The Best Political News Sources for Democratic Campaigns

With so much news and places to find it, how do you know which political news sources to trust?

How do you cut through the noise and get the information you need, when you need it? 

Thus far, 2022 has had a crazy news cycle, and it will only get more chaotic as the midterms get closer. 

Keeping Up-to-Date on Political News is Crucial

Despite content overload, candidates and campaign workers owe it to voters to speak to the issues that concern them most. In order to do this effectively, we must stay on top of political news, how it relates to our communities, and not become fatigued. 

Recently, the NDTC team shared their go-to list for the best media sources and platforms for following political news and the election season. 

In no particular order, here are our best suggestions:

Politico Playbook 

You may know the name, Mike Allen, from the Smart Brevity® media company Axios. But before that, Allen “wrote the playbook,” so to speak, on politics at Politico as their Chief Political Reporter. The Politico Playbook is still revered by the D.C. community as one of the largest influencers in the national political news cycle. With over 100,000 subscribed to their newsletter, it had to make the list. 

Catch up on archives and sign up to receive their newsletter here. 

RealClearPolitics

You’ve likely heard of Real Clear Politics in national headlines about polling. The organization as a whole provides a much larger service to the information ecosystem. Their daily editorial curation aims to present balanced, non-partisan analysis that empowers readers to stay informed. Every day you can discover dozens of curated articles covering the most relevant news topics. Like most others, they also have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

Mobilize

Frustrated by mediocre or irrelevant articles under Google’s “News” tab?  Mobilize is a blog with a built-in filter, allowing you to sort by issue-specific and location-specific blogs. Mobilize isn’t just an information outlet either. You’ll also find opportunities to link up with online groups focused on your interests. This is especially useful for those looking to volunteer, canvass, and phone bank with local Democrats. Bookmark this site as a possible hub for connecting with like-minded groups in your community.

MoveOn

Move On is an advocacy group curating petitions, articles, and resources for progressive action. They aim to provide a real-world impact with their work in grassroots organizing. Their blog is an excellent resource for anyone looking to stay in touch with the latest developments on progressive issues across the nation.

Run For Something

Run For Something shares stories of success and ongoing efforts of young, progressive candidates running for office.  Their curated articles will inspire you with stories of ambitious local-office candidates making a big impact in their communities. The organization is especially active on Twitter, where they share daily updates on local elections across the nation.

FiveThirtyEight Monitors Trends

FiveThirtyEight was founded by American statistician and ABC News Special Correspondent Nate Silver. 

Using hard numbers, FiveThirtyEight creates hard-hitting coverage around interests such as political news, culture, sports, and economics. Their website alone has an aesthetically pleasing interface, allowing you to search and browse for the things you care about most. 

One of their projects, the 2020 Election Forecast, is updated and made available on a regular basis. This gives you the latest news and some of the best visual storytelling to help make sense of all the data and polling. You can sign-up for their punchy newsletters here.

Forecasting with Let’s Talk Elections

For all things elections, subscribe to Let’s Talk Elections on Youtube! Ethan Kelly uploads videos once or twice daily, providing forecasting and analysis of electoral political news. Using YAPMS.com and 270toWin.com, Ethan keeps you current with the commentary to back it up. 

Follow Ethan on Twitter and visit their YouTube for more! 

FWIW Newsletter Stands On The Data 

Published by ACRONYM, FWIW (For What It’s Worth) is a data-centered newsletter focused on political spending and digital trends. 

By highlighting spending activity, subscribers gain an understanding of the strength of campaigns across the political spectrum. FWIW also covers the strategy behind how political and advocacy groups are building power through digital engagement. 

With modern design driving their brand, be sure to sign up for this sleek, informative political newsletter here. 

The Brown Girl’s Guide to Politics 

Founded by the President of Emerge, A’shanti Gholar, The Brown Girl’s Guide to Politics (BGG) is a hub of political news resources designed by and for womxn of color. 

From their blog to various events with leaders in the field, BGG helps folks stay connected and remain engaged with how politics affects them and their communities. Their podcast is one of our favorites, with 20 – 30 minute episodes of critical conversations that impact womxn of color in politics, culture, and media. You can listen to these packed episodes here.

Watch A’shanti F. Gholar join our very own Kelly Dietrich in this virtual live training on navigating COVID-19 and running your campaign!

Talking Points Memo Strengthens Trust

Talking Points Memo (TPM) has been around since 2000. 

With two decades under their belt, they are a faster, smarter, and better independent news organization. Their work upholds the public trust by following crucial policy developments and paying attention to political fringe—militias, white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, etc.

They value being free from corporate funding, so you can be sure you get authentic political news when following their work. Create your account now to get full functionality of their website. 

Vote Save America Saves You Time

From the team that brought you Pod Save America comes Vote Save America, your one-stop-shop for all things voting. 

This hub allows you to check voter registration, view national candidates’ positions on specific issues, view state elections to watch, and volunteer for GOTV efforts in your home state to other battleground states. 

What kind of America do you want to live in? VoteSaveAmerica saves our nation by ensuring every person’s voice is heard. You can sign up for their newsletter here. 

The Weeds Digs Deep on Policy

Every Tuesday and Thursday, you can catch The Weeds anywhere you listen to podcasts. With episodes lasting around 60-minutes (they’re worth it) co-founder of Vox.com and co-host of The Weeds, Matthew Yglesias, digs deeper on the issues and has informative conversations with other Vox voices. Focusing on policy, their approach uses current events to get into the weeds of an issue, often identifying how we got to our current state. Whether you’re a history buff or policy junkie, The Weeds gives you an in-depth perspective on the political news arena. Find the podcast here.

We hope this helps you take back control of the news cycle! Now, it’s your turn. Do you have any suggestions for the best media sources out there? Let us know by tagging @TrainDems on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.