Substacks recommended by Parker Molloy

Recommended by Parker Molloy

just trying to help make it make sense

Zeteo is a new media organization that seeks to answer the questions that really matter, while always striving for the truth. Founded by Mehdi Hasan, Zeteo is a movement for media accountability, unfiltered news and bold opinions.

Without a doubt, Mehdi Hasan is one of the most essential voices in journalism.

- Parker Molloy

Everything Is Horrible

By Noah Berlatsky

Culture, politics, and misery.

Noah is a talented, thought-provoking culture and politics writer worth checking out, tbh!

- Parker Molloy

Law Dork

By Chris Geidner

The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more.

Plato Was a Dick

By S Peter Davis

Former Cracked columnist, now a free agent. Survived the rise and fall of the internet since the 90s. I talk about society, social media, current affairs, and anything I can put a sardonic spin on.

Can We Still Govern?

By Don Moynihan

Improving the quality of government, public policy, reducing administrative burdens

The Signorile Report

By Michelangelo Signorile

Exposing far-right extremism and corporate media complicity. News, politics, analysis, interviews by journalist & SiriusXM radio host Michelangelo Signorile.

Michael Ian Black

Better than a blog? I don't know. But I always hated the word "blog." If you'd like to subscribe, the orphans I support would love it.

Michael Ian Black's newsletter is deeply touching and thought-provoking.

- Parker Molloy

Jill Filipovic

Politics, women’s rights, foreign affairs, and law

Men Yell at Me

By lyz

Written from a journalist in a red state, this newsletter is personal, political, sometimes funny and always raises hell.

O Caftan My Caftan

By Krista

A weekly queer newsletter with recurring columns, etiquette advice, perfume talk, and strong opinions!!!! about trivial shit – from Krista Burton, author of Moby Dyke

Abortion, Every Day

By Jessica Valenti

All things abortion. Feminist commentary & community.

A Fan's Notes, by Nick Hornby

Music, books, movies, work, football, TV and so on.

Erin In The Morning

By Erin Reed

News and discussion on trans legislation and life.

Erin Reed's "Erin In The Morning" Substack is a true must-read for anyone interesting in keeping up with the GOP attacks on LGBTQ rights (especially trans rights). She is great, and I appreciate her great work.

- Parker Molloy

Long Lead Presents: Depth Perception

Long Lead's weekly newsletter about the world of longform journalism.

Blood in the Machine

By Brian Merchant

Writing and reporting on AI, tech, labor and power. Delivered twice a week. For everyone Silicon Valley is happening to.

Brian Merchant is an essential read for anyone concerned with the tech bro-ification of society. Both his book and newsletter are must-reads.

- Parker Molloy

Discourse Blog

A daily politics, media criticism, and culture newsletter from the left. Worker-owned, subscriber-supported, and free from corporate influence. Est. 2020.

If you're on the political left and you're not reading Discourse Blog, you're missing out on one of the most essential reads of the 2020s. As its name suggests, Discourse Blog harkens back to the golden age of blogging, free from corporate influence or click-through-rate-obsessed headline workshoppery. If you read The Present Age and think, "Oh wow, I wish there was more stuff like this in the world," Discourse Blog should be the very next subscription you add to your reading list.

- Parker Molloy

American Crisis

By Margaret Sullivan

A newsletter that explores the crucial relationship between journalism and American democracy.

Margaret Sullivan is one of the smartest, most insightful, and crucial voices in today's media. If you subscribe to The Present Age, you will almost certainly love Sullivan's Media Maelstrom.

- Parker Molloy

The Message Box

By Dan Pfeiffer

A newsletter for people who want to defeat Donald Trump and MAGA extremism from a former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama

Radical Reports

By Teddy Wilson

Research, Analysis, and Intelligence on the Radical Right.

Ari's Threads

By Ari Drennen

Identity as art. Beauty as ritual. Transformation as power.

Are You Mad At Me?

By Lane Moore

An column about pop culture, TV binges, and nostalgia, from award-winning writer, author, and comedian Lane Moore.

The Column

By Adam Johnson

Media and political analysis from Adam Johnson (with contributions from Sarah Lazare)

Public Notice

By Aaron Rupar

Aaron Rupar's Public Notice newsletter is a must-read for anyone trying to keep up with the ins and outs of U.S. politics, how the press covers politics, and why politics matter in our everyday lives.

- Parker Molloy

Your First Byline

By Ryan Teague Beckwith

You want to get an entry-level job in journalism but you don't know where to start. We're here to help.

Ettingermentum Newsletter

By ettingermentum

A fully independent newsletter on American politics, elections and history from a left-wing perspective.

Saratonin

By Sara Benincasa

A delightful weekly newsletter that is sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant & often full of useful recommendations & weirdly enchanting ideas

Embedded

By Nick Catucci

Your essential guide to what’s good on the internet. Written by Kate Lindsay and edited by Nick Catucci.

This Modern World

By Tom Tomorrow

Paid subscribers will get an early peek at each week's cartoon, along with my various musings and ramblings.

Stop the Presses

By Mark Jacob

A weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism, and what we can do about it.

W. Kamau Bell asks, "Who's With Me?"

Come hang out with a pop-culture-obsessed, antiracist, lefty, OG Blerd who lives in Oakland, CA.

You already know W. Kamau Bell. You know him from TV. You know him from his stand-up. You know him from his documentaries. And now you should get to know him at his newsletter.

- Parker Molloy

Pawprints

By Luppe B. Luppen

An occasional newsletter from @nycsouthpaw

Secret Society

By John Hodgman

You are invited to join a SECRET SOCIETY.

John Hodgman is a man of many talents, and writing is one of them. You'd have to be a fool to pass up the opportunity to subscribe to Secret Society.

- Parker Molloy

Freelancing With Tim

Demystifying the world of freelance journalism. By and for freelancers.

Oliver Willis Explains

Oliver Willis explains politics, the media, and the world

Popular Information

By Judd Legum

Independent accountability journalism.

The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali

By THE LEFT HOOK

A political, cultural, and intellectual playground for the rest of us with writer Wajahat Ali

LEFT SUBSTACK—FIND ME AT WWW.THEHANDBASKET.CO

By Marisa

The Handbasket is 100% independent journalism by writer and reporter Marisa Kabas. It can now be found at https://www.thehandbasket.co/

Ballad of a New Pornographer

By A.C. Newman – Ballad Of A New Pornographer

A place where I – A.C. Newman bandleader of The New Pornographers – put new music not available anywhere else, try out new ideas, talk about process and how ideas transform over time.

Songs in Four Dimensions

By Shara Nova / My Brightest Diamond

Personal musings and thoughtful teachings from My Brightest Diamond's Shara Nova.

Tiny Werewolves

By Kayla Pekkala @ TinyWerewolves

Well that’s FUN… created by socio-political artist Kayla Pekkala, join her in learning & trying new stuff in a world that *kinda sucks*... specializing in small-batch goods feat. retro-inspired pcs infused w/ social commentary, highlighting current events

My wonderful wife Kayla runs this online shop called Tiny Werewolves (and occasionally writes about art and design). You should check out her newsletter and shop!

- Parker Molloy

Time & Temperature

By Rhett Miller

Hello. You've reached Time & Temperature. I can't properly tell you either, but I promise to tell you everything else!

MomLeft

By Kelly Weill

Motherhood is labor.

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

By Colin Meloy

A sporadic journal about song-making and story-writing

The Why Axis

By Christopher Ingraham

Making data fun again

ArtButMakeItSports

A dose of everything you didn't know you needed

Theory of Change Podcast With Matthew Sheffield

Lots of people want to change the world. But how does change happen? In this weekly podcast, host Matthew Sheffield and his guests explore the intersections and trends in politics, religion, technology, and media.

User Mag

By Taylor Lorenz

A tech and online culture publication by Taylor Lorenz, featuring original reporting on how the internet is reshaping politics, business, media, and culture.

Taylor is one of the best writers on planet Earth, and if you're not reading her work on influencers, the attention-economy, etc., you're missing out on a big chunk of that world.

- Parker Molloy

Anti-Matter

By Norman Brannon

Contemplation and hardcore conversation, delivered straight to your inbox. We believe that hardcore is more than music.

Norman Brannon is a great guitarist and just as good of a writer and interviewer. If you're into hardcore music, you should already be well acquainted with Anti-Matter. Go subscribe, enjoy the interviews, etc.

- Parker Molloy

Weirder Together with Ben Lee & Ione Skye

Join our fun, cozy, creative world of podcasts, music, film, art, friends, making stuff, curating stuff, debating stuff, celebrating stuff we love.