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From Claire—The Cosmopolitan Globalist website isn’t paywalled, for now, because we want to publicize it and grow our readership. We want to let people read it for free for a while so that they can decide whether they like it.

Ultimately, we’ll put up a paywall, of course. But Vivek and I want to create a premium feature—or several—for subscribers to this newsletter, right away. We owe everyone who supported us over this past year a special debt. We couldn’t have done any of this without you.

We were on a Zoom call this morning with our marketing guru, Steven Seggie, discussing this very question. We were asking ourselves what you might like. Might our readers enjoy a special lecture series? The opportunity to buy a Cosmopolitan Globalist scented candle? Then Seggie said, “Why don’t you ask them what they’d like?”

“Good idea!” we said in unison. (This is why he’s our guru.)

Here are some of the ideas we talked about. Tell us what you’d most enjoy. If you have a good idea we haven’t thought of, don’t hesitate to suggest it.

Idea 1. Lectures for subscribers

Would you like to hear me explain why Margaret Thatcher matters? Perhaps you’d like to learn about Odessa from Vladislav Davidzon? Migration? Cryptocurrency? Global supply chains? Is there a country in particular that interests you, from France to North Korea? Would you be keen to have a country-focused Q&A with the writer of your choice? Maybe you’d be interested in learning more about how journalism perished?

What about history—would you like an introduction to the French Revolution? The Russian Revolution? Perhaps you’d be interested in learning more about Kant’s vision of cosmopolitanism? Economics? International Relations theory? Tell us what you’d like to know, and maybe we can organize a special lecture for you.

Idea 2. Debates

Did you enjoy our Great Energy Debate? Shall we have another? What shall we debate? Suggest a proposition. Here are some examples, just to get you thinking:

• NATO is obsolete and should be dismantled.

• The preponderance of evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 emerged from a lab.

• Trump’s foreign policy was superior to Biden’s.

• The Western model of democracy is unsuitable for other countries.

• The Western model of democracy is unsuitable for the West.

• The United States is in terminal decline.

• The threat of China has been exaggerated.

• Populism has failed and will always fail.

We could debate in writing, as we did last time, or we could have a live debate. Or both. Tell us what sounds most interesting to you.

Idea 3. Seminars?

Would you be willing to do assigned reading for a seminar? We could study any subject that interests you. Suggest a topic. I could assign the same reading I’d assign to students in a graduate seminar. The politics of the Middle East? European history? English literature? The success of this will depend on having enough people who are willing to commit to doing the reading in advance, so … let’s see what you say.

Idea 4. Internships

Would your kids like to intern with the Cosmopolitan Globalist? We could put them to work in our newsroom and teach them everything we know.

Idea 5. Articles?

What would you like us to research? What would you like us to write about? Be our commissioning editors.

Idea 6. A premium newsletter

Would you like to receive a special daily newsletter with, for example, an overview of what the Cosmopolitan Globalists are reading and the stories we’re following with special attention? Like our weekly news roundup, but daily?

Idea 7. Games

Would you like to play Risk with the Cosmopolitan Globalists? What about Trivial Pursuit?

Idea 8. Students?

Are there students out there who’d like career advice, suggestions for thesis topics? Shall we have a special session for you?

Idea 9. Intellectual therapy

Are you in an isolated intellectual outpost with no one to talk to about any of the things that interest you? Perhaps you’d like an hour of good conversation with the Cosmopolitan Globalist of your choice?

Idea 10. Sunday travelogues, poems, short stories

Shall we create a mailing list for subscribers with nothing but Sunday features? Things we’ve written, things we’ve thought about, that aren’t quite right for CG—or as Vivek would say, “That’s not serious, Claire”—but which might amuse you all the same?

Idea 11. Swag?

Mugs, T-shirts, pens? Christmas stockings? Scented candles?

Or my personal favorite, “the Vivek?” (For Vivek superfans.)

Idea 12. Dinner and drinks

The pandemic makes it hard to contemplate travel right now, but it can’t last forever. One day, we’ll all be able to meet in person. Where should we all get together?

Idea 13. A tour of Paris

Would you like to come with me on a virtual walking tour of Paris? Perhaps you’d like to explore Mumbai—or Bombay, as Vivek still calls it when he lets down his guard? Maybe you’d like to take a tour of the Holy Land with one of our correspondents in Israel? We could do an architecture tour, or a museum tour, or I could show you neighborhoods here in answer to a specific question: for example, “How has immigration changed Paris?” We can interview anyone we encounter, and I’ll translate your questions along with the answers.

Idea 14. Special podcasts?

Commission a podcast on the subject of your choice.

Idea 15. The history behind the news

Pick a story in the news—any story—and we’ll tell you more about the history you need to know to put that story in context.

Idea 16. Contests? News quizzes? Crossword puzzles?

Would you enjoy a weekly game or a puzzle?

What else might you enjoy as a premium feature? All ideas welcome, and all will be seriously considered.

If you’re not already a subscriber to this newsletter, please subscribe: As you can see, we cherish our readers, and we truly want to make them the happiest subscribers in the world.

Also, if you subscribe now, you’ll have access to the whole Cosmopolitan Globalist when that paywall goes up—and we won’t raise the price on you.