Daily Source Bias Check: RushLimbaugh.com

QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

Detailed Report

Reasoning: Far Right, Propaganda, Conspiracy, Failed Fact Checks, Fake News
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 45/180

History

Founded in 1995, RushLimbaugh.com is the official website for conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh. The Rush Limbaugh radio program debuted in 1988 and is nationally syndicated on AM and FM radio. According to their about page “Rush Limbaugh, the “Doctor of Democracy,” is known as the pioneer of AM radio. Limbaugh revolutionized the media and political landscape with his unprecedented combination of serious discussion of political, cultural, and social issues along with satirical and biting humor, which parodies previously “untouchable” personalities and topics. His passion inspires millions of Americans to be the best they can be and keeps the country on course to a bright future.”

In February 2020, Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump during the State of the Union address.

Read our profile on United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

RushLimbaugh.com is owned by Premiere Radio Networks, which in turn is owned by iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia owns approximately 850 radio stations across the USA. Revenue is derived through advertising, memberships, and merchandise sold in an online store.

Analysis / Bias

In review, RushLimbaugh.com publishes information about the radio show, transcripts, as well as news articles from a strong conservative perspective. News stories often contain clips from his radio program in both text and audio format. There is the frequent use of emotionally loaded language that denigrates the left such as this For Democrats, More Death Equals More Blame on Trump. While the website publishes content from a conservative perspective there is a strong emphasis on promoting President Donald Trump such as this: Trump Conducts Press Corps Like an Orchestra. Reporting on Donald Trump is propagandistic with only positive reporting directed at Trump and harshly negative reporting on his opponents. Reporting on the Democratic Party and the left has relied on both propaganda and conspiracy theories such as claiming that Barack Obama removed the citizenship question from the census. This is a false claim. Regarding false claims Rush Limbaugh has a very poor record with fact-checkers.

Editorially, RushLimbaugh.com holds right-leaning positions that align with President Trump. It is rare for Rush Limbaugh to criticize the President. In general, this website provides far right biased information that is frequently not factual.

Failed Fact Checks (Rush Limbaugh has failed over 50 fact checks. Below is a shortlist.)

• Says “11 straight years of no major hurricanes striking land” in the United States “bores a hole right through the whole climate change argument.” – Pants on Fire
• “Obama regime planned the influx of illegal alien children at the border.” – Pants on Fire
• “The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.” – False
• “It appears that the (Jacksonville) shooter was part of the Trump ‘Resistance’.” – False
• Says House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump “doesn’t feature the opposition party, it doesn’t feature cross-examination.” – False
• Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief for The Atlantic, confessed that the central claim in his publication’s reprehensible hit piece on the President could very well be false. – False

Overall, we rate RushLimbaugh.com Right Biased and Questionable based on the promotion of propaganda and conspiracy theories as well as numerous failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 5/23/2020) Updated (9/15/2020)

Source: https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/

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