From the desk of James McKinney

Blog

Thoughts on news, media, and building Ripple.

The best AI news apps in 2026 (I build one of them)

Particle, Ground News, Feedly, Apple News, Google News, Perplexity and my own app, Ripple. Real prices, real platforms, and an honest verdict on who each one is actually for.

Ground News alternatives in 2026 (I build one of them)

AllSides, Particle, Feedly, Apple News, Google News and my own app, Ripple. Real 2026 prices, which ones do bias ratings, and an honest answer on whether Ground News is worth paying for.

The 9 most trusted news sources in 2026 (and the blind spot in each one)

The 9 most trusted and reliable news sources in 2026, with who funds each one and where it is weakest. Gallup put US trust in media at a record-low 28%.

How to read the news without bias in 2026

Every news outlet has an angle. Here's how to spot bias, read past it, and actually understand what's happening in the world.

Why I Built Ripple

I got tired of every news app trying to make me angry. So I built one that just tells you what's going on.

News that actually matters to you.

Personalized briefings from 11 news sources. Free to read, with 3 Ripples to try. Ripple Premium includes up to 50 personalized ripples per day.

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