My spin on that was not that these things should be completely ignored, but that you should be informed and act on them; if you're not going to act on them, don't constantly consume the news about them.

I don't completely agree with that. I do read about those topics; I don't necessarily act upon it, e.g., engage in climate change research but I do use that information to inform my actions, e.g., what I purchase, how I vote, etc.