Okay, ditching the constant refresh is a great idea for reducing information overload! Catching up once a week on Sunday is a much more manageable approach. Here are several excellent alternatives to get a curated view of the past week's top headlines:

  1. Weekly News Magazines & Websites: Many publications specialize in summarizing the week's news or have dedicated sections for it.

    • The Week: This publication (available in print and online) is specifically designed to distill news from various sources into a concise weekly summary of "all you need to know about everything that matters." They cover domestic and international news, culture, and opinion. They also offer daily email digests.
    • Newsweek: Offers news, analysis, and commentary, providing context on the week's major events.
    • Associated Press (AP News): While a breaking news source, their website and app allow you to easily catch up on the most significant stories you might have missed. They also offer various newsletters.
    • Reuters: Similar to AP, Reuters provides factual reporting on global events, making it a good source for a straightforward weekly recap.

  2. Weekly Email Newsletters: Many news organizations offer free weekly roundups delivered straight to your inbox.

    • 1440: This newsletter aims to provide an unbiased, comprehensive overview of news across politics, business, science, culture, and sports, all in a quick 5-minute read. While daily, you could just read the Sunday edition or skim the headlines from the week.
    • The Week: Offers daily email digests and access to their weekly digital magazine content.
    • Axios: Known for its "Smart Brevity," Axios offers various newsletters, some of which are weekly (like Axios Communicators on Thursdays) or provide good summaries if read collectively once a week.
    • Check specific outlets: Major news sources like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and BBC News often have "Week in Review" or similar summary newsletters you can subscribe to.

  3. Weekly News Podcasts: If you prefer listening, several podcasts provide excellent weekly summaries.

    • Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! (NPR): A fun and humorous way to catch up on the week's news through a quiz show format.
    • Politics Weekly America (The Guardian): Focuses on analyzing the week's political news in the US. (They also have a UK version).
    • The Week Unwrapped: Discusses under-reported stories from the past week that might have longer-term significance.
    • On the Media (WNYC): Examines how the media covered the week's biggest stories.
    • Left, Right & Center (KCRW): Features commentators from across the political spectrum debating the week's events.
    • PBS Washington Week: The audio version of the TV show, providing an in-depth discussion of the week's major news.

  4. News Aggregator Apps: These apps pull headlines from various sources, and many allow you to customize digests or easily scroll through top stories.

    • SmartNews: This app aggregates news from numerous publishers and features "SmartTake," a daily digest designed to be balanced and informative. You could check this on Sunday for a roundup.
    • Google News: Offers personalized briefings ("Your Briefing") and a "Full Coverage" feature that groups stories from multiple sources, allowing you to get a broad overview of the week's main topics.
    • Apple News (iOS): Similar to Google News, it aggregates stories and offers curated digests.
    • Flipboard: Presents news in a visually appealing magazine format, pulling from sources you choose.

Recommendation:

For a dedicated weekly summary format, The Week (magazine/website/newsletters) is probably the closest fit to what you're looking for. If you prefer podcasts, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! offers a lighthearted take, while Politics Weekly America or PBS Washington Week provide more in-depth analysis. For a quick, unbiased read, the 1440 newsletter (read weekly) is a popular choice.

Try out a couple of these options to see which style and format best suit your preferences for catching up on Sundays!