Ignoring the news will not make things better

Stec announces plans to run for Elise Stefanik's seat in 21st Congressional District

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It was one of those Facebook comments you don't take very seriously most days.

But when I saw the source, I paused.

It was from a former colleague who lived the news when we worked together, passionately defended our mission and labored daily to fulfill it.

"My entire life has been consumed with news of one version or another. And yet I confess that this is 100% true for me as we head into 2025. I have never been more disinterested in political ... garbage ... than I am right now. Who is with me?"

We all change.

We get older.

And most of us are weary of the political nonsense we have witnessed over the past decade, but I don't believe any of us should concede are responsibilities as citizens.

I am not ready to throw in the towel.

But then it was as if my former colleague had second thoughts, as if he wanted to take back part of what he just wrote.

"And by the way," he offered. "If you have not already, you should add this news source to your group of organizations that you follow. It is among the best and among the straightest, I believe, for facts."

It was The Associated Press.

I'm often asked about political bias regarding The Associated Press. I remind people it is the premier wire service in the world, that its 10,000 employees are not part of a some deep state, but part of a consortium with respected media outlets all over the country.

And since it is a nonprofit, it is not driven by financial gain.

The headline for the story read "Americans are exhausted by political news" and a subhead which read "TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they’re tuning out."

The recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll confirmed many feel like my former colleague and are exhausted by the political news coverage over the past year.

The poll reveals about two-thirds of American adults said they needed to step away from media coverage of politics and government; that 7 of 10 Democrats and 6 of 10 Republicans were limiting their media diet, like my former colleague.

I understand the fatigue.

I understand a certain disgust with the politicians they are covering and the inability to work for the good of the people.

But we should never become "disinterested."

We can't let that happen.

We must remain committed to being good citizens and preserving what America stands for in the world.

Over the past week or so, I've made the trek to museums and historic sites that tell the story of our country.

Often, it was an ugly story that led to horrible events and abuses of our fellow Americans.

I worry those times may return.

I worry about the ambivalence so many feel, like my former colleague.

But of course, the key is for all of us to set the bar high, to demand our leaders do the right thing, obey the laws and work for the greater good of ALL Americans.

So we must remain interested in the news.

We must be consumed with the work our leaders are doing and insist they do it better.

Most of all, we have to insist on truth, justice and the American way, and to fight like to maintain it.

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Stec in race

North Country Public Radio reported Thursday that New York State Senator and Queensbury resident Dan Stec is officially running for Rep. Elise Stefanik's seat in Congress.

Stec made the announcement in an interview with WWNY-TV.

"My argument is that I am the most electable," Stec told the Watertown TV station. "So if we’re concerned about winning the seat, holding the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, you want to put your most likely to win candidate forward. And no one can compare the numbers the way that I do, as far as how much of the district I already represent."

Before being elected to the state Senate, Stec served in the state Assembly and as the Queensbury town supervisor.

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The Adirondack Penguin exhibit at The Chapman Museum.

Chapman decorations

There is still plenty of time to check out the holiday decorations at the Chapman Museum with the extensive collection of Christmas nutcrackers, a new penguin habitat and six Christmas trees spread out throughout the museum.

We're will hoping this will become an annual family tradition locally while also supporting the mission of local history.

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The Front Page

This February will be the fourth year anniversary of me writing this Substack newsletter.

I started in 2021 and Will Doolittle joined me after his retirement in 2022. We both still believe passionately in the importance of thoughtful commentary as a way to debate community issues. We know many of you believe the same.

As we begin a new year, we urge you all to spread the word about the work we are doing and its importance in 2025.

A year ago, we began accepting paid subscriptions and we have been humbled by the response of our readers. It shows we are on the right track and that many newspaper companies who have discouraged commentary and editorials are on the wrong track.

We hope more of you will continue to support our work in the years ahead.

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Poll numbers

That recent AP-NORC poll showed that since the election, MSNBC ratings were down 54 percent and CNN was down 45 percent, but Fox News' audience was up 13 percent.

That should not be surprising since the candidate it supported won, despite the fact that it continues to make dubious claims that fly in the face of factual evidence.

That said, since the election, 72 percent of the viewers watching those three cable networks, watch Fox News.

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Ken Tingley spent more than four decades working in small community newspapers in upstate New York. Since retirement in 2020 he has written three books and is currently adapting his second book "The Last American Newspaper" into a play. He currently lives in Queensbury, N.Y.