RIGHT BIAS
These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative 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 conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate Power Line strongly right-biased based on story selection that always favors the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to the use of poor sources that have failed numerous fact checks, as well as rejecting the consensus of science when it comes to climate change.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Power Line is an American conservative political blog, founded in May 2002. According to their about page “Power Line is a site that features commentary on the news from a conservative perspective.” There are four contributors to the site, John H. Hinderaker, Scott W. Johnson, Paul Mirengoff, and Steven Hayward, all of which are attorneys. The publisher and founder is Joe Malchow. In 2004, Power Line was named Time magazine’s first-ever “Blog of the Year.”
Read our profile on United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Power Line does not specifically state ownership of the blog and revenue appears to be derived from online advertising and subscriptions.
Analysis / Bias
Power Line often vigorously criticizes Democrats and liberals for dishonesty, lack of morals, bad judgment, and disloyalty to the United States. Headlines and articles often contain strongly loaded language that favors the right, such as this: THE DEMS’ APOCALYPSE PRIMARY and END OF THE MUELLER AFFAIR. Both of these stories are properly sourced. When it comes to science, Power Line takes a denialist’s view on climate change, with articles such as this: CLIMATE CHANGE ALARMISM IS FOUNDED ON DISHONESTY. This article is sourced to the No Tricks Zone, which is a human-influenced climate science denial website.
On the sidebar of the website, Power Line lists their favorite sources, which consists of all right-leaning sources and several we have rated as questionable, such as the American Thinker and Michelle Malkin. Further, after the 2020 election, this source advanced conspiracy theories regarding a “stolen election” and Covid-19 misinformation. In general, all stories favor the right and denigrate the left.
Failed Fact Checks
- The U.S. Climate Reference Network[…] finds there has been no warming for the past 14 years at least – Inaccurate
- In a 1996 foreclosure case, Judge Martha Kavanaugh ruled against Ralph and Paula Blasey, thus providing motive for revenge for their daughter Christine against Judge Kavanaugh’s son Brett, a Supreme Court nominee in 2018. – False
Overall, we rate Power Line strongly right-biased based on story selection that always favors the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to the use of poor sources that have failed numerous fact checks, as well as rejecting the consensus of science when it comes to climate change. (D. Van Zandt 10/30/2016) Updated (08/18/2023)
Source: https://www.powerlineblog.com/
Last Updated on August 18, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources