The Romans brought the newsletter into existence. Later, in the Middle Ages, newsletters became common forms of communication among extended families, traders, and those looking to share information in a format that eventually led to what we know (knew?) as the newspaper. After reviewing the history of this medium, of which I’m a frequent practitioner, I’m now convinced that when Caesar said “Et tu, Brute?” he was actually asking Brutus if he wanted to subscribe. Cut to 2020. Newsletters are more popular than ever. Extremely long story short: Rome fell. The newsletter didn’t. Dave Pell in The Atlantic (on the one topic where he actually has some expertise): The Internet’s Unkillable App. The noisier our digital lives get, the more popular the humble newsletter becomes.