Surviving the Flood
Feeling a little overwhelmed right now? Tired of ‘Breaking News’ notifications that arrive one after the other, each one worse than the last? You’re not the only one. But there’s a reason for this exhaustion, it’s manufactured by those in the highest office of the land–and none of us are immune to the effects.
Steve Bannon, the Former White House Chief Strategist for Donald Trump during his first term, coined the term “Flooding the zone,” which referred to disorienting the media by introducing so much legislation at the same time that there was no way to cover everything–allowing other important executive actions to slip through the cracks.
In the first few months of this second Trump term, it’s no surprise that we’re overwhelmed with executive orders, questionable hirings and firings, and whatever is going on with Elon Musk at the helm of the White House and it’s budget (what does JD Vance even do these days?)
All of this news happening at the same time may make it all the more tempting to disconnect from politics, but on the contrary, it is more important than ever to stay tuned in. Things are going to get complex, and you’ll have trouble figuring out what to focus on, but I urge you now more than ever to focus on something and stick with it.
Whether it’s the matters that are important to you or someone you love or issues you’ve yet to learn about, read about them and stay informed. An educated public is a dangerous public, one that is hard to control–but burning yourself out trying to keep track of everything won’t help anyone in the long run.
That is exactly why it is so important to find what will impact you the most, and focus on that. Browse headlines until you notice something that will affect you directly, or somebody you know. Learn everything you can about that specific subject.
Not to overstate the importance of The Leader in a student’s daily life, but it is our goal across the Editorial Board, and all of our staff writers, editors, photographers, and curators, that what we focus on will be in-depth and directly related to your experience at Elmhurst.
It is through this pinpointing and direct connection to national politics that solutions are found. Not by trying to understand every single minute detail all at once, but by a group of people finding what resonates with the most and using the resources they have to change it.
Rebellion comes in many stages and rears its head in different forms at different times. One day you might feel overwhelming despair, and debilitating anger, rendering you useless. On another, you might feel a passion, or the need to take action. Whatever your response to what’s happening in the world around you looks like, treat yourself with grace–but do not develop a habit of ignorance.
