Talking Points Memo – Bias and Credibility

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 information reporting 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

Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

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.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

TPM Media LLC publishes Talking Points Memo. The company is headquartered in New York City and maintains a bureau in Washington, DC. Advertising and a fee-based subscription to reduce advertising and access to the Editor’s Blog generate revenue.

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: 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 are very critical of former 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 frequently utilizes 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.

Failed Fact Checks

• “We know this now. The banks no longer loan (Donald Trump) money because he’s a terrible risk. So he goes to these (Russian) oligarchs and borrows money.” – Mostly False

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 12/14/2022)

Source: https://talkingpointsmemo.com