I remember when the main way to answer that question was to watch the News at Ten. More sophisticated people would read newspapers. The limitations of mainstream media are ever more apparent. The internet democratized information, so that should help. There are still various problems, including filtering and resources.
YouTube is probably the most successful solution to the latter problem. It is possible to be a full time YouTuber focusing on a niche topic and earn a living.
The former problem is hard. Search engines have bias; bots abound. I offer here a handful of ways I figure out what is happening.
To answer specifically what is happening, lately I have found the Miltary and History channel useful. In the linked video he explains what is known about the results of the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, complete with satellite imagery. He has daily updates with information about multiple conflicts with lots of detail. He is analytical and unpolitical.
To answer why it is happening, William Spaniel’s channel looks at events from the perspective of crisis bargaining theory: it is war economics where territory is the currency, hence the refrain that everything is about “lines on maps”. In the linked video he explains why the USA bombed Iranian nuclear facilities when it did, in terms of Israel setting the stage and creating a window of opportunity. More generally, the channel is useful for understanding why fighting is happening instead of negotiating, and how different things will have to look before negotiation is possible.
For a broader perspective of capabilities and defense economics, there is Perun. He explains the principles, brings in real world data and describes the range of possibilities. An unexpected bit of information in the linked video is that Israel would likely run out of ammunition for its iron dome before Iran runs out of cheap, badly aimed ballistic missiles. That is why eliminating launchers is so important to Israel, and it affects how long an air campaign can go on for.
In general, if I really want to understand something, I have found that finding a good specialist YouTuber is one of the better ways to do it. The feedback loop of financial reward and algorithmic feedback seems to work: not universally, but enough that there is a rich vein of good information on any given topic amongst the noise.
For something lighter, I can also recommend Daniel Owen if you are looking to buy a GPU for your computer, and Chris Spargo for dull yet fascinating pop history like the story of nationalised pubs.
Please add your recommendations in the comments.
To dig into the climate hooha, these sites are good. The first is from the USA and is perhaps the heaviest and busiest. The second is from Germany, and the other two are from the UK.
1. wattsupwiththat.com
2. notrickszone.com
3. cliscep.com
4. notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com
To add to the above:
tallbloke.wordpress.com
In particular a long series on the unreliability met office’s weather reporting,
Niche interests you say?
You like sandwiches? Then Sandwiches of History should be right up your street. Before you ask, for some reason the Youtube algorithm sprang that one on me.
It reminds me of the joke “Do you like sausage rolls?”
“Yes”
“Come to my house then and see my collection. I have hundreds …”
I like Technology Connections, quirky investigation of everyday and not-so-everyday technology. A recent favourite was: They finally fixed Christmas Lights!
YouTube is now owned by Google – so it can not be relied upon on not to censor people, take away their channels, or mess with the algorithm.
Of the search engines – Google is the worst, even Bing (owned by the establishment statist Microsoft – Bill Gates) is not as bad as Google.
As for the Islamic Republic of Iran….
Not destroying the Dictatorship, which was very much on-the-ropes, is a terrible mistake.
Only destroying the regime will prevent it getting nuclear weapons – nuclear weapons it will use (you can not “deter” people who sincerely believe they will go to Paradise if you kill them).
The IRI Dictatorship has been at war with the United States for 46 years – killing very large numbers of Americans around the world, what part of “Death to America” do people not understand?
And the IRI Dictatorship also wishes to destroy “infidel” Britain – the endless talk of “Diversity” and “Inclusion” from the British establishment (and their gloating about their crushing of the resistance of the British people) does not inspire friendship from the IRI Dictatorship (or from any other terror group Shia or Sunni) it inspires contempt – contempt for the stupidity and cowardice of the British establishment, which persecutes their own people in a futile effort to please enemies.
Paul Marks:
The IRI Dictatorship has been at war with the United States for 46 years – killing very large numbers of Americans around the world, what part of “Death to America” do people not understand?
As an American I’ve been asking myself that every that Iran in the news. The love affair between Obama and Iran is one of the most perverse phenomena in American politics.
In fact, Obama was one of the most perverse characters in the history of American politics. The excuse has always been to have Iran as a counter balance in the Middle Eastern politics. To counterbalance what? Is there a genuine fear that Israel is going to overrun the region. Or the Saudis?
I think the best explanation is old fashioned anti-Semitism which Obama absorbed by osmosis.
There will never be a true accounting of how invidious his two terms and the one of Biden’s handlers were. The damage they did to the United States is incalculable and this time and will likely take decades to uncoil and reveal itself.
Paul: I agree about Google, and so I continue to be surprised how uncensored YouTube appears to be.
For a niche YouTube interest, try Foresty Forest.
It’s just a Canadian chap, living with his dog in the van he converted himself, travelling the peaks of British Colombia and delivering gorgeous scenic footage.
No sponsors, no “influencing”, just one chap walking about in beautiful places and usually cooking a meal afterwards.
The other day I watched an old Top Of The Pops episode that had both Jimi Savile and Gary Glitter.
@ Stonyground. TotP with Jimmy Saville and Gary Glitter is small beer nowadays.
For real politically incorrect content, try Youtube for The Black and White Minstrel Show. I just checked and there are quite a few episodes still available. Grab ’em while you can. >};o)
Rob Fisher – good point Sir.
Censorship does exist on YouTube – but could be much worse.
Google appears to be concerned that if they make the censorship too extreme there will be a mass exodus to Rumble and other platforms.
This is why they privately support European Union and general “International Community” censorship – as that would eliminate the “danger” of competition from Bitchute, Rumble, and so on.
In the world the vast Corporations want to help create there would be no “danger” of competition for either news or entertainment – as regulatory or “professional” or “industry wide” bodies would eliminate dissent.
For example, everyone would have to spend that portion of their “Minimum Basic Income” earmarked for entertainment on Disney style entertainment – with its “positive” Progressive messaging.