The Daily Punch The Readback: 5 years of Punchbowl News
Jan 3, 2026
Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer, and John Bresnahan, the co-founders of Punchbowl News, celebrate their fifth anniversary with Max Cohen. They recount launching the outlet during the pandemic and the challenges they faced, from bootstrapping their studio to hiring a dedicated team. The trio shares insights on focusing their reporting on key leadership areas, ambitious product developments like nBlock AI, and the excitement surrounding upcoming election cycles. Their relentless commitment to news excellence and growth strategies shapes the unique identity of their journalism.
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Humble Startup Beginnings
- Jake, Anna and John launched Punchbowl during COVID and literally packed VIP gift bags at home.
- John Bresnahan's husband helped with logistics and they kept bubble wrap in his basement.
Launch Week Shock
- Punchbowl launched January 3, 2021, and faced the chaos of January 6 three days later with a four-person team.
- Anna Palmer remembers the intensity of covering a major national event right after launch.
Focus Enables Fast Execution
- The founders prioritized focused ambitions over broad expansion to stay agile and fast.
- That agility let them move from idea to a studio within months, showing rapid execution power.