Delete the entire sidebar in dev tools. I know it's not a fool-proof solution, but for the occasional article you want to spend more time reading it is a quick

Delete the entire sidebar in dev tools. I know it's not a fool-proof solution, but for the occasional article you want to spend more time reading it is a quick way to remove all those distractions. I do it on sites like that just for my own sanity, because they are constantly finding ways to get around my ad blocker.