The Problem
Our nation is divided,
and it's stressing us out
According to a 2018 Pew study, nearly two-thirds of people in the U.S. feel stressed by the news.
When news anxiety leads to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, our civic engagement and democracy inevitably suffer.
Tough topics become less overwhelming when we grant ourselves the time, space, and attention to pursue deeper understanding.
How Sift Helps
Introducing
News Therapy
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We shed light on the backstory
How did we get here? Explore the history of today’s issues.
Chinese Exclusion Act
For nearly 100 years, U.S. laws restricted immigration from Asia, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act. Restrictions started to ease during WWII and the Cold War.
Quota system
The National Origins Act of 1924 set a 2% annual immigration cap based on the total U.S. population of foreign-born people by nationality.
Immigration and Nationality Act
The 1965 law repealed the quota system and, for the first time, stopped restricting immigration from non-European countries.
1882
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We help you engage more of your brain
Our interactive features encourage critical thinking and promote calm understanding.
Which groups were at some point classified as “white” by the Census?
Never considered white
Once considered white
Mexican
Native American
South Asian
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We make it easy to delve into sources
Dig deeper into the source material behind our content.
It’s estimated that 40% of the world’s civilian firearms are owned by people in the U.S., which has 4% of the world’s population.
Small Arms Survey
More than one billion firearms in the world
Even after adjusting for population, it is clear that the United States far outnumbers other countries. The United States has 4% of the world’s population, but its civilians hold almost 40% of the world’s firearms.
1 Source
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We use calming, accessible language
Sift steers clear of inflammatory word choice.
The link between
mental illness
and gun violence often gets exaggerated and oversimplified.mental illness
insanity
madness
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We make room for reflection
Consider what you know and how our stories make you feel.
After reading this Sift topic, I feel anxious.
Disagree
Agree
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Topics
We deliberately
choose tough topics
Sift explores some of the most contentious issues of our time, so we can develop a deeper understanding of the world around us.
We care how you feel about the news.
Have questions? Want to share your thoughts? Talk to us.
Read our FAQ
Contact us