28 Comments

I’m looking for a new secure email program so I can get away from Google and Microsoft. Any suggestions?

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I'm looking for one too. A lot of people recommend Proton: https://proton.me/mail

It's an encrypted email service based out of Switzerland.

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Read this article about Proton. I was thinking of using it too and now I'm not so sure.

https://theintercept.com/2025/01/28/proton-mail-andy-yen-trump-republicans/

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Do you know anything about Meidas? I’m seeing them in my Substack feed but unsure of them. It seems legit.

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They're a good one! I should add them to my list. It's Ron Filipowski's platform.

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Aren’t they on the corporate dem side of things?

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They're a little more towards the establishment -- CEO is a former fed prosecutor. They break some good stories though and are independently owned.

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Thank you! And I’m curious about PBS. I don’t subscribe to any of these corporate media, but I have come to mostly trust the content of PBS kids for my child. Every time I watch with my child, I mainly see values depicted that I appreciate. I see diversity and diverse cultures respected. There is a lot of educational material as well. It’s tough to find content for kids that I feel ok letting my kid explore. I have banned YouTube kids. Do you have any thoughts about PBS Kids? Does streaming their content benefit corporate media? How in the world do you replace shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (the continuance of Mr. Roger’s), and Sesame Street, and Molly of Denali, and Wild Krats?

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I have zero concerns about the kids content on PBS. Or the entertainment for that matter. My concern is with their news coverage. NPR’s too. They get $525M from the fed govt, and I’m already seeing their deference. I get it…they’re trying to survive. And they’re compromised.

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I have noticed it on NPR as well

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I'm in, let's do this. Definitely appreciate the better list, too.

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I would also add Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman, and Breaking Points with Krystal Ball, Saagar Enjeti, Ryan Grim and Emily Jasinksi. And of course, the incomparable Chris Hedges. Useful Idiots on Substack is also great. Thanks for this important list.

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Greyzone is awful, deliberately pushes Kremlin narratives.

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So, it's not for you. Ok. The good news about being American (at least for now) is that we all get to choose for ourselves what we do and don't consume. Thanks for weighing in!

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Yeah, I would not trust a “media source” that praises authoritarian regimes like Assad’s Syria and whitewashes his and Putin’s war crimes. It is NOT good faith journalism. It’s a Kremlin mouthpiece.

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Cool. Have you looked at our president lately and his ties to Putin? Also, did you happen to see Max Blumenthal from Grayzone removed from Blinken’s last presser? Catch any of that? You’re free to do as you please. I’ll be doing as I please. Thanks for stopping by. ✌🏼

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I am fully aware of his ties to the Kremlin. Been reading and following Gaslit Nation, Craig Unger, Olga Lautman for years. It’s all in plain sight. Are you aware of Dr Pekka Kallioniemi’s work on disinformation and propaganda? Do as you please but you damage your credibility with a Greyzone reco.

ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ ฅ⁠

NAFO

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I actually have the ability to read critically and discern propaganda from facts. Unlike a lot of folks (you too perhaps?) I don't swallow everything I read as fact. I also don't insulate myself from the world around me. Many things can be true at the same time. It's called multivariate thinking. Something for you to look into.

I have an undergrad and masters degree in political science, I was a researcher and analyst for the first 10 years of my career and I worked in the media for 11 years. So, overall, I'm solid on my vetting and fact checking skills. But thank you so much for your concern. If you don't find me credible, oh well. You're free to go. Not sure why you've made it this far. Go forth, little TessaRact. It's a big world out there.

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Thanks for your condescending reply. Adios.

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May I also suggest Dispatches from a Collapsing Nation by Jared Yates Sexton? He’s my compassionate voice of reason and along with Kendzior, is a Substack must have for me.

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Absolutely! Thanks for the rec. I will check him out.

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Looks like an incredible newsletter. I just officially added it to the list and updated the piece. Thanks again for the rec!

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Wondering why The Nation didn’t make your list? I spent hours fact checking them and never found a fault. They have great writers!

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Love the boycott idea - but how is Democracy Now not on your list? I haven’t listened to mainstream media for decades - Amy Goodman & Democracy Now team have been doing incredible investigative independent journalism since 1996.

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Hi- I'm not sure how to ask you a question, so I'll post it here: how do you wean off of Google products? They are most far reaching in my life. Ex: Gmail, Google maps, youtube, youtubetv-- expecially since I'm off all meta and tiktok. Thanks in advance

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What are your thoughts on AP News?

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A great list. I disagree with a few mentions like PBS and Steve Schmidt but I appreciate your effort to be thorough.

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