Thanks for your patience as I continue to work out a few kinks in Political Wire‘s new look. Readers have been very helpful in spotting bugs, glitches and other problems.

Here’s a sampling of the feedback:

I like it. Not that it makes any of your stories happier or cheerier, but it makes the reading experience more pleasant. Keep up the great work.

A majority of comments were like this one:

Love the new look! Much more distinctive and very easy to read.

But not everyone is happy. About a dozen readers shared this sentiment:

I’m an addictive reader and contributor on Political Wire.  I’m not someone who is afraid of change or simply likes things “the old way.”  So from that perspective I’m offering this critique: the red brick color for the headlines just glares off the screen. It’s off-putting/uninviting.  I would say most of the readers come to PW for a calm conversation about the topics of the chaotic political day and a softer or more soothing color would work better for me.

In the hundreds of comments received, I’ve also had many good suggestions. Please keep them coming!

What a nice email to start the day:

I just wanted to send you a quick note letting you know how much I appreciate your site.

I first discovered Political Wire as a 13-year-old in the early years of the George W. Bush administration.  It’s not an exaggeration to say I have checked this site nearly every day since then.  What initially began as something of a childish curiosity about who would run for president in the next election has transformed into a much deeper fascination with campaigns and a lifelong addiction to observing the twists and turns of the political news cycle.  Whether I have 5 minutes to quickly skim the headlines of the day, or hours to delve into some of the excellent political news and commentary you include, I make my way to your site any time I want to know what is going on in the world of politics.

Since changing over to the subscription model, I am really impressed with the consistently thoughtful commentary and other special nuggets you provide to subscribers.  At $5 a month it’s a great deal to anyone who values concise, high-quality, non-sensationalist insight into the rather insane world of modern politics.

Good luck with everything and please keep doing what you do!

Political Wire only exists because of the support of readers.  If you’re not yet a member, join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

Rarely does a week go by without me getting an email from someone asking for advice about starting a political blog, so I wrote a quick tutorial on how to get going.

For a limited time, Bluehost has a special deal: For just $2.95 a month, they’ll host your blog, install WordPress and give you a free domain name.

A Political Wire member just got his renewal remainder and sent this email:

Thank you, Taegan. I can’t lie: the notice that my credit card had expired filled me with a momentary panic about not having full access to Political Wire. “OMG, what will I do without this?”

Then I realized I could update the card. Rationality flies out the window when faced with the prospect of deep emotional loss.

Thanks for all you do with the site.

I’m so grateful to everyone who supports Political Wire.

If you’re not yet a member, join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

A very generous reader has offered to underwrite discounted memberships for college students.

The first 30 students who send an email from their college email address, will get a coupon code for 40% off the annual membership.

I’m so appreciative of this amazing community.

The political news just doesn’t stop these days, so it was nice to get this email from a reader:

For quite some time — years, I suppose — I have been a loyal reader who unfortunately has not been a loyal supporter. A bit of excess income has made it possible for me to finally be a subscriber, but I am aware that it is only a small gesture of appreciation for my daily perusal of your blog, a habit that I’ve been happy to cultivate years. Yours is by far the best political news source that I have encountered, and anyone who spends time on the site would surely agree. Clear, concise and curated with expertise — what more could I ask for?

I’ve found myself checking Political Wire daily — often more than once a day — for several years, and unlike other politically oriented sites, somehow it never grows old.

Join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

Thanks to everyone who supports Political Wire!

Here’s another great email to share from a satisfied Political Wire member:

I was somewhat hesitant a year ago to spend $50, but I was visiting twice, sometimes three times a day and felt I should pay my share. Best $50 I ever spent and I happily renewed today for another year. Thank you for your tireless efforts to bring political news to me each and every day. I don’t know when you eat, sleep, shop for groceries, etc.

Join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

Thanks to everyone who supports Political Wire!

Getting this note was a great way to start the week:

I just received an email confirming my automatic renewal for membership on Political Wire. On my 3rd anniversary of joining the paid members service, I’d like to take a second to thank you for all you do. Your site is an absolute must and I’m glad I can contribute in a small way in helping it grow.  Thanks again!

And this one:

Your site is the only thing that has kept me sane since, well, you know when…

Join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

Thanks to everyone who supports Political Wire!

Here’s another really nice email:

I love your website. In these troubled times I check in dozens of times a day. You are steps ahead of everyone else. Best $50 I spend each year.

It’s support like this that makes Political Wire possible.

Join today for just $5 a month or $50 a year — and you’ll also get exclusive analysis, new features and no advertising.

Still wondering? This screenshot shows the full Political Wire experience.

Chris Riback, the host of Political Wire Conversations, has a free email newsletter which includes bonus insights and back stories from the podcast.

If you like the podcast, you’ll love the newsletter. Sign up today!

Political Wire wouldn’t exist without so many great members. It’s emails like this that keep me going:

Thank you for providing such a great site. Please don’t double the membership cost, but it would still be worth every penny.

I’ve been visiting this site for several years and do so several times a day. This is time and money well spent.

And this one too:

I love Political Wire. It makes be better informed and keeps me entertained to the point that my TV non-news viewing has dropped significantly.

If you’re not yet a member, join for just $5 a month or $50 a year. You’ll get exclusive analysis, new features, no ads — and you’ll be supporting a site you love.

Thanks to everyone who spends part of their day here!

Emails like this are really special:

I just got my automatic renewal notice and will happily sign up for another year’s membership!  Political Wire has been a more-than-daily stop for me for years now, and since the 2016 election has been absolutely indispensable. I knew paying constant attention to politics would be ruinous for my mental health, and ignoring it would be a dereliction of my duty as a citizen. Having a one-stop site full of carefully curated political news has been incredibly important for me.

And this one too:

I am a retired pastor as of this month. Because I am now on a very limited budget I have been forced to make some difficult decisions. I will be letting my Sirius XM subscription (and Beatles channel) and a couple of my hobby magazine subscriptions expire. I am choosing to keep my subscription to Political Wire because some days it is the only thing that keeps me sane and gives me much needed perspective on all the garbage coming out of the White House, Congress and the right.  I hope and pray everyday that truth will win out over the lies saturating Washington. Folks like you are keeping that hope alive. Thank you so much for what you do.

If you’re not yet a member, join for just $5 a month or $50 a year. You’ll get exclusive analysis, new features, no ads — and you’ll be supporting a site you love.

Thanks to everyone who spends part of their day here!

Such a nice note:

A lot of web sites are trying out subscription models these days. I appreciate the value of consistent income for the web site and a chance to offer a better viewing experience for the subscriber.

What sets Political Wire apart is the quality of the membership content. I am continually amazed at other web sites using Onion-esque clickbait headlines to try to draw readers into subscription articles, often ultimately with little or no substance.

By contrast, I appreciate that subscriber content for Political Wire distinguishes itself from the free site by offering insightful points of view and commentary. I very much like the distinction between a top-quality aggregation of political news in the free site and top-quality analysis by subscription.

Keep up the good work!

If you’re not yet a Political Wire member, please consider it. You’ll be supporting a site you love — and you’ll get exclusive analysis, new features and no ads.

Join for just $5 a month or $50 annually.

Ev Williams writes:

There is — and probably always will be — a surplus of free content. But that’s like saying there’s a surplus of free food in the dumpster behind the alley. Some of it may be perfectly good, but most of us would rather pay for something more reliable and convenient if we’re able. And many people will pay a lot for something superior.

If you’re not yet a Political Wire member, consider it. You’ll be supporting a site you love — and you’ll get exclusive analysis, new features and no ads.

Join for just $5 a month or $50 annually.

A reader received an automated email that her credit card was about to expire:

Thank you for this reminder. I already had a note on my calendar for today to check my credit card so that I would not lose a moment of Political Wire. Your reminder was an extra push for me on one of my busy days to get it done!

Your website has been a huge godsend in the past year. Political Wire has allowed me to focus on key issues without wading through Apple News or individual news sites. But it gives me the links and resources to follow up on those details, should I want. Best of all, my husband has even become a huge fan — each morning he “snatches” my iPad and prefers drinking his coffee and reading through your site, before we chat.

So thank you for the short reminder to update our card. We look forward to utilizing your insights and assessments in the coming year. The best $50 we will spend in the next 12 months, I am sure.

It’s emails like this that keep me going. Thanks to everyone who supports the site!

If you’re not yet a member, join for just $5 a month or $50 year.

Several generous readers have made donations so that I could offer discounted memberships for college students. I’m matching the donation.

The first 30 students who send an email from their college email address, will get a coupon code for 40% off the annual membership.

It’s just more proof that we have an amazing community here.