully belong to the people who lived there 150 years ago, which could affect current private ownership.
  2. Longtime owners like Bal Batth, whose family has farmed and lived on the land for decades, now face sudden uncertainty about keeping homes and passing property to their children.
  3. Local officials are notifying property owners that rulings could negatively affect land titles, creating worry and the possibility of legal disputes over who truly owns the land.

New column by me in the Wall Street Journal: The Epstein ‘Transparency’ Travesty

Michael Tracey • 76 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
📰 News Investigative Media Journalism Crime Legal Opinion
  1. A major newspaper column offers a distinct, possibly first-of-its-kind perspective on the Epstein Files within mainstream American media.
  2. A profile in an entertainment outlet quoted something the interviewee says they didn’t say, and the interviewee emphasizes avoiding the loaded phrase “conspiracy theory” in favor of a more measured stance.
  3. The column is being shared via a free online link and will appear in the newspaper’s print edition, and the related profile was unexpected but came across as generally positive.

What the Davos Crowd Gets Wrong. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 440 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
📰 News World US Science Environment Culture History Law
  1. Many at Davos warned the global order is fraying, but others argue globalization is still deepening and changing faster than people expect. Even bold geopolitical threats often end with leaders pulling back instead of starting major confrontations.
  2. A widely shared study that fueled panic about microplastics has been debunked, so the immediate health scare appears overstated. Meanwhile, clashes in Minneapolis show free-speech fights are getting intense, with real confusion over what counts as incitement and how police should respond to protests.
  3. Politics and law are in flux: new ICE guidance on warrantless home entries, high-profile trials and contempt fights, alleged government data leaks, and actions like seizing sanctioned tankers all signal rising domestic and international instability. These legal battles and political moves, plus new candidacies and privacy cases, are reshaping the news agenda.

The Hunting of Jews at Bondi Beach

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1061 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
📰 News Hate crimes Mass Shootings Terrorism Extremism Antisemitism Public Safety
  1. The Bondi Beach attack was a deliberate, antisemitic massacre described as fascist barbarism and a modern pogrom.
  2. At least eleven people were killed when attackers opened fire on a Hanukkah gathering of Sydney’s Jewish community, showing the violence targeted innocent worshippers.
  3. This atrocity highlights a wider failure to confront growing antisemitism and demands moral clarity and decisive action from society and leaders.

U.S. Government seized "approximately 17 phones" from former DEA official charged with narcoterrorism and money laundering

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1078 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
📰 News Crime Legal Law enforcement Courts National Security Drug Trafficking Investigations
  1. Two former U.S. officials — a high-ranking ex-DEA financial official and a former CIA operative — were indicted on charges of allegedly providing material support to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and money laundering, and they were brought into court in shackles.
  2. Investigators seized about 17 phones and other electronic storage and obtained warrants for Apple iCloud, Google accounts, and GPS location data, indicating a large volume of digital evidence.
  3. The court set a follow-up conference to manage extensive discovery (scheduled for Feb 6), bail for one defendant was previously denied without prejudice, and the judge disclosed a past professional tie to a prosecutor but said he can remain impartial.

Why Are So Many British Women Getting Abortions? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 310 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
📰 News International Health Politics Society Technology Culture Media
  1. Abortions in England and Wales are at their highest level since legalization, with roughly one in three pregnancies ending in termination. Easier access to medication, growing normalization of abortion, and a generation of women who feel unready or too imperfect to parent are major factors in the rise.
  2. Social media can serve as a broad public fact-checker, pushing back on and correcting official narratives in high-profile cases like the Alex Pretti killing. Crowdsourced scrutiny sometimes exposes government inaccuracies faster than traditional channels.
  3. Blaming data centers for energy crises misses the root cause: weak, outdated power grids that can’t support modern industrial growth. Improving grid capacity and planning is the real solution, not demonizing data infrastructure.

Former CIA operative attempted to introduce DEA asset to Colombian FTO in Curaçao, according to U.S. attorneys

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 569 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
📰 News Crime Law National Security Law enforcement Drug Trafficking Terrorism International
  1. Former CIA operative Robert Sensi and ex‑DEA official Paul Campo are accused of laundering millions and facilitating large drug deals for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, including converting cash into cryptocurrency and paying for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine.
  2. Prosecutors say Sensi tried to arrange a meeting in Curaçao between a DEA confidential source (posing as a CJNG member) and a representative of a U.S.‑designated Colombian foreign terrorist group. He allegedly discussed sourcing weapons like rifles and even C‑4 explosives.
  3. U.S. attorneys filed WhatsApp messages and other evidence, including many seized phones, to oppose Sensi's bail and argue that his travel and actions show he remains a flight and public‑safety risk despite his age and medical problems.

The Epstein Myth Unravels: Why Capitulating to Hysteria Only Fueled Prince Andrew's Downfall

Michael Tracey • 121 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
📰 News Politics Law Media Crime Society Royalty Scandal
  1. Widespread media and public hysteria amplified uncorroborated allegations and helped precipitate Prince Andrew's downfall despite weak supporting evidence.
  2. Investigators reportedly found inconsistencies and a lack of corroboration in the central accuser's claims, with little evidence for the alleged large-scale trafficking and secret blackmail scheme.
  3. Royal settlements and public concessions unintentionally fueled the panic instead of calming it, showing the need to prioritize evidence and reason over worldview-driven myths.

‘I Joined ICE Watch.’ Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 477 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
📰 News U.S. Politics Immigration International Human Rights Technology Law Local Politics
  1. Minneapolis activists run secret Signal chats to track and sometimes confront ICE officers. They share tips and a database of suspected ICE vehicles and say the killing of an ICE observer has hardened their resolve.
  2. Reports say Iran’s regime has launched a massive, bloody crackdown that may have killed thousands of protesters, prompting warnings that this looks like a full-scale massacre. Observers are calling for urgent support for Iranians while debating whether and how outside powers should intervene.
  3. The bulletin also highlights other major political and global stories, from Supreme Court fights over trans athletes and the U.S.–China AI race to policy moves like ending TPS for Somali refugees and internet shutdowns ahead of elections. It notes domestic repercussions too, including prosecutor resignations tied to the ICE shooting.

Running towards danger

Wrong Side of History • 693 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
📰 News Terrorism Security Crime Human Interest Conflict History
  1. Ordinary people often run toward danger and stop or limit terrorist attacks, risking their own lives to save others.
  2. Those who act come from all walks of life—immigrants, tourists, servicemen, and even reformed offenders—and their quick decisions can prevent mass casualties.
  3. Such bravery can carry terrible personal cost, including serious injury or death, but it also brings public gratitude, awards, and community support.

Now Do You Believe Us?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 904 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
📰 News Terrorism Antisemitism Religion Security Australia Politics
  1. Australia's Jewish community has warned for years about rising antisemitism and has had to rely on heavy security and fortifications.
  2. A massacre at Bondi Beach targeted Jewish people and became the nation's most lethal terror attack, killing and wounding many including a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, and a child.
  3. The attack shows Jews can be attacked even in public, familiar places and raises urgent questions about whether society and leaders are taking antisemitism seriously enough.

Hitting pause for a month!

Odds and Ends of History • 670 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
📰 News Announcements Publishing Subscriptions Media Production Personal
  1. The paid newsletter is being paused for exactly one month so the creator can finish another work project and avoid overcommitment.
  2. Existing paid subscribers won’t lose time — subscriptions will be automatically extended by one month and no action is needed.
  3. The podcast will continue (with a new name), occasional urgent or guest posts may appear, and full newsletter publishing will resume in February.