Bias Breakdown

Wildfires recently ravaged Los Angeles, claiming dozens of lives and destroying thousands of homes. One week later, the city and state’s response is under intense scrutiny. Local leaders face criticism for their absence when the fires broke out, the lack of water resources for firefighters, and budget cuts to the fire department. While the story is widely covered, left- and right-leaning media outlets are framing the criticism differently. In episode five of Bias Breakdown, we explore how right-leaning news outlets blame the fire response on democratic policies while left-leaning news outlets argue President-elect Donald Trump and his allies are politicizing it.

January 6th has become one of the most politically charged events in recent history, with starkly different perspectives from the left and right on what truly happened. Four years after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest of the 2020 election results, the fallout continues to divide the nation—and the media. In episode four of Bias Breakdown, we explore how news outlets from both sides present varying narratives and sets of facts about the events of January 6, revealing how the story shifts depending on the political bias of the source.

In episode three of Bias Breakdown, we examine how the death of former President Jimmy Carter is being politicized across different news outlets, depending on their political leanings. Right-leaning news outlets are focusing on criticism of Biden’s condolences while left-leaning outlets highlight criticism of Trump’s rhetoric toward Carter over the years. We explore how both sides use opposing contexts and sources to support competing narratives.

In our debut episode, we compare how news outlets with left- and right-wing political biases are reporting on Trump's lawsuit over a controversial Iowa poll. Was it a case of election interference or the start of a revenge campaign? The answer varies widely depending on the outlet's political bias. Welcome to Bias Breakdown.

In episode two of Bias Breakdown, we examine how the immigration status of Sebastian Zapeta, the man charged with setting a woman on fire on a New York City subway, is being reported differently across media outlets depending on their political bias. Right-leaning outlets are prominently identifying him as an illegal immigrant, following confirmation from ICE that he is in the country illegally. Meanwhile, left-leaning outlets are largely omitting his immigration status from their headlines.

Join Straight Arrow News for the debut of our Bias Breakdown podcast. Here, you'll find an alternative to traditional storytelling as we examine how news stories are presented differently based on a news outlet’s left- or right-leaning political bias. Tune in every Tuesday with your host, Karah Rucker, for a Bias Breakdown of the current events that matter most to you.