Edited by Jasmine Ryu Won Kang
By now, you’ve likely heard about the upcoming U.S. election or at least seen the meme wars that have resulted from it. Amidst all the craziness that 2020 has brought, the U.S. election is the cherry on top. As a student, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with this election and everything else going on in the world. With so many stories being published daily, how do you find the time to filter through mounds of information, while staying on top of school work? Luckily, I’ve done some digging around and found some simple sources students can turn to in order to stay up to date, even while attending Zoom university.
Podcasts
An easy way to stay up to date is to listen to podcasts. This is a great option for those who are taking heavy classes or are involved in an array of activities and don’t have time to spare. While you’re running from one location to the next or cramming in the library, you can easily throw on one of these podcasts and get the rundown of the most recent debate or Trump’s latest controversy.
The Daily
Hosted by Michael Barbaro, this podcast from The New York Times releases new episodes every weekday covering topics related to the election. With episodes running roughly 30 minutes, this is a great option for those who are pressed for time.
Listen to this podcast here: https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily
The NPR Politics Podcast
Brought to you by NPR, this podcast releases new episodes every weekday that discuss politics and the campaign trail. Episodes run about 30 minutes, so this is another source for those who want something simple and straight to the point.
Listen to this podcast here: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast
In the Thick
This podcast hosted by Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela discusses topics about race and politics from a POC perspective that is often left out of mainstream media. New episodes are released twice a week and run under an hour, making it an optimal choice for those who have busy schedules.
Listen to this podcast here: https://www.inthethick.org/episodes/
News Articles
If you’re not big into podcasts, another great way to catch up on the most recent information regarding the election is to read articles that summarize the most important points. For those who enjoy a morning read with their coffee or like to catch up with the latest buzz on their lunch break, this is for you.
CNN
A popular source among left-leaning voters, CNN publishes new stories every day discussing everything you need to know about the upcoming election.
Read articles from this source here: https://www.cnn.com/election/2020
Wall Street Journal
Publishing new articles daily, the Wall Street Journal is a helpful choice for those who are looking for non-partisan reportings.
Read articles from this source here: https://www.wsj.com/news/types/election-2020?mod=nav_top_subsection
Aljazeera
With a page dedicated solely to the U.S. election, this is an option for those who are looking for a comprehensive but succinct news source.
Read articles from this source here: https://www.aljazeera.com/us-elections-2020/
Video Recaps
If you’re more of a visual learner, watching recaps is one way to stay up to date. There are several channels on YouTube that have been following the election closely, offering short videos that sum up the highlights.
Bloomberg Politics
Uploading new videos every day, Bloomberg Politics offers videos covering the election, as well as other important global politics. Most of their videos run under 5 minutes, making it easy to keep up with important news.
Watch videos from this channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV61VqLMr2eIhH4f51PV0gA/videos
Sky News
Most of their videos run under 10 minutes, making it a breeze to catch up with the most recent information regarding Trump, Biden, and more.
Watch videos from this channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyNews/videos