Research Highlights Bias in Apple News Ahead of Midterms
Recent findings reveal that Apple News highlighted over 80 stories that presented Republican priorities in a negative light during the weeks preceding the midterm elections, with no stories providing a positive perspective.
According to a report by the Media Research Center (MRC), Republican voters relying on Apple News encountered about five negative stories daily that focused on key GOP issues like immigration, law enforcement, and drug policy. The analysis covered the top 20 stories on the platform from mid-September to the end of that month, and notably, it showed that there wasn’t a single piece that characterized these priorities favorably.
MRC President David Bozell remarked, “Apple News ran 84 negative headlines on Republican priorities and zero positive ones. Zero! My dentist finds more good news in a root canal.” He added that millions of voters rely on the app for information before making their electoral choices. “Apple’s editors seem to be serving up drinks only to one party,” he stated, questioning the selection process behind these stories and why the Republicans seemed to feature exclusively in a negative context.
MRC researchers Luis Cornelio and Madison Van Zant emphasized that the portrayal of issues like immigration often revolved around court losses and sensational narratives. The economy was linked to high gas prices, while law and order stories frequently favored police abolition perspectives. Furthermore, critiques of government cuts were framed in terms of radicalism, and foreign policy depicted America’s adversaries in a warrior-like role, whereas efforts to reduce waste were mischaracterized as unlawful reductions.
According to Cornelio and Van Zant, this analysis contributes to a larger body of evidence indicating that Apple News editors curate content to support a leftist political agenda, particularly as scrutiny from the Trump administration has increased.
Bozell has also raised concerns about potential election interference by Apple News in the run-up to the midterms. The app, which is preinstalled on all iPhones in the United States, has faced long-standing accusations of exhibiting a left-wing bias.
Earlier reports from Breitbart News referenced additional MRC research suggesting that this news aggregator has suppressed coverage regarding the Democratic National Committee’s financial struggles as the elections approach.
