If you run or subscribe to a paid newsletter on Substack, 10% of every dollar goes to a company actively partnering with fascist publications.
Substack has made deliberate choices about who they platform and partner with. With recent events in the USA, it's time for Canadians who are vocal against fascism ESPECIALLY to align their actions with their values.
Elbows up, right?
Message the writer/podcaster/artist. Tell them you're unsubscribing because you won't fund Substack with the 10% they are sending Substack, and you'll resubscribe when they move platforms.
Move. It's not difficult...many have migrated their lists. Keep reading for migration resources.
Even if fascism wasn't enough somehow, there are other reasons to move:
Platforms like Kit and others don't take 10%. The author keeps more of what they earn.
Features like Notes and Apple Pay create platform lock-in. The author's audience should (or can!) belong to you.
We're not giving Meta cash. Yes, "we" are the product but it's not the same as handing them cash. There are alternatives for paid newsletters, and you need social media to grow regardless of where you host. If you're only using Substack's free social features—I don't care. But if money is changing hands, that's different.
I was on Substack with paid subscribers. I left anyway. I've personally migrated to Beehiiv and Kit.com, and I've used Ghost. It's not very difficult.
I'm a Kit affiliate but choosing not to link it here—I'm not trying to make money off this ask. I don't even pay for a plan, since their free one is enough for me (you can create a paid newsletter with it, too, and you don't give them a percentage either).
Here are platforms that don't take 10% (or partner with fascists):
Open source, privacy-focused.
Creator-first, no platform cut on free tier.
Growth-focused features.
Established membership platform, adding newsletter features.
Full control, endless customization, can host open source on Canadian servers.
Keep your Recommendation Network subs: As long as you keep your list and it stays on the same topic, you can migrate subscribers using a Zapier hook. You can also sync unsubscribes between platforms.