Personally, consuming news is a source of entertainment and a topic for small-talk.
If you interface with clients or coworkers on a daily basis, "small-talk" improves relationships among your peers. Not to mention, you seem more personable and likeable - traits that are revered in the modern workplace.
This isn't a blanket endorsement to start talking politics in the workplace, I'm simply saying that being well-versed in current events has value.
You don’t even need to be well-versed. If you just read the headlines you can ask people to fill you in. Some people just love to tell you what they know ;)
