Politics can turn into an Avoda Zara. There are plenty of people who know a lot more about what is going in in Washington that they do about what is going in in their own psyche and soul. They certainly invest far more time reading and watching political news than they do in their own deeper lives. Most of what they see will not affect their lives anyway. Their in depth knowledge and analysis of the Mueller report will not impact their lives in any way. They could be totally ignorant of the Mueller report and live fully productive and fulfilling lives. But people are obsessed with these things.
In addition, the political climate in America is more acrimonious than it has ever been. The hatred between the left and right, Democrats and Republicans, is palpable. It is like a verbal, twitter charged, social media fueled, civil war [I like to point out that wars are never civil. see here and here]. We have to remember, as I think I once heard Obama point out - we are ALL ON THE SAME TEAM!!
We are in this world for an incredibly short time - relative to eternity. Why waste it on things that really are not part of our tafkid. We don't have to waste our time and energy on "news bi-iyun" and hatred. Instead we can spend it on what really matters - fixing our middos, our souls and primarily bringing more light to the world - each person in his or her own unique way.
