Chicago Tribune media bias and reliability
The rating organisations do not give Chicago Tribune one shared verdict in the records we hold. Their published ratings are AllSides: Centre; Ad Fontes Media: Centre; Media Bias/Fact Check: Leans right. We have seen it on 93 published stories of ours.
The short answers
Is Chicago Tribune biased?
The rating organisations do not give Chicago Tribune one shared verdict in the records we hold. Their published ratings are AllSides: Centre; Ad Fontes Media: Centre; Media Bias/Fact Check: Leans right. An outlet rating describes a broad pattern in its output, not every article it publishes.
Is Chicago Tribune left or right?
The rating organisations do not give Chicago Tribune one shared verdict in the records we hold. Their published ratings are AllSides: Centre; Ad Fontes Media: Centre; Media Bias/Fact Check: Leans right. In the three-way grouping used on story pages, that puts it under Centre.
Is Chicago Tribune reliable?
The factual-reliability assessments we hold for Chicago Tribune are Ad Fontes Media: Very high factuality; Media Bias/Fact Check: High factuality. These are outlet-level assessments, not a guarantee that every report is correct.
What Chicago Tribune has been covering
Our account of each story, written from every outlet that ran it, with Chicago Tribune’s own report linked underneath.
USPS halts Trump‑linked mail‑voting system, Postmaster General David Steiner says work stopped
Trust 56The United States Postal Service stopped work on a computer system designed to support President Donald Trump's plan to limit mail voting. Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed the pause on Thursday, following the Supreme Court's rejection of the related executive order earlier that week.
Chicago Tribune reported it asAfter Supreme Court ruling, Postal Service stops work on computer system aimed to limit voting by mail (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil. India's Ministry of External Affairs stated the nation will take necessary steps to protect its trade and economic interests.
Chicago Tribune reported it asHouse approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to President Trump (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The United States has imposed new visa restrictions on certain South African nationals, citing race-based discrimination and uncompensated land seizures. South Africa has rejected the US allegations, stating the measures are based on mischaracterised policies and fringe group information.
Chicago Tribune reported it asTrump administration hits South Africa with new sanctions over alleged discrimination against whites (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
A trade war between the United States and Canada has led to reciprocal tariffs on approximately $20 billion of goods. Small business owners report increased costs and reduced sales, exacerbated by rising energy prices linked to the Iran war.
Chicago Tribune reported it asUS-Canada trade war further taxes small businesses as costs rise during the Iran war (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's request to enforce new U.S. Postal Service mail ballot regulations ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The court's order leaves in place a lower court injunction blocking the rules.
Chicago Tribune reported it asIllinois Democrats cheer Supreme Court mail-in voting order while President Trump lashes out at justices (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Three supporting acts have withdrawn from Ed Sheeran's tour following the removal of rapper Macklemore. Macklemore was dropped by tour promoters for pro-Palestinian comments made during a performance. The departing acts cited solidarity with Macklemore and opposition to perceived silencing of voices speaking out against Israeli actions.
Chicago Tribune reported it as3 supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran’s tour after Macklemore is dropped over pro-Palestinian comments (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The board of the Kennedy Center voted to close the performing arts venue due to financial problems and a disagreement about naming the building after President Donald Trump. A judge had previously blocked the venue from being renamed.
Chicago Tribune reported it asKennedy Center board votes to close over financial woes and Trump branding dispute, AP sources say (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's request to enforce new U.S. Postal Service mail ballot regulations ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The court's order leaves in place a lower court injunction blocking the rules.
Chicago Tribune reported it asSupreme Court rejects President Trump’s mail ballot restrictions for now ahead of midterms (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Senator Mitch McConnell cast a vote to advance the farm bill in committee on September 16, after receiving voting instructions from Senator John Hoeven. The bill passed the committee 12-11 along party lines.
Chicago Tribune reported it asGOP Sen. Mitch McConnell returns to Senate for the first time since his June hospitalization (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Donald Trump has endorsed Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, calling him a "very good candidate." The endorsement comes as Bailey faces incumbent J.B. Pritzker in the upcoming election.
Chicago Tribune reported it asTrump backs Darren Bailey for Illinois governor as GOP candidate has sought to distance himself from president (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a coalition of Democratic-led cities and states have filed a lawsuit challenging a new Trump administration rule. The rule would allow immigration officials to deny green cards and visas to immigrants who use public benefits.
Chicago Tribune reported it asIllinois and Chicago sue Trump over looming rule making it harder for immigrants to get green cards (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Donald Trump confirmed he uses artificial intelligence but declined to specify how, stating only that it can be used for "a lot of things." He also commented on the technology's future, saying "whoever wins in artificial intelligence wins."
Chicago Tribune reported it asPresident Donald Trump dismisses new AI guardrails, says there is a ‘SICK conspiracy’ against AI and data centers (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Donald Trump has rejected calls for new regulations on artificial intelligence, stating that the U.S. government already possesses adequate power to control AI firms. He described efforts to implement guardrails as a "sick conspiracy" that could cede technological leadership to China.
Chicago Tribune reported it asPresident Trump calls AI risks a ‘hoax,’ says there is a ‘SICK conspiracy’ against AI and data centers (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that it is 'deeply unfair' for individuals assigned male at birth to compete against girls in sports. He acknowledged struggling to find a fair solution, aligning with a broader trend of Democrats recalibrating their approach to transgender issues amid Republican political attacks.
Chicago Tribune reported it asSome Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
U.S. Senate Republicans have released a revised draft of the Clarity Act, a major cryptocurrency bill, incorporating new ethics language that President Donald Trump has agreed to. The bill includes provisions on affiliate trading, consumer protection, and software developer protections. A procedural vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
Chicago Tribune reported it asPresident Donald Trump agreed to new ethics rules to get a crypto bill across the line. But that might not be enough. (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. ordered the U.S. Postal Service not to implement President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail balloting. The order came late Sunday, September 13, 2026, adding an obstacle to the administration's efforts to change election rules as the Supreme Court considers an appeal.
Chicago Tribune reported it asSecond federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with US Supreme Court poised to weigh in (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
A federal appeals court has invalidated a Trump administration order that compelled the JH Campbell coal plant in Michigan to remain operational beyond its planned retirement. The court found the Energy Department lacked the legal authority to issue such emergency orders.
Chicago Tribune reported it asFederal court rejects Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant open (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
President Donald Trump has proposed giving $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House and Senate in the upcoming midterms. The plan is projected to cost $1.2 trillion and has raised concerns about inflation.
Chicago Tribune reported it asDonald Trump wants to send Americans money. Congress and economists don’t seem thrilled with the idea. (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a hearing on Wednesday in New Orleans on Louisiana’s lawsuit aiming to overturn the federal policy that allows abortion pills to be prescribed without an in‑person visit. Medication abortion now dominates abortions, and telehealth prescriptions keep rising.
Chicago Tribune reported it asAn appeals court is considering a push to restrict most common abortion method: mifepristone (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with an exhibit of artifacts. The display includes personal items from the day, presented openly due to fragility, as museum leadership navigates political criticism.
Chicago Tribune reported it asAurora-area events to mark 25th anniversary of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Who says so
3 organisations have published a rating for this outlet, in their own words. Where they disagree, the disagreement is the useful part and it is left standing.
How reliably it reports fact
A rating of the newsroom in general, by others, and a different thing from the Trust score we publish on each story, which judges one piece of reporting.
Very high factuality
Who owns it
- Tribune Publishingunknowndirect owner
- Alden Global CapitalPrivate Equityparent group
Where it publishes from
- Publishes from
- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States
- Official site
- chicagotribune.com
- Seen publishing on
- chicagotribune.com
- Access
- Paywalled
- Wikipedia
- Entry
What we have seen ourselves
Counted across the stories this site has published, which is the only denominator a reader can check: every one of them has a page, and every page lists the reports it was written from.
- Stories
- 93
- Reports listed
- 94
- We could read
- 0
- First seen
- 4 August 2026
94 of those reports were paywalled or blocked to us. Our reading of this outlet is built on the 0 we could open, not on everything it published.
A blindspot is measured against one side of the spectrum. Chicago Tribune is rated centre, so there is no side for it to be counted against and we publish no figure here.
Across the 93 stories of ours where at least three of the reports we listed carried a time, we logged no report earlier than Chicago Tribune’s on 1 of them. Overall it filed a median of 21 hours after the earliest report we logged.
Measured 18 September 2026. Last seen in a coverage list 18 September 2026. Ratings pulled 4 September 2026.
Other outlets rated the same way
Publishers carrying the same published leaning as Chicago Tribune, also publishing from United States, ordered by how often we have seen them on a story. Sharing a rating is not the same as being alike.
Think this page is wrong?
The leanings above are published by AllSides, Ad Fontes Media and Media Bias/Fact Check, and we republish them rather than make them. If you think one is misapplied, the strongest place to say so is with the organisation that made it, and every verdict here links to their page.
What we are responsible for is everything else: the ownership chain, where Chicago Tribune publishes from, which of our stories we have listed it on, and whether we have the right publisher at all. Tell us what is wrong and an editor reads it.
Report something wrong on this page
Anything we correct is written up in the public corrections log. We do not publish reader votes as a rating, because an unattributed rating is the thing this site exists to argue against.
Every rating on this page is a named third party’s published work, republished with its author and, where one exists, a link to it. Our own coverage record is the section we measure ourselves. Neither is a judgement of any individual report: those are scored story by story, and the reasoning is on our methodology page.