Blackburn Presses Apple on Suppression of News Articles from Conservative Publications

Blackburn Presses Apple on Suppression of News Articles from Conservative Publications
February 20, 2026
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
– U.S. Senator
Marsha Blackburn
(R-Tenn.) sent a letter to Apple CEO
Tim Cook
, pressing him on
reporting
that Apple News has systematically suppressed news articles from right-leaning publications while amplifying articles from left-leaning publications. In the letter, Senator Blackburn requested all internal data on the distribution of stories from outlets across the political spectrum featured on the platform over the last year.
Last Month, Apple Posted Zero Stories from Right-Leaning Outlets and 440 Stories from Left-Leaning Outlets
“The American public increasingly relies on services like Apple News to provide them with information, and they deserve to have access to perspectives across the political spectrum. To deny consumers that ability through algorithmic promotion or editorial bias is a disservice to those who use your product. According to the Media Research Center (MRC), which analyzed over 600 stories featured by Apple News in the morning time slots between January 1 and January 31 of this year, 440 of these were published by left-leaning outlets. A whopping
zero
stories from outlets considered right-leaning were featured. These outlet ratings came from AllSides, a nonpartisan organization that utilizes a panel of experts from the left, center, and right to analyze the political leaning of news outlets. While AllSides did not participate in MRC’s study, the director of their media bias rating system said she was ‘not surprised at all’ and Americans are not ‘getting the full scope of perspectives available.’”
Blackburn Echoes FTC Chairman Ferguson’s Concerns that Apple’s Systematic Suppression May Violate Consumer Protection Rules
“The Federal Trade Commission, under the leadership of Chairman Andrew Ferguson, recently sent a letter to your company calling on Apple to review its policies and warning that the systematic suppression of viewpoints—regardless of political affiliation—could violate consumer protection rules. I echo Chairman Ferguson’s concerns. Apple News is automatically installed on Apple devices and was purportedly ranked the most popular news application in the United States, Canada, and Australia in January. You have a responsibility to offer access to information without favor or bias toward one political party.”
Click
here
to read the full letter.
https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/2/technology/blackburn-presses-apple-on-suppression-of-news-articles-from-conservative-publications