Big Changes for the Talking Feds Substack

You told us what works (and what doesn’t). Here’s how we’re adjusting our subscription options.

It’s Friday, and there’s no lack of big and unsettling news, including the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, and the search of the Fulton County Election Office. You can be sure that we’ll cover those in detail going forward. But we’re kicking off the first edition of lighter fare of 2026. Typically, we like to end the week on a lighter note—and to announce the winner of our five-words-or-fewer contest. This week, though, we’re announcing a winner of a different sort.

After celebrating one year of the Talking Feds Substack, we asked you to share your thoughts about what’s working, what isn’t, and what you’d like to see more of. You showed up in a big way. We read every response, discussed the themes, and took your feedback seriously. Today, I’m excited to share a few changes we’re making as a result.

First, a quick reminder of what paid subscribers already receive: fan-favorite weekly live Q&As where you can ask me anything about the news, full recordings of our live segments, and access to ad-free versions of the twice-weekly flagship Talking Feds podcast. Those core benefits aren’t going anywhere.

The most frequent comment we heard was that people especially value the written essays. Based on your feedback, we’re expanding our paid offerings to go deeper and deliver more value. Going forward, paid subscribers will also receive:

• Access to additional written pieces in weeks when we publish more than two columns

• An exclusive interview recording about once a month, available only to paid subscribers

• Occasional longer-form analyses on a major legal or political development

• A new lower price point at $7 per month or $70 per year, so that more people can support our work and enjoy the paid benefits

You also told us clearly that you value conversation and perspective, especially when it comes to complex legal and political issues. With that in mind, we’ll be discontinuing the Is It Legal? series and shifting our focus toward more Substack Live conversations with guests (a few recent examples of these conversations include Asha Rangappa and Bill Kristol). These discussions will allow for broader context, sharper debate, and more dynamic engagement, something many of you said you wanted more of. If you’re hungry for my take-to-camera legal analysis, you can still find plenty of that on the Talking Feds YouTube channel, where we post several videos per day analyzing the latest legal news.

For our free subscribers: you’ll continue to have access to as many of my written pieces as before, as well as our livestreams. The goal remains the same: to make high-quality, independent journalism accessible, while offering deeper engagement and exclusive content for those who go above and beyond to support the work.

None of this would be possible without you. Your feedback helps shape the future of Talking Feds, and your support—whether through a paid subscription, a free subscription, or simply reading and sharing our work—keeps this project thriving.

Thanks as always for being a Fed Head. I’m deeply grateful for your continued support, and I’m excited about what’s ahead as we start to look ahead to the pivotal midterm elections.

To thank everyone for helping us shape this new direction, as promised, a few lucky turkey takers have been randomly selected to receive a free one-year paid subscription to Talking Feds. We’ll be in touch with the winners soon.

Talk to you later.