And, being current events, they're already being discussed in plenty of places. For people who find it stressful to discuss these things, it's good to have a place where you know they won't be discussed, where you can focus fully on something that you can actually do something about.

I think you're misunderstanding me. What I'm saying is that the act of adopting a broad "no talking about politics or society" rule, specifically right now, is itself a very political act. They are doing exactly the thing you say they're trying to avoid.