LEFT BIAS
These media sources are moderate 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 appealing to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate Howl – Michael Wolff as Left Biased due to its consistently hostile framing of Donald Trump, reliance on inflammatory rhetoric, and opinion-centric narrative style. We also rate it as Mixed for factual reporting because, while it references real events and sources, it has a documented history of disputed claims, sourcing controversies, and factual inaccuracies.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT (-6.8)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (4.9)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Howl – Michael Wolff is a Substack-based opinion and commentary publication written by journalist and author Michael Wolff. The newsletter functions as a personal column and continuation of Wolff’s long-running focus on Donald Trump, elite media, and political power. Wolff is best known for his books Fire and Fury, Siege, Landslide, and All or Nothing, all of which chronicle Trump’s political rise, presidency, and return to power. Howl publishes a mix of paid and free essays that emphasize narrative interpretation, insider anecdotes, and sharp political critique rather than traditional reporting.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Howl is independently owned and operated by Michael Wolff. Revenue is primarily generated through paid Substack subscriptions and book sales.
Analysis / Bias
Howl is explicitly opinion-driven and reflects Michael Wolff’s consistently adversarial posture toward Donald Trump and the modern conservative movement. Essays such as The sound of Sieg…can Heil be far behind?, Diagnosing the President, and Donald Trump’s Very Good Year is About to Go Off the Rails rely heavily on charged language, historical analogies to fascism, and speculative assessments of Trump’s mental health and political durability.
Wolff frequently blends reported material with conjecture and personal interpretation, often citing unnamed sources or relying on long-standing relationships within political and media circles. His broader body of work has been repeatedly criticized for disputed quotes, alleged embellishment, and factual inaccuracies. PolitiFact identified specific errors in Fire and Fury, while Brill’s Content previously accused Wolff of altering or inventing quotes in Burn Rate. Claims in Siege were publicly denied by the Mueller investigation, and reporting related to Wolff’s statements about Melania Trump was later retracted by The Daily Beast following legal threats. Ethical concerns have also been raised regarding Wolff’s extensive use of Jeffrey Epstein as a source.
Story selection on Howl is narrow and highly repetitive, centering almost exclusively on Trump, MAGA politics, and perceived authoritarian threats. There is little effort to present countervailing views, contextual balance, or neutral framing, reinforcing the publication’s ideological orientation.
Failed Fact Checks
- Michael Wolff’s reporting has been challenged by multiple individuals and outlets. PolitiFact documented factual inaccuracies in Fire and Fury, Mueller’s office denied central claims in Siege, and numerous public figures have disputed quotes attributed to them across Wolff’s books. While not every claim has been formally fact-checked, the pattern of disputes and retractions reflects recurring credibility concerns.
Overall, we rate Howl – Michael Wolff as Left Biased due to its consistently hostile framing of Donald Trump, reliance on inflammatory rhetoric, and opinion-centric narrative style. We also rate it as Mixed for factual reporting because, while it references real events and sources, it has a documented history of disputed claims, sourcing controversies, and factual inaccuracies. (D. Van Zandt 12/27/2025)
Source: https://michaelwolffnyc.substack.com/
Last Updated on December 27, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources