Daily Source Bias Check: The Nation

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 The Nation Left Biased due to story choices and wording that favor the left and factually high based on proper sourcing.

Detailed Report

Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 45/180

History

Founded in 1865, The Nation is an American weekly business magazine based in New York City. The Nation covers world and national news, politics, economy, arts, culture, and more. The Nation considers itself as a continuation of William Lloyd Garrison’s anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator.

The Nation’s founding publisher was Joseph H. Richards, and the Irish-born American Journalist Edwin Lawrence Godkin, who had formerly worked as a correspondent of the London Daily News and editor of the New York Evening Post.  After the Nation was sold to the New York Evening Post, Godkin became editor of the Post, a position he held until his retirement in 1899. Wendell Phillips Garrison, son of William Lloyd Garrison, was Literary Editor from 1865 to 1906. The Nation was bought by newspaperman-turned-railroad-baron Henry Villard in 1881 and The Nation became a weekly supplement for the New York Evening Post (Later it became the New York Post). After Henry Villard, his son, Oswald Garrison Villard, would become the new owner in 1900.

The Nation masthead states that it is edited and published by Katrina vanden Heuvel. Richard Kim is the Executive Editor and the President is Erin O’Mara. According to their about page, the magazine describes itself as “Principled. Progressive”.

Read our profile on United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

Katrina vanden Heuve is the editor, publisher, and part-owner of The Nation. She also writes an op-ed column for the Washington Post. Subscription and advertising is The Nation’s main revenue as well as donations, which contributes to the Nation Builders campaign.

Analysis / Bias

The Nation endorsed Bernie Sanders for President in 2016. They also have been criticized for being a Pro-Russia publication by both conservatives and liberals. Here is a quote from the right-leaning Washington Free Beacon: “The Nation’s modern-day Russia coverage has been criticized as too pro-Putin. Stephen F. Cohen, who is the husband of editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, has been characterized as a Putin apologist.” However, an op-ed writer for The Nation was forcibly removed from a press briefing between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on July 16, 2018, for holding up a sign regarding a nuclear weapons ban treaty, according to CNBC.

In review, The Nation reports news with emotionally loaded words and bias such as “Judge Kavanaugh: An Originalist With a New—and Terrifying—Interpretation of Executive Power” and “It’s Time to Disrupt NATO, But not for the reasons Trump gives.”

Typically, The Nation utilizes credible sources such as the Associated Press and The Chronicle of Higher Education, however, they also source through large quotes as well.

Failed Fact Checks

• Some 90 pounds of cocaine was found on a cargo ship owned by U.S. Senate Majority Leader and anti-drug politician Mitch McConnell. – False

Overall, we rate The Nation Left Biased due to story choices and wording that favor the left and factually high based on proper sourcing. (5/15/2016) Updated (M. Huitsing 12/15/2020)

Source: https://www.thenation.com/