t-online media bias and reliability
The bias data this site ingests places t-online as leaning left. It does not name the organisation that made that assessment, so we publish it as an unattributed rating and nothing more. We have seen it on 145 published stories of ours.
The short answers
Is t-online biased?
The bias data this site ingests places t-online as leaning left. It does not name the organisation that made that assessment, so we publish it as an unattributed rating and nothing more. An outlet rating describes a broad pattern in its output, not every article it publishes.
Is t-online left or right?
The bias data this site ingests places t-online as leaning left. It does not name the organisation that made that assessment, so we publish it as an unattributed rating and nothing more. In the three-way grouping used on story pages, that puts it under Left.
Is t-online reliable?
The factuality data this site ingests describes t-online as high factuality. It reaches us without a named assessor, so it is an unattributed rating rather than our verdict. It does not guarantee that every report is correct.
What t-online has been covering
Our account of each story, written from every outlet that ran it, with t-online’s own report linked underneath.
Researchers have identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia's Yungas forest. The small feline, measuring about 45-46 cm and weighing 1.4 kg, is the first new wild cat species described in more than 100 years.
t-online reported it asFirst New Cat Species in 100 Years: A Random Find in the Andes Writes History (opens t-online in a new tab)
Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment charging five individuals linked to Russian intelligence services with plotting targeted killings in the United States and European nations supporting Ukraine. The FBI announced it disrupted the alleged plot.
t-online reported it as$40,000 for a Murder – Explosive Suspicion Against Russian Network (opens t-online 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.
t-online reported it asCongress Adopts Sanctions Against Putin – But What Does Trump Do? (opens t-online in a new tab)
House Speaker Mike Johnson has sent representatives home early for their pre-election recess. This move postpones a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which had been initiated by Rep. Thomas Massie over Hegseth's actions in Iran and Venezuela.
t-online reported it asWith Trick: Republicans Prevent Brisant Hegseth Vote (opens t-online in a new tab)
Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs or halt trade with the European Union if Canada is granted associate membership. He described the prospect as 'laughable' and a 'hostile act', while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed a desire for Canada to be the bloc's first associate member.
t-online reported it asBecause of Canada: Trump Threatens EU Trade Stop (opens t-online in a new tab)
The U.S. Federal Reserve has raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points, marking the first such increase in over three years. The unanimous decision aims to combat inflation, and was followed by a significant drop in gold prices.
t-online reported it asFor the First Time Since Summer 2023: Fed Raises Key Rate (opens t-online in a new tab)
A single-engine Cirrus SR22T plane crashed in the Swiss Alps, killing all three people on board. The incident occurred near Leukerbad in the canton of Valais. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, and the identities of the victims are still being determined.
t-online reported it asCirrus SR22 Crashes Into the Mountains: Three People Die, Accident Remains Open (opens t-online in a new tab)
Russian Major General Anton Grunis has been killed in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces. Grunis commanded the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and had reported to Vladimir Putin about the alleged capture of Konstantinovka.
t-online reported it asUkraine Reports Elimination of Russian Military (opens t-online 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.
t-online reported it asAfter Eklat: All Vorbands Turn Away From Singer Ed Sheeran (opens t-online in a new tab)
The US Space Force has confirmed the deployment of weapons in Earth orbit, marking the first public acknowledgement of such capabilities. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stated the weapons are intended for defence against hostile actions, though specific details remain undisclosed.
t-online reported it asUS Military Confirms Weapons in Space for the First Time – Many Questions Remain Open (opens t-online in a new tab)
The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in orbit. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the Space Force placed "space control weapons" to deter adversaries, drawing accusations from China and Russia.
t-online reported it asUS Military Confirms Weapons in Space for the First Time – Many Questions Remain Open (opens t-online in a new tab)
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas announced that an explosive device was found on a drone shot down over Lithuania and has been neutralized. The drone had entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and was downed by Italian fighter jets.
t-online reported it as"Increasing Russia's Aggression" – NATO Fighter Jets Shoot Drones over Lithuania (opens t-online 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.
t-online reported it asHerbe Schlappe: Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Urgent Request (opens t-online in a new tab)
The Environmental Protection Agency is set to repeal rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants. Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the move could save billions for the industry and boost American energy.
t-online reported it as"War on Coal": Trump Government Breaks Climate Rules for Fossil Power Plants (opens t-online in a new tab)
Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas was funded by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who is close to Vladimir Putin. Kremlev paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, including renting a private island. National security experts expressed alarm.
t-online reported it asRussian Oligarch Apparently Financed Trump Son's Wedding (opens t-online 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."
t-online reported it as"Golden Gans": Why Donald Trump Doesn't Want to Control Artificial Intelligence More (opens t-online 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.
t-online reported it as"Golden Gans": Why Donald Trump Doesn't Want to Control Artificial Intelligence More (opens t-online in a new tab)
Germany's Defence Ministry will begin mandatory postings for up to 1,000 soldiers to its brigade in Lithuania this autumn. The move comes after recruitment efforts failed to attract enough volunteers for the unit, which is intended to be fully operational by the end of 2027.
t-online reported it asLithuania-Brigade: Pistorius Wants to Apply Coercion for the First Time (opens t-online in a new tab)
A Russian drone struck a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials had travelled on a train that passed through the area shortly before the attack, according to reports. Poland's Prime Minister warned of intensified Russian attacks.
t-online reported it asRussia Attacks Train – Merz Advisors Must Be Evacuated (opens t-online in a new tab)
An Indonesian passenger ship carrying 243 people has been reported missing after losing contact on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The vessel was travelling from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, and its last known position was in the Java Sea. Rescuers have launched a search operation.
t-online reported it asFerry with Around 240 People on Board in Distress – Rescue Operation in Indonesia (opens t-online in a new tab)
Who says so
The lean above is carried in the coverage data this site ingests, which names no rater for it. We publish it because it is what the rest of the site groups t-online on, and we will not present it as an assessment by anyone in particular until we hold one.
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.
High factuality
The rating above reaches us without a named assessor, and is published as that rather than as anyone’s verdict.
Who owns it
We hold no ownership record for t-online.
Where it publishes from
- Publishes from
- Berlin, Germany
- Seen publishing on
- t-online.de, muenchen.t-online.de
- Access
- Free to read
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
- 145
- Reports listed
- 151
- We could read
- 9
- First seen
- 4 August 2026
142 of those reports were paywalled or blocked to us. Our reading of this outlet is built on the 9 we could open, not on everything it published.
On 60 of those stories, outlets rated left were largely absent from the coverage and t-online ran the story anyway.
Across the 145 stories of ours where at least three of the reports we listed carried a time, another outlet was always ahead of t-online: its report arrived a median of 23 hours after the earliest one 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 t-online, also publishing from Germany, 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 t-online 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.