I am a big believer in staying up-to-date and informed about the current political state of affairs. I am also very aware of the fact that consuming traditional media (newspapers or traditional news networks like CNN and NBC), can be extremely draining and hard on your mental health. So, in an attempt to stay informed while keeping my sanity, I compiled a list of my favorite alternate forms of news sources. There is no such thing as being too informed about the world, but there is such a thing as being burnt out and exhausted from trying to stay informed.
Robert Reich & His Assorted Media
I came across Robert Reich and his content in a bit of an unorthodox way. While my parents know him as Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor during the Clinton administration in the 90s, I was first introduced to him as the father of Sam Reich, CEO and host of the comedy network Dropout.tv. After learning about Robert Reich’s career, I borrowed his newest book Coming Up Short from my local library, subscribed to his Substack (he posts daily on there!), and subscribed to his weekly podcast, The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich. Reich approaches politics and current events with the knowledge of someone who’s spent his entire career in the field while being engaging, and making the topic approachable for the everyday individual. I recommend his Substack, his podcast, and his book wholeheartedly (I read Coming Up Short in less than a week!).
mattxiv and the A Bit Fruity Podcast
Even if you think you don’t know mattxiv, you most definitely do. @mattxiv, or Matt Bernstein, is the creator of the A Bit Fruity podcast and is the man behind all of the informative pink and blue Instagram political graphics that get reposted on everyone’s stories. These graphics are blunt and informative yet still appeal to people’s humanity and emotions. Matt’s podcast, A Bit Fruity, unpacks a different political and/or social issue with each episode, balancing the serious topics with humor and levity. Matt not only commentates on the current political climate and the issue that he’s addressing, but does in-depth research, and tries to understand what built up to the issue he’s discussing.
The Daily Show
While not the most direct way to receive the news, it has become one of my favorites. This comedy/news talk show has quickly become one of my favorite ways to receive the news for their approach in delivery. Airing Monday-Thursday every week, the show tackles the biggest headlines in political media, delivering them with biting commentary and jokes to ease the absurdity of the headlines being dissected. Featuring Jon Stewart on Monday nights, with a rotating cast of amazing comments for the rest of the week, this show has kept me informed without making me feel weighed down by the news.
Jon Stewart’s The Weekly Show
A bit tied to The Daily Show is Jon Stewart’s podcast The Weekly Show. Airing every week on Thursday, Stewart tackles the week’s headlines with a guest in a bit more of a serious tone than when he hosts The Daily Show. While still equipped with jokes, the podcast delves deeper into the headlines, exploring the leadup to them, and involving guests with specializations in the political sphere. Notable guests have included Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).
Saint Hoax
A recommendation from another girl in Her Campus JMU, in the same vein of mattxiv and A Bit Fruity, is Saint Hoax and their graphics! Saint Hoax creates graphics very similar to Matt and his graphics, with a white and neon green (almost Charli xcx Brat green) color palette instead. Saint Hoax covers both politics and pop culture, making this a perfect way to get both your news fix *and* your internet drama fix in one account.
Monte Mader
Monte Mader is a bit of an outlier on this list, but for good reason. Monte Mader is a creator on Instagram and TikTok who used to be a far-right religious individual who has now pivoted to creating more liberal content dissecting the news and the Bible. Mader uses her knowledge of the Bible to dissect and disprove the claims about religion that far-right politicians frequently make; reading scripture and breaking down what the Bible *actually* says. Religious or not, Mader is a great source of dismantling the religious rhetoric that far-right politicians frequently use in their speeches and talking points.