May 22, 2025 – Today, COURIER, the fastest-growing progressive news network in the United States, announced their brand-new series, “How Is This Better?” hosted by writer, creator, and podcast host, Akilah Hughes. The series will feature weekly 25 to 30-minute videos covering everything from politics and culture to tech and late-stage capitalism.
Despite Donald Trump’s promises to “make America great again” for the past decade and tech bro billionaires insisting that their products are “making the world a better place,” things seem to just be getting worse. Planes are falling from the sky, senseless trade wars are driving higher prices and economic instability, and so-called “social” media and AI are making everyone more isolated and lonelier than ever. Akilah Hughes and COURIER are taking matters into their own hands to try to understand one fundamental question: How is this better? (Spoiler alert! It’s not.)
Season 1 of “How Is This Better” will launch on COURIER’s YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts on May 22 and episodes will air weekly on Fridays. Check out the teaser, released today, HERE.
Host Akilah Hughes said, “Partnering with COURIER for this show is crucial and a dream come true. It’s not breaking news that everyone is overwhelmed by our political, cultural, and literal climate right now (it’s hot af). “How Is This Better?” is a balm. The straight talk and incisive examination of our moment intends to help viewers and listeners stop and critically examine the narratives, products, and futures we’re being sold by grifters of all stripes.”
Kevin Dreyfuss, Executive Producer and Managing Director of COURIER said, “We are thrilled to be working with the incredible Akilah Hughes on ‘How Is This Better?,’ as part of our expansion into telling new stories and covering new topics. We know that our audience of young, activist news junkies sometimes wants a change from the usual firehose of political chaos, to see how the rest of society is also in chaos. Luckily, Akilah is here to answer all of our burning questions and attempt to make some sense of what the hell is going on.”
Please reach out to courier@ssmandl.com for media inquiries.
ABOUT COURIER
COURIER is a social-first news network delivering fact-based reporting with a focus on people and their communities. Over the past year, COURIER has rapidly grown its audience to over 6 million online subscribers and has become one of the fastest-growing news brands on Instagram and TikTok. Our 11 state newsrooms and national brand provide timely, values-driven coverage that meets audiences where they are online, offering insights on critical issues at both the local and national levels.
ABOUT AKILAH HUGHES
Akilah Hughes is a writer, creator, and podcast host residing in Los Angeles, CA. She’s been a digital correspondent for MTV, HBO, Fusion, Comedy Central and more. A Sundance Labs and USC MacArthur Foundation Civic Media Fellow, Razorbill (an imprint of Penguin Random House) published a collection of her personal essays titled Obviously: Stories from my Timeline in the fall of 2019. Her comedic YouTube channel, “It’s Akilah, Obviously!” has amassed more than 150,000 subscribers and “What a Day,” her former daily news podcast from Crooked Media, debuted at number one on the charts. In 2024 Hughes released a podcast about America, history, and a local fight over a high school mascot for iHeart Podcasts titled, “Rebel Spirit.” The show has amassed a cult following and recently won a 2025 Webby Award.
