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AngryOldDem

(14,061 posts)
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:35 PM Oct 2021

Here's why I've cut back on my cable news consumption. By a LOT.

Channel surfing, waiting for the commercials to end on the program I’m watching. I stop at CNN, and Jim Acosta and some other guy are seriously talking about Joe Rogan’s claim that Biden did not get a COVID booster, and whether or not that bullshit is worth debunking.

Joe. Fucking. Rogan.

Just like how I got sick of Chris Hayes giving a recap of whatever nonsense Fox and Hannity were spewing the previous day.

Please, cable networks. I know you gotta fill time. But stop with the validation of far Right bullshit by treating it like real news or fact. Please.

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Here's why I've cut back on my cable news consumption. By a LOT. (Original Post) AngryOldDem Oct 2021 OP
Turn it off completely Sherman A1 Oct 2021 #1
No kidding. AngryOldDem Oct 2021 #6
Done! Cable free for six months! NurseJackie Oct 2021 #37
I have never understood why both CNN and M$NBComcast malaise Oct 2021 #2
I stopped watching TV news and just read DU. Irish_Dem Oct 2021 #3
Same here. I used to watch MSNBC every evening, but East-A-Squared Oct 2021 #39
I haven't had a functioning TV for over 3 years. Just use it for the occasional NETFLIX. HUAJIAO Oct 2021 #4
It's why I completely cut cable news, oh and cable connections altogether msfiddlestix Oct 2021 #5
I'm taking a break for now. lkinwi Oct 2021 #7
What I did.... Brainfodder Oct 2021 #8
What's LBN ? kimbutgar Oct 2021 #16
DU's "Latest Breaking News" forum. Totally Tunsie Oct 2021 #26
Latest Breaking News YDogg Oct 2021 #27
DU/LBNDU's Late Breaking News japple Oct 2021 #35
I check The Guardian... druidity33 Oct 2021 #34
I watch an hour a week... if that much. They don't care if they tear the country down PortTack Oct 2021 #9
I absolutely, 100% REFUSE to cut back. Not even by a second! Bleacher Creature Oct 2021 #10
... BumRushDaShow Oct 2021 #14
Shouldn't you be out troll hunting!! Bleacher Creature Oct 2021 #20
... BumRushDaShow Oct 2021 #22
I'd lose whatever is left of my frigging mind... stillcool Oct 2021 #11
I watch perhaps 1 in 25 talking-head video clips posted on DU EYESORE 9001 Oct 2021 #12
Outrage headlines LittleGirl Oct 2021 #13
I've done the same mcar Oct 2021 #15
Similar feeling DownriverDem Oct 2021 #17
The cable "news" networks are nearly ALL editorial crap now. roamer65 Oct 2021 #18
I hear you. I limit also. Joinfortmill Oct 2021 #19
TV free for 17 years here. VERY happy. NewHendoLib Oct 2021 #21
You and me. I should cut back more. c-rational Oct 2021 #23
Why in the Rebl2 Oct 2021 #24
It's the continual efforts to capitalize on crisis that I despise iemanja Oct 2021 #25
I've cut way back on my cable viewing, as well. Paladin Oct 2021 #28
Best News Sources OhZone Oct 2021 #29
We cut out cable several years ago. piddyprints Oct 2021 #30
Thom Hartmann of YouTube... Hulk Oct 2021 #31
When you must have . . . . AverageOldGuy Oct 2021 #32
Love PBS Newshour nt XanaDUer2 Oct 2021 #42
Don't forget John McCain's daughter n/t hibbing Oct 2021 #33
But are you paying for Fox News? n/t PoliticAverse Oct 2021 #36
It is truly pathetic. And largely not objective reporting of newsworthy events. Cut back also. Evolve Dammit Oct 2021 #38
I"m with ya. I get my news, or at the least, news "leads," in many cases, from DU. BobTheSubgenius Oct 2021 #40
since '015 ! monkeyman1 Oct 2021 #41

malaise

(267,845 posts)
2. I have never understood why both CNN and M$NBComcast
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:43 PM
Oct 2021

spend so much time repeating Fux lies

I never watch Fux, but I've never seen folks on DU writing that those assholes repeat anything said on CNN or M$NBComcast.

East-A-Squared

(14,505 posts)
39. Same here. I used to watch MSNBC every evening, but
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 08:18 PM
Oct 2021

since Biden became President, I stopped watching cable news.

msfiddlestix

(7,266 posts)
5. It's why I completely cut cable news, oh and cable connections altogether
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 05:48 PM
Oct 2021

We are consumers but we act like we're lemmings existing for the sole purpose of cable companies profiting from our viewing with their bullshit news programs including the ones I did watch. Your money pouring into their pockets, validating what they do.

It's simply insane, but it's as simple as that. imo.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
8. What I did....
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 06:53 PM
Oct 2021

Cable TV: gone in 2015
Quit Facebook in 2012
Quit twitter August 2019

My news sources now:

apnews website
D.U. LBN/General
late night comedian monologues
....and check CNN's website to confirm that it's hit MSM if I feel the need for that. (rarely)


I think I'm far better off not giving it too much space in my life.



druidity33

(6,435 posts)
34. I check The Guardian...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 08:05 PM
Oct 2021

and TPM, and 538, and Emptywheel, and Charlie Pierce at Esquire, and dKos, and occasionally HuffPo or Politico (usually following a specific link). That's about it for me. I've never been on social media. I spend most of my time on DU and i usually start with the Greatest Page.



Bleacher Creature

(11,237 posts)
10. I absolutely, 100% REFUSE to cut back. Not even by a second!
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:08 PM
Oct 2021

Because it's mathematically impossible to cut back from zero.

stillcool

(32,626 posts)
11. I'd lose whatever is left of my frigging mind...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:14 PM
Oct 2021

if I watched that stuff. Just thinking about it, I can feel my blood start to simmer. Every year since the inception of CNN, they've only gotten worse. These days there is very little that is 'news'. It's Jerry Springer 24/7

LittleGirl

(8,261 posts)
13. Outrage headlines
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:17 PM
Oct 2021

Outrage framing, tsk, tsk, tsk networking anchors and I’m done too. September 1st I decided to cut back and get my life back. It’s helped my attitude and I’ve returned to being a more empathetic person in 30 days. My husband really hounded me to cut my doom scrolling and news watching as he saw me upset every day. Covid didn’t help my mental stress either. Until I see the headline that 45 was perp walked to jail, I’m going to continue this practice for my sanity.

mcar

(42,210 posts)
15. I've done the same
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:21 PM
Oct 2021

MSNBC and CNN air the same stories, over and over, 24/7. You'd think they'd want to inject some nuance or talk about something else. But no, it's the same shit over and over.

Now they are in full "Dems in disarray" mode and can't seem to report on anything else.

They follow the Republican playbook every damn time.

DownriverDem

(6,207 posts)
17. Similar feeling
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:34 PM
Oct 2021

I prefer to read about what is going on. Star Trek (all of them), Family Guy, Sponge Bob are watched for escape.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
18. The cable "news" networks are nearly ALL editorial crap now.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:35 PM
Oct 2021

Mostly, if not all, opinionated punditry.

That’s why I go to DW, AlJazeera, France24 and now Newsy for news.

iemanja

(53,003 posts)
25. It's the continual efforts to capitalize on crisis that I despise
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:49 PM
Oct 2021

There is a noise level to cable news that is designed to put people in a panic, and that is destructive, particularly since the only goal is ratings. That goes as much for MSNBC as Fox or CNN. They exist to make mega corporations even richer. I don't watch them, period.

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
28. I've cut way back on my cable viewing, as well.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:56 PM
Oct 2021

I'm sick to death of the seemingly endless supply of shitty news developments.

OhZone

(3,212 posts)
29. Best News Sources
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:57 PM
Oct 2021

1 - DU
2 - Stephanie Miller
3 - Stephan Colbert
4 - Seth Meyers
5 - Jimmy Kimmel
6 - Jimmy Fallen
7 - My uncle

piddyprints

(14,600 posts)
30. We cut out cable several years ago.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:58 PM
Oct 2021

Don't miss it one bit. I can see what I want after the fact. Mostly, we read in the evenings.

 

Hulk

(6,699 posts)
31. Thom Hartmann of YouTube...
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:58 PM
Oct 2021

It's pretty much my "tv time". I catch NPR Newshour most evenings on YouTube also.

I find the TV to be worthless anymore. The cable "propaganda networks" are torture. I find myself cussing out load, and my wife gets upset with me.

I "thought" I needed to know what bull shit is being spewed on fox and cnn....but there is no need. It's time we stopped paying attention to the most ignorant portion of our nation.....and the treasonous haters.

AverageOldGuy

(1,464 posts)
32. When you must have . . . .
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 07:59 PM
Oct 2021

. . . words coming out of your mouth and video running across the screen 24/7/365, it doesn't matter how smart, wise, well-read, informed you are -- after a few days you run out of anything worthwhile to say.

The cable "news" people ran out a LOOOOOOONG time ago -- CNN, Fox, MSNBC . . . all of them.

I watch PBS Newshour most every night, read NYTimes and WashPost online, both of which have gone downhill -- the Post especially since Bezos bought it.

Our TV provider is DirecTV. They have two channels that run old cowboy movies 24/7 -- one is commercial free, the other forces us to listen to Medicare-advantage-get-fre-rides . . . but either of them makes more sense than cable "news." Back when I was a kid watching Gunsmoke on the old black-and-white TV, I didn't realize that every show was a morality play . . . . but I can do without the gunplay.

Evolve Dammit

(16,632 posts)
38. It is truly pathetic. And largely not objective reporting of newsworthy events. Cut back also.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 08:08 PM
Oct 2021

Wake me up when someone gets held accountable. This has been true for decades. I had hope Cult 45 would be held accountable, but that has waned. Mueller report un-redacted? Can't even get that. We are adrift.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
40. I"m with ya. I get my news, or at the least, news "leads," in many cases, from DU.
Sat Oct 2, 2021, 08:39 PM
Oct 2021

Thence to many of the links posted here, but also finding articles on my own. I watch TV news only for local news, which our local station does quite well.

And yeah. Joe Fucking Rogan. His resume is impressive, but he is not as (self-)advertised. Some of his podcast guests are fantastic, and the long format is often very useful. The scientists and some of the social commentators or philosophers are great, but I have zero interest in the fairly frequent inclusion of MMA fighters, or other martial artists, and even some of his stand-up pals. Who would turn to a professional bowler for economic analysis, for example?

Slightly worse is the previously mentioned (self-) advertisement; his proclamations of "liberalness" have been wearing pretty damned thin for some time, and worst yet, it was his decidedly enthusiastic and hardened defence of Alex Jones that tore it for me.

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