Talking Points Memo

You'd be forgiven for wondering why you should buy a TPM membership at all since most of our journalism is free. Usually the way things work — not just in digital journalism — is someone makes a thing you need or want and then they say "you cannot have this good or service that you need or want unless you give me some of your money, which is the thing I want." People are used to this way of doing things. 

We need not get into whether that is a good way of running the world. That is quite a big subject people have been grappling with for a long time. Suffice to say, however, that journalism is not "most things" and we at TPM are not "most people." We think journalism is very important, so important that everyone should have access to it, which is why we offer completely free memberships to students and others who cannot afford them.

But, we do need to make money, and most of it comes from members and readers. How can that be? We think it's because our readers largely share our values toward journalism (and toward a number of other things, which is why they care what we say about the news). Our members know that despite the fact we don't charge for The Josh Marshall Podcast featuring Kate Riga, it would not exist without their support. Sure there are some ads on there, but they don't come close to funding the pod.
 

Our members also know that without them, we couldn't start the day by producing the Morning Memo and then end it with Where Things Stand. They tell us they like knowing what's important as they start their day and what they need to know as they wrap it up. And of course, in between there's all the original reporting — this week, for example, revealing the logistical and emotional toll a conspiracy theorizing election administrator exacted in one Colorado County, right-wing propaganda outlets that have signed a contract with the Trump campaign, and the future of the neo-fascist militia the Proud Boys (check the site Wednesday morning for this one). 

Our members often tell us that they are glad we exist because so long as we exist then they can get all the important political news and analysis they need. They like supporting a unionized shop with no corporate overlord and little overhead. 

We're doing our best to balance our need for revenue with the public's need to understand what is going on. When you become a member, that is the mission you are supporting. We hope you'll join us.