“[The media] can only focus on one thing at a time— all we have to do is flood the zone.” This was Steve Bannon, a conservative thinker during an interview with PBS. The goal of the “flood the zone” approach is to bombard the media and opposition party with news in a way that makes them unable to digest what’s going on and form a plan to combat it. The first year of the second Trump Administration has followed the “flood the zone” approach like a playbook. This administration has moved rapidly between different news topics, from ICE, to tariffs, to Greenland in a matter of days. This pace of news has been exhausting for everyone, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum.
On a more personal level, the rapid pace of news has left me anxious, frustrated, burnt out, and desperate for a break. Over the course of the past year, I’ve noticed my mental health become less stable, and I don’t think I’m alone. I check the news frequently, trying to keep up on everything that is happening, but with the “flood the zone” approach, this has become nearly impossible to do. I find myself compulsively scrolling through the news, with the hope of the more I read, the more relieved and informed I will become. However, quite the opposite happens, and I feel increasingly unsettled.
The past few months have precisely exhibited the “flood the zone” strategy. In November, the focus was on the government shutdown, and then as the shutdown ended, the Epstein files were in the news. As a distraction from the potentially politically damaging Epstein files, the Trump administration decided to shift attention by capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. After that, Operation Metro Surge took effect, bringing thousands of ICE agents into Minneapolis to harass and detain immigrants off of our streets, leading to the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. This has sent shock waves through our community, making it difficult to focus on anything else besides the fear, sadness, and shock felt in our daily lives. And just like that, President Trump has moved on to annexing Greenland. In just the past few weeks, we have gone through a roller coaster of news cycles, leaving no room to fully digest and understand what is happening.
In the midst of everything going on, I’ve begun to learn how to combat the “flood the zone” strategy. I’ve learned to not let this administration steal your attention, focus, and composure. Do not let them fill you with stress, anxiety, and doubt. Attempting to grasp everything that is happening by constantly reading the news will leave you burnt out, stressed out, and frustrated (believe me, I know). Engaging with your community is one of the best ways to relieve stress about current events. For example, being more intentional with Community Partnerships or giving food to people impacted by ICE can make the situation feel just a little brighter. Together, we can build a successful opposition to this administration if we learn to not fall for the “flood the zone” approach.
Kristin Markert • Mar 5, 2026 at 3:45 am
Excellent advice – “Engaging with your community is one of the best ways to relieve stress about current events. For example, being more intentional with Community Partnerships or giving food to people impacted by ICE can make the situation feel just a little brighter”. Thank you.