Apple News Accused of Excluding Conservative Outlets

Study finds Apple News curates content to favor left-leaning media sources

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A new study by the nonpartisan group AllSides has found that Apple News' editorial team has been deliberately excluding conservative media outlets from the app's curated 'top stories' and 'trending stories' sections. The study reviewed 166 articles that appeared on Apple News over a two-week period last October and found that none of the 'top stories' were written by conservative outlets, while 50% came from left-leaning sources and 23% from centrist outlets.

Why it matters

The findings raise concerns about political bias and the potential for Apple News to 'inflame political polarization' by creating a 'one-sided bubble of information' for its users. The study's authors argue this prevents Americans from understanding different political perspectives and making informed decisions for themselves.

The details

The AllSides study specifically focused on the sections of Apple News that cannot be personalized by users, finding that conservative outlets made up just 2% of the articles reviewed, compared to 50% from left-leaning sources. The outlets that appeared most frequently were the Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, the Washington Post, and HuffPost. The study's authors say this creates an environment that 'manipulates and blinds' readers.

  • The study reviewed articles that appeared on Apple News from October 6-19, 2025.
  • In 2023, a similar AllSides analysis found that 53% of articles in Apple News' 'top news' section came from left-leaning outlets and just 1% from the right.

The players

AllSides

A nonpartisan group that classifies news outlets by their political leanings and conducted the study on Apple News.

Julie Mastrine

Director of AllSides' media bias rating system and one of the study's authors.

Lauren Kern

Editor-in-chief of Apple News since 2017, previously held roles at New York Magazine and the New York Times Magazine.

Andrew Ferguson

FTC Chairman who sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook warning the company could be violating consumer protection laws.

Tim Cook

CEO of Apple who has not publicly addressed the allegations of bias in the Apple News app.

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What they’re saying

“Apple News' model inflames political polarization in America by ensconcing readers inside a one-sided bubble of information that can manipulate and blind them.”

— Julie Mastrine, Director of AllSides' media bias rating system

“By primarily showcasing news outlets that Americans and a panel of experts rate as left biased, Apple prevents Americans from considering the full range of views and information and deciding what they think for themselves.”

— Julie Mastrine, Director of AllSides' media bias rating system

What’s next

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has demanded that Apple CEO Tim Cook conduct a 'comprehensive review' and 'take correction action swiftly' in response to the allegations of bias.

The takeaway

The study's findings raise serious concerns about political bias and the potential for Apple News to contribute to increased political polarization by curating content in a way that excludes conservative viewpoints and creates a 'one-sided bubble of information' for its users.