Tangle
Tangle is an independent, non-partisan politics podcast hosted by journalist Isaac Saul. Each episode presents the strongest arguments from across the political spectrum on the day's biggest news stories, so listeners can form their own conclusions. It also features interviews with figures from the political world who are willing to work beyond party lines. Tangle pairs the show with a written newsletter at readtangle.com.
Episodes
The planned execution of the Fort Hood shooter.
On Thursday, the Defense Department announced that it intends to livestream the execution of the former Army major who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. The convicted shooter is scheduled to be executed by an Army firing squad on December 3, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first known execution by firing squad since 1945. Republican and Democratic la
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - My honest thoughts on Hasan Piker.
The streamer is an increasingly incendiary political figure.It’s hard to say how much your average American knows (or cares) about Hasan Piker.To political reporters like me, Piker looms large. He has a massive audience of young people who follow his livestreams on the platform Twitch. During the videos, he reacts to the news in real time and gives running commentary while responding to people who
SCOTUS returns with a climate change case.
On Monday, the new Supreme Court term began with oral arguments in a case over whether cities can sue energy companies for contributing to climate change. The arguments center on two major issues: whether federal law should block local governments from suing energy companies under state law, and whether the U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction to rule on the matter. Justice Samuel Alito, who is not
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Kmele and Ari share their election hot takes, a focus group discussion on Abdul El-Sayed, and much more.
On today's episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele share their election hot takes that are happening in the next few of weeks. We talk about some friends of the show that have been making some questionable statements that maybe need to be reeled in a bit. Then a discussion about a very curious Abdul El-Sayed focus group. Last, but not least, a short and sweet grievance section
The Cornell rape accusations.
On September 28, New York prosecutors said they had reopened an investigation into an alleged sexual assault and gang rape by seven Cornell University students in October 2024. The woman who filed the suit, anonymously identified as Jane Doe, alleges that she was coerced into taking ketamine, encouraged to take alcohol and cannabis, and forced into sexual actions she did not consent to. Last week,
The FlyDubai plane attack.
On Wednesday, the copilot of a FlyDubai commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the plane’s captain and attempted to crash the aircraft in what Israeli officials have deemed an attempted terrorist attack. The captain, Smit Machchhar of India, was stabbed multiple times and seriously wounded but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to detain the copilot
The failed execution of Christa Pike.
On Wednesday, Tennessee failed to execute Christa Pike after administering two doses of a lethal drug. Pike had been sentenced to death for her role in the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, and she is now hospitalized in critical condition. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) canceled the state’s final scheduled execution of 2026 and accepted the resignation of Tennessee Department of Correction Commissione
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - Is the global fertility decline a crisis?
What an aging population and fewer young people could mean.A wide-ranging conversation.In this week’s Suspension of the Rules episode, we start by having some fun with Jack Smith’s congressional testimony. Then, we discuss the government-funded Trump commercials before turning to a much more serious subject: the Cornell sexual assault case. It was a heavy but important segment, and we wrapped up w
The Protect College Sports Act passes the Senate.
On Monday, the Senate voted 77–22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act with support from 50 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and one independent. The bill would create a national regulatory framework for collegiate athletics and give the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) antitrust protection, allowing it to establish standards for student-athlete compensation, eligibility, transferring,
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Kmele and Ari talk about the Trump ads, Jack Smith testimony and the Cornell University sexual assault case.
On todays episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele get into the Jack Smith testimony, a few embarrassing moments for a certain Republican Senator, the Trump ads that were paid with tax dollars and then they get into the details of the Cornell sexual assault case. Last but not least an uplifting grievance section to wrap up a bit of a heavy episode.We're launching something new.
The ACA cancelations.
Last Tuesday, September 22, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it had canceled healthcare enrollments for roughly 760,000 people under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) due to alleged fraud or improper documentation. In a press briefing announcing the cancelations, Vice President JD Vance and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said that Covid-era subsidies and relaxed verification unde
FULL EPISODE: SPECIAL EDITION - The U.S. has weapons in space — what happens next?
In September, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced that the United States has “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.” The comments sparked a rash of questions: What kind of weapons? What adversaries are we competing against? Could we soon see those weapons deployed?Shortly after the announcement, Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke wi
The 2026 midterms preview.
Tuesday marks 35 days until federal elections will be held for all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats. Additionally, 36 states will elect governors and 46 states will vote on a total of 6,139 state legislators. Currently, most election models heavily favor Democrats to take back the House and give the party a slight edge to flip the Senate.We're launching something new.In
FULL EPISODE: PRESS PASS - I’m going back to my roots. And a very special announcement.
When I started Tangle seven years ago, it was just me and the blinking cursor on a blank Google document. As I look back on the newsletter editions I wrote during the early years of Tangle, a few things stand out: 1) The writing is more raw and less polished. 2) The newsletters are shorter and more digestible (some just a six- or seven-minute read). 3) My personality shines through in unvarnished
The UN assembly and Trump–Xi summit.
Last week, world leaders gathered in New York City for the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly, with conflicts in Iran and Ukraine taking center stage. In a speech before world leaders, President Donald Trump said he is weighing whether to seek a deal to end the war with Iran or “annihilate” the country, while also touting a security agreement reached with Greenland and Denmark. Later in the
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - Is President Trump okay?
In June of 2021, I published a newsletter headlined “Is Joe Biden okay?”The president, I wrote, didn’t “seem quite right.” I preemptively shot down critics who thought it was taboo to say what was obvious: Biden was in decline, that decline seemed to be accelerating, and imagining nearly four more years with him governing was worrisome. He was a totally different man than he had been at the end of
The rise of GLP-1s.
In recent years, use of new weight-loss medications has risen in the United States. A 2026 Gallup poll found that a record 11% of U.S. adults are taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024. Furthermore, high-profile figures like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and decorated tennis player Serena Williams have extolled their experiences taking the drug. The rising prevalence of GLP-1
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Kmele and Ari talk about the historic speech at the UN General Assembly, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Hassan Piker.
On today's episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele chat about the historic speech given at the UN General Assembly as well as the viral piece that Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote for the New York Times titled "In Fighting For Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?". They then talk about the controversial statement made by Hassan Piker. Last but not least, a very good grie
The U.S.–Greenland Deal.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a defense agreement with Denmark and the semiautonomous territory of Greenland. The three-party compact was signed in New York City, concurrent with a United Nations General Assembly meeting, and it follows several months of statements from President Trump about the United States increasing its control over the island territory. Ad-free podcasts are here!G
The White House press bans.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced he is barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The president accused the outlets of inaccurately reporting on his administration and suggested that additional news organizations could be banned. On Monday, the outlets sued the government for allegedly violating their First Amendment rights.Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20%
A potential new front in the Iran war.
As the war in Iran nears its seventh month, new developments over the past week have prompted concerns about a widening conflict in the Middle East. On Saturday, the State Department warned Americans in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for potential travel disruptions, and President Donald Trump returned from a weekend trip to Camp David a day early. Separat
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - The case for the Democratic Socialists of America.
One of the core tenets of Tangle’s mission is ideological diversity. As a big-tent news organization, we believe that we can be a space for readers of all political backgrounds to hear arguments from across the political spectrum.As I look around today’s media landscape, something occurs to me: It’s becoming a hobbyhorse of political commentators to beat up on the Democratic Socialists of America
The EPA’s power plant deregulation.
On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of Biden-era emissions regulations for power plants and proposed rolling back all remaining greenhouse gas standards for the power sector. The agency said the move will create an estimated $310 billion in savings and lower energy prices for consumers. On Thursday, environmental advocates sued the EPA for this week’
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Kmele and Ari chat about the threat of artificial intelligence, Mitch McConnell's return and more.
On today's episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele chat about whether or no artificial intelligence will kill us all and some reflection on Mitch McConnell's return to congress. They then play a fun little game called "Is Isaac an idiot or not?". Last but not least, a somber but very good grievance.Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusiv
SCOTUS blocks mail-in voting changes.
On Monday, the Supreme Court denieda request from the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to carry out parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order placing new regulations on mail-in voting. The president had issued the order in March to address alleged voter fraud, and the Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s block on parts of the executi
AI leaders call for a slowdown.
On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) development is advancing at an unsafe pace and should be moderated. Executives at other leading AI companies endorsed Amodei’s post, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman saying “we need to pace the frontier.” In recent months, AI systems have allegedly hacked other companies’ platforms wi
Trump’s $5,000 dividend promise.
At the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said that his administration will send $5,000 to every U.S. adult citizen if the GOP retains control of the House and Senate in November’s elections. The president called the “Trump Dividend” a way for Americans to share in the economic strength that would result from Republican governance. A
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - Your questions about 9/11, answered.
What have we learned since that fateful day?Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership!What happened to al-Qaeda?This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East a
The latest on John Fetterman.
On Wednesday, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) appeared via video at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating his opposition to socialism and praising Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). Fetterman has frequently criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialism and anti-Israel rhetoric, leading to speculation that he could switch parties or become an independen
Suspension of the rules. - The Maine anniversary episode. Isaac, Ari and Kmele reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Tangle's 7 year anniversary.
On today's episode of suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are in the great state of Maine together to commemorate and reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and their own personal experience from 9/11. The guys then shift gears to a less somber note to celebrate Tangle's 7th anniversary and chat about where Tangle started and where its heading. Its a great episode!Ad-free podcasts are
The August economic reports.
In the run-up to the November midterm elections, new reports on key economic indicators have shed light on the state of the U.S. economy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet next week for the third time under Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh to consider changes to the interest rate in light of a strong jobs report and persistent inflation. Meanwhile, the Iran war and a burgeonin
PREVIEW: SPECIAL EDITION - What happened to al-Qaeda? Will Kaback interviews American journalist Graeme Wood.
It’s been nearly 25 years since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Virtually all of the leadership of al-Qaeda that planned and orchestrated the attacks have now been killed, but the group remains intact today. But if you talk to national security and terrorism experts, they’ll offer wildly different assessments of how strong — and how much of a threat — it still poses.
The Army secretary resigns.
On Monday, August 31, The Wall Street Journal reported that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had resigned amid protracted disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Driscoll’s last workday was September 2. Several other military leaders have been fired or resigned under Hegseth, who has sought to reduce the size of military leadership. President Donald Trump appointed&n
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Not all billionaires are bad.
But should they exist?Let me start by saying that I get it. A few years ago, I read a fascinating piece about how professional basketball had lost its cool factor. The current stars of the NBA, like Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, just don’t have it. They aren’t charismatic in the same ways Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or Dr. J were. They aren’t eccentric,
The data center pushback grows.
In recent months, opposition to data centers has increased across the United States, prompting both Republican and Democratic politicians to oppose the facilities and some states to pause new construction. While some political leaders, including President Donald Trump, remain supportive of data centers, the topic has become a major issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, oft
Suspension of the rules. - Kmele Foster blows up on the internet, Ari has a good guy of the week, Abdul El-Sayed, an inriguing whistle blower complaint and much more.
Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a lot to talk about this week. From Kmele “having a moment” on CNN to mail-in voting changes to CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war — this week’s Suspension of the Rules is jam-packed.Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, excl
SCOTUS and the White House ballroom.
On Monday, the Supreme Court decided 5–4 to allow President Trump to continue above-ground construction on his White House ballroom project. The unsigned order pauses a federal judge’s halt on above-ground construction, stating the plaintiff likely lacks legal standing. However, the majority did not decide whether Trump has the legal authority to build the ballroom without cong
The U.S. oil deal with Venezuela.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to make the United States government an investor in the production of Venezuelan oil. Under the reported terms of the deal, the U.S. will take a stake in a private Venezuelan company that will be given the rights to develop 17 oil fields believed to contain 65 billion barrels of oil. President Trump said the deal will help build up
CIA Director Ratcliffe’s trip to Russia.
On Tuesday, August 25, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the first publicly disclosed time to meet with Russian intelligence officials. While the CIA has not shared the official purpose of the trip, Ratcliffe reportedly cautioned Russia against attacking North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states. The visit also comes a
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Have we no shame?
Against normalization culture.Dear readers,In this week’s Press Pass, I introduced our newest editor, Carina Pacheco. As I said in that newsletter, when Carina applied to work here, I was struck by her writing voice, the lens through which she sees the world, and her interest in the intersection of culture and politics. To me, she offered something distinct from the rest of the team. Today, I
The Meta settlement.
On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, reached a settlement with a group of state attorneys general to pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve a case over alleged harms to children caused by its social media apps. The company also agreed to implement safeguards designed to mitigate excessive use of Facebook and Instagram by minors.Ad-fre
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Ari and Kmele mourn Dolly Parton and then get into Iowa's interesting candidate for governor, Darline Graham, Jesse Watters and more.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele mourn the loss of the great Dolly Parton. They then chat about the very interesting candidate for governor in Iowa, Darline Graham officially winning the South Carolina primary, and then a good guy of the week featuring Jesse Watters? Last but not least, our grievances. It's a good one!Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen
The Supreme Court’s latest mail-in ballot ruling.
On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed a federal injunction on President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to change its rules for mail-in ballots. The Court’s unsigned opinion did not address the legality of the executive order; instead, the Court found that the states challenging it lacked standing to do so. The three Democratic-appointed justices dis
The national debt hits $40 trillion.
On Tuesday, August 18, the Treasury Department announced that the debt held by the U.S. government surpassed $40 trillion, a record high. The national debt has more than doubled since 2017, and it increased from $39 trillion to $40 trillion in roughly the past five months. In response to the latest milestone, lawmakers from both parties called for new initiatives to reduce the debt. 
The U.S.–Canada trade war escalates.
On Saturday, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, including lumber, dairy products, clothing, and alcohol. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada would match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar,” with retaliatory duties set to begin on September 8. Though Canada has not officially released information on its tariff plans, Carney&nb
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - I was wrong about DOGE.
A full accounting of the initiative’s impact.Back in 2024, when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was first proposed, its goals were clear.Elon Musk said he’d attempt to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Like many Americans (including me) who are concerned about our debt and deficit, Musk’s view was that if government spending didn’t meaningfully change, the U.S. was headed for
Trump’s vaccine executive order.
On Monday, August 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to make changes to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule. In remarks at the White House signing event, the president also suggested that a link may exist between the number of vaccines children receive and increased rates of autism. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20%
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Ari and Kmele discuss "Woke 1" and the 2020 post mortem that's happening, Tuesday's wild election results, Jon Ossoff and more.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele discuss the AOC "Woke 1 was crazy" commentary and the 2020 covid era post mortem conversations that seem to be happening right now. Then we dive into Tuesday's wild election results from Florida and the rest of the country. Kmele talks about Jon Ossoff and we respond to a clip of Darline Graham. Last but not least, our g
Challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
On Friday, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is returning to the United States as part of a “planned rotation.” Cao’s announcement follows weeks of reporting on strained conditions aboard the ship, including food and supply shortages, mental health struggles among sailors, and multiple sailors reportedly attempting t
The Flock surveillance cameras debate.
In recent weeks, public opposition has grown toward vehicle-tracking cameras used by law enforcement in criminal investigations. Private manufacturer Flock Safety operates the largest network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the United States, with approximately 127,000 cameras across the country. The company has recently faced scrutiny for potential civil liberties violatio
The Wisconsin gubernatorial primaries.
On Tuesday, August 11, Wisconsin held primary elections for the 2026 midterms, headlined by the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D). U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination with 95% of the vote, while on the Democratic side, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong 39.8%–39.4%. Crowley’s victory was a signific
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - I don’t pledge allegiance to the flag.
Because if I did, I wouldn’t mean it.Dear readers,One of the only Tangle products I don’t have my hand in editing is our Sunday newsletter, which I get the pleasure of enjoying as a consumer (and is a highly-recommended Tangle member perk!). Last year, I was perusing The Sunday when I came across the week’s reader essay, written by a young reporter from Appalachia named Isaac Wood. The p
The abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller.
Over the past week, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) has faced growing calls to resign or drop his bid for reelection amid allegations of domestic abuse. Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife and the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their two-year-old daughter; Miller denies the allegations. In recent days, Sen. Moreno has spoken out against Mill
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac and Ari are joined by Audrey Moorehead to discuss the Michigan Senate primary results, a Trump scandal turned into a fun game and the Rep. Max Miller allegations.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Ari are joined by Tangle editor Audrey Moorehead to discuss the Michigan Senate primary results, a Trump scandal that has been driving Isaac nuts which Ari then turns it into a fun game, and then we talk about the allegations against Representative Max Miller. Last, but not least, our grievances. It's a good one!Ad-free podcasts ar
The Michigan primaries.
On Tuesday, the Democratic and Republican parties held primary elections for several key seats in Michigan. The contests were headlined by the Democratic Senate primary, in which Rep. Haley Stevens (MI) faced off against former public health official Abdul El-Sayed to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters. At 8:35 AM ET on Wednesday, Decision Desk HQ declared El-Sayed the winner, and Stevens
The cyberattacks on U.S. water systems.
On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert about potential cyber threats to water systems after approximately 36 sites in Minnesota reported cyberattacks. Then, on Saturday, Michigan reported cyberattacks on nine water systems; both states say their water supplies are not actively threatened. Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F
A potential breakthrough in Gaza.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump said that the Board of Peace, a U.S.-led international body aiming to achieve peace in the Gaza Strip, had reached an agreement for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to disarm. The next day, the board shared a 15-point “roadmap” for a multi-step peace plan, outlining actions that Hamas and Israel would take to eventually transfer control o
PREVIEW: SPECIAL EDITION - Ari Weitzman interviews climate research lead at Stripe Zeke Hausfather about the recent wild fires.
In today's special edition, Ari Weitzman interviews Zeke Hausfather who is the climate research lead at Stripe, climate research scientist at Berkeley Earth and contributor at Carbon Brief about the recent global wild fires and what they have to do with changing climate. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s po
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Is sports betting really that bad?
What my experience (and the data) show.Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership!The latest Suspension of the Rules.In this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss what we have and haven’t learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, a conversation about whether government-run grocery sto
Fauci’s diary and Senate hearing.
On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee questionedDr. Anthony Fauci about his decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment throughout the roughly three-hour hearing, drawing rebuke from committee Republicans and a warning from Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) that he could be charged with contempt of Congres
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Ari and Kmele chat Anthony Fauci, Mamdani's city-ran grocery stores and a surprising "Good guy of the week" segment.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele talk about Anthony Fauci pleading the fifth and his legacy. They then get into a really surprising "Good guy of the week" segment followed by a conversation about Zohran Mamdani's plan for city-ran grocery stores coming together. Last but not least, our grievances where Kmele defends his horrible position about the NYC s
OpenAI’s autonomous agent hack.
On Friday, July 24, Reuters reported that an OpenAI autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent broke out of a contained environment and hacked a popular AI development website. The hack began on July 11 and lasted until July 13, when it was detected by an AI at the targeted company, Hugging Face. OpenAI remained unaware of the incident for days, and the two companies did not
The U.S.–Saudi civil nuclear deal.
On Wednesday, July 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear-cooperation agreement. The deal is a “123 Agreement,” named after Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, outlining a partnership between the two countries to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia. However, the status of the deal is now in question after President Donald Trump said on Thurs
New Jersey’s voter registration scandal.
On Tuesday, July 21, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) announced that an error in the state’s motor-vehicles system software resulted in approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote, and a preliminary assessment showed roughly 400 of them cast a ballot in at least one election. Sherrill said the improper registrations occurred during former Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) term and or
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Come read with me.
A guest column from Megan Phelps-Roper.Dear readers,As Tangle continues to grow, one of my goals is to expand our stable of writers. We want more people writing under the Tangle banner who can represent the center, center-left, center-right, the progressive left, the MAGA right, and those of us (like me) who just find ourselves complicated, confused, and mixed up in today’s political alignment.&nb
The Canadian wildfires.
Over the past week, smoke from wildfires in Canada (as well as northern Minnesota) has affected air quality and visibility across the Midwest and East Coast of the United States. As of Monday, air-quality alerts remained in place for a large portion of the country, and experts expect wildfire smoke to remain prevalent through August. The fires have raised concerns about climate-related c
Suspension of the rules. - Ari Weitzman is back with Isaac and Kmele to chat election fraud, data centers and the cover-up happening in Iran.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Ari Weitzman once again. They get into election fraud, data centers, the kind of cover up happening right now in Iran and then Isaac and Kmele take a victory lap about all the things they have been right about. Last but not least, our grievances. It's a spicy good one!Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this
Darline Graham announces Senate run.
On Monday, Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) said she will run for a full, six-year term to succeed her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), who passed away suddenly on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection. Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to select a new candidate to run against physician Annie Andrews (D) in the general election. Ad-free podcasts are he
New York’s data center moratorium.
On Tuesday, July 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an executive order pausing construction of new large-scale data centers in the state for up to one year. Hochul said the moratorium is intended to allow policymakers to study the economic and environmental effects of new data centers and consider regulatory action. The governor’s order went into effect immediately, making New Yor
Trump fires election commissioners.
On Thursday, July 9, President Donald Trump fired the two Democratic commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the agency’s final commissioner, a Republican, resigned. Without commissioners, the agency can still distribute election funding to states, but some of its functions will be impacted, such as establishing new programs or carrying out the appea
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Conspiracy theories are getting dumber.
Generally speaking, I hate the expression “conspiracy theory.”It’s an overused and unhelpful descriptor for what often amounts to a minority or controversial view. I’ve begged writers to stop calling everything they don’t like a conspiracy theory, and I’ve written regularly about my open-mindedness to all manner of ideas that have at some point been called conspiracy theories.But it’s al
The House passes permanent daylight savings bill.
On Tuesday, the House voted 308–117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, a bill that would make Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent in the United States. The legislation passed with 114 Democrats, 193 Republicans, and one independent in support and now heads to the Senate. President Donald Trump has endorsed the bill, writing in May, “It’s time that people can st
Suspension of the rules. - Katelyn Jetelina and Will Kaback join the show to talk about public health issues, Lindsey Graham and more.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Senior Editor Will Kaback and epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina to talk about our latest public health issues, Lindsey Graham's sister Darline Graham being appointed to the senate in his place and how worried we should be with Trump's firings from this obscure election agency. It's a good one!Ad-free podcasts are
The ICE shootings in Maine and Texas.
In the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were involved in deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. On Monday, in Biddeford, Maine, an officer shot and killed a man who allegedly disregarded orders to stop his vehicle and attempted to flee. Separately, on Tuesday, July 7 in Houston, ICE agents shot and killed a man whom they accused of “weaponizing his ve
Fighting resumes in Iran.
On Monday night, the U.S. carried out its third straight day of strikes against Iran, the latest in a series of military engagements that began last week. On Friday, President Donald Trump notified Congress that the U.S. had resumed military activities against Iran as of July 7, when U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported engaging in “retaliatory strikes” following I
Lindsey Graham’s passing.
On Saturday evening, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) passed away at age 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness.” The nature of the illness was initially unknown, though news outlets reported that emergency services were dispatched to a Washington, D.C. home owned by Graham and administered treatment to a man suffering from cardiac arrest. On Sunday, Graham’s off
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Your questions, answered.
At Tangle, we want to be a source of trustworthy news, thought-provoking analysis, and robust community engagement. As part of that commitment, we interact with the community in several forums — the website comment section, our Subtext texting service, our Reddit page, our staff email, and at live events. We also answer reader and listener questions throughout the week in
Mitch McConnell’s health concerns.
Over the past week, lawmakers have expressed increasing concern about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, roughly three weeks after the senator was hospitalized for still-unknown reasons. The hospitalization is the latest in a string of health-related incidents for McConnell, which have raised questions about his fitness for office. On Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) ask
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac and Kmele are joined by Audrey Moorehead to discuss the Graham Platner controversies and Mitch McConnell's health.
Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Tangle Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead to discuss the Graham Platner controversies and their credibility, as well as Mitch McConnell's health issues. Last but not least, our grievances. It's a good one!Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content
Graham Platner faces new sexual assault allegations.
On Monday, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), accused him of raping her in 2021. Politico, which first published the report, corroborated aspects of Racicot’s account after speaking with a man whom Racicot dated after Platner, as well as reviewing messages between her and her therapist and an acquaintance. Platner denied the accusation b
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