Leans left
Summarized from more than one independent rater, including AllSides and Ad Fontes Media. We do not rate outlets ourselves.
The first 24-hour news network, founded in 1980, and still the outlet most Americans reach for during a breaking crisis. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and has spent recent years attempting to reposition itself toward the center.
Supporters point to a global newsgathering operation that few competitors can match and a genuine commitment to on-the-ground reporting. Critics on the right say its panel format and anchor commentary tilt reliably in one direction; critics on the left say its pursuit of balance has led it to treat unequal claims as equivalent.