News Above the Noise—Week of June 2, 2024
1. Are We Thinking About Immigration All Wrong?
Immigration remains the most important problem facing the U.S. right now, topping Gallup’s open-ended trend for the third month in a row—the longest stretch for this issue in the past two years. So, what do we need to do and how can we change our thinking to come up with new solutions? Click here for some big ideas.
2. Perceptions About Our Economy Are At Odds With Reality
Think the economy is in terrible shape? You’re not alone: According to a new poll, most Americans think the economy is shrinking and that unemployment is at a 50-year high. But here’s the truth: The U.S. economy has been growing steadily for nearly two years now, even after accounting for inflation, and unemployment has been below 4 percent for more than two years—the longest stretch of time it’s stayed that low since Nixon was in office. For more on this eye-opening new poll, and an explanation for why our collective perceptions are so distorted, click here.
3. Why In-Person Friendships Are Good for Your Health
You know the importance of having good friends when it comes to your health. And while staying connected to far-away friends via phone calls and video chats is great, new research shows in-person meetups on a regular basis is the secret to truly thriving. For more on this study, click here.
4. What Monastic Mystics Got Right About Life
All of us want to make sure we’re on the path toward enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. And in Arthur C. Brooks’ latest column for The Atlantic, he argues that we don’t need to learn anything new to do this. “Instead, you may want to unlearn some false lessons that have pervaded the vulture over the past few years,” he writes. To read more about these big lies we’ve been told that can hold us back and how the Dominican sages and Monastic mystics can show us a better way, click here.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sift through the news to find what Rises Above the Noise, makes sense of what's happening in the world, and provides hope for your week to come. While we do our best to provide our own informative summary of each piece, some publications require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
