How do I get back into being up to date on current events?

[Bunnyhair]

I feel so ridiculous asking this. But I used to be fairly well informed about the state of the world. Then I had a child with SEN and for the last 7 years my domestic and financial and care-related mental load has been such that I have just about enough room in my head for my work, and literally nothing else. Not even box sets or audiobooks.

(Perimenopause is a factor, too.)

I want to push back against the smallness of my life, and get back in touch with what’s going on in the world. But I basically need to catch up on everything that’s happened since Donald Trump was elected in 2016. It feels like I’m just waking up from a coma with no real sense of how the world has moved on.

Where do I start? Honestly my brain is in such a state that I need digestible, palatable content in small doses, without too much sensationalism. Can anyone recommend some podcasts or Substacks or something?

I’d be so grateful for anyone’s suggestions - or even a bit of solidarity!

Watch the news? Listen to Radio 4? Read newspapers?

PM at 5pm on Radio 4 is good.

Follow lots of news sites (and interesting people) on Twitter. It's often just little snippets/videos and thoughts but I think it's a good way of keeping up with the world but in a micro format.

The Today programme on Radio 4 is good but I think the 10.00pm programme is even better. Do you read a newspaper? You can subscribe to one online.

I stopped listening to the news for 2-3 years and over the last year started listening to podcasts to get back up to date. I listen to the News Agents quite regularly - usually during my commute to work. That's been my favourite - good spread, interesting - and not too long.

Subscribe to a weekly news magazine it gets delivered so you don't forget and gives you a round up of the week's news that is on the important side.

I agree about finding a daily podcast from one of the Radio 4 suggestions.

Also add the News Quiz/Now Show - Radio 4 Friday night comedy, it alternates between the 2 and takes an entertaining look at the week's news.

Then if you want to see what you missed in the last few years (although I'm sure you managed to notice Brexit, Covid, the war in Ukraine, the death of the Queen, at least some of the comings and goings in the Government and the cost of living crisis?) then if you search for bbc news review of the year 2022 etc in youtube, there's a few short clips that should give an overview and you can always google for more information about anything that interests you.

Thanks so much for all these suggestions!

I am subscribed to Byline Times, NYT and Guardian - from back in the day when my brain was my own and I could fill it with what pleased me - but I’m just too tired and overwhelmed to read long chunks of text these days as I have about 40 scattered mins a day where I am not in intense meetings or being climbed on by my high needs child.

I have managed to take note of all the major events - just very little of the nuance around them. And when you fall out of the world for any length of time it’s quite hard to find your way back in!

I think podcasts and quiz shows will be the gentlest way.

Radio/podcasts are good for busy people as they can be listened to while driving/exercising/cooking etc. I second the recommendation for PM on Radio 4 for a relatively light look at that day’s news. I also like the podcast The Rest is Politics with Alaister Campbell and Rory Stewart.