the political situation in the us is very very bad rn. its dangerous, too, and there are interventions ppl can make as individuals and members of civil society to affect it, so it makes sense to pay attention to it for those rsns
but the same is true abt, say, the weather, or ones diet, or local political issues. it makes sense to keep up w these for those rsns! but if yr spending all day in a state of panic checking the weather station or counting calories/nutrients or reviewing the municipal metro budget, you are (non-exclusively) either someone whose job it is to handle these things or being pretty stupid and self destructive. or u are a pervert and simply find following the news pleasant and enriching
asking yrself what concrete practical rsns (including that of having fun!) you have to be following the national news not only helps you structure yr media intake better, its a healthy antidote to exacerbating a mental health condition by engaging in the informational equivalent of drinking yrself into a stupour all day
