Any recommendations on a rational and positive sense-of-life news commentary & analysis?

Posted by BrettRocketSci 6 years, 6 months ago to News
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Our news and commentary has gotten unbearably depressing, angry, and unproductive for me lately. Or pathetically biased and delusional, from one direction or the other. Even the more rational and reasonable outlets (while also entertaining, often) have become too much of a psychological and spiritual drain for me. And an unproductive time suck.

I'm coming back to the Gulch here for some recommendations. Is there anyone you follow / watch / listen to on a social media channel or website that provides (1) an objective and rational outlook on current events (2) a positive and inspiring attitude, and (3) action-oriented or practice advice that can actually help us become more happy, productive, and virtuous in our crazy world?

I could list our "usual suspects" but I don't want to contaminate and pre-populate the results. Enlighten and persuade me if someone is out there you think meets all these criteria. Bonus points if it is someone using a video platform because that is the most effective and fun way to engage with someone / some outlet.

In other words, I'm looking for an outlet that consistently delivers on the sentiment from Ayn Rand who said, "The world you deserve exists. It is real. It is yours." And here is how you can claim it...

Who is delivering on that philosophy?? Help me, please.

This discussion topic is also a test to see if a meaningful gap exists in which someone needs to fill. ;-)

Thanks, Brett


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  • Posted by term2 6 years, 6 months ago
    No one that I have heard espouses the philosophy of Ayn Rand consistently. Conservatives are on the whole closer to that than liberals, but conservatives are so intellectually conflicted that they can be counted on.

    I like Mark Levin, who occasionally gets on FOX news. I have forgotten his name, but there is a tall black well-spoken and very smart dude who is also occasionally on FOX.

    The rest of the FOX people are good today and bad tomorrow, depending on who knows what. Except for the religion thing, Bill O'Reilly wasnt too bad. Of all people, I actually liked Milo (I will not get his last name right). At least he said what he thought, which is a good thing.
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  • Posted by mia767ca 6 years, 6 months ago
    the audio version of Mark Levin is free every day on youtube...
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 6 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I get it...it took me quite a while before I saw a value in paying for news...seems Everything Free! has a price that is way to high.

    Yes, there are many people that sideline on the two programs I mentioned, offer their take on youtube or their own sites and you can get the reasoned observations and the "What actually happened" news you are looking for.

    I find the daily scheduled routine valuable because I need to spend time researching and writing my book.
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  • Posted by Solver 6 years, 6 months ago
    No one is perfectly objective but a number of people on YouTube are talking about living your life as well as this growing looniness going on. Stefan Molyneux, Mr Regan, Dave Rubin are just a few that firmly believe in the respect for individual rights and the free exchange of ideas. These days trying to find media people that are not trying to rule you is getting rare.
    Also check the “Intellectual Dark Web”, which includes left, right and middle openly debating the serious issues.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 6 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Many of those "conspiracies" are no longer theories but still a bit of caution should always be taken, even in the discussions.
    Observing what actually is happening instead of what is said or posed is best... but in today's world, events are hidden, facts changed and sometimes while the events are happening.

    It's maddening trying to vet some things out.

    Investigate without fear, ignore that within you that temps you to discount everything and you'd be surprised at what you learn...Everything these days requires this procedure. Trying always to prove it wrong.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 6 years, 6 months ago
    Levin TV, The Blaze...these are pay per view although you can get 30 days free viewing.

    Haven't found anything that ignores the chatter of the day. The two sites above do give reasonable and detailed background and commentary. Also they interview a lot of good authors and on occasion, some good things that have happened that no one is talking about

    There is probably some other sites as well but these two are all I have time for.

    Understand: The post modernist have made it their business to create chaos, confusion and division. There is no discussing anything with them.
    At least at the Gulch we can express our dismay's and try to make some sense of it without being shut down or band.

    The resources gathered can be impressive at times.

    Humanity is under siege and in danger right now, it is not likely to change anytime soon.

    Look up Post Modernism...that is what underlays everything these days.
    It's the opposite of Rand and the Enlightenment.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 6 years, 6 months ago
    I would like this too, but I would like it in text and/or podcast format.

    For podcasts, I like The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. I miss Dan Carlin's Common Sense podcast, which he publishes rarely. He also produces a Hardcore History podcast. That podcast is like a series of history audiobooks.

    This is a good time to catch up on audiobooks.

    My favorite news outlet since the 90s is NYT. I had a paper subscription in the 90s before it was all on the Internet. I still subscribe and listen to the Daily podcast, but I'm not thrilled with them lately. You have to scroll down to get past the lurid stuff.

    I have gone through phases of reading Bloomberg and the WSJ. I had a paper subscription to WSJ at a different point in the 90s when I didn't have NYT.

    I share the OP's question. It seems like there's a lot of clownishness in the world, as if irrational conspiracy-theory thinking is bleeding over from the kooks of the world into the real world.
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