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---
title: Obama Joins Twitter as @POTUS: Here Are the Best Responses
description: The President now has his very own handle, @POTUS
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author: Sarah Begley
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article:published_time: 2015-05-18T21:59:29.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T07:25:57.425Z
article:section: Politics
og:title: Here Are the Best Responses to Obama Joining Twitter
og:description: The President now has his very own handle, @POTUS
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# Here Are the Best Responses to Obama Joining Twitter

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> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=e231f625-fdc1-40e2-9df0-b7030347d23a&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### The seven newsletters

| Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% |
| Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% |
| Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% |
| Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% |
| D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% |
| Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% |
| In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% |

Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience.

### Key data points

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Publishing since | 1923 | TIME |

### TIME Newsletters: key statements

*   Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically.
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*   The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=e231f625-fdc1-40e2-9df0-b7030347d23a&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What newsletters does TIME publish?

TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.

#### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?

It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.

#### Are TIME's newsletters free?

Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes TIME's newsletters?

TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.

#### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?

Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.

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by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 18, 2015 9:59 PM UTC

by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 18, 2015 9:59 PM UTC

President Barack Obama tweeted from [his personal Twitter account](https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/600324682190053376) first the first time on Monday.

> [](https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/600324682190053376)

It took just a few hours after the tweet went up at 11:38 a.m. ET for @POTUS to rack up more than 1 million followers, appearing to [handily beat](http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-time-to-reach-1-million-followers-on-twitter) the current Guinness World Record for the fastest time to hit that milestone (it took Robert Downey Jr. 23 hours and 22 minutes in April 2014).

A video posted by the White House gave what seemed to be proof that it was actually Obama typing on a smartphone and not a staffer:

> [](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/600387003503415296)

The Chicago Cubs appeared slightly offended that Obama, a noted White Sox fan, followed the Sox, Blackhawks, Bulls and Bears, but not their team.

> [](https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/600339937062297600)

Michelle seemed pretty excited:


> [](https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/600345440647778305)

Joe Biden was pleased:

> [](https://twitter.com/VP/status/600331188847251456)

And Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s senior advisor, was glad he signed up:

> [](https://twitter.com/vj44/status/600333148648566785)


But it was perhaps No. 42 who had the greatest reaction—and a good question (#askingforafriend, of course):

> [](https://twitter.com/billclinton/status/600389785769881600)

Despite a busy schedule—[he tweeted from Camden, New Jersey](https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/600388258665787392)—Obama responded promptly, and with a good question in response:

> [](https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/600407380279566336)

_Read next:_ [_You Asked: Why Are My Devices Messing With My Brain?_](http://time.com/3855911/phone-addiction-digital-distraction/)

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