Topic: Gmail

A discussion regarding inconsistent email delivery reveals that many subscribers are not receiving newsletters due to aggressive spam filters from Gmail and Outlook. Large email providers often require "bribes" or high fees from services like MailChimp to guarantee delivery. The technical challenges of maintaining a direct connection with an audience via email are explored, including the risk of high unsubscribe rates when sending follow-up messages.

A technical discussion ensues regarding the selective failure of Gmail to deliver the show's newsletter, leading to a recommendation for users to switch to ProtonMail or FastMail. An anecdote follows about the early 1980s and the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), where a column written for DEC Professional won a Computer Press Association award. The segment touches on the historical unreliability of email dating back to the ARPANET era.

Former CIA officer Amaryllis Kennedy describes the internal administrative processes of the agency, claiming that staff use a Google-provided email client similar to Gmail. She alleges that officers frequently use the "HCS 404" (Human Compartmented Sensitive) classification drop-down for mundane communications to ensure they are never subject to public declassification.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that Gmail intentionally suppresses its fundraising and get-out-the-vote emails by sending them to spam folders. Google denies the claims, asserting that spam filters are based on user behavior. The hosts suggest the issue may be related to the RNC's email formatting rather than a deliberate political bias by Google.

The hosts discuss potential suppression of the No Agenda newsletter, noting inconsistent delivery across Gmail and ProtonMail. Dvorak reminisces about his history writing for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) magazines in the 1980s and his long-standing frustrations with email networking systems.

The No Agenda newsletter faced delivery issues, with many copies being diverted to spam folders due to changes in Google's Gmail algorithms. The hosts discuss the "sad puppy" marketing tactic and the importance of the "ask" in non-profit and value-for-value donation models, noting that only about 4% of the audience typically contributes financially.

Technical difficulties with the No Agenda newsletter led to high unsubscribe rates after an emergency plain-text email was sent from a personal address. The discussion covers the complexities of email deliverability, including the "toll" paid to whitelisting services and the necessity of proper DMARC, SPF, and DKIM settings. Experts like Void Zero are cited as potential resources for fixing these authentication issues.

A technical discussion covers the difficulties of resetting passwords on open-source social media platforms when linked to expired Gmail access. A new Mastodon server, LibertyWolf.com, has been established by a producer named Ben to host bots and new users, providing a federated alternative to the main No Agenda social instance.

The hosts discuss ongoing technical difficulties with newsletter delivery, noting that Gmail and Apple Mail frequently flag their content as spam. They recommend ProtonMail as a more reliable alternative for subscribers. The segment concludes with birthday wishes for Tom Turner, Matthew Hoffman, and Dame Jennifer, who is celebrating her 33rd birthday.

The No Agenda newsletter faced significant delivery issues, with many subscribers using Apple Mail and Gmail reporting that they did not receive the latest update. The hosts discuss technical causes such as DMARC record tightening and aggressive spam filtering by major tech platforms, recommending ProtonMail as a more reliable alternative.

MailChimp suspended a host's newsletter account after the "Omnivore" algorithm flagged the terms "vaccine" and "experimental" in the same sentence. The discussion highlights the high costs of professional email deliverability, noting that companies like Podshow previously paid $20,000 to $30,000 monthly to avoid spam filters. Google and other major providers are described as competitors that prioritize their own marketing over third-party newsletters.

The hosts investigate why some subscribers are not receiving the show's newsletter, identifying Google's strict DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) policies as a likely cause. They discuss technical workflows for verifying email delivery and sorting user feedback.

Google has begun charging users for Gmail storage once they exceed a 15-gigabyte limit, a move described as a "long-game bait and switch." Users are being prompted to sign up for "Google One" to continue receiving emails. The hosts recommend ProtonMail as an alternative, though they express minor concerns regarding its default encryption key structure.

A listener anecdote illustrates how Google mines Gmail data to target advertisements, such as moving a company's emails from spam to the primary inbox based on search history. The hosts debate the reliability of decentralized email protocols versus centralized providers like Gmail and ProtonMail.

The hosts express disappointment over a low volume of donations for the current episode, speculating on whether the upcoming wedding or technical email issues are to blame. They discuss Google's increasing pressure on email servers to use TLS encryption, which may be causing the No Agenda newsletter to be flagged or blocked for some users.

The hosts lament the end of the "golden age" of the internet as independent email servers are increasingly blocked by Gmail's "trustworthiness" filters. They discuss "The Helm," a hardware appliance designed to help users run private servers by using a paid SMTP relay service. They advocate for a return to "value for value" and open-source models to combat corporate control.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the show on May 5, 2019, discussing various holidays including Cinco de Mayo and Liberation Day in the Netherlands. Dvorak reports significant delivery issues with his recent newsletter, noting that many Gmail users failed to receive it. They speculate on whether specific keywords like "bank passwords" triggered spam filters or if the inclusion of a photo of Dvorak's grandson, Theodore, affected the distribution.

Google has implemented the TensorFlow machine learning platform into Gmail to block an additional 100 million spam messages daily. Users report that the AI is erroneously flagging legitimate security emails from PayPal and other services as spam. Concerns exist regarding Gmail's ranking system and its refusal to pass non-encrypted SMTP traffic.

Producers from around the world, including Zurich, Switzerland and Edmonton, Alberta, provided financial support for show 1112. Notable donors include Sergeant Postal and Sir Finch. The "No Agenda mental health plan" is praised by donors as superior to pharmaceutical options.

Google announced it is using its TensorFlow machine learning framework to block an additional 100 million spam messages daily in Gmail. However, users have reported that legitimate security notices from services like PayPal are being incorrectly routed to spam folders. The hosts remain skeptical of AI's ability to accurately manage email without catching legitimate correspondence.