Why you should read Drudge

There was an article a few days ago by some liberal complaining that the left doesn't have a Drudge. Drudge is personally on the right/libertarian side of a lot of issues (having listened to his now defunct radio show), but I don't think that influences his work. His main concern, (as I understand it from listening to his radio show and his postings) is government power and privacy in the information age. He has some other topics he likes to follow, but these are a potpourri of issues.

Drudge is the number one news setter is because he has a feel for the mood of the readers. He has a sense for what stories are hot and which ones will become big news. He now has the ability to bring an under reported story to national attention, but I've been reading him for more than a decade and the reality is that he was always two to three days ahead of the mainstream media. His influenced has increased because in order to stay ahead of the curve, the media now reads Drudge.

Here's a case in point. I took a picture of the current front page of Drudge Report and highlighted several topics that are indicative of social mood.


Jacques Chirac is on trial in France for events that took place 20 and 30 years ago. Why now?

One not in the picture: Glenn Beck's alarmism is growing stale. Interesting counter to negative social mood. I'll keep that in the back of my mind.

The new German minister of the interior says Islam doesn't belong in Germany. Ongoing slide in social mood...

It also paints a clear picture of very negative sentiment on the U.S. dollar. Bearish sentiment is now front page news for Drudge with Traders ‘short’ dollar as currency loses attraction

Adding to that is the situation with Spanish savings banks. Spain's savings banks race to find funds by Thursday

In this case, we have attention to the unfolding crisis in Europe alongside sentiment in the U.S. dollar. It's not everyday or even every week that Drudge serves up this useful of a snapshot, but it only takes a moment to scan the headlines and integrate into the big picture.