"Vulgar talking yam" will be my new favorite phrase.
I keep flashing on the climactic moment in Stephen King's "Dead Zone", where the odious political candidate has his ultimate denouement, when he finally went too far. I certainly don't want similar horrific circumstances, but I do wonder where and when and why the last straw will be just that.

Sorry, but I'm not with you on this. I have never used the "mute" remote control button so much as I have these past few months. Not only does Trump disgust me, he terrifies me & doubly so since as I drive in this small town I live in, I see way toooooo many Trump signs posted on front lawns.

This area is economically depressed & people really believe that Trump will bring jobs to the area..........are you kidding me? He'll only bring more chaos. Someone told me last week that with Hilary in the white house, Bill will be behind her as will Barack & that those "guys" will tell her what to do. Where do people come up with these ideas? Scary. Dee

Unfortunately, it has hit me too, in spite of the fact that I am not American. I am just scared s••••less of a world with Trump as president of the US and M. Le Pen as president of France

I too find myself drawn to the Trump coverage. It seems to be based on Mel Brook’s “The Producers”. Doing everything wrong with the intention of failing and succeeding in spite of yourself. I am appalled that my fellow citizens would find him in any way acceptable as President. But I have come to understand that for some, his candidacy represents the frustration with the continued income disparity. Many of those left behind have lost hope in the ’system’ and are energized by a candidate outside of the political system. Even if Hillary is elected, if the Republicans maintain congressional control, I don’t see things changing, unfortunately.

I would echo several of the comments here, Ronni, some of yours and other readers'. My husband, who spends several hours most days watching CNN, MSNBC, or other news shows excluding FOX, is getting a little freaked out that we're in trouble regardless of the outcome of this election. Even if Trump loses, is he going to go quietly out of the public eye? That doesn't seem likely, and he has, in a variety of ways, signaled that already with words like "rigged system," and "bloodbath."

I pay much less attention to the constantly repeating news programs, and escape in books and other activities, but I have to admit to enjoying several of the very amusing and abundant parodies, cartoons and YouTube videos. I feel a bit guilty for enjoying so much of the humor, because it's really no laughing matter in spite of how much some of it makes me laugh. Seriously, how can all these things be being said about the potential leader of the free world???

It's interesting that over the past couple of days I have brought up to my husband a comment about Fahrenheit 451 similar to Simone's here, and a reference to "The Producers," the same as Mia brought up. This campaign is providing all kinds of grist for the meal, I'm just not sure I want to be eating any of the grain that may come in a few months. Frowny face.

Well, as they say, every vote counts—so US citizens need to be ever vigilant these days. Turning on the news is a must, if you are to keep pace with the fast-spinning events of the day. Those of us, citizens in other countries (including your close-by neighbors) can't vote, but we are still interested, since we will all be profoundly affected by what happens in November. So, yes, we too, turn CNN on more than we care to admit!

I have such a visceral negative reaction to DT that I turn away, turn him off. Although I will at times read articles about his latest gaffe, I can't watch or listen to him--makes my skin crawl.

The addiction I am returning to these days is a place called Daily Kos. It's a highly partisan site, for Democrats. The slightest detail that happens is going to be exhaustively discussed and analyzed - not only Trump's latest outrage, but poll results, and down-ticket races.

I know I shouldn't. In the Bush years, surrounded by the post-9/11 madness, yes, I needed it. I clung to it desperately to reassure myself that not all Americans were insane. But now... I am back in Canada. I don't need to obsess over all those details. I can't affect your results, never could. And I know it's an echo chamber. It's going to magnify little things out of proportion, and it'll praise Democrats for positions where I find myself going, "Hold on a second, I don't actually agree with that, why would I think of it as a good thing?"

All the same, I keep on going back. I tell myself, "It's important!" ...and it is. I tell myself, "I know it's an echo chamber, I can handle that distortion and still get information I couldn't find elsewhere." ...and I'm not sure that's true. This time round, I am at least making a conscious effort to read other viewpoints... but I've noticed a subtle effect in Google News. It won't show me what's happening in the world, not really. It shows me more stories like the ones I've read. Just by the act of browsing, I am creating my own personal echo chamber.

It's easy to sneer at the bias of the Fox News bubble when you're outside it, but I think these days we are all surrounded by nearly invisible confirmation-bias bubbles.

Yes, no day/hour goes by without another reaction of open-mouthed astonishment at the actions of both drumphy trumphy and his adherents. Only slightly mitigated by my avoidance of TV news, just reading of his antics sets me off.

Yet, like you, Ronnie, I continually go to the latest computer news sources, even when I am busy doing something else!

One note through all this: when a public figure, or especially an acquaintance, defends his statements, I just don't look at that person in the same way any more.

Not an observation I thought I'd ever make, about anyone!

I have the opposite reaction to all the Trump coverage. I can't watch him, can't bear to even hear his voice. I watched none of the Republican convention, and when he comes on the TV news, I mute it. Otherwise I'll be screaming at the TV.

Like many of your readers, I can't stand looking at or hearing Trump. My several-times-a-day updates come from the fivethirtyeight.com/politics/ site. Nate Silver and his crew update the numbers every time a new poll comes in, all day, every day. It's addictive.

I'm also one who mutes the tv if he's being covered, and have actually reduced viewing the news. We are all partially to blame but mostly I blame the media (and GOP of course) who thought it was "fun" to give him so much air time. Surely I'm not the only one who noticed the discrepancy between the airtime Trump got vs Bernie... Pointing out the train wreck analogy is perfect Ronni, that is exactly what is feeding our fascination with this dangerous, mentally ill person.

The GOP is also to blame for not being intelligent to realize they cannot control a narcissistic sociopath who doesn't understand the first thing about government.

Is Hillary perfect? No, but the thing that wins her the most vitriolic criticism is the fact that she's a woman. That republicans would rather elect a sociopath with no government experience over someone with 40 years of government experience because she's a woman says things about this country that terrify and embarrass me, as an American.

I'm addicted to the news, but I want to read about science, technology, pop culture, music, movies, television, books. I use Flipboard and News360, two apps where you can configure curated news. I get my national news from 30 minutes of NBC Nightly News, and I skip all local news. I figured out the reasons conservatives are so paranoid about things - they watch their local news.

Growing up with a newspaperman father, being up on the news was just what one did. For a long time, though, I've felt very ambivalent about it. I recognize the pull, especially when something really awful (the talking yam) is in the news, checking on it a lot. More and more I'm resisting. Isn't what we put into our thoughts as, if not more important than what we put into our bodies? I don't WANT Trump and the latest horror to be occupying, camping out in my mind, my thoughts. It's important to know what's happening, and I do, mostly. But for me, especially as an elder, I need to keep my spirits up, and the news, mostly brutal, sure doesn't help with that! Okay, I'll watch the PBS news tonight, now I'll go listen to Ry Cooder.

I, too, have added "vulgar talking yam" (VTY) to my political vocabulary. It's the perfect description for the narcissist, sexist, racist locker room bully that has somehow become the Repubs candidate for President. I've started using the mute button more frequently whenever I hear his name (or, even worse, his voice) but I've always followed the news on TV and that probably won't change--even if the quality of coverage has. (For in-depth discussion or analysis, I read or listen to NPR.)

Like many on TGB, I am absolutely terrified at the prospect of the VTY ascending to the office of President of the U.S. It would likely be a short term of office because the first time a foreign head of state (except Putin maybe) insults him, he'll demand The Briefcase. . .and here we thought our days of "duck and cover" were over. The VTY can NEVER be allowed anywhere near The Briefcase!

I was a news junkie too -- in another life (Time Mag).
I'm doing the same as you.
I have to deliberately stop and turn off the TV, take a big breath, and pick up my
knitting.

It's not a good obsession, Mr. vulgar talking yam!!!

Saul Friedman,my late father in law and a contributor to this blog, would be having a field day with Mr.Trump. He would eat him alive and spit him out.

Hi Ronni..Yep Vulgar talking Yam is now part of my lexicon, too. I'm a politics junkie first and all news junkie second. Every 4 years I get involved is one campaign on another..from Presidential to state legislation, I love volunteering and being a part of the political process, win or lose.

The Washington Post has been running heaps of articles about Trumps Craziness...I ended up subscribing to the digital WP because they have so many good opinion writers and news writer..Also very pro Democrat, you may remember their journalists assigned to Trumps campaign had their press passes jerked away because the WP wasn't nice to Trump. There is a very good article about what happens to people who aren't 'nice' to Trump and it isn't nice to read.

I wish that his foolishness would only lead to him being soundly 'trumped' at the election, but as so many people believe the lies he spouts out on a daily if not hourly basis I become more and more afraid that this type of craziness has become addicting to others too.

The Republican convention was so different than the Democrats..from one who had World Wrestling Federation belt winners to the other having 4 star generals. Is this what our country is coming to?
Are we all going to catch Trumpian Craziness?
And, will Trump decided that Social Security will now be funded by playing the big roulette wheel in Atlantic City from now on?

Be afraid- be very afraid.
Elle

I can't stand to watch/hear shouting Agent Orange. But its addictive to read about him - find it difficult to tear myself off from the computer.

I find the media generally very pro/anti. Sometimes from the coverage itself, I can make out that I'm reading a liberal/conservative.

I originally thought Agent Orange was stupid. He's not. He's very smart (well, duh!, he's a businessman) - just see the way he's manipulating the media, and us. He's a headline-making machine (leaves Princess Di far, far behind). The print media, even the online newspapers, can't keep up I think. I find the fastest way of getting news is via Twitter. At age 70+, I've recently discovered Twitter and now think that I must have been living in a cave before.

I don't understand why the media didn't keep after him for his tax returns - he's lying about his wealth/Russian connections and its his Achilles heel. He got paid for Apprentice and he needs both the $ and publicity (his brand is his $). Its like those fraudsters wanting to sell you their secrets to become a millionaire - if they were that rich, would they be doing it?!!

I too find myself looking at Trump-supporters in a biased way, and vice versa I guess. My opinion of politicians generally has hit rock bottom. Then I watch Obama speaking in his cool, rational and *considered* manner and calm down.

GOP's choice of Quale, Palin and now Trump leaves me puzzled. Similarly, Hillary (no succession planning in Democrats??). Like others, I like reading the comments to an article more than the article itself.

With you all in terms of anxiety of what will happen if the population elects the VTY (thanks for that term, Ronnie).

Since I don't want to drown in disgust and anxiety, as I nearly did for years after 9-11 and all the wars, I limit my news viewing to the CBS morning news. Have announced on Facebook that I will not post any more political stuff, just cuteness and beauty, or things of interest other than the election. Mental health is as important as physical health.

I take solace in the fact that Sarah Palin was about as outrageous, and certainly as clueless, and her heavy coverage did not result in her election to VP.

The night Hillary accepted the nomination, I signed up to volunteer with our state DFL (Democratic Farmer Labor is the name of the Dems in Minnesota). Will put my political energy to use on phone banks.

I was so glad to see you write this article, Ronnie, because I, too, have become totally addicted to this election and it's cast of characters, particularly Trump. It has pretty much consumed me to the point where I, like you, have to continually check to see what outlandish thing he said or did before I last checked. What's sad about this is this is exactly what this narcissistic carnival barker wants from us and I get angry that I have allowed him to take up so much of my time. .

I've even started tweeting on Twitter with faceless friends who validate my feelings regarding this man. Living in a red state, I'm finding most of my friends will vote Republican regardless of how crazy this man is. It has put me in an awkward position where we have to agree not to talk politics but like some others have stated here, it is hard for me to look at them in the same way when they post on Facebook how great he is.

Oh well, this too shall pass and hopefully the election will have a good outcome and I can get over this addiction. Until then, I'm sure I will continue tweeting and worse yet, I will check in every day to read HIS idiotic tweets.

So many news outlets just repeat what others have said. I've turned some of them off just to avoid all the Trump bs.

I can no longer listen to the Trumpisms or watch the weird hair, orange faced psycho. My stomach starts to turn over whenever he comes on the screen. His defeat in November cannot come fast enough for me. OK, I just stepped off my soapbox and steam is no longer coming out of my ears. BUT, he makes me so disgusted over his lies, misinformation and outright propaganda.