The hottest Media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Welcome Back to Substack!

Glenn Greenwald • 8151 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
đź“° News Media
  1. Returning to Substack to center on long-form independent journalism after a period producing a nightly live show on another platform.
  2. Plans to use Substack’s expanded tools—Notes, video hosting, podcasts, and subscription tiers—to publish short updates, video-first segments, and in-depth reporting.
  3. A strong commitment to defending independent media and free expression while continuing to report on foreign wars, surveillance, the security state, and threats to civil liberties.

360 million views and unable to pay her rent

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
đź’Ľ Business Media
  1. Creators can get massive TikTok views but still earn very little, so many move their audiences to platforms like YouTube that offer clearer ways to make money.
  2. Sustainable publishing can come from prioritizing high‑quality, differentiated journalism and building subscription revenue rather than chasing scale with ad tech.
  3. Niche experts can expand a small audience into a diversified media business — podcasts, courses, events, and communities — though some eventually refocus on their core trade.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 95

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
đź“° News Media
  1. Luckin Coffee is growing fast and is set to buy Blue Bottle, a bold move that ramps up its challenge to big coffee chains.
  2. Tanker Trackers is using satellites and drones to follow global oil shipments, making energy flows much more visible and traceable.
  3. Apple is shifting pricing and marketing — neutral iPhone colors cost less, ads are getting louder, and a new MacBook starts at $499 — pointing to a change in its product strategy.

Supply your own title

Disaffected Newsletter • 2697 implied HN points • 16 Sep 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Things are getting tougher in America, and it's making many people feel anxious and on edge. There's a sense that society is becoming more chaotic and unhealthy.
  2. The way the media handled the news about the second assassination attempt on Trump showed a lot of manipulation. They downplayed the seriousness and later shifted the blame onto Trump instead of acknowledging the threat against him.
  3. There are deep issues surrounding how men and women are treated in society, particularly regarding how some women can get away with harmful behavior. It's important to see these patterns not just as personal attacks but as a reflection of broader societal problems.

The Transitive Strongman

Thinking about... • 521 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Strength in strongman politics is mostly a performance that followers grant, not an objective quality. Once people accept that a leader is stronger than them, they often feel compelled to submit and tolerate public humiliation.
  2. Strongmen treat laws and institutions as stage props and then break them to display power, which ultimately weakens the country and hurts ordinary people. The spectacle of force can look like strength while undermining real security and prosperity.
  3. Everyday scenes — like sports stars being baited or courted by leaders — show how the cult of strength normalizes submissive behavior, but resistance is possible and the aura of the strongman is not irresistible.
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Fit to Print

Doomberg • 5875 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. Misinformation spreads fast online, with videos and AI-generated content easily reused to depict different events and fool millions.
  2. Even mainstream news can give very different versions of the same event through what they emphasize or omit, especially on international stories with political motives.
  3. Comparing coverage across multiple international outlets is a simple, effective way to spot propaganda and get closer to the underlying facts.

Dawn Davenport Lives

Disaffected Newsletter • 1398 implied HN points • 23 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. There are moments when people might embody characters or attitudes from the past, which can feel surreal. This can show how different styles, like the drag queen persona, still influence today's culture.
  2. Some individuals may present themselves as proud or fulfilled but are struggling inside. It's important to recognize that appearances don't always reflect true feelings.
  3. There are concerns about how certain lifestyles and views may negatively impact younger generations. This can lead to a sense of urgency for change in societal attitudes.

The literal enshittification of The United States

Marcus on AI • 5691 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The United States feels like it’s sliding into decline as institutions, platforms, and public life get noticeably worse and more absurd.
  2. Technology can amplify that decline: a supposedly helpful chatbot gave a grotesque nutrition recommendation, showing how AI can produce dangerous or ridiculous advice.
  3. Outrageous content spreads fast and is often shared without context or critique, which lets harmful or stupid things gain attention instead of being caught and corrected.

Why Low Human Capital Obsesses over Pedophilia

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 4949 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. An obsessive focus on pedophilia has become a central identity and political weapon for lower-status groups, who widen definitions and invent conspiracies to feel morally superior.
  2. That panic produces extreme punitive instincts and public shaming, treating sexual offenses as uniquely monstrous in ways that would be odd and disproportionate for other crimes.
  3. The hysteria causes real social harm by infantilizing teenagers, encouraging extended childhood and therapy culture, and letting both left and right forces use the issue to push coercive agendas, so it should be resisted.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS (cont.)

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 579 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Rob Zombie's version of 'Halloween' presents a more human and demonic Michael Myers, giving depth to his character as he deals with abuse and violence.
  2. The portrayal of Dr. Loomis is twisted, showing him as a con man looking to profit from Michael's killings, which reflects modern culture's obsession with crime and entertainment.
  3. The film 'Lifeforce' offers a unique blend of sci-fi and horror with its storyline about energy vampires, featuring impressive special effects and an adventurous feel despite being a commercial flop.

The Posthumous Makeover of Ali Khamenei

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2021 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed when U.S. and Israeli strikes reduced his Tehran compound to rubble, and many Iranians at home and in the diaspora celebrated his death.
  2. He was widely seen as a symbol of oppression and the architect of decades of terror at home and abroad, blamed for the deaths of tens of thousands of people.
  3. Major Western media outlets published obituaries that softened his record and dressed him up as a statesman instead of confronting his role in repression and violence.

The Death Throes of Keir Starmer's Government

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5216 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. A senior government is facing a crisis after authorizing a private firm to investigate journalists and passing that work to a national cyber agency, creating calls for resignations and political chaos.
  2. A private intelligence/PR firm produced sweeping, false accusations and used a former insider to build a smear campaign, showing how paid research can be weaponized against reporters.
  3. The episode highlights a wider, systemic problem: media outlets and political actors can collude with private spy firms to suppress reporting, a tactic that undermines press freedom and has international implications.

Tucker Carlson’s Absurd Chabad Conspiracy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1252 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Chabad Houses are local community centers run by families that offer meals, fellowship, and help in many cities — they are not a global conspiracy.
  2. A commentator claimed Chabad was masterminding a plot to provoke war with Iran because some soldiers wear patches showing the Third Temple, but that leap is baseless and absurd.
  3. The patches reflect a religious vision about rebuilding the Third Temple, which is a sensitive symbol for both Jews and Muslims, and isolated symbols on uniforms don’t prove an organized plan to start a war.

THE SHOW NOTES: Live From Texas, Trump Roasts Kamala, & The Pennsylvania Problem

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 1019 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Trump roasted Kamala Harris and other Democrats at a charity dinner, making fun of their comments and actions. This showed his confidence and humor during the campaign.
  2. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, is distancing himself from Biden by supporting fracking. This suggests that he thinks Trump might win in Pennsylvania, which is crucial for the election.
  3. Yahya Sinwar, a key Hamas leader, was killed by Israeli forces. His death highlights ongoing tensions in the region and reflects the serious threats involved.

The Truth About BS Podcast

Bet On It • 80 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🎙 Podcasts Media
  1. Princeton University Press launched a podcast called “The Truth About Bullshit” that riffs on the book On Bullshit.
  2. An episode features a conversation about The Case Against Education, connecting the podcast to debates over the value and purpose of schooling.
  3. The episode is described as a high-quality, thoughtful conversation and is recommended listening for those interested in the topic.

Status Anxiety, OnlyFans, Outliers

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1193 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Media and cultural conversation often spotlight one-sided outlier stories that confirm existing biases, like celebrating an OnlyFans success while ignoring opposite experiences.
  2. Recent psychology and social-data findings challenge common assumptions: some incels report lower willingness to commit sexual violence than the general male population, half of U.S. millennials have tattoos, and social networks strongly predict who becomes friend or enemy.
  3. There are accessible lectures, essays, and books that explore moral psychology, social class, and human behavior for readers who want to dig deeper.

America has to feel fair

Noahpinion • 24353 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Anti-discrimination laws forbid racial and gender bias, but they’re hard to enforce, so real-world discrimination — including against White men in some sectors — can persist.
  2. People care about individual fairness, not just group statistics. When individuals feel unfairly treated, trust in institutions falls and politics can polarize into racial blocs.
  3. The best way to restore trust is to visibly enforce anti-discrimination laws through high-profile legal victories and repeated lawsuits so everyone sees that unfair hiring and firing won’t be tolerated.

EXCLUSIVE: Brits Spied on Racket, Other Journalists

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5251 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. A group aligned with the U.K. Labour leader hired a private firm to investigate Racket and several journalists, then passed the findings to an office linked to Britain’s GCHQ equivalent.
  2. The probes targeted multiple reporters from outlets including the Sunday Times, the Guardian, and others after Racket published a series of exposés.
  3. Official statements minimized the scope of the investigations, creating controversy and renewed concerns about political surveillance of journalists and threats to press freedom.

The Art of The Distraction

Vicky Ward Investigates • 599 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Trump is skilled at distracting the news media with bizarre comments, taking attention away from important issues. This keeps journalists focused on the flashy stories instead of serious topics.
  2. Jared Kushner's business connections with Saudi Arabia pose potential risks to U.S. foreign policy. There are concerns that his ties could influence national interests if Trump were to become president again.
  3. The couple, Jared and Ivanka, is pursuing new business ventures that could also raise eyebrows about possible conflicts of interest. Their social media portrays a glamorous lifestyle that distracts from the seriousness of their past and current connections.

March 20, 2026

Letters from an American • 27 implied HN points • 21 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Attacks have escalated to hit major Gulf energy infrastructure like the South Pars gas field, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and forcing countries to declare force majeure on oil exports.
  2. The U.S. appears to have coordinated strikes and is preparing to send thousands of troops and possibly seize key oil facilities, while congressional Republicans are largely avoiding public oversight and the White House is packaging the war with entertainment-style messaging.
  3. The war is driving up oil prices and inflation, hurting markets and adding huge economic costs, and most Americans disapprove of the military action, especially if it raises gas prices.

The Machine God's Existence Would Insist Upon Itself, Wouldn't It?

Freddie deBoer • 7611 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Media
  1. Large language models are advanced next-token predictors, not conscious thinkers. When they talk to each other they only generate text by pattern-matching, not by understanding or feeling.
  2. Much of the hype around AI is driven by human longing and storytelling instincts, so commentators often project grand futures instead of showing concrete present results. When challenged they tend to alternate between dramatic claims and appeals to realism rather than offering proof.
  3. Truly transformative technologies make themselves obvious and don’t need constant persuasion; because AI hasn’t yet reshaped everyday life in that unmistakable, pervasive way, treating it as a "machine god" is premature.

Hating Stranger Things During the Death Rattle of Criticism

Freddie deBoer • 29764 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Honest negative criticism is disappearing because critics and outlets avoid upsetting fanbases, turning cultural commentary into timid PR instead of meaningful evaluation.
  2. Stranger Things is held up as an example of that decay: it's criticized for lazy nostalgia, contrived plotting, too many characters, weak visuals, and pandering that flattens people and moral consequences.
  3. Fandom-driven reference culture and fear of backlash prioritize viral, comforting content over authenticity and nuance, tokenize representation, and discourage critics from calling out bad art.

Assisted Thinking

Doomberg • 8288 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Media
  1. China relies heavily on coal, with coal making up roughly 58% of its primary energy and the country burning over half of the world’s coal.
  2. Western media often praises China’s climate leadership, but that praise can be misleading because China’s emissions and coal use remain very large and have grown.
  3. Headlines saying renewables have overtaken coal or that China is leading a clean-energy revolution can depend on specific accounting choices and short-term data, so those claims need careful scrutiny against broader energy statistics.

It's SOTU Time!

Breaking the News • 1475 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The State of the Union is one of the few times a president reaches tens of millions of viewers, so how the speech is framed and paced can have outsized impact.
  2. There’s a constant fight between stuffing the SOTU with detailed policy items and focusing on one clear, uplifting theme, and which side wins usually determines whether people keep watching.
  3. A president who prefers rally-style improvisation may struggle with the formal, scripted demands of a SOTU, so pay attention to the first 5–15 minutes, who sits in the guest box, and which Supreme Court justices attend for clues about tone and strategy.

The Non-Fungible Output Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1025 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. AI exposes the median: if a cheap model can reproduce your work, it isn’t unique, so creators must make things only they could make to keep value.
  2. Outlawing AI inputs confuses who made something with whether it’s good; what matters is whether the artist’s choices materially change the result beyond what AI could do.
  3. Worries about new tools are often protectionism for old business models; technologies change markets, but genuine creativity and passion find ways to persist.

No Bro This War Will Be Completely Different, Bro

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2281 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. Claims that a new US war will be "completely different" reuse the same comforting talking points, and history shows similar interventions in the region often cause harm.
  2. Mainstream media, think tanks, and officials frequently justify intervention with WMD scares, humanitarian rhetoric, or promises of bringing democracy, so those narratives deserve close skepticism.
  3. Opposition is commonly met with ad hominem attacks and assurances that leaders will quickly fix mistakes, but real accountability and course-correction rarely follow, so be wary of simplistic reassurances.

UK News Report #3

Wrong Side of History • 318 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
đź“° News Media
  1. The UK’s handling of international crises and evacuations looks slow and disorganised, which is harming its global reputation and leaving people exposed.
  2. Reading and deep engagement with books are falling sharply as short-form digital media dominate, raising worries about cultural and intellectual decline.
  3. Policies that prioritise equity or political concerns over clinical risk in public services can endanger vulnerable people and have led to tragic outcomes when mental health needs were downplayed.

What I'm reading about Dubai influencers, data-center missile strikes, and Iran; a great and sleazy Elmore Leonard adaptation, and more

Read Max • 711 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. A curated reading list dives into the war in Iran, covering unexpected angles like Dubai influencers, undersea cables, missile attacks on data centers, and the strain on the foreign-policy establishment and international law.
  2. A stylish, sleazy film adaptation of an Elmore Leonard story is highlighted and recommended.
  3. Four music tracks are recommended, and subscribers are offered extras like weekly emails, curated master lists, and merch, with some links that may pay a small commission.

The New Anxiety of Our Time Is Now on TV

The Honest Broker • 29356 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Popular sci‑fi shows like Pluribus and Severance reflect a deep public fear that people could lose their individuality and turn into a hive mind.
  2. Modern tech—AI, social platforms, and search algorithms—encourages sameness and follower-based behavior, which weakens education, public debate, and personal responsibility.
  3. A backlash is forming: local reforms, creative platforms, and a cultural 'New Romanticism' aim to restore personhood, and political and legal changes will likely follow as pressure builds.

When Demand for Victims Outruns Supply

Freddie deBoer • 6095 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Some people instinctively hunt for exploitation or victimhood even when the people involved say the relationship was consensual and positive.
  2. Social media can amplify niche complaints into wide moral panics, expanding issues like age-gap scrutiny beyond romance into friendship and collaboration.
  3. We should ask why the demand for victims persists and who benefits from labeling healthy relationships as abusive, since that impulse influences the direction of progressive norms.

CBS News Brings In a Racist to Help Its Employees

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 2058 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. CBS News is getting help from a controversial figure to discuss a sensitive interview that upset some employees. This choice has sparked debates about who should lead such discussions.
  2. The network is facing backlash for how it handled a challenging interview about anti-Semitic views. Employees feel that management is avoiding the issue instead of addressing it directly.
  3. Critics believe that bringing in this figure undermines the credibility of CBS News. They argue that this is a poor decision for a major news organization.

It’s Not His Fault He Used the N-Word

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2165 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. A man with Tourette’s involuntarily shouted the N-word during the BAFTAs and the moment was captured on camera, visibly upsetting the presenters.
  2. The outburst divided people into two camps: those prioritizing anti-racism and those warning against ableism toward someone with a neurological condition.
  3. Many argue the proper response should be compassion and understanding of his involuntary symptoms rather than public disgust and punishment.

My "Perplexing" Response to Ta-Nehisi Coates's New Book

Glenn Loury • 2023 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. It's okay to criticize someone's past views while still recognizing their current work as valuable. You can appreciate a good piece of writing even if you don't always agree with the author.
  2. Ta-Nehisi Coates expresses deep feelings about injustices he sees, which can be important in understanding his perspective. Understanding emotions in discussions about complex issues can lead to more meaningful conversations.
  3. Writing can be powerful, and even if you disagree with the message, you might admire the craft and skill of the writer. It's worth giving credit where it's due, regardless of personal beliefs.

The Relativity of Life

The Algorithmic Bridge • 913 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Where you stand determines what you see: your physical or algorithmic vantage point decides which events feel like they are happening "now." Modern feeds can make wildly different lives appear simultaneous even when they cannot be reconciled.
  2. Cutting‑edge tech can recreate or simulate life—from fruit flies to human neurons playing games—while similar tools and power structures are used to inflict real, large‑scale harm. That contrast raises urgent ethical questions about creating life and enabling destruction.
  3. The decay of a shared present is a moral problem: without common agreement on what is happening, societies can pursue projects that expand some lives while erasing others. We have to choose where to stand and take responsibility for which realities we acknowledge.

She Was Nearly Recruited into Epstein’s World—by Her Closest Friend

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 449 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. A Kyiv-based actress found her name in the public Epstein files even though she never met or interacted with him.
  2. A former close friend who worked as Epstein's assistant repeatedly tried to recruit her under the guise of mentorship.
  3. Reading the emails was shocking and sickening, revealing how the friend’s recruitment efforts almost pulled her into Epstein’s world.

Beware biased GOP polls flooding the zone, with corporate media's help

The Signorile Report • 1498 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Be careful with GOP polls; they can be biased and create unnecessary stress for Democrats. It's important to understand that some polls may be designed to make it seem like Republicans are winning.
  2. Trump's own internal polls show different results than public ones, suggesting a bias toward him. This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of the polls being reported by mainstream media.
  3. It's crucial not to get overly anxious about polling numbers. Focus on real indicators like voter registration and early voting trends, which can provide a clearer picture of the election landscape.

Iran and the immorality of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google

Nonzero Newsletter • 1253 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. Special interests and biased media framing distort how America views Iran. That encourages misreading defensive actions as offensive and makes preemptive war more likely.
  2. Big AI firms have provided models used in Pentagon-linked targeting tools, linking those companies to strikes that killed civilians. Promises to avoid fully autonomous weapons don’t absolve firms when their tech is used to plan lethal operations.
  3. Domestic politics are shifting: a top DHS leader resigned and polls show Americans increasingly view fellow citizens as morally bad. These trends signal weakening support for current immigration enforcement and growing civic distrust.

Two Weeks to Go: Crime, Poll Anxiety, and a BIG Kamala Media Blitz.

COVID Reason • 495 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. As the election approaches, there's a lot of tension and uncertainty in politics. Predictions about who will win are heating up, making it a crucial time to pay attention.
  2. Kamala Harris is trying to improve her image by being more visible in the media, but some people in her party are not happy with her approach. The internal issues may be a bigger challenge for her than her opponents.
  3. Concerns about rising crime rates are also affecting the political conversation. More people are talking about how certain policies might be linked to this increase, which could influence voter opinions.

Note on a Lawsuit

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 13010 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
đź“° News Media
  1. A public figure was depicted in a book as being "owned" by wealthy tech backers, and they responded by suing to protect their reputation.
  2. They refused a lucrative offer from a powerful platform owner to avoid any appearance of financial ties, even though that decision cost them access and a major story.
  3. The book framed ethical choices as greed and misrepresented motives. When public smears ignore facts, legal action can be the only way to defend a reputation.

Are These 50 Experts Real People?

The Honest Broker • 8178 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
đź“° News Media
  1. Journalists tried to verify 50 experts who were cited over a thousand times but couldn’t find them, and many of the accompanying photos look AI‑generated.
  2. These apparently fake or untraceable experts are appearing in prestigious newspapers and major online platforms, not just fringe outlets.
  3. This may be just the tip of the iceberg and could signal a dangerous erosion of trust in expertise and journalism, with no obvious path back to safety.