Welcome to Once Upon a Hill, your front-row seat to the political drama that shapes the future of the country. Each evening, OUAH connects you to the people, policies, and power struggles in Congress that impact your wallet, your rights, and your community. Join the thousands of subscribers who have made OUAH’s exclusive scoops, sharp insights, and original reporting essential reading for understanding how Congress really works—and why it matters.
The OUAH edge
Once Upon a Hill helps you create the change you want to see with must-read political intelligence—delivered through two core editorial products:
Congress Nerd: Our premium evening newsletter about all things Congress, written by someone who still believes in it. Published Monday through Thursday, it’s packed with fresh reporting, sharp analysis and smart context on the people, politics and policy shaping the Hill.
Michael’s List: A free Friday week-in-review companion to Congress Nerd from a reporter who’s roamed the halls, read the bills, and raised the questions. It distills what mattered most each week—and what’s coming next.
Both Congress Nerd and Michael’s list clarify the noise and overwhelm of Washington to help you see how Congress actually works, who actually has power, why it all matters and how you can impact the legislative process.
Choose your experience
Paid subscribers unlock:
Full access to all four Congress Nerd editions each week (Monday–Thursday).
Unlimited access to the complete Once Upon a Hill archive to revisit past issues anytime.
Direct engagement: Join the comments, message me directly, and help shape the stories that get covered and the questions that get asked.
Your insider edge: Original reporting, fresh scoops, and contextual analysis that keep you ahead of the curve.
Free subscribers get:
Michael’s List: A free week-in-review of the storylines that dominated—and disappeared from—the current news cycle.
A preview of every Congress Nerd edition.
Occasional freebies of full Congress Nerd editions and breaking news posts
Meet the reporter behind OUAH
I’m Michael Jones, a national political correspondent and the only independent Black journalist accredited by a congressional press gallery. I cover Democratic power and politics in the MAGA era, reporting in a tone that feels like a smart friend catching you up over drinks.
At Once Upon a Hill, you’ll get impactful news, sourced directly from the Hill, without the pretense. Just clear reporting on what happened, why it matters and what’s coming next. I know political journalism has earned a bad rap in recent years, which is why I work overtime to deliver insider authority without insider arrogance.
Over the past few years, I’ve chronicled some of the biggest stories emerging from Capitol Hill:
The rise and unprecedented fall of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy
The transfer of House Democratic leadership from Nancy Pelosi to Hakeem Jeffries
The 2022 class of House progressives—including Congress’s first Gen-Z member
Multiple government funding cliffs and a near-default on the U.S. debt
The first expulsion of a sitting member in more than two decades
The Democratic panic after Joe Biden’s first debate performance, which led to Kamala Harris’s ascent to the top of the ticket before Donald Trump’s return to the White House
Before founding Once Upon a Hill, I created and authored Supercreator News, the premier politics newsletter for the creative class. I also previously reported for two global fashion and lifestyle brands. My work has been featured in The Washington Post, Politico, Semafor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and other notable publications.
Today, in addition to OUAH, I write a weekly column for COURIER on the intersection of Congress and democracy.
Born and raised in Dallas (go Cowboys!), I studied journalism at East Texas A&M University and now split my time between Washington, DC, and New York City. I love true-crime documentaries, Beyoncé, and FaceTiming my niece and nephew.
How I report the news
Politics touches every part of American life—and my job is to stay plugged into it all. I’m in constant, direct contact with lawmakers, aides, White House officials, advocacy groups and subject matter experts, both on and off the record.
I aim to quote sources by name whenever possible. When anonymity is necessary, it’s because the information is vital to the public record and disclosure could risk the source’s safety or employment. If you see an unnamed source, you can trust that I made the decision carefully and transparently.
I also draw from press lists, reader tips, academic research, polling data and daily press events to bring you original, accurate reporting you can rely on.
Let’s stay connected
Got a tip, a question, or just want to say hi? Email me at michael@onceuponahill.com or send me a DM on Twitter. I also offer secure ways to connect via encrypted apps like Signal.
