News and civic life · by Tristin Hassell
Independent news and civic life
iPhone with iOS 16 or later
Independent headlines, a Local Desk for your area and a Civic Desk for writing to your representatives. There is no account and no Daily Margin server: the app fetches everything directly from public sources and keeps your reading on your device.
Headlines from more than thirty independent, movement, academic, technology, humanitarian and human-rights publishers, with a compiled daily brief, priority lists you control and a strictly chronological Latest view. Every headline links to its publisher.
Background refresh has fresh headlines waiting when you open the app. Save stories and keep a Top 25 pack for reading offline; it updates itself after each refresh. Listen to the brief with your device’s built-in voice.
Search the headlines your publishers have already sent, right on your device, and see each one with its link. Evidence only is the default. On supported devices, you can choose a short summary with numbered citations.
Type a ZIP code (the app never asks for your location) for National Weather Service alerts and forecasts, public records of nearby correctional facilities, community-mapped data centers and public facilities, and local reporting.
Find your federal and state legislators from your address with the official U.S. Census geocoder, then build an editable letter from a template or from scratch, cite up to three stories and choose a tone.
Nothing is ever sent for you. You review each letter and send it yourself by email, on the official’s contact form or by phone.
You do. The app starts with independent outlets, and you can add or remove any.
No. It helps you draft a letter, then opens your mail app. You press send.
There is no Daily Margin server. News and public-data requests go directly from your device to their sources.
Summaries and letter help need iOS or iPadOS 26 on a supported device. The news reader works on iOS 16 or later.
The Civic Desk’s letter templates take clear positions on four issues. Each is an editable starting point, written for local, state or federal officials, and you can change every word or write your own.
Asks for public review of energy, water, rates, labor, land use and subsidies before new data centers are approved.
Opposes new or renewed private prison, jail and detention contracts, and asks for transparent oversight and a lawful transition plan.
Asks officials to end voluntary local cooperation and data sharing with immigration enforcement, with due-process and oversight safeguards.
Asks the contracting body to end networked license-plate-reader contracts, disable outside access and protect audit records.
The Local Desk lists public records with their sources and dates. It never shows live enforcement activity, and license plate reader cameras are counted, never located. The Flock explainer cites Flock’s own policy, the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the ACLU.
Most publishers appear as a headline and a link. Short excerpts appear only where a publisher licenses them, with credit. Publishers with questions or requests can write to hello@gatheredcommonspress.com. This product uses the Census Bureau public data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Email hello@gatheredcommonspress.com. I answer within three business days.
Software by Tristin Hassell. Published by Gathered Commons Press LLC.