Thoughts on 2022
Letter from the Editor
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to meet with a fellow journalist, an anchor for a major news network.
“So, you’re in college now,” the anchor said to me bluntly. “You can’t skate by on being a kid any more. What sets your newsletter apart now?”
It was a fair question. In fact, the mission of Wake Up To Politics is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, especially as the newsletter marked its 10th anniversary in 2021.
As my veteran colleague pointed out, I’m no longer just a young political junkie tapping out the newsletter from my bedroom before racing off to school. Ten years have passed, I’m 20 years old now, and I’ve finally made it to the nation’s capital, halfway through my sophomore year in college.
But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I believe WUTP’s mission has remained more or less the same. I always envisioned this newsletter as a tool to guide all kinds of readers through the complex world of American politics, something that broke through the insider jargon to tell you what was happening and why it mattered, in a manner respectful of your time and your intelligence.
No matter my age, I’ve always tried to implement (and improve on) that formula — and I’m so glad it’s one that’s come in handy for so many of you in this unique political moment.
As in politics, this is also a time of change in the media industry, as legions of talented journalists are departing traditional newsrooms and starting independent ventures, many of them through newsletters.
I’m proud to be one of those independent journalists, without a single sponsor. And I’m proud of the ways this newsletter has matured along with me: in 2021, by incorporating new voices (bringing on fellow student journalists as contributors) and new features (such as inside-the-room reporting at events across DC). More of both – and other exciting new additions — are on the way in 2022.
But to continue to support this work, I need your help. I’m committed to keeping Wake Up To Politics completely free, without any required subscription — but there are still costs involved in sending the newsletter. If you’d like to help defray those costs, and support me and my fellow writers (all of whom are compensated for their work) as we head into 2022, I hope you’ll consider clicking here to make a donation of any size.
At the same link, you can also set up a recurring donation, to make a contribution in a manner similar to a subscription to another news outlet. You can also go here if you want to buy a Wake Up To Politics mug, t-shirt, or other fun merchandise.
And finally, if you want to help WUTP, but aren’t able to donate: it’s always appreciated when you forward the newsletter and encourage friends to subscribe, or when you click to follow on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Ten years in, I’m as passionate as ever about WUTP — and I’m so excited for the future. The regular newsletter will return tomorrow with a look ahead at the year in politics, but first I wanted to take an opportunity to touch base with my thoughts as WUTP enters 2022, a new decade of reporting.
And mostly, I want to express my thanks: it means so much to me to have you as a reader of Wake Up To Politics, to have your trust as a journalist and your support.
I can’t wait for what’s ahead. And I hope you continue to join me on this wild journey.
With gratitude,
Gabe Fleisher
Editor-in-Chief
