QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate The Midwesterner Right Biased for consistently promoting conservative and anti-progressive narratives while minimizing or excluding counterpoints. We also rate them as questionable to the complete lack of transparency, anonymous ownership, and ideological editorializing, it receives a Mixed factual rating. Articles contain elements of factual reporting derived from legitimate local outlets but are often framed in a partisan manner, lacking balance and editorial accountability.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Imposter Site, Lack of Transparency, Propaganda
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER (4.5)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (6.1)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
The Midwesterner is an online publication that presents itself as a Michigan-focused news outlet covering “local politics to the Great Lakes and everything in between.” The site lacks an About page, a mission statement, and a staff directory, and provides no information on ownership or editorial transparency. Writers such as Victor Skinner are credited, but their biographies and affiliations are not disclosed.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Ownership and funding for The Midwesterner are undisclosed. There is no information regarding its founders, financial backers, or parent company. The site does not specify whether it operates as a nonprofit, for-profit, or politically affiliated entity. Its content and tone suggest possible alignment with conservative advocacy media operating within state and regional networks similar to those funded by political donors or ideological think tanks. This lack of transparency is a major red flag in MBFC methodology.
Analysis / Bias
The Midwesterner’s content reflects a strong right-leaning editorial bias, with frequent criticism of Democratic officials, universities, and progressive policies in Michigan. Stories often emphasize the failures of democratic governance while presenting conservative narratives without providing counterbalancing perspectives.
In Whitmer’s Michigan: EV collapse continues as XALT Energy closes battery plants in Midland, Auburn Hills — lays off hundreds, the article reports real events and cites credible sources such as the Midland Daily News, Big Rapids Pioneer, and Crain’s Detroit Business. However, it frames the story around partisan blame, suggesting Governor Whitmer’s “EV mandates with taxpayer dollars” caused Michigan’s “downward spiral.” The facts appear mostly accurate but are selectively presented to reinforce a narrative of government failure.
In Dozens of Dearborn residents ask city to order mosques to turn down loud calls to prayer, the piece accurately references reporting from the Detroit Free Press but centers its coverage around cultural and religious tension, echoing culture-war framing often used in right-wing outlets. By amplifying fringe grievances and focusing heavily on Muslim institutions, it risks inflaming division while omitting the broader community or legal context.
The opinion article KIJEWSKI: Michigan’s Democracy Demands the Citizen-Only Voting Amendment advocates for a restrictive voter-ID amendment. It cites conservative organizations such as the Public Interest Legal Foundation and dismisses mainstream studies from the Brennan Center for Justice as “liberal.” The framing promotes unsubstantiated claims of widespread non-citizen voting.
In MSU requires teacher course on “the evils of whiteness,” “land acknowledgement”, The Midwesterner relies on materials reportedly “obtained” from College Republicans and interprets them through an ideological lens critical of diversity education. While based partly on verifiable syllabi, the article editorializes heavily and lacks academic or institutional responses, suggesting an intent to fuel outrage rather than provide balanced coverage.
Across all sections, The Midwesterner frequently employs emotionally loaded language (“EV collapse,” “race-obsessed,” “federal government works to eliminate divisive ideologies”) and selectively quotes sources to support right-wing narratives. There is little evidence of editorial standards such as fact-checking or corrections.
Failed Fact Checks
- No independent fact checks were found for The Midwesterner, but its style, anonymity, and framing resemble regional partisan news networks such as Metric Media or Star News Digital Media, which have been criticized for producing politically driven content masquerading as local journalism.
Overall, we rate The Midwesterner Right Biased for consistently promoting conservative and anti-progressive narratives while minimizing or excluding counterpoints. We also rate them as questionable to the complete lack of transparency, anonymous ownership, and ideological editorializing, it receives a Mixed factual rating. Articles contain elements of factual reporting derived from legitimate local outlets but are often framed in a partisan manner, lacking balance and editorial accountability. (D. Van Zandt 11/06/2025)
Source: https://www.themidwesterner.news
Last Updated on November 6, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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