spark-recipe-newsletter-cleanup

---
name: spark-recipe-newsletter-cleanup
description: >-
license: MIT
---

# Recipe: Newsletter Cleanup

Audit and prune newsletter subscriptions. Block the unwanted, unsubscribe from the noisy, and enable AI summaries for the ones worth keeping.

**Prerequisite:** Read the `use-spark` base skill for command reference and filter syntax.

**Access level required:** triage.

## Steps

### Step 1: List all newsletters

```bash
spark emails Inbox --filter "category:newsletter"
```

Review the senders. Look for patterns: senders the user never reads, duplicates, or obsolete subscriptions.

### Step 2: Review individual newsletters

For each sender the user wants to evaluate:

```bash
spark thread <id>
```

### Step 3: Remove unwanted subscriptions

For mailing lists with an unsubscribe mechanism:

```bash
spark action unsubscribe <id>
```

For senders that should be blocked entirely:

```bash
spark contact-action blockContact spammer@example.com
```

To block an entire domain:

```bash
spark contact-action blockDomain example.com
```

### Step 4: Enable AI summaries for keepers

For newsletters the user wants to keep but not read in full:

```bash
spark contact-action enableAutosummaryForContact newsletter@example.com
```

### Step 5: Group repetitive senders

For senders that send frequently, group their emails to reduce inbox clutter:

```bash
spark contact-action groupEmailsFromContact sender@example.com
```

## Tips

- Start with `spark emails Inbox --filter "category:newsletter" --page-size 50` to see a broad list of senders.
- Ask the user which senders they actually read before blocking anything.
- `unsubscribe` works through the mailing list's unsubscribe mechanism - it's cleaner than blocking.
- `blockContact` stops all future mail from appearing; `blockDomain` is more aggressive.
- Auto-summary generates a brief AI summary at the top of each email from that sender - great for digests.
- Grouping (`groupEmailsFromContact`) collapses repeated messages from the same sender into a single entry.
- Run this recipe periodically (monthly) to keep the newsletter list pruned.