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The challenges of navigating an unrelenting news cycle
Millions of Americans absorbed a dizzying political news cycle this past weekend, trying to process a series of extraordinary headlines for an already divided electorate.
Matthew Motta, an assistant professor of health law, policy and management at the Boston University School of Public Health, does more than follow the news. He studies how consuming it affects people’s health.
Motta said the relentless headlines surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, a federal judge’s decision to dismiss the Trump classified documents case and the ongoing pressure President Biden is facing to halt his reelection bid left him feeling stressed.
And what his research says about such news events — especially extraordinary moments like the attempted assassination — might be surprising.
“The people who consume the most news, they’re there for a reason, they enjoy this type of content, even news that might stress them out,” Motta told CBS News, explaining that to some degree, “a fair way of putting it” is that they enjoy being miserable.
“And they are a relatively small number of people in the American electorate, but they are precisely the types of people who are the most likely to vote,” Motta said.
Normally, only 38% of Americans pay close attention to the news, according to a Gallup survey last year, but there was nothing normal about this three-day news cycle.
The assassination attempt served as a ground-shaking moment, grafting next-level news trauma on the American psyche.
America’s mindset was already racing with the pandemic, racism and racial tension, inflation and climate disasters. The American Psychological Association calls where we are now the “impact of a collective trauma.”
Most people, however, try to tune out the news, either through lack of interest or as a coping response. But that also comes with consequences.
“If people disengage, then we potentially run the risk of losing their opinions at the ballot box,” Motta said.
But in a 24/7 digital world, eventually, the biggest headlines chase those people down, and this moment in history is one of those times. It also means the extraordinary news cycle we’re in could have staying power.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.