Hey gang, Carlo here. As Newsweek's Director of Politics and Culture, I have one of the coolest jobs in the "mainstream media." My bosses have given me carte blanche to create a morning newsletter filled with what I believe to be the most essential news and analysis chronicling this unique moment in America. As part of that remit, I've been writing a daily column that I think of as something of a "diary" of the Trump 2 era. It's unvarnished, unfiltered (for better or worse) and I take great pains to make it fair, if not always balanced.
Here's where you come in. As longtime subscribers know, I am always available via email. Many of you regularly write in and know that I tend to respond, even (or especially) when you criticize me. See, unlike many others in this profession, I actually think it's an important part of my job to keep open the lines of communication with the audience. Otherwise, I risk becoming like every other NY-based media bloviator: self-assured and utterly out-of-touch with the rest of the country.
Now, Newsweek is offering a new service to allow you to communicate directly with me in the form of a text message chat. You can sign up and get a direct line to me, as well as the reporters who work for me.
Think of this as one of your group chats. I'll put out ideas via text that I am thinking about writing or giving to my reporters to pursue. The important part here is that you can text me back, and I will see it. You can send me story tips, ideas for future columns, things you'd like to see get more attention in the media, funny memes. Anything. If one of your ideas feels like a story, I'll assign one of my reporters to dig into it, and you may see the finished product printed in the newsletter, on Newsweek.com or discussed on our YouTube show.
Lots of media outlets say they want to hear from the audience. Few mean it. When was the last time you sent a "letter to the editor" and got more than a boilerplate response, let alone an ongoing conversation with the editor? This is your opportunity to do just that.
I get a lot of emails and DMs. Though I try my best, I can't always respond. But Subtext sends your messages straight to my phone, so I really have no choice. This is your direct line to an established, experienced journalist...and it doesn't require wading through the morass that is modern-day social media to get the truth. Plus, you can be assured you're talking to a real-life human (me), and not an AI bot.
We're launching this with privacy in mind. You'll see all of my texts, but when you text back, it just goes to me. I'll try to respond to as many people as I have time for, and I may sometimes ask group questions and share responses anonymously.
Newsweek digital subscribers, like you, currently get it for free.
We're making this as easy as possible. Just text STOP to the text thread, and that's it. No phone call, no painful process. You'll be unsubscribed from the service -- but I hope it doesn't come to that.
Try it out by signing up below. You can now text me any time with your thoughts and questions about this chaotic and often-confusing time in American politics -- and American society as a whole. By doing so, you're also helping to support real, unflinching, quality journalism that isn't owned by billionaires or corporate interests. Newsweek is a small, privately held company.