For a while there, I had been consistently listening to nonstop streaks of the New York Times' (NYT) Ezra Klein Show, American Public Media’s (APM) Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal, and most Immigration Answer Shows by Jim Hacking (I’m proudly very quirky and nerdy about my media consumption, I know).

Lately my listening has been more piecemealed in favor of audiobooks, or even individual articles. I realize I do read a ton, even if it’s by podcast, article or audiobook.

Since I posted about Mark Manson yesterday, I thought the following article was very on point on why I keep my news consumption to a minimum, and completely deleted social media. I also have the Meetup app, which helps connect me way better than any mainstream social media platform.

Great article: markmanson.net/why-you-s…

I don’t agree with Mark Manson on social media being not harmful, but his content on that was from the before times, so I’d be curious if he still thinks that today. If so, I would definitely disagree with him there. But Manson is a smart, well-spoken dude.

A few words on Ezra Klein. I found a recent episode that resonated with me, that had very minimal political content titled “Is Your Social Life Missing Something? This Is For You.” www.youtube.com/watch I really appreciated the emphasis on community and what’s gone wrong. the loneliness, the lack of community, especially for younger generations: it just can’t be overstated. It’s truly an unprecedented epidemic on this scale in recorded human history. I’m curious to explore the written content of that episode’s guest, Priya Parker.

I appreciate that the Klein’s episodes always end with guest providing 3 book recommendations. I fucking love it!

I will criticize Klein on one big thing though. He took a lot of heat last September when he said that Charlie Kirk was “practicing politics the right way” following his assassination. I maybe get the merit of what Klein was trying to say in an idealistic sense, but the truth is, Kirk was an awful, bigoted hate-mongering person that did great harm to the world. He did NOT practice politics the right way AT ALL. But I do respect that Klein had progressive black journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates on to discuss differences, and Coates was much more correct than Klein for this one. www.youtube.com/watch

If Kirk was an pre-Trump era, old school Republican, with whom I disagreed profoundly on economic policy, climate change, abortion, border security, guns, etc. as a hardcore progressive, then fair enough. You’re practicing politics the “right way” even I strongly disagree with your views. But when you start becoming a hateful, lying bigot towards oppressed groups of people, then absolutely not. I think this article by David Corn says it much better “his assassination deserves full condemnation; his full impact should not be sidestepped.": www.motherjones.com/politics/…

Similarly, there’s one insightful article from black author Shari Dunn I came across that’s worth sharing. While I disagree with her overarching discrediting of Klein’s intellect, as he think his analysis has legitimate depth, she makes really important points on Klein’s race-based oversights that many white liberals have. Well-stated, and worth a read. sharidunn.substack.com/p/the-pro…

I also started listening to Klein’s book “Abundance” which he co-authored with Derek Thompson. Only a couple of chapters in, but very insightful so far. Will give a more complete review once finished.

Photo credit: people often say Klein is very serious in his demeanor. But I’ve watched him enough to see him smile and laugh a few times. Found a moment less serious, pictured below.