I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”
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This read: 4 minutes
Dear readers,
Today, I am thrilled to announce that we are hiring Kmele Foster to join the Tangle team as an editor-at-large.
For those unfamiliar with Kmele, he is a media entrepreneur, journalist, and content producer; and he’s a person I’ve admired for a long time. Some of you might already know him from his appearances on CNN, Fox News, and Megyn Kelly’s show; his writing in Reason Magazine, or his time as a guest on the Tangle podcast. I first came across Kmele through The Fifth Column podcast, which he co-hosts, and where he is an open-minded, inquisitive, and unpredictable political mind. As an entrepreneur, he has built successful media brands like Freethink/Big Think. As an advocate for free speech and open dialogue, he sits on the board of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
Looking ahead, Kmele will be joining Ari and me on our weekly podcast, helping edit our daily newsletter, contributing regular written pieces as Friday editions, and shaping the future of Tangle as we continue to grow and evolve. While you (our dedicated subscribers) are receiving this news first, it will be made public later today.
So, first, I want to welcome Kmele and introduce him to our readers. Second, I want to thank all of you for your support over the years, which has made this exciting news possible. When I started Tangle, I was just one guy with a computer, an internet connection, and an idea. I never dreamed it would become a full-fledged media organization hiring people like Kmele Foster — yet now, we are here.
Reminder: Your memberships are what drives over 80% of our revenue, and they are the only reason we can expand our team and our offerings. If you want to become a member to continue to see us grow (and unlock Friday editions, plus hundreds of paywalled posts in our archive), you can subscribe here.
And it’s not just Kmele, either. In the last year, the Tangle team has grown from five people to 15. To that end, this felt like a good opportunity to introduce you to the full team — complete with names, titles and brief bios, and to thank you for supporting our work. It’s not just me anymore, and I’m so thrilled to have this group of exceptional people surrounding me and elevating our work.
Thank you,
Isaac
The team.
Isaac Saul
Founder and Executive Editor
Isaac is a politics reporter and the founder of Tangle. A Bucks County, Pennsylvania, native, he got his journalism start at the University of Pittsburgh’s college newspaper The Pitt News and has since written or worked for a dozen news publications from across the political spectrum. Isaac currently resides in Philadelphia with his wife and son, though he spends a good chunk of the year in Bucks County, West Texas, and upstate New York. Outside of work, you can find him playing (or coaching) ultimate frisbee and basketball, cooking, gardening, traveling, and looking for excuses to be outside.
Magdalena Bokowa
Chief Operating Officer
Magdalena leads Tangle’s growth strategy and helps shape its long-term vision. A former local journalist with a background in political science, she was Tangle’s first official hire nearly five years ago, when the publication reached just a few thousand readers. Magdalena was raised in Toronto by Polish immigrant parents; now, she calls Oregon home with her husband and two small children.
Ari Weitzman
Managing Editor
Ari is responsible for editing the newsletter, managing the editorial and support staff, coordinating Tangle’s coverage across media, co-hosting the Friday podcast, and various administrative tasks. He has been helping to edit the newsletter part-time since 2020, and left an eight-year career in software to work with Tangle in 2023. Ari now lives in the woods in Vermont with his wife and the world’s most beautiful Australian Shepherd.
Jon Lall
Executive Producer
Jon does filming, editing, research and writing for Tangle’s YouTube channel, and he edits and engineers our daily podcast, which he co-hosts. He also works on development of future Tangle media content. Jon is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has a background in audio engineering, songwriting, and business. He has a passion for connecting communities through storytelling. He loves traveling and meeting new people, making music, and dancing around the house with his wife and daughter.
Will Kaback
Senior Editor
Will focuses on research, editing and writing for the newsletter, and he leads Tangle's external communications program. He previously worked in public relations and has a background in public policy research, including criminal justice reform and healthcare. Will lives in Brooklyn, New York, but his heart remains in Maine, where he's spent many a summer in the North Woods.
Kmele Foster
Editor-at-Large
Kmele is a media entrepreneur, journalist, and content producer. He is the co-host of The Fifth Column podcast and the founding partner at Freethink/Big Think, a digital media company reaching millions of viewers a month. Along with his work in media, Kmele serves on the boards of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Foundation for American Innovation (FAI), a nonprofit policy organization working to ensure that the United States remains a leader in technology and innovation.
Alex Starr
Head of Business Development
Alex leads the charge to grow Tangle’s partnerships, sponsorships, and strategic collaborations. With a background in sales, direct response copywriting and brand strategy, he’s focused on finding creative ways to expand Tangle’s reach. Alex lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, but he spends summers in Northern California to stay close to the mountains. When he’s not working you’ll find him outside being active, inside working on his second book, or anywhere with his wife and son.
Lindsey Knuth
Associate Editor
Lindsey previously worked in Ballotpedia’s editorial department, researching elections and public policy. A 2023 University of Wisconsin graduate, she was the president of the mock trial program, held various nonprofit and research roles, and wrote for the campus newspaper, The Badger Herald. Born and raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, she enjoys reading speculative fiction and swimming in some of the country’s best lakes.
Aidan Gorman
Associate Producer
Aidan is a videojournalist and global native who has lived in Russia, Jordan, China, Kazakhstan, and the United Kingdom. Aidan has previously worked in foreign affairs and politics in the public, private, and third sector as a researcher. In his free time, he enjoys painting miniatures and wildlife photography.
Russell Nystrom
Social Media and Marketing Strategist
Russell is a third-year student at University of Virginia’s Frank L. Batten School for Public Policy and Leadership in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he also serves as a Research Assistant at the UVA Center for Politics. In his free time, Russell enjoys cheering on UVA sports teams and hiking around Charlottesville!
Candida Hall
Customer Service Lead
For over a decade, Candida helped solve usability problems for complex digital products as a UX Researcher. When she isn't troubleshooting technical difficulties, you can find her at a concert, digging in her garden or traipsing around outdoors with her dog, toddler, and husband.
Audrey Moorehead
Associate Editor
Audrey is a senior studying English at Harvard, where she wrote her senior thesis about Frederick Douglass. She worked as an intern for Tangle in 2022 and has held a variety of research and writing-related positions since then. In her free time, she enjoys reading old books, watching college football (Go Vols!), and trying new cuisines with friends.
Bailey Saul
Editor
Bailey is a longtime political junkie who was shaped by the dramatic events of the ‘60s. Raised by a politically active English professor and Philadelphia lawyer turned federal government anti-poverty worker, he has worked in computer and credit card sales, as a comedy club manager, and even as an Uber driver. A Bucks County, Pennsylvania, resident, he also happens to be Isaac’s dad and is the first editor the newsletter ever had — a result of a call from the boss when he was running way behind — who just kept coming back every day. He likes to say he is our most senior editor, if only by time served and chronological age.
Hunter Casperson
Editorial Fellow
Hunter is a multi-genre writer and journalist who holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in political communication from CSU Chico. Hunter was honored with the journalism graduate of the year award in 2022 after working as the opinion editor and layout chief for the school’s newspaper, The Orion. Outside of Tangle, she spends her days being overly caffeinated, cuddling her two fur babies, and working on her first novel.
Kendall White
Copy Editor
Kendall is a sophomore at Pomona College, where she’s majoring in politics and history. On campus, Kendall writes for the Claremont Independent and is a member of On the Loose, Pomona’s outdoors club. Whenever she gets the chance, Kendall enjoys backpacking, listening to live music, and reading classic literature.
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