WPS.News
Saturday Edition
Published: Saturday, June 29, 2025 — 22:00 EDT
By Cliff Potts
Dateline: Somewhere near the West Philippine Sea

Here’s the thing I’ve learned after two years of living outside the U.S. of A.:

I can say I’m from anywhere I want.

One time I told a guy I was from Iowa — he just stared at me like I said “outer space.” Total blank. I tried again: “Texas.” His face lit up. Turns out he’d been stationed in Houston during his time in the Navy. That’s the thing — America’s military has shipped folks everywhere, so almost every Filipino knows someone who’s been somewhere in the States. But if you name the wrong place? You may as well be from the moon.

Another time, the MC at the Miss BayBay Gay Pageant 2025 (don’t ask — this is what happens when you attend local events without speaking the language) asked where I was from. I said, “the USA,” and got the look — you know the one — like, “are you shitting me?”

Because yeah, everyone knows the USA is big. They want more detail. Give them “California,” “New York,” “Texas,” and it clicks. Give them “Missouri,” and you’re back to explaining cows and cornfields.

That’s why I go with California now. Technically true, vague enough to work in conversation, and far less suspicious than “Catalonia.”

But here’s the point: I may live on the West Philippine Sea, twelve hours ahead of the East Coast, living my best life with my favorite human — but when it comes to publishing, WPS.News runs on New York time. Always has. Always will.

Why?

Because most of our readers are still back there. And most of them know exactly where New York City is — even if they’ve never been outside Des Moines.

So here’s your cheat sheet:

🔥 Best WPS.News Drop Times (EDT):

  1. 07:30 — Morning routine scroll: coffee + news
    Catches early risers, news junkies, and subway scrollers.
  2. 12:30 — Lunch break doomscroll
    Office workers, freelancers, and retirees all check phones here.
  3. 17:30 — Commute decompression or pre-dinner flick
    Right as people are off work and before they’re distracted by dinner.
  4. 21:00 — Late-night lurkers and second-screeners
    Best for deep reads, emotional engagement, and shares.

Out here, I’ve learned to blend in, pick my states wisely, and laugh when someone thinks “Iowa” is a brand of soap.

But when it comes to publishing?
I plant the flag in New York.

Because that’s where the fight still matters most.

And we don’t miss.

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