YouTube used to be a place where people would go to waste time. Homework might be due within an hour and the next thing you know, most of it was spent watching cute cat videos or vine compilations. YouTube is still great for funny content, but it also has a potent selection of channels that focus on political and social issues. To be sure, government mechanisms can sometimes be hard to follow or even understand, but to help bridge this mind gap, here are the five best YouTube channels that make politics interesting and will keep you up to date on everything stately and municipal.

The Young Turks, or TYT is a channel that has been delivering content on political issues since 2005. It is hosted by Cenk Uygur & Ana Kasparian, who release numerous videos each week to make sure that they and their viewers are on top of current events. They speak in a manner that’s understandable and entertaining. The channel is not afraid to challenge gauche ideas or unethical behaviors, revelling in the chance to tackle controversial topics. They constitute an unbiased and truthful platform which aims to educate its audience.

While Jubilee has a variety of videos that deal  with more than just politics, it’s a channel that brings a fresh, interesting, and compelling perspective on subjects like racism, equality, and economics. One of its segments, “Middle Ground," brings six people into a room to debate their opposing views. If you are interested in knowing what real people think about real issues, this is one of the best ways to stick your toes in both sides of any major modern schism of beliefs.

If you are interested in podcasts, interviews, and controversial debates, then check out Ben Shapiro. You can also find content from Shapiro in other political YouTube channels such as The Daily Wire, Elite Politics, and Liberty Daily. He is known for reacting to and discussing topics such as religion, racism, and government. Much like Steven Crowder, he does not shy away from frank comments. Shapiro does a great job of denouncing lies and hypocrisy with logic. He also enjoys doing interviews with people such as Dave Ramsey, who is known for his financial wisdom. Shapiro’s channel covers an array of eclectic but important subjects.

Roaming Millennial is a YouTube channel run by Lauren Chen. Chen majored in political science and puts that degree to great use in all her videos. She posts a video once a week where she touches on topics such as gun control, racism, feminism, and more. She keeps her channel relevant by examining social issues that appear on the news, but also concerns herself with fundamental subjects that major journalism networks aren’t talking about. Her channel is full of content that analyze the troubles that vex us daily in our current society.

YouTube is one of the most useful tools we have to keep up with trends. It is also useful in collecting information about politics and important topics that must be discussed. These YouTubers do not shy away from hard questions, but deal with them head-on in easy-to-understand, entertaining, and informative ways. Check them out today to begin your journey in comprehending (and maybe even loving) politics.