It wasn’t that many years ago that individuals got their news from just a handful of sources: the three major corporate news stations (NBC, CBS, and ABC), their local paper, and some of the larger-known publications around the country, like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine.
Today, there are not only an unlimited number of companies and independent sources but also a plethora of ways one can seek news. Television, social media, podcasts, YouTube, and audiobooks are just a few methods of dissemination that come to mind.
If you believe, as our group does, that much of our corporate news is “infotainment” meant to keep your attention rather than inform you, and that the right-wing media infrastructure in place has led to the rise of the MAGA movement, it is essential to seek out independent forms of journalism.
But what outlets should you trust?
The following information offers some sources who still believe it is a journalist’s job to practice investigative journalism, even if it means going after the most influential power structures and people on the planet. Many of these outlets are bold, progressive media and print platforms that are not afraid to call out powerful institutions and people on the right and left of the political spectrum.
We also offer some sources to avoid altogether that have helped fuel the rise of the MAGA movement and much of the intolerance and hate that comes with it.
Do you want to become a much more educated and aware consumer of news? Seek out the following sites:
FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
Fair has been around for a long time. They watch the media and call out news outlets’ connections to corporate interests, the military-industrial complex, and other sources of power that may bias what they report and ignore.
Open Secrets
Open Secrets has been the go-to source for years for finding out who is funding candidates’ and parties’ campaigns. This site tracks federal and state election returns so you can see what interests may be influencing candidates with big campaign contributions.
Public Citizen
Their description says it all:
“Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power, and fight to ensure that government works for the people – not big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country.”
Ground News
Ground News gives headlines from around the country. Once you click on that headline, it gives you a number of outlets that are reporting on the issue and shows you a rating of how far to the left or right each outlet is according to their rating system. This site can help you weed through some of the media bias.
The following are progressive outlets that do hard-hitting, investigative journalism and opinion on power structures that the corporate media won’t often touch:
Mother Jones
Mother Jones is a hard-hitting, left-wing publication that has been around since the 1970s. They do great investigative journalism and forceful opinion pieces.
The Intercept
The Intercept was originally founded as an outlet for the Snowden leaks but quickly gained a reputation as a tough, investigative media outlet that goes after powerful people and institutions.
Counterpunch
Counterpunch contains hard-hitting, progressive commentary on a wide array of issues. Editor Jefferey St. Claire’s “Roaming Charges” series which comes out most Fridays, where he makes observations from the previous week’s news around the country, is a must-read!
Truthout
Truthout is a non-profit, progressive online source who “works to spark action by revealing systematic social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and providing a platform for progressive and transformative ideas, through in-depth, investigative reporting and transformative ideas.”
TheRighting
The Righting was started after the founders were horrified by the first election of President Trump. To seek how this could have happened, they began studying the right-wing media culture. They used this research to put together a site that collects headlines from various right-wing sources from around the country to give the reader a heads-up on what “the right” is discussing.
Vox
Vox does a good job of explaining the news, as their mission says they do.
The following are progressive Podcasts and Online programs that are not afraid to challenge traditional systems on the right and left:
Heather Cox Richardson – Substack
There may be no one in America who does a better job of calling out President Trump’s deceptions, inconsistencies, and lies than Heather Cox Richardson.
Robert Reich’s YouTube Channel
Reich does a great job of breaking down concepts that impact our everyday lives by using short video clips with visuals and common language that call out bogus claims that are made by politicians and economists all the time.
UNFTR (Yes…It does stand for UnF***ing the Republic)
Max, the host of this show, is a super-intelligent guy who promotes progressive ideas, but he does it with a lot of humor!
Ralph Nader Radio Hour
At 91 years old, consumer champion Ralph Nader is still writing and turning out a weekly podcast on Saturdays, which goes after issues the mainstream press just won’t cover.
Pitchfork Economics
Pitchfork Economics was started by Nick Hanauer, an extremely wealthy individual who decided to betray his own kind by starting a podcast that defeats some of the worn-out economic myths that have dominated our political discourse since the early 80s. They explain how policies like tax cuts for the rich, not raising the minimum wage, suppressing organized labor, and other such policies devastate middle and working-class families.
Thom Hartmann Radio Show
Thom Hartmann has been the leading progressive podcast and radio show for years. He ruthlessly tears down conservative dogma with his years of research and quick wit.
The Jim Walls Podcast and Straight White American Jesus Podcast
Both of these podcasts really go after Christian nationalism in politics and how this philosophy does not fit the teachings of Jesus. The two hosts on Straight White American Jesus are ex pastors, and Walls is still a pastor.
Bad Faith
Briahna Joy Gray is a progressive who goes after both establishment Republican and Democratic politicians with no mercy.
Fill your brain with nothing but the following outlets for a couple of weeks, and you will soon become an intolerant, bitter old white man who yells at the clouds… even if you are not old or white:)
Sources to avoid altogether:
The cable news networks above were built to be propaganda mouthpieces for President Trump and the MAGA movement. They do not even pretend to be anything otherwise.
Fox News will occasionally say something critical of President Trump to give the appearance of being “fair and balanced,” but they are part of the Rupert Murdoch right-wing media empire and have a direct link to the Trump Whitehouse. President Trump has an affinity for appointing Fox News anchors and reporters to Oval Office jobs.
The following right-wing publications spread a lot of pro-MAGA/Trump propaganda and a ton of intolerance and hatred of liberals. They are a big part of the right-wing infrastructure that enabled President Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party:
Radio, YouTube, and Podcast Shows to avoid:
| Sean Hannity Show | Mark Levin Show | Michael Savage or Savage Nation |
| The Buck Sexton Show | The Trey Gowdy Podcast | ToddCast Podcast with Todd Starnes |
| The Glenn Beck Program |
The following mainstream stations are all right if you just need to check and see what the headlines are for the day, but they are corporate news stations whose primary goal is to make money by keeping your eyes glued to the television. They do not really care if you walk away from their station being a better informed citizen.
CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and NBC
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