I've cancelled my NY Times and LA Times subs, removed Instagram and reddit my my phone. My profile on this site is all I've really got left and I removed my auto login on my phone as well. Have to do a bit of work to get back on. My goal is to stop by this site maybe 1-2 times a day.
I got rid of the newspapers before the election, and the social media after.
There is no doubt that Trump and co. are a threat to the nation. But I've done this before. I spent 2016-2020 doom scrolling. Every day was a new "BREAKING" news story in which Trump had broken some norm, betrayed an ally, or broken the law. And what did I do with all of that info? Nothing. Didn't motivate me to volunteer, didn't become politically engaged. I just internalized it and it would impact my day-to-do. Part of it was always thinking the "next" scandal would finally wake up my old friends, classic conservatives, and the body politic. Then the resulting frustration and disbelief that none of it mattered.
I actually found the 2020 election perhaps the most demoralizing of them all. I was certain that after 4 years of Trump we'd see a collective repudiation. Nope. Election wasn't called for a couple of days due the margins in the swing states. That's what did it for me. I gave up any and all hope that our future is a place I want to be a part of. This most recent election was more a confirmation of my fears than a surprise. In a weird way, giving up hope has been freeing. Its only been a week since the election, but despite the turn for the worse in the news, I've had a lovely week. My phone pretty much stays in my pocket unless I'm texting or calling someone. Started carrying my Kindle with me again. Would recommend.
So anyways, I'm done. Done reading the news. Done paying attention. I've lived in a foreign country that was, at the time, ruled by an autocratic dictator. Did I spend my days thinking about the erosions of the rule of law or the dissidents that were being tortured and killed? Nope. Just went about my day. Enjoyed life. I can certainly do the same here.
So, burn it down. Or don't. Whatever.