So a few years ago I found myself seated next to an Important Man at some Important Dinner complaining about my internet bill. It kept getting higher and the service wasn't getting better and because there were no other providers in the area, there wasn't much I could do. He laughed at me when I told him I planned to write about it, which I eventually did. I knew I was not the only victim of America's monopoly problem, which I was reminded of every time my Optimum bill landed in my mailbox each month.
That's the thing about the economy — it can feel really lonely. But it shouldn't. Chances are, you're not the only one standing at the rental car counter or booking a plane ticket or listening to your HOA meeting and thinking, "God, this situation is wild."
When I launched The Big Squeeze, I hoped to make people feel a little less alone in the way our economic system works. It's really not you, it's … everything. (Okay, sometimes it's you — and me — but listen, nobody's perfect.)
Anyway, that's a big wind-up to say that we're sunsetting The Big Squeeze and this is the last little edition, or, I guess, a goodbye note. Thank you so much for reading, for sending ideas, and for giving feedback, even the mean kind. This project has been so much fun. You can still find me on Twitter/X and Threads.
Also, if you're not already a subscriber, Vox has plenty of other newsletters you should check out. Might I recommend Culture, a personal fav and true delight?
