G-File: Distracted and Exhausted — Jonah Goldberg
Summary
Jonah Goldberg explores the link between literal and figurative fatigue, arguing that the modern attention economy and constant digital interruptions exhaust Americans. He connects this weariness to broader moral panics, noting how economic insecurity and the subscription model fuel societal anxiety and demagoguery. The essay also highlights the specific toll of online gambling on men and the commodification of panic, concluding that institutionalized worry is a primary driver of contemporary exhaustion.
Topics discussed
Introduction and the CDC report on American fatigue
The physical toll of mental work and attention
The exhausting nature of the attention economy
Digital friction: passwords, ads, and clickbait
Modern frustrations with TV interfaces and streaming
Insitification and the decline of Google
1970s inflation as a cultural and moral panic
Economic insecurity fueling social and moral crises
Pandemic-era moral panics and political reactions
Economic perception and the rise of demagoguery
The subscription economy and consumer fatigue
Nostalgia for secure jobs and the on-demand economy
Online gambling trends and their impact on men
Financial stress and shame from betting losses
The commodification of panic and modern exhaustion
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