We've just survived the self-inflicted wounds of the government shutdown and the insane threats of a debt default.
There are millions of Americans who go to bed hungry every day, and even more who cannot afford to get sick.
At home, there are far too many still fighting to find a job. Overseas, there are far too many still fighting on the battlefield.
I can't think of a more important time to launch the new msnbc.com. This isn't just another website and it certainly isn't just another news site.
Our home page features the biggest news in the biggest way. You'll find the stories that move you, the shows that fire you up, and the space to make yourself heard.
This is the home for the msnbc community: the people you see on TV, the people who watch TV, the people just like you.
Here's how it works.
Explore is where all our stories and videos are organized by issue. You can see all the issues by clicking on Explore, including the latest topics that are driving the news. Check out the individual issue or sub-issue pages - like my personal favorite, Equality - where you can find all our stories and video on the issue, as well as a powerful photo essay. You can follow an issue here and receive an alert every time we post a new story or video you care about.
Watch is where you can find all the msnbc shows you love. You can also do something entirely new here: search msnbc video by issue and show. Here you can find our show pages, including The Last Word or PoliticsNation or MaddowBlog with all their video and blogs. You can follow shows too, so that we can alert you whenever there are new show posts or videos that you'll love.
Join In is the place to find the msnbc community. You can search for TV hosts and show staff, or members just like you, through the issues you are interested in. You can also find activists groups here as well as groups created by people like you. If you don't find the group you want, you can create your own by clicking on the button right next to the search tool.
Speak Out is where you can make yourself heard. You can take polls, share them with your friends, and comment on a quote from one of our hosts or contributors. I can't stop taking polls.
You can find community voices throughout the site on our stories and video. That big blue box on every article will take you to the comment space where you'll find groups discussing the story in more focused ways than you might see elsewhere. If you join a group, you'll get alerts whenever the group is active about an msnbc story, or something else from around the web.
One of the niftiest features is the my msnbc space at the top of the page when you sign in. That's where you'll see alerts for the people, places and issues you care about: shows, groups, stories and videos. We'll even tell you when one of your comment threads is active so you don't have stick around to see if someone has replied to you. You can also save stories or videos for later, and read or watch them here.
The new msnbc.com is the place where we can all make a difference: where you can win the argument, change people's minds, and find others who care about the same kind of stories.
What you won't find here: celebrity wardrobe malfunctions, the latest car chases, and grotesque crime stories.
Let me know what you think of the all-new msnbc.com at this group I set up for your comments. Tell me about what's good and bad. I'll be checking in often to find out what you think.
I'll write again soon to tell you about other great new features.
In a few weeks, we'll reclaim our web address as msnbc.com. In the meantime, you can find us at preview.msnbc.com.
So tell your friends: msnbc's digital home is finally here.