With the personality-dominated shows, the viewer knows what is coming. The subject may change daily, but the spin is identical and so is the style. It hardly matters whether the subject is influenza, Africa, climate change, banking reform, legislation. The commentators don't care. The subject is merely a vehicle used to promote an opinion.

In many ways, the “neutral” shows are even worse. Again, the subject changes daily, but the methodology never changes. On every subject, two opposing pundits will speak. If we're very lucky, the pundits will be articulate and rational and maybe we'll learn something. More likely, what we'll is two junior personalities who have nothing but spin to share with us. If we're really unlikely, and the pundits are particularly inarticulate, we'll get shouting matches.

Most people are born curious and are always on a hunt for information. It's okay if the only places to get information are places which have some bias, as long as the information is presented in its most factual form, and if the bias is clearly identified. The curious consumer can sort through the information and make good judgments. But, shouting matches and hateful people are absolutely unacceptable to many. That's why blogs, especially those which attract a large number of moderate readers, have become alternate news sources.