diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
index de44865..3277058 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ pub struct Damus {
     state: DamusState,
 
     pub decks_cache: DecksCache,
+    pub channels_cache: crate::channels::ChannelsCache,
+    pub relay_config: crate::relay_config::RelayConfig,
     pub view_state: ViewState,
     pub drafts: Drafts,
     pub timeline_cache: TimelineCache,
@@ -521,6 +523,29 @@ impl Damus {
         let jobs = JobsCache::default();
         let threads = Threads::default();
 
+        // Load or create channels cache
+        let channels_cache = if let Some(channels_cache) = crate::storage::load_channels_cache(
+            app_context.path,
+            app_context.i18n,
+        ) {
+            info!("ChannelsCache: loading from disk");
+            channels_cache
+        } else {
+            info!("ChannelsCache: creating new with default channels");
+            crate::channels::ChannelsCache::default_channels_cache(app_context.i18n)
+        };
+
+        // Load or create relay config
+        let relay_config = if let Some(relay_config) = crate::storage::load_relay_config(
+            app_context.path,
+        ) {
+            info!("RelayConfig: loading from disk");
+            relay_config
+        } else {
+            info!("RelayConfig: creating new with default relays");
+            crate::relay_config::RelayConfig::default()
+        };
+
         Self {
             subscriptions,
             timeline_cache,
@@ -532,6 +557,8 @@ impl Damus {
             view_state: ViewState::default(),
             support,
             decks_cache,
+            channels_cache,
+            relay_config,
             unrecognized_args,
             jobs,
             threads,
@@ -564,6 +591,8 @@ impl Damus {
     pub fn mock<P: AsRef<Path>>(data_path: P) -> Self {
         let mut i18n = Localization::default();
         let decks_cache = DecksCache::default_decks_cache(&mut i18n);
+        let channels_cache = crate::channels::ChannelsCache::default_channels_cache(&mut i18n);
+        let relay_config = crate::relay_config::RelayConfig::default();
 
         let path = DataPath::new(&data_path);
         let imgcache_dir = path.path(DataPathType::Cache);
@@ -583,6 +612,8 @@ impl Damus {
             support,
             options,
             decks_cache,
+            channels_cache,
+            relay_config,
             unrecognized_args: BTreeSet::default(),
             jobs: JobsCache::default(),
             threads: Threads::default(),
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/channels.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/channels.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83fa86b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/channels.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,299 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use enostr::Pubkey;
+use nostrdb::Transaction;
+use notedeck::{tr, AppContext, Localization, FALLBACK_PUBKEY};
+use tracing::{error, info};
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use crate::{
+    route::{Route, Router},
+    timeline::{TimelineCache, TimelineKind},
+    subscriptions::Subscriptions,
+};
+
+/// Represents a single channel (like a Slack channel)
+/// Each channel filters notes by hashtag(s)
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct Channel {
+    pub id: Uuid,
+    pub name: String,
+    pub hashtags: Vec<String>,
+    pub timeline_kind: TimelineKind,
+    pub router: Router<Route>,
+    pub unread_count: usize,
+}
+
+impl Channel {
+    pub fn new(name: String, hashtags: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+        let id = Uuid::new_v4();
+        let timeline_kind = TimelineKind::Hashtag(hashtags.clone());
+        let router = Router::new(vec![Route::timeline(timeline_kind.clone())]);
+
+        Self {
+            id,
+            name,
+            hashtags,
+            timeline_kind,
+            router,
+            unread_count: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_id(id: Uuid, name: String, hashtags: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+        let timeline_kind = TimelineKind::Hashtag(hashtags.clone());
+        let router = Router::new(vec![Route::timeline(timeline_kind.clone())]);
+
+        Self {
+            id,
+            name,
+            hashtags,
+            timeline_kind,
+            router,
+            unread_count: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn router(&self) -> &Router<Route> {
+        &self.router
+    }
+
+    pub fn router_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Router<Route> {
+        &mut self.router
+    }
+}
+
+/// Contains all channels for a user
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct ChannelList {
+    pub channels: Vec<Channel>,
+    pub selected: usize,
+}
+
+impl ChannelList {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            channels: Vec::new(),
+            selected: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn default_channels(i18n: &mut Localization) -> Self {
+        let mut list = Self::new();
+
+        // Add a default "general" channel
+        list.add_channel(Channel::new(
+            tr!(i18n, "General", "Default channel name").to_string(),
+            vec!["general".to_string()],
+        ));
+
+        list
+    }
+
+    pub fn add_channel(&mut self, channel: Channel) {
+        self.channels.push(channel);
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove_channel(&mut self, index: usize) -> Option<Channel> {
+        if index < self.channels.len() && self.channels.len() > 1 {
+            let removed = self.channels.remove(index);
+
+            // Adjust selected index if needed
+            if self.selected >= self.channels.len() {
+                self.selected = self.channels.len() - 1;
+            }
+
+            Some(removed)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn select_channel(&mut self, index: usize) {
+        if index < self.channels.len() {
+            self.selected = index;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_channel(&self) -> Option<&Channel> {
+        self.channels.get(self.selected)
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_channel_mut(&mut self) -> Option<&mut Channel> {
+        self.channels.get_mut(self.selected)
+    }
+
+    pub fn num_channels(&self) -> usize {
+        self.channels.len()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_channel(&self, index: usize) -> Option<&Channel> {
+        self.channels.get(index)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_channel_mut(&mut self, index: usize) -> Option<&mut Channel> {
+        self.channels.get_mut(index)
+    }
+
+    /// Subscribe to all channels' timelines
+    pub fn subscribe_all(
+        &mut self,
+        subs: &mut Subscriptions,
+        timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
+        ctx: &mut AppContext,
+    ) {
+        let txn = Transaction::new(ctx.ndb).unwrap();
+
+        for channel in &self.channels {
+            if let Some(_result) = timeline_cache.open(
+                subs,
+                ctx.ndb,
+                ctx.note_cache,
+                &txn,
+                ctx.pool,
+                &channel.timeline_kind,
+            ) {
+                // Process results if needed
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Unsubscribe from all channels
+    pub fn unsubscribe_all(
+        &mut self,
+        timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
+        ndb: &mut nostrdb::Ndb,
+        pool: &mut enostr::RelayPool,
+    ) {
+        for channel in &self.channels {
+            if let Err(err) = timeline_cache.pop(&channel.timeline_kind, ndb, pool) {
+                error!("Failed to unsubscribe from channel timeline: {err}");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for ChannelList {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Cache mapping users to their channel lists
+pub struct ChannelsCache {
+    account_to_channels: HashMap<Pubkey, ChannelList>,
+    fallback_pubkey: Pubkey,
+}
+
+impl ChannelsCache {
+    pub fn new(
+        mut account_to_channels: HashMap<Pubkey, ChannelList>,
+        i18n: &mut Localization,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let fallback_pubkey = FALLBACK_PUBKEY();
+        account_to_channels
+            .entry(fallback_pubkey)
+            .or_insert_with(|| ChannelList::default_channels(i18n));
+
+        Self {
+            account_to_channels,
+            fallback_pubkey,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn default_channels_cache(i18n: &mut Localization) -> Self {
+        let mut account_to_channels: HashMap<Pubkey, ChannelList> = Default::default();
+        account_to_channels.insert(FALLBACK_PUBKEY(), ChannelList::default_channels(i18n));
+        Self::new(account_to_channels, i18n)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_channels(&self, key: &Pubkey) -> &ChannelList {
+        self.account_to_channels
+            .get(key)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| self.fallback())
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_channels_mut(&mut self, i18n: &mut Localization, key: &Pubkey) -> &mut ChannelList {
+        self.account_to_channels
+            .entry(*key)
+            .or_insert_with(|| ChannelList::default_channels(i18n))
+    }
+
+    pub fn active_channels(&self, accounts: &notedeck::Accounts) -> &ChannelList {
+        let account = accounts.get_selected_account();
+        self.get_channels(&account.key.pubkey)
+    }
+
+    pub fn active_channels_mut(
+        &mut self,
+        i18n: &mut Localization,
+        accounts: &notedeck::Accounts,
+    ) -> &mut ChannelList {
+        let account = accounts.get_selected_account();
+        self.get_channels_mut(i18n, &account.key.pubkey)
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_channel(&self, accounts: &notedeck::Accounts) -> Option<&Channel> {
+        self.active_channels(accounts).selected_channel()
+    }
+
+    pub fn selected_channel_mut(
+        &mut self,
+        i18n: &mut Localization,
+        accounts: &notedeck::Accounts,
+    ) -> Option<&mut Channel> {
+        self.active_channels_mut(i18n, accounts).selected_channel_mut()
+    }
+
+    pub fn fallback(&self) -> &ChannelList {
+        self.account_to_channels
+            .get(&self.fallback_pubkey)
+            .expect("fallback channel list not found")
+    }
+
+    pub fn fallback_mut(&mut self) -> &mut ChannelList {
+        self.account_to_channels
+            .get_mut(&self.fallback_pubkey)
+            .expect("fallback channel list not found")
+    }
+
+    pub fn add_channel_for_account(
+        &mut self,
+        i18n: &mut Localization,
+        pubkey: Pubkey,
+        channel: Channel,
+    ) {
+        let channel_name = channel.name.clone();
+        let channels = self.get_channels_mut(i18n, &pubkey);
+        channels.add_channel(channel);
+        info!("Added channel '{}' for {:?}", channel_name, pubkey);
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove(
+        &mut self,
+        i18n: &mut Localization,
+        key: &Pubkey,
+        timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
+        ndb: &mut nostrdb::Ndb,
+        pool: &mut enostr::RelayPool,
+    ) {
+        let Some(mut channels) = self.account_to_channels.remove(key) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        info!("Removing channels for {:?}", key);
+
+        channels.unsubscribe_all(timeline_cache, ndb, pool);
+
+        if !self.account_to_channels.contains_key(&self.fallback_pubkey) {
+            self.account_to_channels
+                .insert(self.fallback_pubkey, ChannelList::default_channels(i18n));
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_fallback_pubkey(&self) -> &Pubkey {
+        &self.fallback_pubkey
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_mapping(&self) -> &HashMap<Pubkey, ChannelList> {
+        &self.account_to_channels
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/lib.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/lib.rs
index 35e5451..794d1e1 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ pub mod actionbar;
 pub mod app_creation;
 mod app_style;
 mod args;
+pub mod channels;
 pub mod column;
 mod deck_state;
 mod decks;
 mod draft;
+pub mod relay_config;
 mod key_parsing;
 pub mod login_manager;
 mod media_upload;
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/relay_config.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/relay_config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0de62f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/relay_config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+use tracing::info;
+
+/// Global relay configuration (not tied to user accounts)
+/// This determines which relays the app connects to for fetching events
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct RelayConfig {
+    /// List of relay URLs to monitor
+    pub relays: BTreeSet<String>,
+}
+
+impl RelayConfig {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            relays: BTreeSet::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Create a default configuration with some popular relays
+    pub fn default_relays() -> Self {
+        let mut relays = BTreeSet::new();
+
+        // Add some default public relays
+        relays.insert("wss://relay.damus.io".to_string());
+        relays.insert("wss://relay.nostr.band".to_string());
+        relays.insert("wss://nos.lol".to_string());
+
+        Self { relays }
+    }
+
+    pub fn add_relay(&mut self, url: String) -> bool {
+        let inserted = self.relays.insert(url.clone());
+        if inserted {
+            info!("Added relay: {}", url);
+        }
+        inserted
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove_relay(&mut self, url: &str) -> bool {
+        let removed = self.relays.remove(url);
+        if removed {
+            info!("Removed relay: {}", url);
+        }
+        removed
+    }
+
+    pub fn has_relay(&self, url: &str) -> bool {
+        self.relays.contains(url)
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_relays(&self) -> &BTreeSet<String> {
+        &self.relays
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.relays.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.relays.len()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for RelayConfig {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::default_relays()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_relay_config() {
+        let mut config = RelayConfig::new();
+        assert!(config.is_empty());
+
+        config.add_relay("wss://relay.example.com".to_string());
+        assert_eq!(config.len(), 1);
+        assert!(config.has_relay("wss://relay.example.com"));
+
+        config.remove_relay("wss://relay.example.com");
+        assert!(config.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_default_relays() {
+        let config = RelayConfig::default_relays();
+        assert!(!config.is_empty());
+        assert!(config.has_relay("wss://relay.damus.io"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/channels.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/channels.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a362127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/channels.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use enostr::Pubkey;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use tracing::{debug, error};
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use crate::channels::{Channel, ChannelList, ChannelsCache};
+
+use notedeck::{storage, DataPath, DataPathType, Directory, Localization};
+
+pub static CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE: &str = "channels_cache.json";
+
+pub fn load_channels_cache(path: &DataPath, i18n: &mut Localization) -> Option<ChannelsCache> {
+    let data_path = path.path(DataPathType::Setting);
+
+    let channels_cache_str = match Directory::new(data_path).get_file(CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE.to_owned()) {
+        Ok(s) => s,
+        Err(e) => {
+            error!(
+                "Could not read channels cache from file {}: {}",
+                CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE, e
+            );
+            return None;
+        }
+    };
+
+    let serializable_channels_cache =
+        serde_json::from_str::<SerializableChannelsCache>(&channels_cache_str).ok()?;
+
+    Some(serializable_channels_cache.channels_cache(i18n))
+}
+
+pub fn save_channels_cache(path: &DataPath, channels_cache: &ChannelsCache) {
+    let serialized_channels_cache =
+        match serde_json::to_string_pretty(&SerializableChannelsCache::to_serializable(channels_cache)) {
+            Ok(s) => s,
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("Could not serialize channels cache: {}", e);
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+
+    let data_path = path.path(DataPathType::Setting);
+
+    if let Err(e) = storage::write_file(
+        &data_path,
+        CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE.to_string(),
+        &serialized_channels_cache,
+    ) {
+        error!(
+            "Could not write channels cache to file {}: {}",
+            CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE, e
+        );
+    } else {
+        debug!("Successfully wrote channels cache to {}", CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE);
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct SerializableChannelsCache {
+    #[serde(serialize_with = "serialize_map", deserialize_with = "deserialize_map")]
+    channels_cache: HashMap<Pubkey, SerializableChannelList>,
+}
+
+impl SerializableChannelsCache {
+    fn to_serializable(channels_cache: &ChannelsCache) -> Self {
+        SerializableChannelsCache {
+            channels_cache: channels_cache
+                .get_mapping()
+                .iter()
+                .map(|(k, v)| (*k, SerializableChannelList::from_channel_list(v)))
+                .collect(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn channels_cache(self, i18n: &mut Localization) -> ChannelsCache {
+        let account_to_channels = self
+            .channels_cache
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(pubkey, serializable_channels)| {
+                (pubkey, serializable_channels.channel_list())
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        ChannelsCache::new(account_to_channels, i18n)
+    }
+}
+
+fn serialize_map<S>(
+    map: &HashMap<Pubkey, SerializableChannelList>,
+    serializer: S,
+) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+where
+    S: serde::Serializer,
+{
+    let stringified_map: HashMap<String, &SerializableChannelList> =
+        map.iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.hex(), v)).collect();
+    stringified_map.serialize(serializer)
+}
+
+fn deserialize_map<'de, D>(
+    deserializer: D,
+) -> Result<HashMap<Pubkey, SerializableChannelList>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let stringified_map: HashMap<String, SerializableChannelList> =
+        HashMap::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+
+    stringified_map
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|(k, v)| {
+            let key = Pubkey::from_hex(&k).map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)?;
+            Ok((key, v))
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct SerializableChannelList {
+    channels: Vec<SerializableChannel>,
+    selected: usize,
+}
+
+impl SerializableChannelList {
+    pub fn from_channel_list(channel_list: &ChannelList) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            channels: channel_list
+                .channels
+                .iter()
+                .map(SerializableChannel::from_channel)
+                .collect(),
+            selected: channel_list.selected,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn channel_list(self) -> ChannelList {
+        ChannelList {
+            channels: self
+                .channels
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|c| c.channel())
+                .collect(),
+            selected: self.selected,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct SerializableChannel {
+    id: String,
+    name: String,
+    hashtags: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl SerializableChannel {
+    pub fn from_channel(channel: &Channel) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            id: channel.id.to_string(),
+            name: channel.name.clone(),
+            hashtags: channel.hashtags.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn channel(self) -> Channel {
+        let id = Uuid::parse_str(&self.id).unwrap_or_else(|_| Uuid::new_v4());
+        Channel::with_id(id, self.name, self.hashtags)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/mod.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/mod.rs
index 58cc2e7..b81cabc 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+mod channels;
 mod decks;
+mod relay_config;
 
+pub use channels::{load_channels_cache, save_channels_cache, CHANNELS_CACHE_FILE};
 pub use decks::{load_decks_cache, save_decks_cache, DECKS_CACHE_FILE};
+pub use relay_config::{load_relay_config, save_relay_config, RELAY_CONFIG_FILE};
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/relay_config.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/relay_config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2196923
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/storage/relay_config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+use notedeck::{storage, DataPath, DataPathType, Directory};
+use tracing::{debug, error};
+
+use crate::relay_config::RelayConfig;
+
+pub static RELAY_CONFIG_FILE: &str = "relay_config.json";
+
+pub fn load_relay_config(path: &DataPath) -> Option<RelayConfig> {
+    let data_path = path.path(DataPathType::Setting);
+
+    let relay_config_str = match Directory::new(data_path).get_file(RELAY_CONFIG_FILE.to_owned()) {
+        Ok(s) => s,
+        Err(e) => {
+            error!(
+                "Could not read relay config from file {}: {}",
+                RELAY_CONFIG_FILE, e
+            );
+            return None;
+        }
+    };
+
+    serde_json::from_str::<RelayConfig>(&relay_config_str).ok()
+}
+
+pub fn save_relay_config(path: &DataPath, relay_config: &RelayConfig) {
+    let serialized_relay_config = match serde_json::to_string_pretty(relay_config) {
+        Ok(s) => s,
+        Err(e) => {
+            error!("Could not serialize relay config: {}", e);
+            return;
+        }
+    };
+
+    let data_path = path.path(DataPathType::Setting);
+
+    if let Err(e) = storage::write_file(
+        &data_path,
+        RELAY_CONFIG_FILE.to_string(),
+        &serialized_relay_config,
+    ) {
+        error!(
+            "Could not write relay config to file {}: {}",
+            RELAY_CONFIG_FILE, e
+        );
+    } else {
+        debug!("Successfully wrote relay config to {}", RELAY_CONFIG_FILE);
+    }
+}