The Record
News Trends
How the news moved, week over week — how much was covered, which way it leaned, and the events that defined each stretch. We track 4921 graded reports across 14 weeks. This week, wrapped: The Week in Grades →
Busiest week so far: Jun 15–21 with 1239 reports, averaging a B+.
Coverage quality over time
Average grade of each week's coverage — is the news getting more or less factual?
Political lean drift
The net tilt of each week's coverage — above the line leans right, below leans left.
What the news focused on
Top themes by volume, with their week-by-week activity and the latest direction.
- Iran 588 ▲
- Congress 135 ▼
- World Cup 2026 128 —
- Elections 125 ▼
- AI & Tech 121 ▲
- Economy 118 ▲
- Debate 117 ▲
- UK politics 98 ▲
By network
How established outlets stack up on political lean, average grade — at least four graded reports each.
Political bias by network
Average grade by network
Outlets at a glance
Each outlet's volume, average grade, average lean, and how its stories were received on social media — with last week's direction.
| Outlet | Reports | Avg grade | Avg lean | Reception | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes Breaking News | 531 | B | 4R | — | ▼ |
| Fox News | 287 | B | 50R | — | ▼ |
| Bloomberg Television | 243 | B+ | 2R | — | ▼ |
| Al Jazeera English | 235 | B+ | 17L | — | ▼ |
| MS NOW | 221 | B- | 58L | — | ▼ |
| Reuters | 219 | A- | 0 | — | ▲ |
| NBC News | 214 | A- | 2L | — | — |
| ABC News | 210 | A- | 2L | — | ▼ |
| NewsNation | 189 | B+ | 10R | — | ▲ |
| Associated Press | 153 | A- | 1L | — | ▲ |
| Fox Business | 149 | B | 52R | — | ▲ |
| CBS News | 133 | B+ | 3L | — | ▲ |
Weeks worth noting
- Jul 20–26 Heavy · 685 reports Avg grade B
189 left · 259 center · 237 right
Themes: Congress (132) · Iran (114) · Trump (60)
- Saskatchewan man receives 1,085-page child welfare file detailing alleged foster care abuse A-
- Louisiana Supreme Court affirms vacating Jimmie Duncan conviction after 27 years on death row A-
- Wildfires force hundreds of thousands to evacuate near Bordeaux and Madrid as US faces heat alerts and storms B+
- Jul 13–19 Heavy · 533 reports Avg grade B
149 left · 215 center · 169 right
Themes: Congress (98) · Elections (68) · Iran (68)
- Jun 29–Jul 5 Heavy · 548 reports Avg grade B+
113 left · 285 center · 150 right
Themes: Trump (60) · Immigration (49) · Iran (46)
- Jun 15–21 Heavy · 1239 reports Avg grade B+
269 left · 662 center · 308 right
Themes: Iran (388) · Foreign Policy (180) · Trump (117)