45 Comments
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Ann Starkey's avatar

I wouldn't change anything, but I subscribe to too many newsletters and have a difficult time keeping up. Trust the donald to be the cause of that overflow, in every sector.

Tim Mak's avatar

We live in terribly interesting times, unfortunately.

SueJ's avatar

I'm still a paid subscriber to your Counteroffensive substack, Tim, but I can't afford both. If you're discontinuing your Ukraine substack account, let me know and I'll switch when the current subscription expires.

Tim Mak's avatar

We're definitely not stopping in Ukraine; for us Iran War Dispatches is an experiment to see if we can diversify and cover additional areas on top of Ukraine.

Mark F McCarthy's avatar

I agree with Sue J. Combine them at the same annual price

Tim Mak's avatar

I understand the sentiment, but if we do more work -- hire more journalists, edit more stories -- we need to charge more in order to support that. I hope that makes sense

Bill Thames's avatar

I would suggest putting the round ups at the top with the human interest story following the round ups. As to keeping the round ups or not, the human interest stories are excellent, but the reason I subscribed to your newsletter is for the round ups.

Tim Mak's avatar

So what we do is put nods to the roundups at the top... the latest news today. Then you scroll down for more detail. Is that a happy compromise?

Jim l Milligan's avatar

I like how your reporting is seriously from the ground up ⬆️😎🍻

Tim Mak's avatar

Thanks Jim! It's a tough job, but we're happy to do it!

Brenda Kurland's avatar

And I appreciate your restraint in not reporting a lot about US politics. Even though it's obviously important and frequently mentioned in comments, it's well trod territory in other reporting. Thank you for all you do!

Tim Mak's avatar

We're one of the very few who actually have sources inside Iran.

Andi Penner's avatar

Because you are corraling expert opinions and first-hand reports in real time from local sources, you provide what readers don't get from mainstream media. I'm looking for insight, understanding, alternative viewpoints. Right now, big picture context is critical.

Tim Mak's avatar

Andi -- thanks for recognizing that! We pride ourselves on reporting in areas others can't or don't.

Nahum Wengrov's avatar

I'm subscribed to both newsletters at the moment, and thank you and your crew for their unique reporting.

The round-ups are nice-to-have, and I do read them or at the very least glance at them. But what's really special about your newsletters is your unique approach to news reporting. If you need to sacrifice the summaries to focus better on other things, I won't be too sorry.

Tim Mak's avatar

Gotcha. Our focus has been and always will be our human-first reporting style.

Paula's avatar

I read both the Counteroffensive and Iran War Dispatches primarily for the human interest stories. Too often the people most affected by war and conflict are either ignored or lost in the political and military messaging and actions. In today’s day and age this concerns me greatly. The speed of the reporting and being on the ground are definite assets in getting these reports out to a wider public. The roundups are also a great addition. For me they add context to personal experiences reported on in the human interest stories. I appreciate this excellent reporting!

Tim Mak's avatar

I'm happy to hear you recognize this, because this is what we are absolutely going for!

P McCann's avatar

Some of us can’t afford subscriptions

Tim Mak's avatar

And you're welcome as a free reader! We're glad to have you.

Jim l Milligan's avatar

Since you’re a good and amazing medic and journalist ❤️do you find y self applying your knowledge in the field so to speak 🐬? Thanks 🙏🏻 fo your support Timbo that’s your new nickname

Tim Mak's avatar

In terms of medicine? Unfortunately yes.

Jim l Milligan's avatar

Tim the stories you tell keep us grounded in “reality” I know that the Americans I speak with are motivated by the honesty and integrity you and your team bring to the table. I have supported Ukraine and now we must also think of those who are being targeted in Iran. I can’t believe the targeting the US has already completed in this awful war.

Judy Peer's avatar

I echo SueJ's comment. Ever since I watched Servant of the People long before Putin's "special operation" started, I have been trying to understand what's actually happening in the war, and in the U.S. government's behavior toward Ukraine. Although I am impressed by your reporting on Iran, as an 83-year old person on a fixed income, I cannot afford to be a paid subscriber to both of your substacks. The quality of your writing as well as the human interest slant makes both of your substacks the first I read whenever you post.

Tim Mak's avatar

Judy -- that's extremely kind. Thank you!

Daria Steigman's avatar

I subscribe to Iran War Dispatches because supporting independent journalism is a priority spend for me. AND I value credible, on-the-ground reporting that the US main stream media cannot and will not provide. This is especially important at a time that the Trump regime is lying, if they're saying anything.

Randall's avatar

I am a paid subscriber to both of your publications; I have no objection to paying for value, although, as a retiree, I have limited funds.

What I'm looking for in your Iran reporting is some indication of how regular Iranians on the ground are viewing the ongoing events; do they support the regime? What would they like Iran to become? Y'all are doing great work in reporting from Ukraine, but I realize that the situation in Iran is much more difficult in the face of a repressive regime and a war with no frontlines.

Randall's avatar

I'd also be interested in what U.S. and Israeli servicemen involved in the fighting think about the war.

Benny the terrier's avatar

I frankly have trouble dealing with the world of new independent media, and get little value out of my subscriptions. I subscribe to both of your publications because I think what you,re doing is very valuable, but miss the days when AP was better funded and didn't let excellent journalists go,

Jim l Milligan's avatar

IAm your USA FLUX FOR HONESTY !let’s go

Carol Navarrete's avatar

I subscribe to you in order to learn more about what is happening in a faster and more accurate manner than what would come out on CNN, MSNBC or other heritage news outlets. Interviewing Iranians at a border crossing is rather limited in that regard.