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👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! I’m Michael Jones, an independent national political reporter and author of Congress Nerd—Once Upon a Hill’s daily newsletter on Congress and national politics. In 2022, I became the first Substack publisher accredited by a congressional press gallery, paving the way for other independent Hill reporters to gain access in the years since. I’m also the only Black independent journalist to receive such accreditation, part of a lineage that traces back to Frederick Douglass, who reported from the galleries during Reconstruction.
Thousands of readers, from everyday Americans to members of the political class, rely on my reporting to understand leadership dynamics, the political crosscurrents shaping national policy debates, and how congressional Democrats are navigating their path back to power.
I founded Once Upon a Hill on a simple premise: Congress is the most powerful branch of government—even if it doesn’t always act like it—and those who understand how it works are best positioned to impact what comes next. OUAH also operates with the assumption that essential journalism should be enjoyable to read, delivered in a conversational but authoritative voice that brings the day on Capitol Hill into focus.
OUAH is a newsroom-of-one by design. That independence allows me to move quickly, follow the reporting wherever it leads, and engage directly with sources and readers without the institutional constraints, editorial bottlenecks, or commercial incentives that shape coverage at larger outlets. The result is journalism that stays close to the reporting process—delivering sourcing, incremental developments, and strategic context around congressional politics in near real time.
Before founding OUAH, I created and authored Supercreator News, a politics newsletter for the creative class. I’ve also reported for two global fashion and lifestyle brands, and my work has appeared in The Washington Post, Politico, Semafor, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among others. In addition to OUAH, I write a weekly column for COURIER Newsroom on Congress and democracy.
I was born and raised in Dallas (go Cowboys!), 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.
Congress Nerd
Congress Nerd is designed for professionals who can’t afford to get Congress wrong—decision-makers, operators, and insiders whose work depends on staying ahead of the Hill. It’s the clearest expression of Once Upon a Hill’s newsletter-first approach and my obsession with the legislative process, published twice a day:
Congress Nerd Sunrise: Once Upon a Hill’s free flagship morning newsletter that previews the day on Capitol Hill, surfaces what actually matters and curates the smartest reads—so you start the day informed and oriented to where things are headed.
Congress Nerd Sunset: A premium evening briefing unpacking the power plays, procedural moves and political undercurrents shaping Congress—with original reporting, sharp analysis and insider context you won’t get anywhere else. Think of it as a smart exhale after a long Hill day.
Together, Sunrise and Sunset give you a working understanding of how Congress actually operates—who holds power, what’s moving, and what it means for the decisions you have to make.
Choose your experience
Paid subscribers unlock:
Full access to all four Congress Nerd Sunset editions each evening (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:
Congress Nerd Sunrise in your inbox each morning.
Special editions when the moment is too big, too clarifying or too consequential to ignore.
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 on press lists, reader tips, academic research, polling data, and daily press events to deliver 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.
