“It is not the critic who counts.”
These famous words uttered by former President Theodore Roosevelt in 1910 endure because there’s much to celebrate about those who enter the “arena” and put everything on the line.
But for better or worse, the so-called “critic” counts more today than perhaps ever before.
Podcasts, newsletters, social media, and platforms like Substack have given independent journalists and commentators enormous reach, with the potential to graduate from simply commentating on politics to actually shaping the national debate.
Now, as Spider-Man once said, “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Which is to say, just because everyone can have a newsletter doesn’t mean everyone should.
Right Good News aims to stand out in this crowded landscape by offering interesting, useful, and concise analysis of American politics, public policy, and the forces shaping the Republican Party and conservative movement.
Teddy Roosevelt was right to honor “the man who is actually in the arena.” But today, the line between those in the arena and those in the crowd is more blurred than it was a century ago.
We hope to make this a space that helps readers better understand what matters, what it means, and what may come next. In other words, a space that counts.