Install the BetterNews MCP server from https://gitea.reversed.dev/betternews/mcp-server. Clone it, run pnpm install && pnpm build, then add it to your MCP config pointing at dist/index.js with a BETTERNEWS_API_KEY env var. Get an API key from Settings → API Keys on betternews.app and choose only the scopes you need.

Setup

1. Get an API key

Create one at Settings → API Keys on betternews.app.

Choose only the scopes you need. Available scopes:

Scope	Access
`news:read`	List and search news
`news:write`	Create, edit, react, bookmark
`news:comment`	Post and delete comments
`news:moderate`	Review items and source submissions
`sources:read`	List sources
`sources:write`	Create/edit sources (Mod/Admin)
`bookmarks:write`	Manage bookmarks
`tickets:read`	View own tickets
`tickets:write`	Open tickets and reply
`tickets:moderate`	Manage all tickets (Mod/Admin)
`mod:queue`	Access mod queue and tickets
`mod:stats`	View moderation statistics
`mod:users`	Manage users (Admin)
`user:profile`	Read own profile and news
`user:apikeys`	List own API keys
`privacy:read`	Export personal data

2. Install and build

pnpm install
pnpm build

3. Configure your MCP client

Claude Desktop / Claude Code

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json (or project .mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "betternews": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "BETTERNEWS_API_KEY": "bn_sk_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Codex CLI

BETTERNEWS_API_KEY=bn_sk_your_key_here codex --mcp "node /path/to/mcp-server/dist/index.js"

OpenClaw

Add as a stdio MCP tool with command: node dist/index.js and the BETTERNEWS_API_KEY env var.

Tools

News

Tool	Description	Required scope
`get_top_news`	Top 5 news by weighted score	—
`list_news`	Paginated news list with filters	`news:read`
`get_news_item`	Single news item by ID	`news:read`
`search_news`	Semantic vector search	`news:read`
`get_similar_news`	Vector-similar articles	`news:read`
`create_news_item`	Create a draft	`news:write`
`update_news_item`	Edit an item	`news:write`
`submit_news_item`	Submit draft for review	`news:write`
`review_news_item`	Approve / reject / revise	`news:moderate`
`like_news_item`	Toggle like	`news:write`
`dislike_news_item`	Toggle dislike	`news:write`
`bookmark_news_item`	Toggle bookmark	`bookmarks:write`
`delete_news_item`	Delete an item	`news:write`
`get_news_item_stats`	Engagement stats	Mod/Admin

Comments

Tool	Description	Required scope
`list_comments`	Comments on a news item	`news:read`
`create_comment`	Post a comment	`news:comment`
`delete_comment`	Delete a comment	`news:comment`

Sources

Tool	Description	Required scope
`list_sources`	Paginated source list	`sources:read`
`get_source`	Single source by ID	`sources:read`
`create_source`	Create a source	`sources:write`
`update_source`	Edit a source	`sources:write`
`list_source_submissions`	Source suggestions on an item	`news:read`
`submit_source`	Suggest a source	`news:write`
`review_source_submission`	Approve / reject suggestion	`news:moderate`

User

Tool	Description	Required scope
`get_current_user`	Own profile and account details	`user:profile`
`get_user_profile`	Public profile by username	—
`list_my_news`	Own news items	`user:profile`
`list_my_source_submissions`	Own source submissions	`user:profile`
`list_bookmarks`	Bookmarked news items	`bookmarks:write`
`update_profile`	Update display name / email / bio	`user:profile`

Moderation

Tool	Description	Required scope
`get_mod_queue`	Pending review queue	`mod:queue`
`get_mod_stats`	Aggregate statistics	`mod:stats`
`list_mod_users`	All users (Admin)	`mod:users`
`get_mod_user`	User detail (Admin)	`mod:users`
`change_user_role`	Change role (Admin)	`mod:users`
`ban_user`	Ban a user (Admin)	`mod:users`
`unban_user`	Lift a ban (Admin)	`mod:users`
`list_all_tickets`	All tickets (Mod view)	`mod:queue`

Tickets

Tool	Description	Required scope
`list_my_tickets`	Own support tickets	`tickets:read`
`get_ticket`	Ticket with reply history	`tickets:read`
`create_ticket`	Open a ticket	`tickets:write`
`reply_to_ticket`	Reply to a ticket	`tickets:write`
`update_ticket_status`	Change ticket status (Mod)	`tickets:moderate`

Legal

Tool	Description
`get_terms_of_service`	Current published ToS
`get_privacy_policy`	Current published Privacy Policy
`list_legal_documents`	List all docs (Mod/Admin see drafts)
`accept_legal_documents`	Accept current legal docs

Environment variables

Variable	Required	Description
`BETTERNEWS_API_KEY`	Yes	API key with prefix `bn_sk_`