PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - Reflecting on 18 months of fatherhood.

Summary

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Tangle Podcast Summary

Episode: “PREVIEW: The Friday Edition – Reflecting on 18 Months of Fatherhood”

Host: Isaac Saul
Date: June 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this special Friday edition, host Isaac Saul steps away from day-to-day political debates to share a deeply personal reflection on fatherhood. Marking his son’s eighteen-month milestone, Isaac uses the occasion to recount the joys, challenges, and surprises that come with parenting a toddler. While Tangle is known for balanced, non-partisan political commentary, this episode offers listeners a rare, candid glimpse into the host's life, drawing connections between the personal and societal significance of raising children.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Transformation of Fatherhood (05:00–06:30)

• Isaac recalls the profound changes in life after having a child, distinguishing between immediate lifestyle adjustments (sleep, travel, new responsibilities) and deeper existential shifts.
• He references a metaphor shared by his cousin: "Your slice of the pie is just way smaller. ... I'd add that the pie tastes better and is much bigger. Even if your piece is a little smaller, that part too is immediate." (06:08)

The “Fourth Trimester”

• Isaac embraces the concept that the early months of parenthood—sometimes called the “fourth trimester”—are unlike any other period:

  “When my wife was six weeks pregnant and I was looking at ... the little burst of light that was his beating heart, I really already felt like a dad...” (06:23)

• He reflects on the vast developmental leap between a newborn and a 6-month-old, making the difference feel as large as years.

2. Why Personal Reflection in a News Podcast? (06:30–07:40)

• Isaac justifies occasional personal episodes, arguing that parenting informs perspectives on policy and politics.
• He also shares a personal motivation:

  “When I go back and listen to my first post reflecting on six weeks of fatherhood and my wife giving birth, I'm flooded with a bunch of memories that are already fading, which makes me want to write more about what's happening now.” (06:56)

3. Portrait of an 18-Month-Old: Omri in Toddler Mode (08:53–11:00)

• Omri’s Personality:

  • Described as “funny, fat, rambunctious and unyieldingly active.”
  • Main interests: walks, cars, water, dogs, food, and greeting strangers.
  • Applies a “three-part test” to new objects:
    1. Can I spin it? (“...obsessed with fidget spinners, tires, and stroller wheels...”)
    2. Can I eat it? (“...no object is exempt... last week he tried to take a bite out of my dirt caked, unwashed big toe...”)
    3. Can I break it? (“Spin, bite, smash. Usually in that order, but not always.”)
  • Notable quote:

    “It's hilarious to watch, though sometimes a bit unnerving and frustrating.” (09:40)

• The Car Obsession:

  • Omri’s first word: “walk” (pronounced “wok”).
  • He insists on frequent street-side walks to watch cars.
  • Isaac and his wife have become known locally because of their son’s ritual.
  • Heartwarming observation:

    “His joy is uninhibited. Truly uninhibited.” (10:30–10:40)

  • Memorable community moment:

    “One guy pulled up to the stop sign in a BMW convertible ... looked over, took his sunglasses off, took Omri in with a huge laugh and said, ‘Man, I’m jealous. What a life.’” (10:53)

4. Gender & Personality Observations (12:15–13:30)

• Isaac compares experiences with nieces and his son, noting striking differences in toddler behavior:
  • Less sitting and coloring; more wrestling, grabbing, smashing, and food-flinging.
  • Observes boys’ rambunctiousness vs. girls’ quieter activities.
  • Leaves open the debate about how much is nature versus nurture:

    “How much of that is sex? Evolution? Social projection? I don't know the answers and I'll leave those as open questions.” (12:50)

5. The Humor and Joy of Toddler Life (13:30–15:00)

• Isaac finds the laughter and unpredictability of toddlerhood to be the best part:

  “Living with a one and a half year old son is like having a very drunk miniature sumo wrestler with a great sense of humor at your side at all times.” (13:42)

• Anecdotes:
  • Omri pours lime seltzer into mac and cheese, eats it, grins, and says “mmm”.
  • Morning ritual: Pacifier-throwing game from crib.
• Reflection on fleetingness of these stages:

  “It never really gets old for him or me until it will, and then I'll miss it.” (14:39)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shifting Perspectives:

  “The difference between a two week old baby and a six month old baby is almost as large as the difference between a two year old and a teenager.” (06:19)

• On His Son’s Innocence and Confidence:

  “There was something about a gallivanting naked toddler on a hot summer day that spoke to just about everyone, rich, poor, parent and non-parent alike. This is what joy and confidence looked like in the pure form only a child can offer.” (10:48)

• On Letting Go and Enjoying Parenthood:

  “I'm not entirely sure what got into me, but I just gave up on trying to dress him and let him march down the street fully nude in nothing but his sandals, laughing and taking photos behind him...” (10:28)

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:00–06:30| Isaac’s reflections on the transformation through fatherhood | | 06:30–07:40| Rationale for personal reflection; linking parenting & politics | | 08:53–11:00| Stories about Omri: toddler obsessions, community reactions, naked street moment | | 12:15–13:30| Observations comparing boys and girls in early childhood | | 13:30–15:00| Toddler humor, rituals, and the emotional richness of fleeting childhood moments |

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Overall Tone & Takeaway

Isaac Saul’s narration is honest, warm, and tinged with humor and nostalgia. He balances vivid storytelling with openness about the uncertainties and surprises of parenting. This episode offers listeners not only endearing anecdotes but also food for thought on the connections between private and public life—and a reminder of the universal, joyous messiness of raising young children.

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Transcript

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[Isaac Saul]

hey guys, Isaac here. And before we get into today's podcast, very personal Friday edition, I just wanted to remind you that we paywall these Friday podcasts. And the reason that there's a paywall on them is fairly straightforward. We fundamentally believe reliable news and great writing and podcasting should be accessible. So we' a habit of giving away roughly 80% of our content. That's four or five podcasts a week, four or five newsletters a week. Tons of social content, tons of content on our website. However, we also have to run a business and I've decided to run a members first business. That means most of our revenue, over 90% of it comes from Tangle members. Not advertisers, not donors, but people who are subscribed to Our podcast or our newsletter members get very specific benefits. You get unlimited access to all of our content, our entire archive, ad free. That means you don't have to listen to any of the advertisements that pop up on the podcast. You also get access to the comments section on our website. You can get the full Friday podcast every week. You'll get exclusive interviews that I do with people in the politics space and you'll be able to support an organization that is trying to be fully and 100% independent. So before we jump into the show, I just wanted to give you a heads up that if you hear the talking fade out and the music turn on and the podcast gets cut off halfway through and you get asked to become a member. That's why. And you can do it really quickly by going to readtangle.com membership subscribing to become a podcast member or get the bundle to get the podcast and the newsletter. And when you do that, you'll get an email with a link to add the premium podcast to your feed. So then wherever you listen to your podcasts, anytime we publish a podcast, there will be a premium version of our podcast that pops up in your feed and you'll be able to listen without any advertisements and with full access to the content. So that's my quick pitch about why we need your support. I hope you guys consider again going to readtangle.com membership and with that, we'll get into today's show. When my son was around six months old, I realized that everything had changed. I don't mean the day to day life changes. Those were immediate and unavoidable after he was born. Sleep comes less frequently. Travel is a little more complicated. A million tasks abound. And on and on and on. Your slice of the pie is just way smaller. My cousin once told me about having kids, which honestly is a really nice way to put it. I'd add that the pie tastes better and is much bigger. Even if your piece is a little smaller, that part too is immediate. At around six months, though, my son went from being essentially a fetus outside the womb to a little tiny person who seemed to respond to input, who could smile, laugh, eat, and show signs of independence. Some writers have described the first few months of parenthood as the fourth trimester, which in my experience is the right framework. When my wife was six weeks pregnant and I was looking at my child on an ultrasound and the little burst of light that was his beating heart, I really already felt like a dad was already projecting personality and consciousness onto that image. And so it feels odd to say that my son was anything other than a baby when he was born, but the difference between a two week old baby and a six month old baby is almost as large as the difference between a two year old and a teenager. The gap really is that wide proportionally in terms of what they are capable of and how much you feel like they are observing and noticing you. Now my son is one and a half years old and I've decided that I'm going to start using Father's Day every year to reflect on him and my life as a parent. I know that this is a politics podcast, but one we can always use the occasional break from the news, two you have all graciously seemed to enjoy these personal posts in the past, and three I actually think the experience of raising children is a pretty big piece of any society and understanding what it's like can help inform understandings of policy and politics. Also, while most of my personal life may be boring to listeners, I think this card is actually pretty interesting. I'll also admit to a selfish reason too. When I go back and listen to my first post reflecting on six weeks of fatherhood and my wife giving birth, I'm flooded with a bunch of memories that are already fading, which makes me want to write more about what's happening now. So I always have some reference point to return to with some good fortune and the grace of God. When my son is 20 years old, maybe I'll be able to read one of the 20 or so Father's Day posts and remember what all of this was really like. So here is this year's mile marker. We'll be right back after this quick break.

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[Isaac Saul]

Despite now being one and a half years old, my son Omri is in full blown toddler mode. He's funny, fat, rambunctious and unyieldingly active. The things that currently define his interests are walks, cars, water doggies, food and people on the street he can say hi to. I've grown fond of telling people that he applies a three part test when he encounters a new object. First, can I spin it? He's obsessed with fidget, spinners, tires and the wheels on his stroller. Anything that moves in a circular motion really. So he'll swipe at most new objects to see if he can make them spin. If or when that doesn't work. The second part of his test is can I eat it? This is his favorite one, I think, and no object is exempt. Last week he tried to take a bite out of my dirt caked, unwashed big toe and I once watched him literally try to take a bite out of the wooden base of a five foot tall lamp my wife brought home from Target. And the third part, everyone else's favorite, is can I break it? Spin bite Smash. Usually in that order, but not always. It's hilarious to watch, though sometimes a bit unnerving and frustrating. The car obsession has defined the last few months of my wife's and my existence, and I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. One of his first words was walk, which he pronounces like walk and always says as a walk, walk, walk with a kind of musical up note at the end. And he wants to walk because walking means going out to the sidewalk and up our street to the corner where you can watch all the cars go by. He will stand there or pace along the main street for an hour as he points at the cars that go by. He'll call out, car, car, car, car, car, car. And he'll flap his arms in excitement anytime he sees a trailer bus or pickup truck. America? Hell yeah. It's also fun to see big, burly grizzly old truck drivers smile and laugh at him as he points, often pulling the cord to hon as a gesture to him. Once, while we were out on his beloved street corner, a truck pulling a dozen cars on a trailer drove by and he was so excited I thought that his heart was going to explode out of his chest. We do this routine so consistently and so often, something like five or six walks a day, that he's slowly becoming a local fixture. We take detours to greet neighbors having a glass of wine on their porches. People walking their dogs know him by name. Phoebe and I have both been stopped in town or at the local coffee shop by people who say, hey, is this the kid that stands out on so and so Avenue and points at all the cars? Why yes, we say. Yes. Yes he is. His joy is uninhibited. Truly uninhibited. A couple weeks ago, on one of the first brutally hot 90° 100% humidity days of mid Atlantic summer, we had Omri naked in a giant bin of cold water in the backyard. He was covered in red sticky film from eating and smashing watermelon in nothing but his sandals under the shade of a giant oak tree, basking in a perfect blue sky, green grass, hot summer day. Then he climbed out, started his walk, walk, walk, incantation and strode down our driveway toward the street. I'm not entirely sure what got into me, but I just gave up on trying to dress him and let him march down the street fully nude in nothing but his sandals, laughing and taking photos behind him as he proudly pointed and shrieked at all the passing cars, many of which beeped their approval or rolled down their windows to cheer him on. Naked babies are a hit, it turns out. One guy pulled up to the stop sign in a BMW convertible, looking happy, wealthy, and very much like he was enjoying his life. And this fine summer day he looked over, took his sunglasses off, took Omri in with a huge laugh and said, man, I'm jealous. What a life. There was something about a gallivanting naked toddler on a hot summer day that spoke to just about everyone, rich, poor, parent and non parent alike. This is what joy and confidence looked like in the pure form only a child can offer. I have to say I've also had trouble avoiding the conclusion that in aggregate, the differences between girls and boys are very clear from very early on. For the past five years I've been an uncle to three nieces whom I got to watch go from zero to five. I'd seen their stages of development, so I thought I knew what it'd be like to parent, say, an 18 month old child. But I did not know what it was like to parent an 18 month old boy. There are no 30 minute coloring sessions, no quietly saying all done. When a meal has concluded. There is wrestling, grabbing, smashing, breaking, trucks, cars and as much food as you can stuff in your mouth at once and then the plate is flung across the room when he's done. My son seems particularly rambunctious even compared to other boys his age, but of the dozen or so children under the age of five in my family or close circle of friends, the differences between the boys and girls are glaring. How much of that is sex? Evolution? Social projection? I don't know the answers and I'll leave those as open questions. But again, based on what I can observe, I'm sure that it is by far my favorite part of this phase is the laughter. Living with a one and a half year old son is like having a very drunk miniature sumo wrestler with a great sense of humor at your side at all times. When he waddles into a room with his giant tiny tooth grin, dragging a pot behind him, belly protruding from his shirt, and then points outside at the passing traffic to say car, car, it's impossible not to laugh. I've watched him pour a lime seltzer into a bowl of Mac and cheese and then spoon the slop into his mouth and look directly into my eyes and go mmm. Only to moments later pick up a full handful of the Mac and cheese and smother it across his face while he cackles at the top of his lungs. When I greet him in the morning, he's standing in his crib with a pacifier in each hand, looking at me with this excited grin, and then I get into an athletic stance next to the crib, hands open until he tries to spike both pacifiers on the floor without me catching them. After he's done, I try to pick him up and take him out of the crib, but he cries and screams until he gets a few more shots at the pacifier game. It never really gets old for him or me until it will, and then I'll miss it.

[John Lowell]

Hey everybody, this is John, Executive producer for Tangle. We hope you enjoyed this preview of our latest episode. If you are not currently a newsletter subscriber or a premium podcast subscriber and you are enjoying this content and would like to finish it, you can go to readtangle.com and sign up for a newsletter subscription. Or you can sign up for a podcast subscription or a bundled subscription which gets you both the podcast and the newsletter and unlocks the rest of this episode as well as ad free daily podcasts, more Friday editions, Sunday editions, bonus content, interviews and so much more. Most importantly, we just want to say thank you so much for your support. We're working hard to bring you much more content and more offerings, so stay tuned. I will join you again for the daily podcast. For the rest of the crew, this is John Law signing off. Have a great day, y'.

[Pablo Torre]

All.

[John Lowell]

Peace.

[Isaac Saul]

Our Executive editor and founder is me, Isaac Saul, and our Executive producer is John Lowell. Today's episode was edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Our editorial staff is led by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman with Senior Editor Will Kbach and Associate editors Audrey Moorhead, Lindsay Knuth and Bailey Saw. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet75. To learn more about Tangle and to sign up for a membership, please visit our [e-mail].

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[Pablo Torre]

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