“The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.” That’s what Steve Bannon said in 2018, when he was President Trump’s chief strategist. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the torrent of news right now, this “flood the zone” strategy is why.
On his first day, Trump signed 52 presidential directives. Sixteen of his 31 campaign promises are already underway, with another, pardoning the January 6 rioters, complete. Democratic lawmakers must now sift through a haystack, figuring out what to fight in court, what’s worth responding to, and when to strike back with policy.
In the digital age, it’s hard for the average person to know what’s real, too. Conversation and news online are rife with misinformation, disinformation, and now AI. We’re getting constant global updates—then updates on those updates. Media sources, competing for your engagement, also over-sensationalize events, overwhelming you even more.
Building healthy relationships with news is challenging by design. Psychologically, it’s easy to get mixed up—even thoroughly debunked information can have a life of its own. But being aware of strategic “zone-flooding” is a critical step in restoring control.
Those in power think they can establish “order” by weaponizing chaos. But we still have agency. We can practice discernment and fact-checking. Set limits on our news consumption. Check in with our mental health. And then we’ll be prepared to fight whatever comes next.