Punchbowl News is an online political news daily, in Washington, D.C., which debuted January 3, 2021, as "a membership-based news community", which focuses on the individuals "who power the US legislature". It intends to be non-partisan and non-judgemental, focusing on scoops and facts about Congress and the Washington power establishment, particularly core power-players.[1][2][3]
The initial products from Punchbowl included a free weekday-morning newsletter. Premium subscribers (annual subscription: $300[1]) also received afternoon and evening editions, and access to question-and-answer sessions with the authors, online via Zoom, and a Sunday conversation.[1][3] The team launched a podcast with Cadence13 in early February 2021,[1][3][4] and by early April 2021, it was available as The Daily Punch on Apple Podcasts Preview.[5] Conference calls and virtual events are also to be provided to subscribers.[1]
.) ...make news "a conversation between... audience and... reporters".[3]
.) "...chart power and... focus on the one hundred [persons in power who] matter... congressional leadership... people around [them], corporations that war in Washington, [along with] leadership at the White House".[3]
Sherman indicated that the publication would be non-partisan, and refrain from value judgments and commentary, focusing instead on identifying newsworthy facts.[1][3]
Washington insiders, as subscribers, were the Punchbowl's initial target market.[1] Sherman described his target market as "people who [must] exist in Washington, people who [must] exist in the government, or [people] who deeply care about it" — whether professionally or as a hobby.[3]
Sherman said that Punchbowl News would differentiate itself from other media by largely ignoring sensational stories about the declarations, posturing, and gaffes of individual politicians and officials — focusing, instead, on "power... exercise of power... people abusing power".[3]
Initial funding, organized by the media banker Aryeh Bourkoff of Kindred Media, was US $1 million, which was relatively minor startup funding compared to the semi-rivals Politico and Axios. However, Sherman reported that they initially garnered far more subscribers than expected.[1]
Initial staffing involved only the four co-founders, with Palmer as CEO and Schindler running operations[1] — but Sherman indicated in January that they planned to expand and diversify the team.[1][3]
Within 72 hours of the first publication of Punchbowl News on January 6, 2021, the Capitol was stormed and occupied by protestors in a violent insurrection. Sherman and Bresnahan were present behind a door on which protesters were banging.[4]
