Partisan News Outlets Have Outnumbered Local Newspapers
Political groups have launched hundreds of partisan sites to influence voters as traditional local news outlets decline.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Political Parties
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There are now 1,179 identified pink slime outlets in the United States, officially outnumbering the 937 active daily newspapers. These partisan sites are frequently deployed by political organizations to influence election outcomes in key states.
Why it matters
The rise of these sites fills a void created by the closure or staffing reductions of traditional local newspapers across 212 news desert counties. By utilizing social media and AI tools, these networks seek to reach millions of voters and shape political majorities.
Partisan networks identified by NewsGuard have launched 21 new sites this year alone. Between January and August, organizations including One Nation and the American Independent invested at least $801,500 in advertising to drive traffic.
The players
Senate Leadership Fund
This is a super PAC dedicated to electing a Republican majority in the United States Senate.
One Nation
This is a public policy organization that engages in political advocacy and advertising campaigns.
NewsGuard
This is an organization that provides ratings and reviews of news and information websites based on journalistic criteria.
The details
Partisan groups like the Senate Leadership Fund rely on aggressive social media advertising to boost readership for their outlets, such as the North Carolinian. Some of these sites leverage AI technology to generate content, aiming to reach voters in states with competitive elections.
Timeline
In July 2026, the Senate Leadership Fund launched the North Carolinian website.
Political networks spent $801,500 on advertising from January 2026 through August 2026.
Reporting on the North Carolinian advertising spend on Meta platforms concluded in late August 2026.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
The rise of these partisan sites signals a fundamental shift in how political messaging reaches voters in a post-local-news environment. Critics and media observers argue that these outlets lack journalistic integrity, serving primarily as digital campaign arms rather than independent sources of information.
Readers may find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between factual local reporting and partisan content when browsing social media or search results. This trend underscores the importance of verifying the ownership and funding sources of news outlets before accepting information as neutral.
The takeaway
Voters should be wary of news outlets that lack clear staff transparency or appear shortly before major election cycles. Checking the 'About Us' section of a site and cross-referencing claims with established, non-partisan outlets can help maintain an accurate understanding of current events.
Further reading
For more context on how campaigns influence public opinion, visit our Political Parties section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
Live Poll
Do you feel confident identifying which local news sites are independent versus those with partisan agendas?
