Hi friends!
I’m V Spehar, and I’m the host and creator of Under The Desk News (UTDN), GenZ and Millennials’ go-to source for news.
What started as a series of TikTok videos recorded from—yep, you guessed it—under my desk, has now grown into a trusted daily news source for millions of people like you. My goal with UTDN is simple: to make the news more approachable, less anxiety-inducing, and, most importantly, more human.
A little about me: I found my true calling in breaking down complex news stories in ways that resonate with real people. Whether it’s explaining political headlines, highlighting under-the-radar stories, or just giving you the information you need to feel more engaged and empowered, I aim to make the news accessible to everyone. I’ve collaborated with leaders like President Obama, President Biden, and members of Congress, and through my work, I strive to put people at the center of every story.
UTDN is all about making sure you feel included, informed, and ready to make sense of the world around you. We cover everything from politics and cultural shifts to local stories of activism and change. Whether you’re tuning in for a quick TikTok recap or subscribing to this Substack, you’ll find the same mission driving all of our content: news that doesn’t just tell you what’s going on but shows you how it matters to you.
So why subscribe to this Substack?
I am so grateful for your support and kindness throughout the years, and if you’ve found this page, there’s no doubt you believe in the power of citizen journalism and the importance of being able to remain independent.
I started Under The Desk 3 years ago to try and help make sense of the world at a time when I felt like legacy media and “the news” was failing to remember that there are people at the heart of every story. We’ve grown our community to over 3 million followers, and I want to continue to expand our platform for citizen journalism and make a space for the community we’ve built together. My TikToks will always be free and robust but I’d like to make space for a smaller group of folks to explore the more complex topics, have one on one conversations, organize thoughtful calls to action, and be able to do deeper dive research projects. I’ll continue to center the emotional safety of this audience, and carve out space for us to just be us - Messy! Curious! Thoughtful! Smart!
Free subscribers get:
Weekly newsletters
Access to emergency news information and important election content
For $7/month or $70/year, you’ll get:
Video Q&As
Complete access to chats and comments, exclusively for Dustbunnies
In-depth reporting about news you need to know
Founding members get all of the above, plus:
My eternal gratitude for supporting independent news
Thank you for being part of the UTDN community. Let’s do this!
