Dana Perino has never been afraid to offer her audience straightforward advice, but her latest message caught the attention of many who follow her both on television and online. The Fox News host, now 53, used her popular “Mentor Monday” segment on Instagram to challenge her fans to think differently about how they consume information. Posting on September 1, she encouraged her followers to broaden their perspectives by deliberately adding one new source to their “news diet” during the month of September. For someone who has built a long career at one of the country’s most watched news outlets, the suggestion to explore alternative sources was notable, and it sparked conversation among viewers about the importance of consuming diverse perspectives in an age of information overload.
Perino began her advice with a simple, actionable goal. “My advice is going to be… I’m going to give you two. One, I think in September, as a goal, everybody should add one news source to their diet,” she said. She went on to explain that this could be a newspaper, a podcast, a Substack newsletter, or any other outlet that could add a new layer of perspective. She emphasized the value of physical newspapers, calling hard copies “always good,” but she also made clear that digital alternatives could serve the same purpose. The essential idea was to push people out of the habit of relying on only one or two familiar outlets, and instead give themselves access to a wider range of information.
While some might have interpreted her words as a pitch for her own projects, Perino was careful to frame her podcast as only one of several options. She mentioned Perino on Politics by name, acknowledging that it was her own work but still worthwhile for listeners who wanted thoughtful analysis. She also pointed to The Fox News Rundown as another solid source, alongside Matt Whitlock’s 10 Minute Drill, which she described as “also a very good one.” “Just add a little something to give you more information,” she explained. “It will make it better for you.”
Her second piece of advice touched on a different but equally important theme: the value of silence. Drawing from her own experience, Perino reflected on how constantly being plugged in—listening to podcasts, music, or news on AirPods—can prevent people from having the quiet moments they need to think clearly. “All of us walk around with AirPods,” she observed. “We have to find time to walk without the AirPods or just sit in silence for prayer, meditation, just thinking because that’s when you come up with all of your good ideas.” It was a reminder that clarity and creativity often come when people step away from the noise and give themselves permission to reflect.
As with many of her Mentor Monday clips, the reaction from followers was mixed, with some engaging playfully and others more seriously. One fan joked, “You told me to add another news source besides Fox and then you tell me to take my earbuds out. I can’t handle all the negativity from this post.” Another follower interpreted her message as an invitation to listen to opposing views, writing, “Good idea get different perspectives even the wrong side to see what the left is really up to.” The combination of humor and genuine reflection highlighted how Perino’s advice often resonates differently depending on who is listening, but it also demonstrated her willingness to challenge her base to look beyond their immediate comfort zone.
Her credibility as a mentor comes in part from her extensive career. Dana Perino co-anchors America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and is a co-host of The Five, where she sits alongside Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, Jessica Tarlov, and Harold Ford Jr. She joined Fox News in 2009 as a contributor, not long after serving as the final White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush. She replaced Tony Snow in September 2007, only months before he passed away from colon cancer, stepping into the role at a pivotal moment and becoming one of the few women to serve as press secretary in modern history. That experience, coupled with years of work in media, gives weight to her reflections on communication, politics, and personal growth.
Her Mentor Monday advice, though simple, fit neatly into the themes she often promotes: preparation, perspective, and mindfulness. By urging people to expand their media intake, she is underscoring the importance of being informed citizens in a polarized political climate. By emphasizing the need for silence, she is acknowledging how easy it is to drown out one’s own thoughts with constant external noise. For Perino, balance—between sources, perspectives, and moments of noise and quiet—seems to be the key.
What makes the clip resonate is that it avoids political preaching in favor of life coaching, even if her role as a Fox News host inevitably colors how her audience receives the message. At a time when many media figures encourage loyalty to one perspective or outlet, Perino’s suggestion to seek out more variety stood out as a refreshing acknowledgment of the complexities of the modern news landscape. Whether followers choose her own podcast, a rival outlet, or a completely new format, her point remained the same: broadening horizons leads to better understanding.
In the end, Dana Perino’s September challenge reflected her belief that self-improvement can be small but meaningful. Adding a new news source and carving out a few moments of quiet may seem simple, but together they could help her followers become more thoughtful, informed, and creative. For someone who has spent her career in the thick of both politics and media, her advice carries the reminder that wisdom sometimes comes not from tuning in, but from knowing when—and where—to tune out.
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