We are The Smattering
An independent political satire newsletter, written since 2022 for people who read the news and need a minute.
Political news has never been easier to find. There is more of it every hour, from more people, in more places. But having news is not enough. Somebody has to read it, laugh at it and still be able to tell what is real. That is the last mile of the news, and it is where we work.
Everything here is satire
The Smattering publishes political satire and fiction. Stories start from real events, but the quotes, memos, aides and outcomes past that starting point are invented. Nothing on this site should be read as factual reporting.
Our editorial standards
“A joke only works if people can tell it is one. So we label every story, aim every joke up and keep the real news one sentence away.”
The Smattering style guide
“The news already sounds like satire. Our job is to go one step further and show you where the step is.”
The Smattering Desk
Written by a small desk
We started as an email newsletter in 2022 and still think of ourselves that way: short pieces, once or twice a week, sent to people who asked for them. Story tips, corrections to our fiction and angry letters from fictional aides go to desk@thesmatteringnews.com.
Write to the desk
How we write
Four rules from our style guide that every story passes before it is published.
Write it straight
A wire-service voice, every time. The joke lives in the content, not in the tone.
One step further
We start from real news and go exactly one step past it.
Aim up
Politicians, parties, agencies, networks and billionaires. Never people without power.
Label everything
Each story carries a satire label, so the joke travels with its context.
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New satire in your inbox once or twice a week. No paywall, no spam and absolutely no mercy for the people in charge.
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