Why Am I Here?
Welcome to my Substack — a space for “high-key energy” takes at a time when things are high stakes.
I created this newsletter because I wanted a space to help us decipher the news cycle, sift through the barrage of noisy/scary headlines, and spotlight what matters. I’ll bring you informed deep dives, engaging live podcast sessions, and musings on things that strike me/blown up the group chat.
We’re living through extraordinarily complicated times. This isn’t the moment to disengage — as tempting as that sounds. But you don’t have to chug from the news firehose to feel caught up. Instead, consider this your twice-weekly dispatch from someone who’s constantly scrolling (doom and hope), digging, and trying to make sense of it all — so you don’t have to do it alone.
Please consider supporting my work by subscribing to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
What to Expect.
Each week, you’ll get a mix of sharp commentary, breaking-news decoding, and unexpected conversations with people who really get it. Some posts will tackle headlines you can’t ignore. Others will zoom in on stories you might’ve missed — or moments that deserve a second look.
Expect a mix, because I don’t do boxes: one day it’s the new Pope and American Catholicism’s intersection with far-right extremism, the next it’s a very real dispatch from the motherhood trenches. Politics, culture, religion, identity — if it’s shaping our world, I’m into it.
Who Am I? And Why Trust Me?
I’m Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani, aka CMT, an Emmy-nominated, British-Iranian-American journalist, mum(mom)-of-two, who believes nuance is a strength, not a liability.
I’m someone who has long-resisted being boxed in — and I’m betting you are too. I’m as invested in global politics as I am in pop culture. My reporting lens is wide, but my focus is sharp, though often sleep-deprived (See: mum/mom of two!).
I’ve anchored, reported, and created for NBC, VICE, The Atlantic, the Financial Times, Daily Beast, HuffPost, and more — covering everything from U.S. politics, global elections, feminist movements, civil rights reckonings, and more. I’ve interviewed icons, covered crises, and told stories from boardrooms to refugee camps.
This space is for the multidimensional, the over-thinkers, the quietly furious, the hopeful skeptics — and anyone else trying to stay awake and aware without burning out. Misinformation is on the rise - that’s not hyperbole - and with our growing use of AI it’s getting harder to be discerning. That’s where I hope to help be a helpful guide to you.
Join the high-key crowd!
Truly part of the reason of doing this is to engage with many of you who’ve followed and supported my work for years. This is your community as much as it is a space for me to get ideas on the page. So please do participate (respectfully) in the comments section. And if you can, support my work with a $5-a month subscription. Thank you!
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