One of the best decisions I’ve made is to stop watch news on the TV or political talking heads programs. It produces a weird combination (at least in me): my blood pressure goes up (either in agreement or disagreement) but the medium virtually ensures that I become mentally lazy given all the go-for-the-jugular talking points, on both sides of the political aisle. They tend to be long on conclusions and rhetoric but low on actual thoughtful argumentation that responds to the strongest arguments on the opposing side.
In its place I recommend subscribing to a free online site like The Public Discourse, edited by Ryan T. Anderson. The focus is on issues related to “ethics, law, and the common good,” with thoughtful, natural-law arguments and analysis. I almost always find something worth reading on the site.
Here’s the latest: an essay by Carson Holloway, arguing one way to increase employment in the United States is by cutting the minimum wage.
If you think the idea seems preposterous, unjust, etc., read the whole thing. Agree or disagree, you’ll find an actual argument that sets the context, advances a thesis, supports the thesis, and considers objections.
(If I was teaching a class in persuasive argument or homeschooling a high-schooler, I’d make analyzing these types of essays a regular assignment.)