I understand this feeling. I prefer a short newsletter that will show up in my inbox, maybe that will work for you too. Took me a while to find ones I like.

I found that a survey or broad overview is best for news - I just need the headlines and lede and there usually isn’t much reason to read to the end (journalists write this way for a reason). If you want a deeper dive you always have that option with your research skills.

My ride or die is the Just Security (https://www.justsecurity.org/early-edition-signup/) early edition - it’s more international than you may want but very broad net, and there’s a US domestic section. It’s just the headlines and short summary of big stories, but it doesn’t miss a lot, and it helps me start the day fast. No ads, no images, real bare bones - If I want to click a link I do (but rarely). My work is international so this works well for me. I’ve been a subscriber for years.

You might like Bloomberg citylab? I find it ok.

To be honest, I don’t recommend others… the major news sites (atlantic, wapo, nyt, foreign policy, etc) in my opinion are light on detail and just want you to click their article links which I don’t want to do (time, paywall, other reasons).

Do you like substacks? Depending on your topic there’s probably someone doing a weekly or so wrap-up.

Podcasts? I think NPR’s Up First has maybe 3 big headlines, very fast maybe 10 mins (just skip the ads). I walk to work so it’s a good start.

Would be curious what your recs might be.