Start the Day Right with These Top National, Political Newsletters
Political news moves at a breakneck pace, and while following along on social media can be a great way to keep up with the latest blips on the screen, we also like to read a handful of political newsletters before stepping into the office—sometimes even our own. These newsletters give concrete analysis and offer a little more depth than a tweet, without being quite as long as a full-length article. If you are looking for our list of state blogs, go here. If you are looking for Substacks we love, look here.
Here are the top political newsletters that we subscribe to:
Politico Playbook
This quick and concise morning intel audio from Politico covers the day’s top national headlines. The audio is paired with a transcript, including links to the stories mentioned. Politico Playbook is one of the top-rated political newsletters by political professionals and is an easy listen to start your day with.
Politico Pulse
Another one of Politico’s political newsletters is the Politico Pulse. This morning round-up serves up a huge host of political snippets focusing on health care, politics, and policy. Plus, their breaking news updates are handy for the workday when you want to know what’s going on but don’t want to be distracted by social.
What a Day
This newsletter and 15-minute daily podcast by Crooked Media is hosted by reporter Gideon Resnick and comedian Akilah Hughes, who break down the day's top news in a way they describe as "what 'Fox & Friends' would sound like if it were hosted by two people whose parents read to them as children." Enough said.
The 5-Minute Fix
The Washington Post’s daily political cheat sheet is a great way to stay in the loop. It is a rundown of the day's biggest political news that can be read in less than five minutes.
On Politics
The New York Times guide to the political news cycle that cuts through the chaos of the day-to-day political noise. Get straight to the point with this political newsletter.
Axios AM
Start your day with Mike Allen’s top 10 stories of the day. He breaks down the main points of these 10 stories, along with links to the full story if you would like to dig deeper. It’s about a five-minute read and includes helpful graphics.
Cook Political Report
Amy Walter, Dave Wasserman, Jessica Taylor, and the rest of the team at the Cook Political Report do a great job of sorting through a ton of information to rate races in an easy-to-understand way.
The Atlantic Daily
This daily newsletter gives a handful of one-sentence article summaries on a topic of the day, along with links to the full articles. It also provides a link to one story as a daily “break from the news,” as well as the crossword.
Punchbowl News AM
Punchbowl News is still the upstart political newsletter with solid consistent content from veteran DC journalists they began as. They focus relentlessly on the people in Washington who make decisions, and on the news and events that move political markets.
The Campaign Workshop Blog
We post new, informative content once a week on topics ranging from advocacy to political campaigns to digital strategy. You will never get bored with our blog—each month the focus is on a new topic to incorporate the voices from our experienced staff. When you sign up for our blog, you will get a weekly email with updates on what we have been writing about.
Look at these options and find which suits you best. Once you find the political newsletters you like, you’ll be able to get into a routine of staying up to date with the latest headlines and remain informed. Have a favorite newsletter we missed? Drop us a note here.
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