These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy.

• Overall, we rate the American Spectator Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that consistently favor the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing techniques, a lack of disclosure with funding, and a couple of failed fact checks.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA (45/180 Press Freedom)
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 1924, The American Spectator is a conservative website that until 2014 was a U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics, edited by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. and published by the non-profit American Spectator Foundation.  The former magazine and now website carries articles by notable conservative writers such as Thomas Sowell, Ben Stein, P.J. O’Rourk, and Patrick Buchanan. According to their about page, “The American Spectator Foundation educates the public on new ideas, concepts, and policies that favor traditional American values, such as economic freedom, individual liberty, self-sufficiency, and limited government.”

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

The nonprofit American Spectator Foundation publishes the American Spectator. The website does not disclose financing; however, they do have a subscription fee, a donation link, and advertising. Research shows that they have received considerable funding from the Koch Foundation.

Analysis / Bias

In review, The American Spectator reports news with a conservative bias. There is the moderate use of emotionally loaded language such as this: The Death of the Democratic Party. This opinion piece, which is not labeled as such, contains zero sourcing. As an online publication, there should be hyperlinks provided to support claims. In another article from their blog Immigration: Trump’s on the Right Track, there is again a complete lack of sourcing. We found some that were appropriately linked to credible media outlets by reviewing dozens of articles, but not many. Story selection always favors the right and denigrates the left. Editorially, the American Spectator favors President Donald Trump, such as this: The Reelection of Donald Trump. When it comes to the science of climate change, they do not align with the consensus of science, which they make clear in this article.

Failed Fact Checks

• Nine Election Fraud Claims, None Credible – False
• Parkland mass shooting survivor Emma González admitted to bullying a former student who later killed seventeen people. – False

Overall, we rate the American Spectator Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that consistently favor the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing techniques, a lack of disclosure with funding, and a couple of failed fact checks. (7/18/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 1/31/2021)

Source: https://spectator.org/

A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.

• Overall, we rate The National Pulse Questionable based on extreme right-wing bias, promotion of propaganda and conspiracy theories, affiliation with a known questionable group, and a few failed fact checks.

Detailed Report

Reasoning: Propaganda, Conspiracy, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: EXTREME RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA (45/180 Press Freedom)
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2016, The National Pulse is a Washington-based political news and news media publication. The National Pulse promotes a conservative line on a wide range of issues such as Planned Parenthood, LGBT, and Common Core. The National Pulse is also affiliated with the questionable American Principles Project, which advocates for immigration reform, banning abortions, and denying LGBTQ equal rights.

Read our country media profile of the USA.

Funded by / Ownership

The National Pulse is owned by The American Principles Project (APP), which is a 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 2009 by Robert George, Jeff Bell, and Frank Cannon. APP promotes a combination of libertarian and socially conservative policies. The Southern Poverty Law Center has accused American Principles Project of promoting conspiracies but has not formally labeled them a hate group. Advertising, donation, and an APP generate revenue.

Analysis / Bias

In review, The National Pulse’s reporting regarding politics uses strong emotional loaded words such as in this article “LGBT Activists Spending Big to Elect Transgender Candidate in Virginia.” They also only cover one side of the story that favors their conservative causes. Although they source their articles, it is typically to far-right sources that have poor track records with fact-checkers.

Editorially, they promote conservative policies such as anti-immigration, anti-abortion, and anti-gay marriage positions. They also frequently rail against Planned Parenthood, such as this, 10 Disturbing Facts from Planned Parenthood’s (Late) Annual Report. Finally, The National Post occasionally promotes conspiracy theories such as this: EXCLUSIVE: CCP-Linked Firm Targets U.S. Schoolkids With Chinese ‘Morality and Values,’ Shows CCP Military Parades in Schools. While elements of this article are true, the author claims, “In light of coronavirus, virtual learning is the only remaining avenue for the CCP to turn American school children into 21st century little red guards”, which is not supported by evidence. In this case, the author creates a conspiracy theory. In general, news and commentary contain extreme right perspectives that occasionally promote conspiracy theories, while the parent organization has made false claims.

Failed Fact Checks

• Does the Black Lives Matter website for ‘Defund The Police’ donations go to ActBlue, the ‘Biden For President’ campaign’s top source of donations? – False
• Ford Motor Co. has donated millions of dollars to groups and initiatives that support defunding or abolishing police forces. – False
• Fabricated genetic sequences used to support the hypothesis that the virus arose naturally – False

Overall, we rate The National Pulse Questionable based on extreme right-wing bias, promotion of propaganda and conspiracy theories, affiliation with a known questionable group, and a few failed fact checks. (M. Huitsing 8/21/2017) Updated (03/14/2021)