On with Kara Swisher Inside the Elon-Substack Drama with Chris Best & Hamish McKenzie
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Apr 13, 2023 
Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie, co-founders of Substack, dive into the turmoil surrounding their platform amid Elon Musk's recent criticisms. They clarify the intentions behind Substack Notes, countering the notion it's a Twitter clone. Highlighting the challenges of newsletter monetization versus social media models, they reflect on the impact of their platform's approach to free expression. The duo discusses how current tensions shape the future of content creation, emphasizing Substack's growth and evolving dynamics in the industry.
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API Dispute
- Elon Musk falsely accused Substack of downloading Twitter's database.
- Substack clarified they use the Twitter API like any other developer.
Impact on Writers
- Matt Taibbi's negative experience on the Mehdi Hassan show and Elon Musk's actions hurt Substack writers.
- Writers rely on Twitter for promotion, affecting subscriptions.
Substack's Core Value
- Substack's core is its subscription network, not just email newsletters.
- This direct writer-audience connection with paid subscriptions fosters deeper engagement than ad-driven models.