[debo_]

I think there's also a reasonable proportion of readers who want "political" topics removed from HN, even if the topic intersects with HN-relevant topics.

(I'm not one of them, but I believe many are. I appreciate where they are coming from.)

[AlecSchueler]

This would be more easily believed if political posts unrelated to contemporary American politics were also being flagged, but they're not.

[debo_]

I hadn't noticed that, but I believe it. Many Americans I know are in "blinders on" mode because the intensity and frequency of American political angst is overwhelming them.