Good News IRL · Chicago launch edition

News that leaves you informed, not defeated.

Proof the world is better than your feed: a five-minute briefing about meaningful progress across the world, the United States, and the communities we call home.

Three thoughtful drops a weekGet Good News IRL.

Free during the pilot. Sources in every story. By joining, you agree to receive Good News IRL; unsubscribe anytime. Privacy

Every story includes

01Evidence
02Limitations
03What happens next

Launch desk · Greater Chicago

Signals worth following

Three source-led launch briefings. Every claim links back to the public record, and every story names what remains uncertain.

Explore every story

Launching local · Built to travel

Starting in Chicagoland. Designed for everywhere.

Chicago neighborhoods, suburban communities, and the systems connecting them are our first edition—not the limit of the idea. What we learn here will shape future city and national desks.

How we report

Optimism has to earn your trust.

We do not publish good vibes at the expense of the full story. We investigate responses to real problems and show you what the evidence can—and cannot—prove.

  1. 01
    Start with a real problem.

    No puff pieces and no pretending harm did not happen.

  2. 02
    Test the response.

    Primary sources, affected people, critics, and visible evidence.

  3. 03
    Return to the story.

    Progress, setbacks, and failures all deserve a follow-up.

Read the founding editorial charter

The newsroom starts with listening

What’s working where you live?

Tell us about a response, project, or person worth investigating. A tip is the start of our reporting—not an automatic endorsement.

Especially useful:A specific place, a measurable result, and someone who has seen it up close.

Your scroll could use a counterweight

Get Good News IRL. Help shape the newsroom.

Three short editions a week, beginning with Greater Chicagoland.

Join the founding readers