A quick note from 30,000 feet

I’m writing this somewhere between California and Virginia, with Newton curled up on my lap, and I just wanted to say thank you.

To my paid subscribers: you’re the reason I’m on this plane. I genuinely never thought I’d be able to make a living writing about oligarchs, BCIs, surveillance infrastructure, and all the other cheerful topics that keep me up at night. And yet, here we are. Newton is heading home for the holidays because you pay me to be unhinged about Oracle. God love ya.

I know I’m not alone in saying this year has been brutal for all of us. Politically, economically- in every way that matters. But even in the middle of all of it, I have this: a community of people who believe that this work is worth doing. Who make it possible for me to keep doing it.

I don’t take that for granted. Not for a second. So please, rest up this holiday season. We’ve got a big fight ahead of us in 2026.

—Audrey (and Newton)