Liza -- just a thought that occurred to me (and not because of anything other than that I'm curious if this is a common thing, too): Does your AH react differently to stories about bad stuff happening that's further away?
Mine used to be depressed for days (but actually engaged) in natural disasters on the other side of the world. He would be very concerned and depressed about homeless people. But when things got closer than that, it made him angry.