The majority of Americans have a negative outlook on politics right now. According to the Pew Research Center, 84% of adults believe political debate has become less respectful. On top of that, 72% report feeling exhausted by politics, and 69% say they feel angry when they think about it. Perhaps most concerning, 78% believe there is too little attention given to the issues that actually matter in this country. These numbers show that political frustration is widespread. People aren’t just disagreeing; they’re feeling burned out, unheard, and overwhelmed. And when civic engagement becomes associated with anger and exhaustion, it becomes harder for our democracy to stay strong and healthy. In today’s overwhelming political climate, one of the most powerful things we can control is how we consume information. Instead of relying on social media feeds or cable news, which tend to use negative, unproductive language, we can supplement or expand our news sources to get more reliable information. For example, some reputable news sources include the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, and NPR. These outlets prioritize factual reporting over sensational headlines. It’s also important to think critically and fact-check before sharing information. Misinformation spreads quickly, and each of us plays a role in either stopping it or contributing to it. Limiting doomscrolling and intentionally seeking multiple perspectives can help prevent falling into internet echo chambers as well. Feeling frustrated about politics isn’t wrong, it actually shows that we care. But the key question is: what do we do with that frustration? Instead of letting it turn into constant outrage, we can channel it into meaningful action. That means voting in elections, volunteering in our communities, and advocating for issues we care about. If there’s a problem that matters deeply to you, look for solutions. Support policies, organizations, and initiatives that address those concerns. And support candidates who align with your values whether that’s through donating or volunteering on their campaign. Real change can only happen through consistent civic participation. Don’t get discouraged by the overwhelming need for change. You are not alone in this, as, according to a national survey done by Navigator Research, 3 in 5 Americans say the American political system needs major change. If all of us work together, we can make serious and impactful improvements to our country. Across political parties and across different groups, a majority of Americans say the system needs major changes. That tells us that feelings of anger, exhaustion, and dissatisfaction with politics are not just personal, they are shared across the country. Constant negativity, online arguments, and toxic discourse may feel loud, but they rarely create real, lasting change. What actually makes an impact is informed, consistent civic engagement. That means staying informed from reliable sources, thinking critically, supporting candidates and causes we believe in, voting, volunteering, and participating in our communities. These actions may seem small, but collectively they are how democratic change happens. If so many Americans agree that the system needs improvement, that shared concern can be a starting point for progress rather than division. Democracy works best when people stay engaged, respectful, and solution-focused. Therefore, rather than contributing to the noise and negativity, we should focus on being the change we want to see.
By Alexia Silva
The upcoming movie Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, a spin-off of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series, has recently been leaked in its entirety online, causing a frenzy among fans, the film’s animators, and executives. Initially, two-minute clips from the movie were released online by an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account called ImStillDissin, who claims he was merely trolling when he leaked the videos. Later, a friend from ImStillDissin’s days as a hacker sent him a full copy of the movie—which he claimed to not know what it was—stating that he didn’t think it was a big deal considering the movie wasn’t being released in theaters. He also added a #PeggleCrew watermark to the clips as a nod to the hacker who sent him the movie. The full film was leaked on X in high-quality HD. The culprit of the leak has now been identified as the hacker “IDISSEVERYTHING.” He allegedly exploited a security flaw in a screener distribution company, downloaded the full film, and spread it online. Supposedly, this is not his first hacking offense either. Paramount has conducted an investigation into the leak and has ruled out the possibility that it was caused by a vulnerability in its systems. Although clips of the movie are still being removed through copyright takedowns, the situation has exploded, with over 15 million people now having viewed the film. Many people have begun to blame Paramount for the leak after the company decided against its original plan for a theatrical release. Instead, the company will move it directly to their streaming service, Paramount+, for an October 2026 release. Fans also argue that the company had it coming after delaying the film so many times: it was originally planned for October 10, 2025, then delayed to January 30, 2026, and again to its current release date of October 10, 2026. As fans have seen the finished product at full cinematic quality, they have begun to demand a proper theatrical run, with many stating that the talented animators who worked on the film deserve to see their work on the big screen. The reception to the movie has been generally very positive, and some have stated that the leak has done more to promote the film than Paramount ever could have. Many have also defended their choice to illegally download the leaked movie as a dig at Paramount for not releasing it in theaters. However, many of the film’s animators have urged fans to resist watching the leaks as doing so would undermine the work of the cast and crew. On the other hand, many have noted that Paramount was not promoting the film, arguing that the company did not believe it could succeed and thus undermining their own work. Even some of the cast members from the original series have commented on the leaks. Olivia Hack, who voiced Ty Lee in the show, stated that she “skimmed” through some of the movie and praised its animation before saying that, based on what she’s seen, the movie deserves to be released in theaters. Additionally, Michaela Jill Murphy, formerly Jessie Flower and the original voice actress for Toph, has strongly urged fans to stop watching and circulating the unreleased movie, calling it “disrespectful” to the animators and creators. But this isn’t the first time Paramount has faced movie leaks, as the current incident follows the unfinished copy of Paramount’s Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie leaking weeks before its 2024 theatrical release. This whole situation has sparked massive debate and conversations online about the upcoming movie and the Avatar franchise in general. The movie is clearly a work of passion and talent. As such, it does deserve to be recognized with a theatrical release. However, leaking the movie will only hurt the Avatar franchise’s chances of making future films. This situation was avoidable and, hopefully, Paramount will learn from it in the future. In the meantime, fans of the franchise remain hopeful for future projects—and maybe even a theatrical release.
By Alexandra Miskewitz
The Onion is negotiating a launch of their own comedic version of InfoWars, the brand that conservative podcaster Alex Jones lost in part due to massive financial losses from a lawsuit regarding his lying about the Sandy Hook school shooting massacre. Thanks to having comedian/new InfoWars head honcho Tim Heidecker make an embedded announcement video, the business article manages to be funny. He opens with a shockingly accurate Alex Jones impression, nailing that gravelly voice very well. He also punctuates the general positivity with wacky asides, like he definitely has a machine that turns urine to gold. 2. Ayatollah Agrees To End Iran War if JD Vance Wears Cute Sailor Outfit – The Babylon Bee The Babylon Bee calls into question the masculine security of the Trump administration, as JD Vance is hesitant to achieve peace in Iran when all he has to do is wear a Broadway-style sailor outfit. As he puts it in the article, he was willing to wear his actual Marine uniform, but the cute white hat was too much. The Iranian government eventually doubles down on its demands, asking Vance to dance and sing a few bars from “Anchors Aweigh.” 3. Fired Attorney General Pam Bondi Being Sent To US Supreme Court – The Humor Times The Humor Times creates a new impulsive decision for the President to make, as the Attorney General he just fired is being sent to the Supreme Court. It isn’t clear how Bondi will be put on the Supreme Court with zero vacancies, but anything is possible when the President has Seal Team 6 on his side. When asked what she said when she was informed she was fired as AG, Pam Bondi said her official words were “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” 4. D-List Celebs And Fringe Celebs Run For Office In Mid-Terms – The Daily Show Ronny Chieng and The Daily Show comment on the large number of minor celebrities who are running for Congress in 2026, such as 2 Live Crew frontman and “Me So Horny” rapper Luke Campbell. TDS created a slogan for his campaign: “Me So Horny… To Take On The Establishment.” Chieng also talks about how “The Hills” star Spencer Pratt is running for Mayor of Los Angeles, even as his own sister and “Hills” co-star Stephanie Pratt says that a vote for Spencer is a vote for idiocy. They save their best example for last, as “Teen Mom” alum Farrah Abraham announced she was running for Austin, TX mayor in 2026, despite the fact that the election isn’t until 2028, a fact she learned live on a TMZ interview. 5. Instead of Losing Elections, Why Not Stop Having Them Altogether? – McSweeney’s Citing the recent wave of congressional gerrymandering from other parties, the author suggests why not take the attempt at controlling elections one step further? If Congress doesn’t approve of your election results, then your territory takes a break from politics and can be a solely scenic destination for a while. And while some might call this disenfranchisement, the author calls it “political representation based on my mood, and what I’m looking for.” This model of electoral control eventually reaches an extreme, as wouldn’t it be easiest if one person made all of our political decisions all the time? An affluent white person, just as a random example. Very succinct and direct satire from McSweeney’s.
By Jason Luna
Follow Us