# Looking for a straightforward, unbiased online source of political news **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095 "2012-02-07T17:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/1 "2012-02-07T17:51:56Z")
Title says it. I am interested in learning more about political current events, and I would like to do so from a source that is non-partisan and has no agenda (if there is such a source). Any ideas? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/2 "2012-02-07T18:11:57Z")
I don’t think there is such a source. Your best bet is to read multiple sources (like the WSJ and NYT (if you can stomach the latter)). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/3 "2012-02-07T18:29:37Z")
Broadcast network news programs are nonpartisan and have no agenda other than reporting what’s happening and giving both sides equal time. [AP reports](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/fronts/HOME) are also nonpartisan and have no agenda. They’re called biased by the right because they report bad news about Republicans as well as about Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/4 "2012-02-07T19:55:43Z")
Personally I find [Bill Moyers](http://billmoyers.com/) to be balanced as well as PBS. Oh and The Daily Show. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/5 "2012-02-07T20:21:58Z")
I’m not big on news and hate most news sites, but decided recently I should stay more on top of things. So far I am enjoying [AJE](http://www.aljazeera.com/)(Al Jazeera English), on the recommendation of a friend. I also like the BBC World News but don’t often get a chance to listen. Should see if they have a podcast, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/6 "2012-02-07T20:24:01Z")
al-Jazeera and BBC are the only ones within shouting distance of unbiased. Meanwhile, I’m quite fond of Democracy Now, the lonely progressive voice in independent news media. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/7 "2012-02-07T20:26:45Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Title says it. > > I am interested in learning more about political current events, and I would like to do so from a source that is non-partisan and has no agenda (if there is such a source). I’m not entirely clear if you are talking specifically about the upcoming election, world events like what’s going on in Syria, or both. For the election, 538 (a blog associated with the New York Times) does a great job of looking at polls and divining who is up, who is down, and who is out. It isn’t a place for learning about candidate’s positions, though. Similarly, the Charlie Cook Political Report is a first-rate look at politics, less heavy on the statistics and more on looking at trends. Again, not too much look at candidate’s positions, but very insightful analysis. Politico is an inside-the-beltway newspaper with very thorough coverage of elections and what is happening in Congress and the White House. It’s accused of being conservative-leaning, but the reporters are generally very good. The Christian Science Monitor is a very good all-around newspaper that is strong on insightful analysis, but has had financial hard times over the last decade and has faded a bit. It is interesting to read because the stories it covers tend to be less sensationalist than most major media outlets. It covers politics, world events, and everything in between. Finally, the PBS News Hour really is a very good news program. They have quite a few guest commentators on each show to give both sides of a story, and the moderators/presenters do a good job of making the guests on the program act like adults. I also like their Shields and Brooks segment that has more of the traditional commentators on politics, from both the Democratic and Republican points of view. (Though the conservative, David Brooks, is sometimes accused of apostasy by some GOP types.) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/8 "2012-02-07T20:38:17Z")
I don’t try to find an unbiased source. Instead, I read from a cross-section of sources to see what the various factions are talking about. I read HotAir, Huffington Post, Politico, and when I’m feeling bold, Free Republic. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/9 "2012-02-07T20:39:30Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Finally, the PBS News Hour really is a very good news program. They have quite a few guest commentators on each show to give both sides of a story, and the moderators/presenters do a good job of making the guests on the program act like adults. I also like their Shields and Brooks segment that has more of the traditional commentators on politics, from both the Democratic and Republican points of view. (Though the conservative, David Brooks, is sometimes accused of apostasy by some GOP types.) By the same token, the NPR segments with Brooks and EJ Dionne are very good. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/10 "2012-02-07T21:03:19Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Looking for a straightforward, unbiased online source of political news > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I don’t try to find an unbiased source. Instead, I read from a cross-section of sources to see what the various factions are talking about. > > I read HotAir, Huffington Post, Politico, and when I’m feeling bold, Free Republic. You answered the question you wished I had asked, rather than the one that I did ask. mmm ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/11 "2012-02-07T21:06:26Z")
BBC World Service and NPR are both great, unbiased reporting. Google News is just an aggregate but they get their news from all over so it’s “Balanced” at least. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/12 "2012-02-07T21:10:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > You answered the question you wished I had asked, rather than the one that I did ask. I answered the question the only way I can answer it, given the incredible prevalence of spin about which site is unbiased. Unbiased according to whom? I don’t believe there’s such a thing as purely unbiased anything, and I’m certainly not you, so how would I know what you consider bias? So, my unbiased source of political news is to aggregate them all and use my own brain. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/13 "2012-02-07T21:11:48Z")
[Christian Science Monitor](http://www.csmonitor.com/). No really — don’t let the “Christian Science” in the name fool you. Wikipedia summarizes the Monitor’s “About” page… > [@](#): > > Despite its name, the Monitor does not claim to be a religious-themed paper, and say they do not promote the doctrine of its patron church. However, at its founder Eddy’s request, a daily religious article has appeared in every issue of the Monitor. Eddy also required the inclusion of “Christian Science” in the paper’s name, over initial opposition by some of her advisors who thought the religious reference might repel a secular audience. > The Monitor’s inception was, in part, a response by Eddy to the journalism of her day, which relentlessly covered the sensations and scandals surrounding her new religion with varying degrees of accuracy. In addition, Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World was consistently critical of Eddy, and—according to many historians—this, along with a derogatory article in McClure’s, furthered Eddy’s decision to found her own media outlet. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/14 "2012-02-07T22:18:17Z")
I appreciate all the replies. I guess I should clarify that I am more interested in an online source, rather than TV or radio. And more election-oriented than standard current events. I would also like to change ‘unbiased’ to ‘least slanted’. 🙂 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/15 "2012-02-07T22:20:07Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I answered the question the only way I can answer it, given the incredible prevalence of spin about which site is unbiased. Unbiased according to whom? I don’t believe there’s such a thing as purely unbiased anything, and I’m certainly not you, so how would I know what you consider bias? > > So, my unbiased source of political news is to aggregate them all and use my own brain. I stand by my remarks in post 10. Anyway, agree to disagree, etc. mmm ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/16 "2012-02-07T22:25:06Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I appreciate all the replies. > > I guess I should clarify that I am more interested in an online source, rather than TV or radio. > > And more election-oriented than standard current events. > > I would also like to change ‘unbiased’ to ‘least slanted’. 🙂 > mmm 😃 I’ll second FiveThirtyEight, then, though they don’t cover everything. It’s about a post a day of interesting, generally stat-based, information. Real Clear Politics is an aggregator, like HotAir, with a conservative lean on their commentary in my opinion. But as an aggregator of polls, they are useful. And The Cook Political Report is a good one, though I haven’t paid much attention to it lately. Also, if you’re interested in just snapshots, Gallup and Rasmussen both do free emails with their daily polling results. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/17 "2012-02-07T23:20:56Z")
I’ll second Al Jazeera, BBC World Service, and NYT online. Read them all and you’ll get a substantive and fairly unbiased set of views. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/18 "2012-02-07T23:31:08Z")
The North Korean State Media is also a great one, but their online service is a bit lackluster. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/19 "2012-02-08T06:19:55Z")
Note that “good unbiased news” does not mean, “just the facts with no opinion.” It is not possible to present real stories without asking questions and pursuing opinions. I agree with Dopers identifying Al Jazeera is one of the most excellent on-line news sources, but it achieves this _not_ by “just presenting facts” but by its variety of in-depth looks. You can see this clearly just by examining the headlines at one of its top-level pages, e.g. [www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas](http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas) [www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/syria](http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/syria) ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095/20 "2012-02-09T07:07:29Z")
For political news, I think that one needs multiple sources for balance. Rush Limbaugh + Rachel Maddow seem to complement one another well as sources for US domestic political news and commentary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-straightforward-unbiased-online-source-of-political-news/612095.md?page=2)