Daily Source Bias Check: Talking Points Memo (TPM)

These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward liberal 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 reporting of information that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.

• Overall, we rate Talking Points Memo (TPM) Left Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that frequently favor the left. We also rate them Mostly Factual in reporting due to proper sourcing of information and one failed fact check.

Detailed Report

Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 48/180

History

Talking Points Memo (or TPM) is a liberal web-based political journalism website created and run by Josh Marshall, a journalist, liberal blogger and historian. It debuted on November 12, 2000. According to their about page “Talking Points Memo (commonly known as TPM) is one of the premier digital native political news organizations in the United States – covering a broad range of politics, policy and national news.”

In 2007, TPM won a Polk Award for its coverage of the 2006 U.S. Attorneys scandal, becoming the only blog so far to win the award. 

Funded by / Ownership

Talking Point Memo is published by TPM Media LLC. The company is headquartered in New York City and maintains a bureau in Washington, DC. Revenue is derived from advertising as well as a fee based subscription to reduce advertising and access to the Editor’s Blog.

Analysis / Bias

In review, TPM reports on breaking stories, investigative journalism and opinion pieces. Story selection usually favors the left and uses mild to moderate loaded language such as this: Trump Claims Doctors Left Operating Rooms To Greet Him In El Paso. Hospital Says Nope. This story is essentially a summary of a Think Progress article, however it is properly sourced and factual. In general, editorials and story selection always leans left and often is very critical of President Trump, such as this: Trump Doubles Down: American Jews Who Vote Dem Are ‘Disloyal’ To Israel. Again, this story is properly sourced to evidence via tweets, video and the Anti-Defamation League. Further, the website offers a blog written by Josh Marshall that does frequently utilize strong loaded language that again favors the left such as this: Today’s Agenda: NRA Appears To Quash Trump’s Feeble Gun Control Inclination.

In general, TPM reports news factually, albeit with a moderately strong liberal-progressive bias.

A factual search reveals they have failed one fact check.

Overall, we rate Talking Points Memo (TPM) Left Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that frequently favor the left. We also rate them Mostly Factual in reporting due to proper sourcing of information and one failed fact check. (7/26/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 8/23/2019)

Source: https://talkingpointsmemo.com