The Week that Was: The Strange Case of News Flood

By: John Martello

News media operate under a very fast cycle, with new information appearing on news sites every few minutes. However, we can all agree that this past week has been an insane flurry of stories and blurbs about events. In a sense, this blitz has become common for the modern newsreader. Still, this week, more than others, saw its share of buzz stories in a short span of time. This work aims to address the dominant stories of the past week, providing short excerpts based on current publications.

Fig. 1, Burnt Vehicles in Nepal https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/death-toll-nepals-anti-graft-protests-jumps-51-2025-09-12/. 

Earlier this week, Nepal saw nationwide protests led by Gen Zers in response to a ban by the Nepali Prime Minister that limited social media companies' access to the country. Large platforms like Facebook and YouTube were restricted due to a missed government submission deadline. Additionally, younger Nepalis were unsatisfied with social conditions, citing social inequality. Given this, protesters violently overthrew the Prime Minister and several cabinet members. Currently, over 50 people have died. On Friday, Nepal’s first female Prime Minister was sworn in.

Fig. 2, Masked Protesters in France. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/10/my-first-barricade-latest-french-protests-unite-people-from-variety-of-backgrounds. 

Turning to France, where similar protests are being held but for different reasons. Following the unpopularity of the budget cuts by the former Prime Minister François Bayrou, President Emmanuel Macron replaced him with conservative Sébastien Lecornu. After a note of no confidence by the National Assembly ousting Bayrou, French protesters, under the ‘Block Everything’ movement, took to the streets. As Lecornu enters the government, he will face similar challenges towards budget cuts and a swelling need to rebalance the deficit.

Turning to the United States. A week of remembrance of the September 11 terrorist attacks and honoring the lives lost was seemingly met with more violence. Dominating the news media was the assassination of conservative media personality and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot while on a speaking tour across college campuses. That same day, a 16-year-old student opened fire in Evergreen High School in Colorado, injuring two students. This, tripled with the developing (and maybe pending) release of the Epstein files, there is a lot to monitor in the United States. 

It is easy to get lost in the news. Sometimes, overconsumption is the worst habit you can have. It is best to honor the SIFT method when digesting news media: stop, investigate, find, and trace. To ensure the validity of sources and reporting, be aware of hidden biases and check the sources used in a work. Of course, remain aware of sensational stories. And finally, remember, always reflect on what you read and see. 

Works Cited 

Carney, Jordain. “Senate GOP Defeats Schumer’s Epstein Gambit.” Politico. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/09/10/congress/senate-gop-defeats-chuck-schumer-epstein-files-00556518.

Chrisafis, Angelique. “‘My First Barricade’: French Protests Unite Teachers, Gilets Jaunes, and Students.” The Guardian. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/sep/10/france-block-everything-protests-macron-lecornu-europe-live-news-updates.

Cohen, Rebecca, and Phil Helsel. “What We Know About Charlie Kirk’s Assassination.” NBC News. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/know-charlie-kirks-assassination-rcna230552.

Dahal, Phanindra, Emily Atkinson, and Iftikhar Khan. “What we Know About Nepal Anti-Corruption Protests as PM Resigns.” BBC. Accessed September 12, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkj0lzlr3ro.

Forrester, Megan, Alex Stone, and Jack Moore. “Shooter Dead, 2 Other Students Hospitalized After Shooting at Colorado High School: Sheriff.” ABC News. Accessed September 12, 2025.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/shooting-reported-colorado-high-school-2-kids-transported/story?id=125452526.

Mahe, Stephanie, and Juliette Jabkhiro. “‘Block Everything’ Protests Sweep Across France, Scores Arrested.” Reuters. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/block-everything-protests-sweep-across-france-scores-arrested-2025-09-10/.

Mogul, Rhea, Sugam Pokharel, and Aishwarya Iyer. “Former Chief Justice Sworn in as Nepal’s Interim Prime Minister Following Deadly Protests.” CNN. Accessed September 12, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/world/nepal-prime-minister-sushila-karki-protests-intl-hnk.

Reuters. “Death Toll in Nepal’s Anti-Graft Protests Jumps to 51.” Reuters. Accessed September 12, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/death-toll-nepals-anti-graft-protests-jumps-51-2025-09-12/.