I listened to NPR News Now while getting school lunch ready! I have watched local news a couple times but not much else. I agree on avoiding the question marks - that just raises my anxiety! I also walk every day, outside. It’s so helpful - although the walks are shorter in this cold and wind!
Yes, maybe today is not the day for a walk! But warmer this weekend. You’re about as hard core of a newsie as anybody I know and if you’re wrestling with this, imagine what non-journalists are going through.
Thanks for the advice here. As a lifelong, retired journalist and a colleague of yours, I also follow the news with a sense of dread. What I have begun doing to get back to it is to listen to, or watch, the BBC. I followed along in the middle of the Asian night as the people of South Korea hit the streets to reject their president's declaration of martial law (he now faces possible impeachment). I am listening each day as the Georgian public rejects its Russian-oriented government's attempt to stifle democracy. And just yesterday, amid the first and second round of its presidential election, the Romanian intelligence services told the public about outside interference that had partially led to a little-known candidate leading the first round field. In all three cases, it appears from this vantage point that the democratic-minded public and some of their leaders are fighting for their voices. The global struggle to preserve this way of government - however difficult and imperfect - should empower Americans who would like to save their government.
The BBC can be found on many cable systems. I listen on Sirius radio. The reporting is without hyperbole and sometimes almost understated, which can give the audience a chance to form its own interpretations.
Yes, I return to U.S reporting -- mainly long form since the staccato beat of bad news is really difficult to follow. I fear that corporate and oligarchic ownership of mainstream media is eroding the journalism and our trust. I am not certain what can be done about that.
Jim, I would guess you’re a little unusual in tuning in to international news to this extent. But it’s good perspective that America is not the only place struggling with democracy vs. authoritarianism.
I just cut the cable cord and started YouTubeTV. I was delighted to see BBC News, which my cable company did not carry. Outstanding, competent, complete coverage. Love the Beeb.
I, too, follow international news like BBC, Euronews, the UN and PassBlue (although the ineffectiveness of the UN does add to the anxiety), Al Jazeera, etc. But the way the world is these days, its just anxiety afar!
Thanks for writing about this. I suggest people get out and listen to live music. Many venues that once were raucous bars are now listening venues for talented musicians and storytellers. Volunteer. I find mostly like-minded sane individuals in volunteer gigs such as your library and Habitat for Humanity. Watch PBS. The news is factual and informative and the programming is fantastic. Adopt a senior pet. The frustrations we are sure to feel in the coming four years can be ignored when we are giving and receiving attention affection in everyday care.
Good advice but I think social media shouldn’t be totally ruled out. It may be the future and new sites like Bluesky give quick and mostly reliable info.
I have turned off TV news, losing my “friends” at MSNBC. I sneaked (snuck) a portion of Rachel’s show and turned it off after 15 minutes. I just wasn’t ready yet. I scan WAPO and NYT headlines but try to avoid reading stories with 5-letter headlines starting with “T.” I watch movies, comedy stand-up specials and lots of sports (go Hawks and Steelers).
And he himself has been a bit below the radar screen, issuing written statements, mostly. It’ll get harder when we see his face and hear his voice. Nails on a chalkboard.
I’m with you Dave. Since retiring I’ve tried to cut back on my news consumption, but it’s tough.
I’ve started my day for the past 30 years riding my Schwinn Airdyne for 30 minutes to get the endorphins going. I used to watch the morning news and read the papers online while riding. Now instead I watch a half hour comedy, mostly old ones I never had time for when I was working. Gets my day off to a much better start (although I still watch and read a lot of news).
Dave, based on the comments it appears you have a lot of big fans...I read a news aggregator (one that is not an aggravator) called 1440dailydigest. It provides links to stories under a variety of headings, including a very entertaining final catch-all called Etcetera. It's a quick scroll thru an ad or 2, no axes seem to be getting ground.
Dave, I don't watch TV news much anymore... too much fluff, too much self-promotion, too little digging into stories by reporters, too much just reading police PR releases on so-called "breaking news" (see #3), too much promotion of, golly gee, how great it is to live in [fill in the city/county/state], and last, but not least, too much emphasis on talking-head personalities... ugh!
Thanks for the good suggestions. I'm taking time to enjoy the holiday season more than usual. Blasting Christmas music instead of listening to NPR, because my usual hours-a-day diet is too much right now; browsing in local shops and even checking out light displays at night.
I take heart in history; that at critical times the American people have always rebelled. We had slavery but also a civil war over it. We had Jim Crow but the consciences of Americans reacted to Black people being set on by dogs and beaten by police. The Gilded Age was followed by anti-trust legislation and unions arose from worker exploitation. While I have always been fooled by thinking Trump had hit bottom I think the bottom is near now that his judgment is revealed to be truly awful and he is about to combine scandal with bad economic decisions that will hurt the livelihood of most Americans. A politician can't survive an attack on both the population's conscience and pocketbook.
Karl, all true. But those past difficult times caused a lot of pain, heartache and, in the case of the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of deaths. And there’s no guarantee our country will always pull through.
I listened to NPR News Now while getting school lunch ready! I have watched local news a couple times but not much else. I agree on avoiding the question marks - that just raises my anxiety! I also walk every day, outside. It’s so helpful - although the walks are shorter in this cold and wind!
Yes, maybe today is not the day for a walk! But warmer this weekend. You’re about as hard core of a newsie as anybody I know and if you’re wrestling with this, imagine what non-journalists are going through.
Such good advice to avoid the speculation-there are so many terrifying ideas that will never come to fruition.
It may be a slow progression toward a dictatorship, but it’s moving in that direction nonetheless.
David,
Thanks for the advice here. As a lifelong, retired journalist and a colleague of yours, I also follow the news with a sense of dread. What I have begun doing to get back to it is to listen to, or watch, the BBC. I followed along in the middle of the Asian night as the people of South Korea hit the streets to reject their president's declaration of martial law (he now faces possible impeachment). I am listening each day as the Georgian public rejects its Russian-oriented government's attempt to stifle democracy. And just yesterday, amid the first and second round of its presidential election, the Romanian intelligence services told the public about outside interference that had partially led to a little-known candidate leading the first round field. In all three cases, it appears from this vantage point that the democratic-minded public and some of their leaders are fighting for their voices. The global struggle to preserve this way of government - however difficult and imperfect - should empower Americans who would like to save their government.
The BBC can be found on many cable systems. I listen on Sirius radio. The reporting is without hyperbole and sometimes almost understated, which can give the audience a chance to form its own interpretations.
Yes, I return to U.S reporting -- mainly long form since the staccato beat of bad news is really difficult to follow. I fear that corporate and oligarchic ownership of mainstream media is eroding the journalism and our trust. I am not certain what can be done about that.
Jim, I would guess you’re a little unusual in tuning in to international news to this extent. But it’s good perspective that America is not the only place struggling with democracy vs. authoritarianism.
I just cut the cable cord and started YouTubeTV. I was delighted to see BBC News, which my cable company did not carry. Outstanding, competent, complete coverage. Love the Beeb.
I, too, follow international news like BBC, Euronews, the UN and PassBlue (although the ineffectiveness of the UN does add to the anxiety), Al Jazeera, etc. But the way the world is these days, its just anxiety afar!
👍
Thanks for writing about this. I suggest people get out and listen to live music. Many venues that once were raucous bars are now listening venues for talented musicians and storytellers. Volunteer. I find mostly like-minded sane individuals in volunteer gigs such as your library and Habitat for Humanity. Watch PBS. The news is factual and informative and the programming is fantastic. Adopt a senior pet. The frustrations we are sure to feel in the coming four years can be ignored when we are giving and receiving attention affection in everyday care.
Great suggestions, Marjorie. Thanks!
YES! Wife & I have been volunteers at Hoyt Sherman for the past year. Great gig & free shows!!!
Good advice but I think social media shouldn’t be totally ruled out. It may be the future and new sites like Bluesky give quick and mostly reliable info.
I just joined Bluesky. Haven’t made up mind on it yet. I had pretty much dropped the Twitter habit a couple of years ago.
Best tip ever: “ Avoid any story with a question in the headline.”
I’m too often drawn in by those, without even realizing it. Thanks for the timesaver.
I agree. Great, concrete tip and easy to follow.
In the old iowa neighbor hood we would just call her a big fat Chiken
Sage advice, Dave! Hard to adhere to when the Country is being trashed amidst predicted chaos, moment to moment, with lots more to come.
The most vulnerable among us will be particularly impacted.
Read Clark Kauffman’s nursing home staffing lawsuit today.
Trump couldn’t care less about nursing home harms and deaths. Neither do Gov. Reynolds and AG Bird.
Dean, can you post the Kauffman story here? I’m not seeing it.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/05/nonprofits-oppose-iowa-backed-lawsuit-over-nursing-home-staffing-levels-brenna-bird/76779736007/
I have turned off TV news, losing my “friends” at MSNBC. I sneaked (snuck) a portion of Rachel’s show and turned it off after 15 minutes. I just wasn’t ready yet. I scan WAPO and NYT headlines but try to avoid reading stories with 5-letter headlines starting with “T.” I watch movies, comedy stand-up specials and lots of sports (go Hawks and Steelers).
And he himself has been a bit below the radar screen, issuing written statements, mostly. It’ll get harder when we see his face and hear his voice. Nails on a chalkboard.
It is comforting to realize so many people are struggling to watch any news. And your strategies are similar to what I have been doing
I’m with you Dave. Since retiring I’ve tried to cut back on my news consumption, but it’s tough.
I’ve started my day for the past 30 years riding my Schwinn Airdyne for 30 minutes to get the endorphins going. I used to watch the morning news and read the papers online while riding. Now instead I watch a half hour comedy, mostly old ones I never had time for when I was working. Gets my day off to a much better start (although I still watch and read a lot of news).
Cliff, my Airdyne is really old, with the big fan. It’s so loud I can’t hear anything while I’m on it.
Dave, based on the comments it appears you have a lot of big fans...I read a news aggregator (one that is not an aggravator) called 1440dailydigest. It provides links to stories under a variety of headings, including a very entertaining final catch-all called Etcetera. It's a quick scroll thru an ad or 2, no axes seem to be getting ground.
I really like 1440
Mark, first I’ve heard of it. I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Just.....thank you.
Avoid the "pissing match" stories too. Social media news is dominated by responses to what someone else has said. Then it amplifies...
Dave, I don't watch TV news much anymore... too much fluff, too much self-promotion, too little digging into stories by reporters, too much just reading police PR releases on so-called "breaking news" (see #3), too much promotion of, golly gee, how great it is to live in [fill in the city/county/state], and last, but not least, too much emphasis on talking-head personalities... ugh!
-Eddie
Thanks for the good suggestions. I'm taking time to enjoy the holiday season more than usual. Blasting Christmas music instead of listening to NPR, because my usual hours-a-day diet is too much right now; browsing in local shops and even checking out light displays at night.
That all makes sense. But I hope we all plug back in early next year.
I take heart in history; that at critical times the American people have always rebelled. We had slavery but also a civil war over it. We had Jim Crow but the consciences of Americans reacted to Black people being set on by dogs and beaten by police. The Gilded Age was followed by anti-trust legislation and unions arose from worker exploitation. While I have always been fooled by thinking Trump had hit bottom I think the bottom is near now that his judgment is revealed to be truly awful and he is about to combine scandal with bad economic decisions that will hurt the livelihood of most Americans. A politician can't survive an attack on both the population's conscience and pocketbook.
Karl, all true. But those past difficult times caused a lot of pain, heartache and, in the case of the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of deaths. And there’s no guarantee our country will always pull through.