Untangling the Partisan Knot: A Balanced Look at Political News with Isaac Saul of Tangle

Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

In this episode, we sit down with Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle, a widely respected, nonpartisan political newsletter. Isaac and his team bring a fresh approach to political journalism by curating multiple perspectives—right, left, and independent—on major stories of the day. Corey, a fan and avid reader of Tangle, dives deep into Isaac’s upbringing in Bucks County, PA, how that shaped his civic “multilingualism,” and the genesis of Tangle during a particularly difficult phase of his career. Together, they explore the challenges of journalistic ethics, political polarization, media bias, and the future of trustworthy news.

What We Discuss:

• Why Bucks County, PA, is so friggin' awesome! And why it plays a crucial role in shaping moderate political thinkers.

• How Isaac Saul built Tangle from the ground up as a response to media frustration.

• The journalistic principles and ethical guardrails that guide Isaac’s work.

• How to discern quality journalism in an era dominated by clickbait and misinformation.

• The dangers of polarization and what gives Isaac hope about our democratic future.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:01:00] Isaac Saul shares the mission behind Tangle and what inspired him to create it.

• [00:05:00] Corey and Isaac explore how growing up in politically diverse Bucks County cultivated empathy and civic fluency.

• [00:10:00] Isaac discusses his unique way of reaching conspiracy-minded friends—by “using their language” and exposing financial incentives in media.

• [00:15:00] Isaac describes his journalistic background and the importance of reporting with integrity and skepticism.

• [00:24:00] Isaac recounts his “f*** this” moment that led to launching Tangle after being rejected from multiple major outlets.

• [00:34:00] Corey explains his methodical approach to reading Tangle and how it helps refine his own viewpoints.

• [00:40:00] Behind the scenes: How Isaac and his team choose stories and fairly represent both sides of complex political issues.

• [00:54:00] Isaac shares his hopes and fears about political division, executive overreach, and the role of media in democracy.

Featured Quotes:

• "The people who are really politically engaged on the right and the left right now are living in just different realities." – Isaac Saul
• "I know what I think. It’s the least interesting thing on the planet. I live with this brain all day. I want to hear what others think." – Isaac Saul
• "You should treat every click like you're handing a news outlet a dollar." – Isaac Saul
• "Centrism is an ideology in and of itself. I’m not trying to land in the middle—I’m just being honest about my real reactions." – Isaac Saul

Resources Mentioned:

• Tangle Newsletter – www.readtangle.com
• Isaac Saul’s TED Talk: “What Media Doesn’t Tell You” – youtu.be/543mYKKh1EE?si=CjdQv94HzT04vknh
• How Media Bias Works (Tangle article) – www.readtangle.com/why-the-media-is-broken/
• Isaac on Twitter: x.com/Ike_Saul

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