My Top 5 News Sources

I wouldn't say that I religiously keep up with the news every day, but I do like to stay aware of what is happening around me and in the world. When I come across news it is usually while scrolling on my phone or it is sent to me by my family or friends, I do not usually find myself intentionally reading or watching the news. When I come across a story or topic that is interesting to me and that catches my eye, I will further look into it to learn more about it from other sources. I get my news from many different platforms and people. For this blog I will be sharing my top news sources and I will explain how I determine if the sources is trustworthy or not.

1. TikTok

TikTok is one of my main sources when it comes to keeping up with current events. I find myself coming across news about politics, pop culture, and more about things happening in the world while scrolling on my For You Page. TikTok's short form content makes taking in information more interesting and quick, which is the appeal for me personally. I completely acknowledge that TikTok is not always the most accurate and reliable with the information that it shares. This is why I choose to further look into a topic that is introduced to me on TikTok, on a different, more reliable news source. 

2. Google

I most likely use Google after coming across cross a story that interests me on a platform like TikTok. Google gives me a quick and efficient overview of news. Google also gives me many different news sources so I can compare stories and perspectives. I know not everything tat comes up on google is a reliable source, so it is just important to fact check websites.

3. Instagram

Instagram is another source that I get news from sometimes unintentionally. When the news I see is from a verified account, I see it as most likely to be more credible. I do keep in mind that different news sources promote certain stories and lean certain ways so I also fact check. I come across a lot of news while scrolling instagram whether it is my algorithm of people I follow posting their views on their stories. People Instagram is another platform with more short form content, sometimes the whole story is not told or is leaving out important information.

4. Family & Friends

Another way I hear about current events in through my family and friends. They will sometimes send me a news story, post, or an article on an event that they think I should know about or that they think I would be interested in. Since I'm not one to be consistently checking the news this is often how I end up hearing about things. If the story is something that I am interested in I will usually look more into it on my own. Although I obviously trust the people sending me news, I fact check it by looking it up on my own after it is sent to me.

5. Fox News 

Fox is a more traditional source that I tend to get news from. Getting news from here rather than my other sources like TikTok and Instagram allows a more depth source rather than short form platforms. Of course no news source is perfect and they all lead with some bias, but I do find that Fox is accurate and somewhere I find myself getting news from. I still tend to look at other sources just to compare and get two sides to a story.

Supreme Court Reflection

The U.S. Supreme Court building located in Washington D.C.

After watching the video about the U.S. Supreme Court, I came away with a greater appreciation for how influential the Court is in American government. One thing I learned that I did not already know is that the U.S. Supreme Court is considered the most powerful supreme court in the world. That fact helped me understand why its decisions can have such a major impact on the country.

1846 Supreme Court Justices

I also learned some interesting details about the justices themselves. For example, a new group photo is taken every time a new justice joins the Court. It is a small tradition, but it highlights how significant each appointment is.

One of the most surprising facts to me was the length of time that justices serve. I was shocked to learn that they serve an average of 16 years. That means a single appointment can influence the Court and the nation for a very long time.

The video also reinforced some things I already knew. I was aware that the justices are responsible for interpreting and applying the law. I also knew that the Court looks to the Constitution when addressing important national issues. In addition, I had previously heard about the Dred Scott case and knew that slavery was abolished after the Civil War.

Another point that stood out to me was the statement that being appointed to the Supreme Court is akin to being struck by lightning. That comparison emphasized how rare and extraordinary it is to become a Supreme Court justice.

Current Supreme Court Justices

I also found it interesting to learn that Americans have not always approved of the Court's authority. Before watching the video, I had not realized that public acceptance of the Court has changed over time. At the same time, it seems clear that the Supreme Court cannot avoid controversy because many of its decisions involve important and sometimes divisive national issues.

My biggest takeaway is that the Supreme Court plays a critical role in shaping the country. The video changed the way I think about the Court by helping me see not only its legal responsibilities but also its lasting influence on American society and history.