A Special Message from Katrina vanden Heuvel

As we near the end of 2024, it feels all too easy to get distracted by the dangers looming on the horizon. An incoming presidential administration that’s promised unprecedented attacks on economic and human rights and ravaging our domestic and public health infrastructure, ever-worsening consequences of climate change here and around the world, a rising tide of right-wing authoritarianism—any one of these can be overwhelming to confront on their own, and in combination, a recipe for absolute despair.

But despite everything, I’m overwhelmed not by hopelessness, but by gratitude. 

On behalf of everyone at The Nation, I want to extend our deepest thanks to you. Thank you, from all of us, for showing up as a reader and a dedicated supporter of independent journalism.

Because of readers and supporters like you, The Nation has been able to maintain not just a newsroom full of some of the most influential journalists and incisive thinkers of our time, but to support our team of editors, copy editors, fact-checkers, illustrators, graphic designers, and producers at a time when most news organizations are cutting budgets in favor of stakeholder bonuses and corporate profits. 

You’ve made it possible for us to continue featuring the voices you rely on for reporting and analysis grounded in truth, transparency, and integrity: Elie Mystal’s reporting on the justice system, political commentary and analysis from John Nichols, Joan Walsh, and Jeet Heer, investigative and in-depth reporting on the war in Gaza from Mohammed El-Kurd, coverage of reproductive rights and abortion access from Amy Littlefield, deeply reported features from writers like James Bamford, Bryce Covert, Talia Lavin and historian Eric Foner, architecture and policy writing from Kate Wagner as well as writing at the intersection of sports and politics from Dave Zirin and so much more.

This work isn’t just important, urgent, and powerful—it’s also meaningful. Our readers rely on The Nation to help make sense of our complicated, challenging, and too-often unjust world, and to provide a deeper understanding not just of the world as it is, but as it could be. And with that understanding, readers like you go out into the world everyday to start conversations, ask questions, hold the powerful to account, organize in your communities, and yes: Stand up to despair.

This holiday season, I’m sharing my gratitude, because we couldn’t do this work without you. You don’t just make it worth it, you make it possible. As we head into the new year, I can’t wait to see what we do next. Together.

My very best wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful year ahead. 

Ever onwards,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

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