The hottest Media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Our Titanic Juneteenth Pride

donaldjeffries • 1729 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The submersible used in the recent deep sea exploration resembled ramshackle Apollo spacecrafts, raising questions about safety and testing procedures.
  2. The failure of a military rescue mission near the Titanic wreckage highlighted the limitations and shortcomings of government agencies.
  3. The author expresses skepticism towards the significance and celebrations of Juneteenth and Pride Month, questioning the motives behind these commemorations.

What American Students Aren’t Taught About Slavery. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1043 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Many American students do not learn that slavery was not just an American issue but a global one. This limited perspective means they miss out on important historical truths.
  2. There is a call for a better way to teach about slavery that recognizes its worldwide existence without downplaying the horrors of American slavery.
  3. Juneteenth serves as a reminder to reflect on the legacy of slavery and the importance of educating young people about history accurately.
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A Fun (And Predictable) New Zealand Flick

Life Since the Baby Boom • 922 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The movie 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' is a comedy from New Zealand that is fun and entertaining, even if it isn't an art film.
  2. The main character, Ricky, goes from being a troubled kid to finding friendship and adventure while on the run with an old man, Hector.
  3. The film has humorous moments and a predictable plot, but it still delivers enjoyable entertainment with charming characters.

The Renaissance of Media

Growth Croissant • 963 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💼 Business Media
  1. Building a media business as an individual is challenging and requires hard work and consistency.
  2. As a media business grows, managing growth, monetization, and tech can become distracting from the core creative efforts.
  3. To bridge the resource gap between large media companies and individual creators, providing hands-on support for tech and growth can be beneficial.

The meaning of, and in, McDonald's

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 2678 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. McDonald's serves as a community hub for many Americans. It provides a comfortable place for people from all walks of life to gather and connect.
  2. Political figures like Trump tap into McDonald's popularity to resonate with average voters. His love for the franchise makes him seem relatable and down-to-earth.
  3. Many people facing challenges, like mental illness, find safety and social interaction in McDonald's. The staff and regulars often look out for each other, creating a supportive environment.

What Are You Watching?

Culture Study • 2231 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. People are feeling overwhelmed by negative news and events. It's tough to stay positive when everything seems so heavy and scary.
  2. Discussing feelings and finding community can help ease the weight of these emotions. Connecting with others can bring comfort during hard times.
  3. There will be an advice session focused on culture and community. Sharing experiences can be an antidote to the negativity.

America This Week Livestream Tonight at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2109 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. There is a livestream event called America This Week happening at 8 PM ET tonight, where important topics will be discussed.
  2. The hosts will cover media reactions to the new Trump administration and Senate confirmation hearings for notable figures.
  3. Viewers can watch the livestream on platforms like YouTube and Rumble, and they can also follow the hosts on Twitter for updates.

I've been trying to write about Russell Brand, but I can't

The Shift With Sam Baker • 1697 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Writing about sensitive topics like accusations against celebrities can be challenging and intimidating due to fear of repercussions.
  2. There are societal pressures and expectations that contribute to the silence around issues of abuse and assault, making it difficult for victims to come forward.
  3. The cultural narratives and responses to accusations of abuse and assault often place blame on the victims, questioning their credibility and actions.

Vol. 2, Issue 28 - What Iwata did for Pokémon

Johto Times • 139 implied HN points • 11 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Satoru Iwata played a huge role in making Pokémon successful. He helped bring Pokémon games to the West and was involved in the development of many classic titles.
  2. Iwata created important tools that improved the Pokémon games. His work made it easier for developers to create engaging experiences for players.
  3. Even during tough times, like when he was sick, Iwata continued to work on projects like Pokémon GO. His dedication left a lasting impact on fans and the gaming community.

2025 Is Off To A Wild Start

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2393 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Recent news events are raising suspicion, especially involving two military veterans committing violent acts. This has sparked discussion about the connection between military service and extremism.
  2. There are concerns about the current U.S. administration's approach to international conflicts, especially with talks of military action involving Iran. This raises questions about decision-making in leadership.
  3. The debate on immigration is highlighting the exploitation of workers, as both political sides have different reasons for their stance. It's important to consider the impact on all workers, not just the politics surrounding immigration.

taylor swift made fox news care about climate change

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 864 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Media
  1. Fox News has acknowledged the reality of carbon emissions after reporting on Taylor Swift's private jet use.
  2. Private jets contribute significantly to carbon emissions, with celebrities like Swift producing much more than the average person.
  3. Progressives have proposed various solutions to address private jet emissions, but face resistance from conservatives.

Playlist Thread #2: Concentration Music

Culture Study • 769 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Music can help improve focus and concentration. Many people find that certain types of music create a better environment for working or studying.
  2. Asking questions about screen time can open up deeper conversations. It's important to discuss how it affects family time and relationships, not just the duration.
  3. Creating a playlist for concentration could be useful. Sharing and discovering music designed for focus can enhance productivity.

The Photos That Exposed Biden’s Lies

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2402 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Official photos have been released showing Joe Biden meeting with his son Hunter's business associates in China. This goes against Biden's previous claims that he never met these partners.
  2. Hunter Biden was involved with BHR Partners, which received significant funding from Chinese entities, and he held a 10 percent stake in this company until at least 2017.
  3. Joe Biden has consistently denied discussing business matters with Hunter or meeting his associates, even when confronted about evidence to the contrary.

This Deal Is Trump's--It Has Always Been Trump's

Phillips’s Newsletter • 248 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The recent deal is not just a random action; it clearly reflects Donald Trump's views and intentions. It's important to recognize that he was behind it from the start.
  2. Many in the media initially tried to distance Trump from this deal, but evidence shows he was involved and approved it ahead of time. This changes how we view his role in the situation.
  3. Trump's vision for peace seems to favor Russia while ignoring Ukraine's needs. This sheds light on his priorities and raises concerns about his approach to democracy and freedom.

The Vile Leading The Lost

So Here’s a Thing • 1671 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The Attention Economy rewards those who attract the most attention, regardless of the content or quality of that attention.
  2. Insecurity Vampires like Russell Brand and Elon Musk thrive on exploiting the lost and confused, pushing controversial views for profit.
  3. There is a growing danger in mainstream media perpetuating damaging stereotypes about masculinity, which can be preyed upon by manipulative figures like Tate and Carlson.

We hate brands. We love marketing.

The Social Juice • 127 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. People mostly passively scroll feeds and don’t come with intent, so every view forces creators and brands to re-earn permission through creative hooks and purposeful content, making social platforms exhausting but hard to leave.
  2. Old media is losing influence while creator-driven new media wins distribution but borrows traditional aesthetics to claim authority, which fuels layoffs, acquisitions, diluted standards, and more competition.
  3. Brands are widely mistrusted even as marketing becomes culturally loved; big agencies are consolidating and selling security with CRMs and AI, driving job churn, and brands often step into public roles without fixing the underlying problems.

Scott Adams and Intellectual Courage

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 78 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Speaking truth to power in elite circles can cost you your career, income, and reputation, but it preserves personal integrity and can inspire others.
  2. Media and institutional opinion cartels enforce conformity through cancellation, humiliation, and economic pressure, which can suppress dissenting views but often backfires by drawing more attention to them.
  3. Dissenters can still be wrong and should be willing to revise their views, and building alternative platforms lets them keep speaking after mainstream rejection.

A Note from Bari—and Our Big Thanksgiving Deal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2712 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The Free Press has grown to over 935,000 subscribers, showing strong support and trust from the audience. This growth is almost double compared to last year.
  2. They have covered significant events like the presidential election, focusing on real issues and voices from everyday Americans, which has shaped their trusted reporting.
  3. The organization is expanding its presence through documentaries, podcasts, and live events, aiming to engage with the community and enhance its media offerings.

Cranking back the years

Brands Mean a Lot • 44 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Entertainment is leaning heavily on older work instead of new ideas. Big streaming shares and top box office hits now come from catalog tracks, sequels, or established franchises.
  2. Politics is showing a similar pull toward the past, with movements and policies that aim to restore earlier versions of the country and even echo old-style land grabs and authoritarian practices.
  3. These cultural and political retro trends feed each other, encouraging isolationism and slower change that makes ego-driven actions more plausible, even as many people continue to find comfort in older art.

Bari Weiss Overplayed Her Hand (60 Minutes Update)

JoeWrote • 134 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Most Americans voted because of economic concerns, not to endorse a conservative cultural agenda. The right’s effort to force conservative cultural changes is unpopular and is annoying voters as the economy worsens, hurting Trump’s support.
  2. A powerful media figure reshaped a major news network to favor conservative and pro‑Israel voices, firing staff and promoting partisan programming. Pulling an investigative 60 Minutes segment to protect the administration was widely seen as censorship and damaged the network’s credibility.
  3. Conservative media tends to reassure its base instead of persuading undecided viewers, which comes off as elitist and out of touch. Billionaire consolidation of media could amplify that bias and provoke a broader public backlash against the right.

A New Free Press Podcast That Will Change How You Think

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1057 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🎙 Podcasts Media
  1. Coleman Hughes is a thoughtful and clear thinker on tough topics like race and politics. His insights, especially in uncertain times, are really valuable.
  2. His podcast 'Conversations with Coleman' features discussions on a variety of important subjects, starting with his first episode that includes a talk about God and criticism of the Free Press.
  3. New episodes of his podcast are released every Monday, available on popular platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, making it easy to listen regularly.

Office Hours—join our January sessions!

The Novelleist • 76 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
📚 Literature Media
  1. Office Hours are moving to Zoom on Fridays from 1–2pm Mountain Time as an experimental change.
  2. Drop in anytime during that hour to talk about projects, research, or whatever’s on your mind.
  3. There’s an in-person option in Salt Lake City if you message to arrange it, and registration/access to the session links is for paid subscribers.

A terrific, paranoid Irish serial-killer noir set in Northern Ireland, a wild Hong Kong action-comedy classic, and some excellent Balearic jazz

Read Max • 711 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. There's a gripping Irish serial-killer story set in Belfast that fans of dark thrillers might enjoy. It's perfect for those who like intense and twisty plots.
  2. If you're up for some fun, there's a wild Hong Kong action-comedy from the 80s with amazing fight scenes that will keep you entertained.
  3. The music scene is buzzing with fantastic Balearic jazz this summer, so it's a great time to explore some relaxing and jazzy tunes.

We Need More Content!

Regress Studies • 825 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. People often believe that creating specific memetic content will influence others to adopt certain ideologies.
  2. The call for cultural production in today's society is often for someone else to create media that will change the beliefs of third-party observers.
  3. Consuming content is not a traditional solution to major problems, and often people demand certain media creations to fix societal issues without clear solutions.

Will Democrats Go to Jail for Russiagate? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 737 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The Russiagate scandal involved accusations against Trump, but many believe it was based on weak evidence. Some are even suggesting that Obama might have been involved, sparking new debates.
  2. Syria is facing major challenges as its new government is accused of horrific massacres, raising doubts about whether the country can achieve unity and peace.
  3. In France, young wine producers are abandoning their vineyards, leading to a crisis in the wine industry. This abandonment has caused the government to pay winemakers to pull out their vines.

The media industry is bigger than you think it is

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 224 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The media industry is growing, not dying. It's evolving with many new platforms and business models that combine media with other industries.
  2. Self-published authors are using TikTok Shop to sell their books, which can be great but comes with challenges in handling orders and fulfillment.
  3. Streaming services are raising prices significantly, but people continue to subscribe. Many are now canceling services after watching specific shows instead of keeping subscriptions active.

What's Wrong with Stereotypes?

Fake Noûs • 702 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Stereotypes are often seen as bad, but they can actually be based on real observations about groups of people. This means that sometimes, they hold more truth than we think.
  2. Critics of stereotypes often argue they are oppressive, but studies suggest individual characteristics play a bigger role in how people are judged than stereotypes do.
  3. Stereotypes can help us make quick assumptions based on past experiences, and it's natural for humans to learn this way; denying this process is unrealistic.

The Endless, Perplexing Controversies Over (How We Talk About) Lamar Jackson

Freddie deBoer • 2691 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🎾 Sports Media
  1. Lamar Jackson is an outstanding quarterback, but he faces unique scrutiny compared to others, especially regarding his playoff performance. Many see criticism of his playoff games as unfair, considering he has had a strong regular season.
  2. The media often treats Jackson differently than other quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, despite similar playoff records. This shows a possible double standard in how these players are discussed.
  3. Winning a Super Bowl is crucial for a quarterback's legacy, and both Jackson and Prescott need to prove themselves in the playoffs to be considered among the best. Fans and analysts should recognize this reality instead of making excuses.