Podcast 105: Hooked: The Fundamentals Behind Our Noisy Politics

"The Kitchen Table" Presented by The Pacific Institute Canada

In this episode, Gregg and Ron expose the psychological. biological, and technological forces affecting today’s politics. Raise your awareness. Take control of the cycle. Stay sane while staying engaged. We need perspective, especially about the power of negative news.

Summary of Paper

Hooked on the Drama, the Uncertainty, the Outrage: Why We Can’t Look Away & How to Break Free

The Kitchen Table-Gregg Cochlan

Introduction

What began as a personal inquiry into why I—and so many others—feel hooked by negative stories, news and people. I asked myself: Why do I keep getting pulled into negative news—especially stories about- him (you know who I am talking about) —even when I don’t want to? This paper has revealed that our attention isn’t weak or broken. It’s human. We are biologically, psychologically, and socially wired to notice threats, react to injustice, and seek certainty in chaos. And in today's media environment, those very instincts are being exploited—by algorithms, by political figures, and by a news economy that profits from keeping us anxious, outraged, and constantly checking for updates.

As much as it pains me to say it, but his media dominance—it may not be an accident. It appears to be the product of a unique convergence of psychological insight, technological mastery, ideological resonance, and social polarization. Understanding this is not just informative—it’s liberating. Because once we understand why we’re drawn in, we can start to choose whether to stay there.

The real power in this inquiry is not in diagnosing the problem, but in offering practical strategies to disrupt the cycle. From setting boundaries and curating our news intake, to becoming mindful of our emotional triggers and actively seeking diverse perspectives, we can begin to shift from passive consumers to intentional citizens.

This isn’t about tuning out—it’s about tuning in with discernment. It’s about protecting our attention as one of our most precious resources.

Along the way, I found language, research, and examples that helped me name what was happening: the dopamine-driven seeking system, moral outrage as reward, negativity bias, confirmation bias, the need for closure, and his’s strategic manipulation of all of it. But what mattered most was discovering that there are things we can do about it.

This isn’t about tuning out the world or becoming passive. It’s about learning how to stay informed without being consumed. It’s about stepping out of the automatic stimulus-response loop—and choosing a more thoughtful, intentional way to engage. I didn’t want to stay in that loop. I wanted to understand it so I could interrupt it—and reclaim some agency over what I give my time, energy, and attention to.

I wrote this for myself, but also for anyone else who has found themselves stuck in the same cycle. If that’s you, then here’s what I’ve learned:

• Notice the next outrage and “pause” before clicking.
• You can ask whether a headline is helping or hijacking your attention.
• You can be informed without being inflamed.
• Interrupt the next dopamine loop.

It’s about reclaiming our emotional sovereignty in a world that profits from taking it away