Not blowing smoke here John, but I had grown quite accustomed to your cadence, timing and delivery on CBS. (Not to mention crisp writing) This "Stack the Week" format, therefore, is simply the best. You are correct that the most useful experience comes from your reading aloud version. Great stuff, thanks.
Wow that’s a lot to unpack for me! I like when you separate the spin from the facts because sometimes we are only fed the spin. I followed you in legacy media because of your ability to ask the key questions. Just like here - how does a blockade actually work? Was the threat as imminent as Bessent suggests? How real was the strike on London? Was military action the only way to remove it? How can we support independent media to ask these questions to those in power?
I went with the audio version and was glad I did. It was nice to hear your voice. With the current administration, “news flashes” are coming at us fast and furiously, and between the mainstream news services and the growth of independent platforms like Substack we now have an almost overwhelming number of choices of where to obtain important news. Rapid fire reporting updates come to us in our inboxes and apps. Even for a retiree like myself it can be difficult to keep up. For those employed or otherwise busy it is easy to miss important stories. I really appreciate the summary of key stories of the past week with accompanying commentary. It fills in the gaps we may have missed, and reminds us of important stories we may have forgotten due to the sheer number of events and stories that we’ve read or heard about in the meanwhile. The weekly stack reminds me of medical educational services like “Practical Reviews, which was an audio and written summary of key journal articles presented by experts in the field who also gave their opinion on the article they reviewed. Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to enjoy your commentary in this form or at least something similar.
This audio stack made my weekend. I generally prefer listening to reading, often as I walk or commute. In my delight, i explained to my daughter why I was so pleased. I told her that when you find a person - a journalist - that you can trust, who has impeccable standards and credentials, and they deliver in their own voice the news that they themselves have gleaned, it’s priceless. I don’t open every email. Luckily I opened this one, which had the audio link. I wonder how many other folks missed the audio stack, not knowing it was there. To me, having you read, and not AI (unless it’s you impersonating AI!), makes the stack twice as valuable.
Anything I read on a computer screen, if it is possible and available, I have it read to me as I read along. Mostly, the reading is done by computer voices. Though those voices have improved, they read in a monotone (or I imagine some inflection that isn't there.) I love listening to your very human (even weary...toward the end) voice and the hints of emotion or humor, sadness or irony that sneak in. Please keep this up if you can. I see the story on Monday and your reminder on Friday helps lock it into my "little grey cells." Thanks much.
Thank you for the transcript and helping to re-frame some of the crazier things going on in the world- some of it just plain embarrassing regarding all the hoopla with the Pope and the President/VP.... really appreciate the Friday wrap-up....hope that you had a fun trip to Chicago!
John: Thank you so much for doing this. I listened to it while doing a little weekend writing and had to frequently stop because something you said popped through my “not now, I’m writing" bubble. I’ll give you full attention next time.
Oh, let me know when the Picasso will arrive so I have someone at the house to sign for it.
Feedback: Like the length of each topic, the clarification approach for each topic (explaining if not overly familiar topic . Ex: just war), professional delivery of the audio. Still like the written available to reread parts. With so much news noise available, like the concise focus of the week summary. Can’t think of anything I would change. I really don’t have a wall for a Picasso, share it with someone else. :)thank you for wry humor.
Too noisy where I was, so I read it all the way to the end. And like any Dickerson essay, it was…wait for it…good to the last drop.
Not blowing smoke here John, but I had grown quite accustomed to your cadence, timing and delivery on CBS. (Not to mention crisp writing) This "Stack the Week" format, therefore, is simply the best. You are correct that the most useful experience comes from your reading aloud version. Great stuff, thanks.
Wow that’s a lot to unpack for me! I like when you separate the spin from the facts because sometimes we are only fed the spin. I followed you in legacy media because of your ability to ask the key questions. Just like here - how does a blockade actually work? Was the threat as imminent as Bessent suggests? How real was the strike on London? Was military action the only way to remove it? How can we support independent media to ask these questions to those in power?
I went with the audio version and was glad I did. It was nice to hear your voice. With the current administration, “news flashes” are coming at us fast and furiously, and between the mainstream news services and the growth of independent platforms like Substack we now have an almost overwhelming number of choices of where to obtain important news. Rapid fire reporting updates come to us in our inboxes and apps. Even for a retiree like myself it can be difficult to keep up. For those employed or otherwise busy it is easy to miss important stories. I really appreciate the summary of key stories of the past week with accompanying commentary. It fills in the gaps we may have missed, and reminds us of important stories we may have forgotten due to the sheer number of events and stories that we’ve read or heard about in the meanwhile. The weekly stack reminds me of medical educational services like “Practical Reviews, which was an audio and written summary of key journal articles presented by experts in the field who also gave their opinion on the article they reviewed. Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to enjoy your commentary in this form or at least something similar.
One more thought:
Let’s rename it Schrödinger’s Strait. It’s both open and closed.
You’re welcome.
I love hearing your voice. I miss the familiarity of your broadcasts and the calmness of your speech. So this is great! Thanks.
This audio stack made my weekend. I generally prefer listening to reading, often as I walk or commute. In my delight, i explained to my daughter why I was so pleased. I told her that when you find a person - a journalist - that you can trust, who has impeccable standards and credentials, and they deliver in their own voice the news that they themselves have gleaned, it’s priceless. I don’t open every email. Luckily I opened this one, which had the audio link. I wonder how many other folks missed the audio stack, not knowing it was there. To me, having you read, and not AI (unless it’s you impersonating AI!), makes the stack twice as valuable.
Thank you for what must be a labor of love.
Thoroughly enjoyed this stack read by you John. I feel completely caught up with what I need to know. Thanks!
Anything I read on a computer screen, if it is possible and available, I have it read to me as I read along. Mostly, the reading is done by computer voices. Though those voices have improved, they read in a monotone (or I imagine some inflection that isn't there.) I love listening to your very human (even weary...toward the end) voice and the hints of emotion or humor, sadness or irony that sneak in. Please keep this up if you can. I see the story on Monday and your reminder on Friday helps lock it into my "little grey cells." Thanks much.
Thank you for the transcript and helping to re-frame some of the crazier things going on in the world- some of it just plain embarrassing regarding all the hoopla with the Pope and the President/VP.... really appreciate the Friday wrap-up....hope that you had a fun trip to Chicago!
I am a sturdy and worthy citizen!!
Love this format & your delivery. Oh and the writing of course!
I loved listening to your voice on CBS so listening to this was a treat. Thinking it would be lovely to see the Pope blessing the Door Dash lady. 🤗
It’s really great to have a recap of all the week’s biggest stories, not to mention one in the inimitable voice of one John Dickerson.
John: Thank you so much for doing this. I listened to it while doing a little weekend writing and had to frequently stop because something you said popped through my “not now, I’m writing" bubble. I’ll give you full attention next time.
Oh, let me know when the Picasso will arrive so I have someone at the house to sign for it.
Cheers.
Feedback: Like the length of each topic, the clarification approach for each topic (explaining if not overly familiar topic . Ex: just war), professional delivery of the audio. Still like the written available to reread parts. With so much news noise available, like the concise focus of the week summary. Can’t think of anything I would change. I really don’t have a wall for a Picasso, share it with someone else. :)thank you for wry humor.