Konnichiwa. Or as my English-speaking readers prefer, “hello.” I’m Matt Labash, and welcome to Slack Tide, my brand spanking-new Substack. Just saying those words makes me feel like a honking cliché. Not the Matt Labash part. There aren’t many of us. The only other one who shows up in my Google alerts is a star college lacrosse player. I keep meaning to ask if he’d like to trade lives.
Matt, you are the only journalist I've ever paid to read. I even bought your old book. Since the Weekly Standard closed, I had been refreshing your muckrack page, pawning after every new article. I'm delighted to see that you're writing again.
“This is not just our politicians’ fault. The fault is ours, as well. They are of us, we elect them. They aren’t just our flawed leaders. They’re our mirror.”
You are exactly correct, sir. We get the government we deserve. We need to become better citizens to deserve and demand better leaders. I look forward to more of your writing.
I'm so glad you're here! If I could only afford one subscription, it would be yours! I would also be delighted to read your musings on Steve Perry and Neal Schon. Thanks for making my day!
Once, a long time ago, I got a postcard from a guy I met in a bar just outside Auckland. It read simply "To the night Dennis hit the deck." A less than solemn memorial to my attempt to match Black Labels with a Kiwi.
As a devoted WS fan of your work, I couldn't be gladder that you're back.
Hi Matt-I subscribe to the The Morning Dispatch and they referenced your new Substack newsletter with the link. Always looked forward to reading your articles in The Weekly Standard. Good luck on your new endeavor!
Thanks, Kevin. Pretty soon, people are going to have to quit their jobs to have time to read all these newsletters. I enjoyed your film "Clerks," by the way.
Good memory, Brad. That was about ten years ago now. Wouldn't sound like it, but some of the most fun I've ever had reporting a story. Mainly, because I got to fish a lot in Montana. And even successfully expensed a pair of fishing boots when my old ones fell apart mid-story. (Take that accounting!) And those Marines I fished with, of course, were the best. Let it all hang out and let me really tell their stories. Some of which were pretty gnarly. Here it is if anyone's curious: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/semper-fly
The Dispatch sent me here. You string words together nicely and I didn’t have to “look up” any of them. As a former parent supporting two out of state colleges, I am here to say you will feel incredibly wealthy when it is over. And our kids take us out to dinner, now. I look forward to your emails and appreciatively purchased a year’s worth to read among my sheep rancher duties.
Or I'll be eating cat food. Either/or. But thanks for the kind sentiments, Karen. And I will try to use bigger words in the future just to keep people off balance.
I'm so excited that you're back. We loved the Weekly Standard (RIP), and my favorite issues were ones that had your articles in them. I own your books and love your take on the world. You can thank The Dispatch crew for my subscription, but I'm thrilled to see that my friend, Jim Swift, is out there shilling for you.
Thank you, dear. I really appreciate it. Jim's only doing that because he owes me money. But actually, Jim Swift is one of the best people I know. God's honest truth.
Matt, you are the only journalist I've ever paid to read. I even bought your old book. Since the Weekly Standard closed, I had been refreshing your muckrack page, pawning after every new article. I'm delighted to see that you're writing again.
Many thanks, Zach. I seriously appreciate your support then, and now.
“This is not just our politicians’ fault. The fault is ours, as well. They are of us, we elect them. They aren’t just our flawed leaders. They’re our mirror.”
You are exactly correct, sir. We get the government we deserve. We need to become better citizens to deserve and demand better leaders. I look forward to more of your writing.
Tucker Carlson is also an avid flyfisherperson. He actually hangs out in Central Park in NYC and fishes there.
I'm so glad you're here! If I could only afford one subscription, it would be yours! I would also be delighted to read your musings on Steve Perry and Neal Schon. Thanks for making my day!
Thanks, Shauna. Greatly appreciate it. And Don't Stop Believin'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcjzHMhBtf0
My husband and I are excited you’re back! Looking forward to laugh out loud moments with a lot of common sense.
I vote for a homeopathic dose of politics - undetectable by even the most sensitive analytical methods!
Once, a long time ago, I got a postcard from a guy I met in a bar just outside Auckland. It read simply "To the night Dennis hit the deck." A less than solemn memorial to my attempt to match Black Labels with a Kiwi.
As a devoted WS fan of your work, I couldn't be gladder that you're back.
Fantastic, Dennis. Appreciate it.
I'm intrigued. And we both have the same editor.
Fire him!
Great to see you are back! Always enjoyed your work for the Weekly Standard.
Are you following me? How'd you get this address? Great to have you, Barry. Thanks for sticking with me.
Hi Matt-I subscribe to the The Morning Dispatch and they referenced your new Substack newsletter with the link. Always looked forward to reading your articles in The Weekly Standard. Good luck on your new endeavor!
Thanks, pal. Always like it when the old homeyz from The Weekly Standard stop by.
Good luck on the new adventure! I look forward to adding this to my ever-expanding reading list...
Thanks, Kevin. Pretty soon, people are going to have to quit their jobs to have time to read all these newsletters. I enjoyed your film "Clerks," by the way.
Ha! I wish I was "that guy" (he has a bigger paycheck/bank account).
Dispatch was my immediate referral, but I also remember your work at WS. Especially the piece about taking veterans with PTSD for flyfishing therapy.😎
Good memory, Brad. That was about ten years ago now. Wouldn't sound like it, but some of the most fun I've ever had reporting a story. Mainly, because I got to fish a lot in Montana. And even successfully expensed a pair of fishing boots when my old ones fell apart mid-story. (Take that accounting!) And those Marines I fished with, of course, were the best. Let it all hang out and let me really tell their stories. Some of which were pretty gnarly. Here it is if anyone's curious: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/semper-fly
The Dispatch sent me here. You string words together nicely and I didn’t have to “look up” any of them. As a former parent supporting two out of state colleges, I am here to say you will feel incredibly wealthy when it is over. And our kids take us out to dinner, now. I look forward to your emails and appreciatively purchased a year’s worth to read among my sheep rancher duties.
Or I'll be eating cat food. Either/or. But thanks for the kind sentiments, Karen. And I will try to use bigger words in the future just to keep people off balance.
Vestibulocochlearly,
ML
The Dispatch directed me to you. Looking forward to your clever and insightful work.
Same with me!
You had me at your tribute to Rerun. Pleasure to read. Subscribed!
Thanks, BEM. I miss him. Shirley Hemphill, too.
Also here due to JVL's referral; but always glad to support the former Weekly Standard crew.
I'm so excited that you're back. We loved the Weekly Standard (RIP), and my favorite issues were ones that had your articles in them. I own your books and love your take on the world. You can thank The Dispatch crew for my subscription, but I'm thrilled to see that my friend, Jim Swift, is out there shilling for you.
Thank you, dear. I really appreciate it. Jim's only doing that because he owes me money. But actually, Jim Swift is one of the best people I know. God's honest truth.
No argument here. I've known the kid since he was a 17-year-old HS senior and I was his SLU admission counselor. Love him.