Closer to the Edge Exists Because of You

Dear Rebels, Patriots, and Unhinged Individuals Who Still Believe in Journalism,

We did not expect this. We thought we’d be lucky to get a few thousand deranged readers in the U.S., maybe a couple of Canadians politely nodding along. Instead, Closer to the Edge has spread like an unvaccinated Floridian at a crowded pool party. We’re now being read in 50 states and 67 countries across six continents (Antarctica, get your act together).

But this isn’t just about us—it’s about you. Every time you read, subscribe, or drop our name into an argument at Thanksgiving just to ruin the vibe, you’re making sure this thing keeps growing. When you support Closer to the Edge—whether for free, as a paid subscriber, or as the kind of lunatic who scrawls our URL on a highway overpass—you’re not just funding articles. You’re ensuring that our signal gets stronger, reaches further, and makes life harder for authoritarian governments, billionaire media moguls, and Trump’s legal team.

Speaking of governments that aren’t thrilled with us, we’ve already been banned in Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Cuba, and a dozen other countries. If that’s not proof that we’re doing something right, we don’t know what is.

The United States remains our biggest audience, mostly because this country has more scandals per capita than a Kardashian family reunion. Trump’s all-caps rage tweets, shameless grifting, and reality-show approach to politics have made Closer to the Edge an absolute necessity. Canada is watching from the north, drinking maple syrup and wondering how the hell we let it get this bad. Mexico is treating the U.S. like a telenovela—equal parts entertaining and horrifying. Guatemala and Costa Rica are checking in, probably just to make sure none of this madness is contagious.

South America is fully on board. Brazil, a country where politics is somehow even more dramatic than Carnival, continues to read us between samba breaks. Chile is balancing wine, protests, and political dysfunction like a true professional. Ecuador—home to volcanoes, wildly unpredictable politics, and now Closer to the Edge—has joined the movement. If anyone is reading this from the middle of the Amazon rainforest, please send a postcard.

Europe, that chaotic mix of bureaucratic nightmares and ancient grudges, has fully embraced our brand of journalistic anarchy. The U.K. is reading us between pints and post-Brexit existential crises. Ireland is consuming this newsletter over Guinness-fueled debates about why everything is broken. France is probably reading this while casually setting a government building on fire. Germany is reading it while trying to balance efficiency with the fact that most of Europe treats them like the responsible adult at a house party. Spain and Portugal are proving that you can be deeply invested in global politics while also taking a four-hour nap in the middle of the day. The Netherlands and Belgium remain functioning societies despite their governments resembling a Jackson Pollock painting. Greece, the birthplace of democracy, is still arguing about everything, while Romania and Turkey continue their long tradition of surviving absolute nonsense. Slovenia and Croatia are watching the whole world unravel while enjoying excellent seafood.

Africa is now in on the action, because of course they are. South Africa, a country that has survived way worse than Trump, remains committed to reading Closer to the Edge between rolling blackouts. Kenya and Tanzania, home to breathtaking landscapes and the kind of political absurdity that makes American elections look reasonable, have joined the movement. Namibia, home to some of the toughest people on Earth, has accepted us into the fold. If we ever need a team of desert survivalists, we know where to look.

The Middle East and Asia are holding strong. Iraq is somehow reading us despite every obstacle imaginable, which makes our readers there absolute legends. India, a country where democracy and chaos have learned to live together like an old married couple, has become one of our most engaged audiences. Japan, a land of extreme discipline and absolute weirdness, is making time for Closer to the Edge between tea ceremonies and cyberpunk fever dreams. South Korea is thriving despite its neighbor treating missile launches like a fun weekend hobby. Southeast Asia—Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos—continues to balance rapid modernization with a deep appreciation for absolute nonsense, making them our kind of people. Indonesia and the Philippines, two nations that understand both political madness and the importance of good street food, are watching us closely. Bhutan, the world’s happiest country, somehow still finds time for existential dread, and Taiwan continues to exist despite China’s best efforts to pretend otherwise.

Australia, the only country where literally everything is actively trying to kill you, still finds time to read Closer to the Edge. This is the kind of dedication we admire. New Zealand, somehow running a government that isn’t a complete joke, is proving once again that they are just better than the rest of us.

And then there’s Antarctica. We are so close to covering the entire planet. If one person down there can just log in, even once, we complete the set. If you know anyone working in a science station, bribe them with whiskey, chocolate, or the promise of human interaction.

We’re reaching the world, but we are not done yet. If your country isn’t listed, fix it. If you know someone in a country where we aren’t read yet, send them a link. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a global takeover that doesn’t involve billionaires or military coups, this is your moment.