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Articles by Chris Best
What problem is the National Care Service trying to solve?
The prospect of an Andy Burnham-led government has accelerated discussion of a National Care Service (NCS) – an idea he’s repeatedly expressed strong support for. Heady stuff for all of us social care nerds. But I don’t see many asking: “What problem does an NCS solve, which simply giving more money to local authorities doesn’t?” I believe that question has an answer and it’s not about structures – or even about funding. It’s about purpose. We greatly need a shared purpose, and an NCS can be it.
AI Impersonating Human Writing Is Polluting the Internet, Substack Decides to Hand Judgment Over to Readers
Author: Chris Best Compiled by: TechFlow TechFlow Editor's Note: Up to 40% of content on social media is already AI-generated, but readers are often unaware. Substack believes this "Claudefishing" (impersonating human writing) is undermining trust between readers and authors, threatening the livelihoods of content creators. Their response is: let readers judge for themselves, rather than the platform deciding for you.
Pangram Founder Max Spero
I think this is sort of what I'm asking about, though. You want to give people creative freedom, which means letting them use LLMs. Fine. Good. I respect that stance. You aren't going to make a ruling on a subjective "LLM writing is bad" take. But say you give me the button that automatically filters out broadly AI writing. It's certainly feasible to do so. The tech is there.
Against Claudefishing
“The Turk,” engraving by Joseph Racknitz, 1789 It’s getting harder to tell what’s real on the internet. This is less true on Substack, and we aim to keep it that way. As a first step, we’re launching a feature with Pangram in the Substack app today. Going forward, you’ll be able to scan text to see how much of it was likely written by hand or with AI assistance. More on that in a moment, but first let me explain why this matters.
A business model that works for creators
Illustration credit: Joro Chen, Brand Designer at Substack Today we’re introducing the next phase of Substack’s native sponsorships program, with an inaugural cohort of flagship partners who are collectively investing millions of dollars into creators on Substack. If you are a Substack bestseller who is interested in participating and shaping the program, you can publish your Creator Kit now.
What the markets are saying
When we introduced Polymarket embeds in 2024, creators started weaving prediction market data into their analysis, from election forecasts to AI breakthroughs to economic policy. As more creators have integrated and responded to this data in their work, we’ve been building tools to support how they reference and discuss it on Substack. Today, in partnership with Polymarket, we’re introducing native tools that make it easier to share, discuss, and debate prediction market data directly on Substack.
As the CEO of Substack, it is clear to me the Online Safety Act is bad for free speech
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire I didn’t go looking for a fight with Britain’s Online Safety Act. But as the CEO of Substack – an online publishing platform for writers, journalists, and creators of all kinds – figuring out how our company would adhere to the new regulatory measures became part of my job.
Josie Zayner wants to create real unicorns with Embryo Corp
Get more from Chris Best in the Substack app Available for iOS and Android
The power to choose
In his farewell address in September 1796, just five years after the First Amendment took effect, President George Washington warned his young nation of the dangers of factionalism. “It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection,” America’s first President said. More than two centuries on, we could use a little dose of Washington.
My chat with Substack CEO Chris Best
Earlier today, Substack CEO Chris Best and I chatted via in-app live video. We discussed why I started Sources and the current state of tech media. Hope you enjoy!
Paid email newsletters made simple
Dhisana AI — Cursor for Sales Teams Cursor for Sales Teams Previous Substack Launches View all Substack launches Substack is praised for its ease of use and supportive community, making it a favorite among writers and readers alike. Users appreciate its mobile app experience and the ability to build and monetize a community around their content. Maker reviews from Smart Updates and From Spark to Startup highlight its effectiveness in engaging users and managing content.
Technomachos Ex Machina
For to be ashamed is to admit oneâs faults, but to have no shame is to add to them. â Seneca Authorâs Bleat: This is one of my longest posts since launching this outfit, which couldnât be separated into parts, but I also consider it one of my most important. Portions of this essay use satire, parody, and hyperbole for commentary, and all of it is opinion. Itâs been months in the making with weeks of dedicated research. It cannot be read inside an email.
Chris Best & Hamish McKenzie on Reinventing Media from the Ground Up
The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber. It’s time to get out, to stretch our legs, to step on some land mines. It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with Josh Szeps. The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber.
My Conversation with Substack Co-Founders Chris Best & Hamish McKenzie Fresh Off Their $100 Million Funding Round
You heard it here first that Substack was trying to raise a substantial new round of funding. Today, Substack announced that it had raised $100 million at a $1.1 billion valuation in a round led by BOND and TCG. The New York Times had the story. I told you that Substack’s growing mobile application and the prospect that Substack might someday dip its toe into sponsorships were two reasons that investors were excited about what started off as a mere subscription newsletter business.
A media future to believe in
Today, we’re announcing $100 million in Series C funding, led by investors at BOND and The Chernin Group (TCG), with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Rich Paul, CEO and founder of Klutch Sports Group, and Jens Grede, CEO and co-founder of SKIMS. BOND’s Mood Rowghani will join our board. We’re thrilled to partner with these investors, who bring a wealth of experience across tech, media, and culture, as we put this capital to work serving creators and their communities.
Standing up for free speech, even at the border
Earlier this month, —a writer based in Melbourne—was detained, interrogated, and sent back to Australia by U.S. border agents, evidently in response to articles he had published on Substack. Kitchen, a former Columbia University student, had written firsthand accounts of the student protests that took place last year. “Look, we both know why you are here,” a border agent at Los Angeles International Airport told Kitchen, according to his account of the incident for The New Yorker.
Standing up for free speech, even at the border
—a writer based in Melbourne—was detained, interrogated, and sent back to Australia by U.S. border agents, evidently in response to articles he had published on Substack. Kitchen, a former Columbia University student, had written firsthand accounts of the student protests that took place last year. “Look, we both know why you are here,” a border agent at Los Angeles International Airport told Kitchen, according to his account of the incident for The New Yorker.
The Age of Twitter is finally ending. Can Substack take its place?
This post does not reflect the views of Chris Best. He is listed as an author because he is included in the video chat portion. The other day I had a chat with Chris Best, the CEO of Substack, which you can watch above. We talked about the future of the media, focusing on how people share and consume news and analysis.
Substack CEO Chris Best on 5M Paid Subscriptions, Creator Ownership & the Future of Publishing
The Internet Was Broken—So They Built an Escape Hatch for Writers A few weeks ago, and I sat down with —co-founder and CEO of —at Substack’s headquarters in San Francisco to record the first-ever episode of The VC Corner podcast. I’ve been using Substack for the past year and a half.
“Turn your phone into a TV studio”
After nearly two decades anchoring at CNN, is reimagining what live news reporting can look like and where it can happen. In just a few weeks, has opened up a direct line between Acosta and his audience, offering a new immediacy and flexibility in how he covers a story. In these highlights from a recent conversation with Substack CEO , Acosta reflects on authenticity, going live from unexpected places, and reaching audiences where they are.
Life After The TikTok Ban... Or Sale
What’s TikTok’s future with Trump and JD Vance in charge? The context around TikTok keeps evolving Who wants to buy TikTok? TikTok at SXSW The myth about the TikTok ban So what about national security and algorithm vulnerabilities? Is TikTok good for the economy? In a recent interview with NBC News, US Vice President JD Vance said a deal to sell TikTok and keep it up and running in the United States would largely be in place by the April 5 deadline.
Creators And Podcasters In, Legacy Media Out
Is the White House‚Äôs shift about transparency or control? Not anymore? ‚ÄúThis is the ever-changing landscape of the media in the United States today‚ÄĚ Why ‚Äúthe audience may not understand‚ÄĚ? Even Fox is not happy about this White House media takeover! Why the public can no longer trust pool reports? Is the White House harming the spread of reliable information? ‚ÄúDemocracy Dies in Darkness,‚ÄĚ is this true anymore?
The Sunday Best
I don’t want to brag or anything but the 7th grade rec basketball team I coach just advanced to the championship. So….this is basically me: Anywho, it’s Sunday — which means it’s time for the best stuff I saw on the Internet this week. As always, it’s a mix of podcasts, stories, charts and a whole bunch else. The Sunday Best is a weekly “thank you” for paid subscribers.
Defiance is what is called for in this moment
My friends, This is a moment where defiance is called for, and must be called for. Something terrible is happening in America. It is time to face it with calm and firm resolve. It is time to build an opposition around a single word: no. It is a powerful word. It is a word with deep meaning within the political history of the American story. Substack is a fruit of the First Amendment and the American free enterprise system. It was an idea between , and .
Is Substack The New Everything App?
Is Substack quickly molding itself around creators‚Äô needs? Substack has been growing tremendously in the past few months What is Substack still missing? Can we predict more growth from Substack‚Äôs 2024 stats? Why Substack? Two posts on Substack Notes caught our attention last week‚Ķ In the first, comedian and political commentator announced he‚Äôs working on new video content for Substack. Our immediate reaction was ‚ÄĒ well ‚ÄĒ just like Patreon?
Who Is Going To Save TikTok?
How is TikTok preparing to a possible ban? Can TikTok be saved? What are some of the alternatives? Do you have any questions about the future of TikTok? For a while the consensus was that the TikTok app would have disappeared from the AppStore and the Google Store starting January 19, unless: Bytedance would have divest its US operations, including the algorithm; or the US Supreme Court would have intervened (we are still waiting for a decision/opinion from SCOTUS).
How Mark Zuckerberg's Move Will Impact Meta and Creators
So much to unpack about Meta Donald Trump: ‚ÄúI think they come a long way, Meta, Facebook. I watched it ‚ÄĒ the man was very impressive.‚ÄĚ Elon Musk: ‚ÄúThis is cool.‚ÄĚ Everybody has an opinion‚Ķ Do you? ‚ÄúThe recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech.
Is TikTok Over In The US?
Should TikTok be banned? We ran a poll on the future of TikTok TikTok’s “What’s Next Trend Report 2025” What do creators, journalists, and social media experts think? 🚨 Webinar alert Jan 21 — Do you want TikToker Aaaron Parnas to answer your questions about TikTok? Reactions from Substack’s creators and writers 🚨 $25,000 Substack prize alert — Can Substack attract TikTokers?
A deeper investment in legal support for writers and creators
At Substack, we are ardent defenders of a free press. We’ve seen firsthand that one of the greatest threats to that freedom is the ability of the wealthy and powerful to use spurious legal threats to silence reporting and opinions that challenge their interests. That’s why, five years ago, we started Substack Defender, a legal support program for independent journalists and creators.
The fight for free speech in 2025 and beyond
Principles have a price. Anyone can stand up for their values when it’s popular and easy, but principles are tested when standing up has a cost. I’ve had a chance to learn this lesson over the last eight years watching many courageous writers, journalists, and thinkers who stand up and exercise their freedom of expression, often at significant cost to themselves.
How TikTok creator Aaron Parnas found success on Substack
is an independent journalist and attorney who built a following on TikTok by providing a Gen Z perspective on the news. After winning Substack’s TikTok Liberation Prize, Aaron went live with Substack CEO to talk about bringing his community to the app, why Substack is different from the other guys, and how to build a multiplatform content strategy. Here are a few highlights from their conversation.
Now is the time for creators to build on their own land
With all the drama over whether or not TikTok will be blocked in the U.S., creators who have built an audience on the platform and depend on it for their livelihoods have been left with little comfort. But whatever happens to TikTok, it’s a moment that highlights the pressing need for creators to have control over their own destinies. While social platforms are great for reaching new audiences, relying on them alone is like building a house on rented land.
‘Get a dose of sanity’: How Dan Harris found success with live videos
is a bestselling author, the host of the 10% Happier podcast, and a former ABC news anchor. He went live with Substack CEO Chris Best yesterday to share the creative ways he’s been using live video in the Substack app, and offered recommendations for others hoping to take advantage of the feature. Here, we’re sharing a few highlights from their conversation. Learn more about going live on Substack: : This feature that we’re using right now, Substack Live, it’s a new thing for us.
Substack is positioning itself as Ellis Island for TikTokers.
Good morning everyone. I want to thank my readers who trust Feed Me as a place to break exciting, conversation-starting stories. On Sunday, one of you shared a story about the building that acts as the set of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment. After Feed Me covered the story, The New York Times, Gothamist, and The Sydney Morning Herald picked it up.
Political Correction and Discontent
Nancy and Ronald Reagan were the woke in the 80’s, Bush Sr and Clinton in the 90’s, W. Bush in the 2000’s, college kids in the 2010’s, and Ben Shapiro in the 2020’s. —J.L.Canter Just finished the audiobook The Freaks Came out to Write, it is the definitive history of the Village Voice and as radical and liberal as it was, and as terribly corporate and oppressive as it is now, it was the Substack of its time.
2024 RECAP: WELCOME TO AMERICA-The 1st Six Months
*Working tirelessly on an investigative piece on the Institutional Housing Market and it keeps getting bigger and better, but this year was…. I can’t find the right words to describe it. I’d be amiss to not take some time to reflect on the unbelievable events that took place this year. Hello Newcomers, welcome to our land. Never mind the noise about invasions, trust me, we’re not talking about you.
The new media, powered by Substack
, a media organization founded by the journalists , , and , and hosted by Substack, has relaunched its website with a fresh design. This relaunch showcases a model that, in the years ahead, will give big-vision publishers a new option for starting a fully-fledged media business, encompassing rich design, advanced websites, deep analytics, automated marketing features, and first-class support for video, audio, and more.
One Year Young
I didn’t start this newsletter to become a writer. In fact, I hated writing. My sole purpose was to share my passion for sports. On October 12, 2023, I began Sports Square here on Substack to “give sports news to the world, for FREE.” I never in my wildest dreams thought it would go this far. Maybe right after the MLB Postseason ended I would shut this whole thing down, and go back to my life. Thanks for reading Sports Square! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
One Year Young
I didn’t start this newsletter to become a writer. In fact, I hated writing. My sole purpose was to share my passion for sports. On October 12, 2023, I began Sports Square here on Substack to “give sports news to the world, for FREE.” I never in my wildest dreams thought it would go this far. Maybe right after the MLB Postseason ended I would shut this whole thing down, and go back to my life. Thanks for reading Sports Square! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Trump Shot In Ear, Fist Bumps Sky - Psychopolitica Livestream
When I saw the news about Trump getting shot at, I messaged , who had been testing Substack’s new streaming functionality: “If there’s ever a time to test out live streaming, it is now.” Tomorrow, or the day after, or in three days, you’ll probably know you’re expected to think. But right now, we’re in the moment. How does it feel? Chris asked if I wanted to try out the feature myself.
Substack Growth Tips for People Who Hate Substack Growth Tips
I’ve been deep into learning about Substack since I got going recently. In my reading, I’ve come across a number of bestsellers who’ve been kind to share their learnings, and I’ve started pulling them together in monthly recaps. If you like this post, give her a little heart! You also may also like: How to Increase Your Paid Subscribers: The Best Substack Growth Tips of the Month (May 2024) The Best Substack Tips of the Month (April).
The two futures of media
Technology is a powerful force for making things better and cheaper. But it is not without problems. It is, after all, a tool wielded by humans, and we occasionally have our failings. Technology can make drugs that save or destroy lives; it can create energy for peace, or for destruction. So inquiring about the innate goodness or badness of a given technology is kind of beside the point. Like any tool, it amplifies the power of the people who use it, in competence and error, for good and evil.
A BIG Substack Vulnerability: Stripe Payments
**NOTE** If you are reading this via email, the post is too long and is cut midway through. Click to open it in a browser or use the Substack App to read the full article. Available for iOS and Android As a platform that advertises free speech and a censorship-free environment (as long as you adhere to their minimal Ts & Cs), Substack is hiding a dirty little secret. The company is stealthily outsourcing the potential for censorship to its exclusive payment provider, Stripe.
How To Get Into Harvard (Part 5) - Claudine Gay's Bootlicking Bobo and Board
Comrades: Harvard has fallen. After almost 400 years, the world’s most powerful university has publicly declared moral and intellectual bankruptcy. I could not have imagined such a stunning collapse, even after ranking Harvard #1 in my Demoralized DIEvy League March Madness tournament earlier this year.
Fantasies: part 8
The Triverse is Mid-Earth, an alternate 1970s London Max-Earth, a vision of the 26th century Palinor, where magic is real Previously: A raid on a drugs lab has left DC Kaminski in intensive care, while his partner DC Chakraborty continues to follow the money. Meanwhile, the consequences of the general election are beginning to become clearer… Catch up on the whole story with the exclusive ebook edition by upgrading your subscription London. 1974. August.
An app to take back your mind
Dear reader, We’ve built you a brand-new app. While the first Substack app was a simple tool to read all your newsletters in one place, we’re now evolving it to become a portal to an amazing universe of stories, ideas, and people. In the app, you can not only find the latest posts from the writers you love, but also hang out and have fun with the smartest people you know.
An algorithm for quality
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An algorithm for quality
Sometimes it can feel like the online spaces you spend time in are working against you, pushing you toward things that their owners value instead of what you value—and harnessing your energy to fuel the very things you hate. Like me, you probably know the feeling of spending too much time gorging on digital junk food, wasting precious moments of your life that you can’t get back. Maybe you’ve even felt yourself becoming someone other than who you want to be. Angrier. More distracted.
a bunch of tips for using Notes + my origin story using the platform++
hi hello! Huge news over in BAT country today: At 10am PST I’m doing a workshop thing on using Notes, which is Substack’s version of Twitter, though I am being told Substack may change the product’s name to XXX to align with Twitter’s recent move to X. Anyways, its a cool time to hop on Notes because they recently launched a ‘follow’ feature, which means you can follow writers and readers without being subscribed to their stack.
Writer Office Hours π Special Edition
Today Substack co-founders and are here to answer writerβs questions about how Substack is evolving, and what their vision is for writers and readers. How to participate We posted a note from the Substack Writers account to start the conversation. Use β@β mentions to invite other writers to participate in the conversation with us today. Live workshop for writers:Curious about how to use Notes well?
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