Internal Document Leak Reveals Politico’s News Source Bias
Sean Spicer unintentionally disclosed an internal Google document outlining the news sources that Politico commonly refers to, notably omitting Breitbart News from the list.
On January 9, Spicer, who hosts the Sean Spicer Show and is a former White House correspondent, remarked, “Have you ever wondered why @politico @playbookdc leans left? This morning, they accidentally linked to an internal document that shows which sources they consider ‘visited’—exclude @BreitbartNews, @DailyCaller, @DailySignal, @realDailyWire.”
The leaked screenshot comprises a detailed list of news organizations that Politico employees have been directed to track, ranging from established names like The New York Times and CNN to newer ones like Semafor and Axios. However, it completely lacks any conservative-focused publications. The document even contains login information for paywalled sites but neglects any reference to Breitbart News.
This revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Politico’s editorial slant and its tendency to exclude center-right narratives. The absence of Breitbart is particularly striking considering its growing significance in Washington. Reports indicate that in early 2025, Breitbart was a dominant presence on social media, with over 4.8 million interactions during the first two weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term—outpacing engagements by both The New York Times and CNN.
Breitbart continues to hold regular access to the White House, with press secretary Caroline Leavitt stating that news organizations like Breitbart “will have a physical seat in this room every day.”
“Breitbart News is President Donald Trump’s top news outlet in America,” asserted its Editor-in-Chief, Alex Marlowe.
In a discussion during the Joe Rogan Experience, Vice President J.D. Vance praised the access and influence of Breitbart’s Washington bureau chief, Matt Boyle. Politico acknowledged Breitbart’s increasing visibility, remarking, “Trump is back. And so is Breitbart.”
The leaked documents hint at a broader pattern at Politico regarding the exclusion and marginalization of conservative and independent media voices. For example, in December 2025, senior legal reporter Josh Gerstein faced backlash for a controversial comment regarding risks related to home daycares, widely thought to target independent journalist Nick Shirley, leading to over 10,000 negative comments.
Other instances of Politico’s biases have been noted, such as framing certain European Christmas celebrations as “far-right” and mishandling reports about President Biden’s health. Furthermore, a misreported claim that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mocked people with disabilities did not receive a wide retraction.
Additionally, concerns about impartiality have been raised after a Politico reporter called Trump an “instigator” on social media following the 2016 election.
In March 2025, objections regarding Politico’s editorial bias even reached its parent company, with Axel Springer board member Martin Varsavsky denouncing the platform for sharing pro-Hamas content.
Moreover, former Politico reporter Marc Caputo, now at Axios, disclosed in a podcast that he was explicitly directed not to cover Hunter Biden’s laptop story. Fellow ex-Politico journalist Tara Palmeri echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration over delays in reporting about Biden’s gun permit, speculating that the timing may have influenced publication speed.
In summary, the FCC is now investigating potential ideological bias within Trump-era media outlets, which could have implications for taxpayer-funded access and subscription fees in the future.
