Welcome to PRIMER!

Everything North Carolina needs to know, every morning.

Greetings, friends!

At my previous job, I created a morning newsletter called PRIMER. People seemed to enjoy reading it, I enjoyed writing it, and it was a bummer not to do it anymore. So I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve got my baby back.

Welcome to PRIMER 2.0.

To subscribe, enter your email address here. Starting later this month, you’ll begin receiving PRIMER in your inbox every weekday morning.

Just like before, PRIMER will have everything you need to know, every morning—only I’ll have more time and energy to commit to it each day.

For the uninitiated (hello!), here’s a bit about me: I’ve been a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines for about 20 years, the last five in the Triangle editing the INDY. I’ve won national awards for investigative reporting, political columns, and local government coverage. (See my portfolio here.) I have a master’s degree in political science and public policy analysis, an appreciation for science fiction, a fascination with political history, and a fondness for good bourbon.

For PRIMER, I’ll consume an obscene amount of local, state, and national news each day—politics and current events, of course, but also food, culture, science, and whatever else catches my eye—boil down the most important and interesting stories to their essential points, put them in their political and historical contexts, provide original reporting and analysis, and give you a quick, incisive rundown while you have your morning coffee.

In 10–15 minutes a day, you’ll be better informed than everyone in your office Slack.

And the whole thing’s free … unless, of course, you want to help out.

I won’t stop you.

Here’s all I ask: Hang out for a couple of weeks. If you find the newsletter valuable, your $5/month or $50/year subscription will go a long way toward making this experiment viable—and keeping it free for everyone else.

If money’s tight or you’d rather devote your resources to causes worthier than Another Newsletter Guy, please keep reading, tell your friends about us, and help us build a community.

I’m so happy you’re here, and I’ll see you soon.

—Jeffrey Billman

P.S.: Check out my website. Subscribe to my weekly column. Say hello. Follow me on Twitter.