On Staying Informed
A quick look at my news feed
I mentioned in my last newsletter that I have a daily ritual of catching up on the day’s news. Since material from the varied sites I check shows up in these newsletters, I figured it was good to share how that happens.
After feeding the dog and helping myself to breakfast and coffee, I take my IPad and go to the Updates tab. The first thing I look at is Inside Higher Ed’s daily newsletter. (IHE is free and the Chronicle subscription doesn’t have a digital only option). Second stop is the Religion News Service update. There are a couple of sources that show up most days, namely Scot McKnight writing on theology or summarizing new books he’s read or Chris Gehrz writing on being a history professor at Bethel (MN). Then I move to some somewhat conservative (never Trumper) sites. I read the Morning Dispatch to gain a sense of how conservatives are seeing the day’s news and then Charlie Sykes’ newsletter.
By this time, breakfast is done as is my first cup of coffee. Dog needs a walk.
We’re back and the second cup of coffee ready. I read the morning opinions1 and daily news updates from the Washington Post. (I get multiple update newsletters from there over the course of the day.) Next step is to read my digital subscription to the Denver Post. This gives me local news and sports, some aggregation of other national sites, comics and the Jumble.
Then I spend some time reviewing my Twitter feed (jury is still out on what happens to this step). This has been an invaluable source for subjects as varied as criminal justice, Christian Nationalism, political developments, and breaking news. Finally, it’s FaceBook, catching up with friends and family (as well as other stories from above sources.) By this point I’m done with the second cup of coffee and ready to move on to other things. Often that’s preparing to write this newsletter or thinking about how to attack the next section of my book project.
But I keep my eyes open for the periodic newsletters that arrive from sources I’ve found very helpful: Kristin DuMez, Will Bunch, Radley Balko, James Fallows, Tom Nichols, David French, Dan Pfeiffer, Cafe Insider, Sarah McCammon, and PRRI.
I realize that I deprive myself of far-right sites like Breitbart or the Daily Caller or Turning Point. That’s largely to keep my blood pressure in check and also because I have little patience for outrageous conspiracy theories and name calling. If those sites ever dealt with the serious policy proposals required for good governing, I’d be more tempted but we don’t need more “feed the beast” content about the outrage du jour.
I don’t know if this is helpful to anyone or not. If any of the names above strike your fancy, check out their newsletter or follow them on what’s left of Twitter. It felt good to take a break from the meatier topics I’ve been covering for a bit.
Next week I’ll be back to normal stuff — looking at what Republican control of one or both houses means for us and how the media should approach them (Monday), what happens to fears of crime post-election day (Wednesday), and continuing developments in Christian Higher Education (Friday).
If you haven’t voted yet, go vote! It’s not like democracy depends on it or anything.
This is where I let my progressive bias come in. I always read E.J. Dionne, Greg Sargent, Paul Waldman, Philip Bump, Catherine Rampell, and Alexandra Petri. I will peruse the headlines from Hugh Hewitt, Marc Theissen, George Will, and Henry Olsen and will only read them if the headline doesn’t make me crazy (which isn’t very often).
I especially liked hearing how your gathering your sources and what sources you are using. Very interesting. Dick Etulain
Well, you've been an influence on me; but many of the sources/people you follow and/or read are similar to mine. I add Jonah Goldberg, who writes well (which is fun, even if he sometimes goes somewhat crazy); he also sometimes makes sense. And I do want to stay in touch with solid "conservative" ideas. Thanks for the list!