I’ll be honest, sometimes it’s hard for me to find the balance. The balance between being outraged and upset about everything that’s going on and at peace with the good things in my life. Where is the balance between being so engrossed in the news that you’re obsessed to the point that you drive yourself crazy, and avoiding the news altogether so you won’t drive yourself crazy?

Over the last year or so a number of people have mentioned to me that they stopped paying attention to the news and they’re much happier. I’m sure they are happier. As the old saying goes, ignorance is bliss.

In a strange way I kind of envy those people, but there’s something in my DNA that won’t let me do that. Even when I go on vacation, I can’t totally divorce myself from the news.

This administration doesn’t want us to stay informed. The recent mandate from Secretary of Defen---- er I mean Secretary of War Pete Hegseth takes the secrecy of this administration to a new level. He said that all media outlets had to agree to his new set of rules, or their credentials would be pulled, and they would be forced to leave their offices in the Pentagon. The only media outlet that agreed to his new rules was One America News, the American version of Tass.

For those that don’t know Tass is the Russian news agency owned by the Russian government. The only news Tass puts out is the news approved by Vladimir Putin and his administration.

That sounds an awful lot like what the Pentagon is trying to do doing right now.

I’m sure the established respected Pentagon journalists that have been sent to their own journalistic Siberia will still have sources that will get them pertinent non classified information. But they won’t have access to the Secretary or his staff to get them to clarify, expand, or deny those stories.

But that’s just one of the news stories I’m preoccupied with. I’m not even sure how it ranks among all the others. Where do you put it with the Government shutdown, the Epstein Files, Mike Johnson’s failure to swear in the new Democrat representative for Arizona, the news from the Middle East, Tariffs and rising inflation, The troops in Democratic controlled cities, Russian Drones over Europe and the escalating tensions in that region, ICE agents running amok with little or no restraints, the Cornhusker Clink, Governor Pillen ignoring the will of the voters on medical marijuana and school choice, or Trump being upset with his picture on the cover of time.

Like I said, I kind of envy those people who have turned off the news., but I fear that too many of us that pay attention to the news are starting to shut down. After all, you can’t be outraged all the time.

Which is why I’m struggling to find the balance and keep sane.

I think the protesters in Portland have the right idea. They are protesting what’s going on in their city by having fun.

A group of protesters went on a naked bike ride in front of the troops. People are dressing up in frog and other comical costumes to show they are there to peacefully protest and to mock the armed ICE agents.

They are exercising their right to a peaceful assembly while keeping Portland weird.

This Saturday (tomorrow) is the No Kings protest. I hope the demonstrators take a page out of the Portland Playbook and have fun with it. Authoritarians hate to be mocked, and laughter will help keep us all sane.

That’s not to say that what this country is facing right now isn’t serious. It’s deadly serious. But when I go to Turner Park this Saturday, I’m planning on having fun. I’m planning on being with a group of American citizens of all political backgrounds who are trying to get our country back on track.

By showing up at the protest does that make me a member of Antifa? I’m sure in the President’s eyes it does. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has called this Saturday a hate America rally. He couldn’t be farther from the truth. The people who are going to be showing up in cities and towns all across America are there because they love America. I know that’s the reason I’m going.

I hope to see some people in costumes carrying funny signs because laughter in the face of what’s going on right now will help keep us all sane.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.