Happy Christmas and Merry Hanukkah!

Why not make a holiday gift of Ask Questions Later? Here's why yes.

Dear Subscribers,

Thank you for being part of Ask Questions Later. Whether you're a free reader or a paid subscriber, you’re the lifeblood of this endeavor, and we’re grateful for your support. To the paid subscribers, let me say upfront: Please skip this post and go about your day. You’ve already stepped up, and I deeply appreciate it. All others: I hope you’ll take a moment to hear me out.

We live in a time when journalism and commentary are at a crossroads. High-quality writing and meaningful analysis can’t be free. Certainly not if it’s independent. Free content is often subsidized by ads, sponsors or those with agendas. That’s not inherently bad, but it can compromise integrity.

Even as the legacy media contracts (the AP, which I helped lead for decades, is downsizing by 8%), Ask Questions Later, like other Substack publications, has grown. We’re expanding coverage, delving deeper and bringing on new (paid) contributors to provide more diverse perspectives. Indeed, check out our retrospective on distinctive coverage of recent months here. But growth comes with costs and independent journalism needs investment — and that’s why I’m asking you to consider becoming a paid subscriber.

There are perks that come with the paid subscription. You can access the whole archive (articles over two weeks old) and get past the paywalls that appear even on many new articles. You can comment on all of them, and there will be content for paid users only. But the main perk, I think, is the satisfaction that comes from doing the right thing. From taking a stand for free thought, rigorous analysis, and a space free from undue influence.

We’re all deluged with content these days, and it’s easy to convince yourself that what’s already out there is enough. But the reality is that much of it is surface-level, driven by clicks, or beholden to external agendas. Or, indeed, much worse. So this holiday season, treat yourself to the joy of supporting independent journalism and commentary, and consider making Ask Questions Later a perhaps somewhat odd but also highly compelling gift.

I apologize for the solicitation—but your support is what makes Ask Questions Later possible. So to those of you who’ve been enjoying this space, I ask you to reflect: Is this something worth investing in? Thank you for considering — and for being here, regardless of your decision.

Dan Perry

Ask Questions Later