>News comments have long since been the most toxic pool of crap on the internet.

Looks to me like every other anti-free speech measure enacted in the last 5 years. Just remove comments so propaganda can't be countered by the people. Only the official proclamations can be allowed.

Quite often, I find comments many times more insightful than the news stories themselves. Losing them limits the value of news sites to me.

PS: You seem to hate comments and love limiting free speech yet here you are... commenting on news stories. Rules for thee, but not for me. How very hypocritical of you.