The Gateway Pundit is a far-right news outlet that bills itself as providing truthful and accurate reporting and analysis on the most pressing political issues in the U.S.
The site provides an alternative source for those who feel mainstream media outlets are biased and unreliable, and it has gained a significant following among conservatives since its launch.
However, there are some concerns about whether The Gateway Pundit is as trustworthy as it claims to be.
This article will review these concerns and provide some suggestions for alternatives. I’ll also give you a rundown of The Gateway Pundit’s history and its creator, and reveal everything you need to know about its mission and goals.
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The Gateway Pundit History
The Gateway Pundit (TGP) was founded in 2004 by a conservative blogger named Jim Hoft, who wanted to establish a site for readers who were dissatisfied with the limited options and politicized nature of the traditional media.
According to its About page, the site was first called “TheGatewayPundit/blogspot.com”. It initially linked to other right-wing news outlets and content producers, acting as the go-to place for people wanting to stay updated on important current events in the political and media world.
In 2011, The Gateway Pundit underwent a major transformation and became a full-fledged news website. This change came about when Jim Hoft brought in additional authors and reporters to contribute to the site.
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Its About page goes on to say that, since then, the site has grown to become one of the most popular conservative news sites online, with over 2.5 million visitors per day. It includes that they currently rank among the top 150 websites in America – however, the link to the Alexa ranking they provide doesn’t work.
Now, in 2016 the Trump administration granted The Gateway Pundit White House press credentials.
This was quite an achievement for a conservative news website, as it gave their reporters access to attend White House press briefings and ask questions directly to the press secretary.
It was a great opportunity for The Gateway Pundit to be part of the action and engage in real-time discussions with the administration. In fact, a Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Security study found that, during the 2016 presidential election, the site was the third most-shared source among Trump supporters on Facebook.
This highlights the significant impact that the website had on the spread of information and opinions among the politically active demographic.
Unfortunately, in 2018, Newsweek and CNN both referred to The Gateway Pundit as a “fake news” site and accused it of promoting conspiracy theories. These accusations, along with others made by various media outlets, led to concerns about the credibility of the news and opinions published by The Gateway Pundit.
In 2021, both Google and Twitter took action in response to these scandals. In February of that year, Twitter permanently suspended the personal account of Jim Hoft, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Gateway Pundit, citing multiple violations of its civic integrity policy.
Around the same time, Google demonetized The Gateway Pundit’s website, which means that the site can no longer generate revenue from Google Ads.
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The Gateway Pundit Traffic
Despite these criticisms, The Gateway Pundit remains a popular alternative news source for many. According to SimilarWeb, the site has been getting consistently between 28 and 32 million visits per month.
However, traffic estimation tools can provide varying results, and other sources may report different traffic figures for The Gateway Pundit.
For example, Ahrefs Traffic Checker reports that The Gateway Pundit’s estimated monthly organic search traffic is around 2.2 million visits. In contrast, SE Ranking gives an average of 716.7K visits per month, which is significantly lower.
It’s important to keep in mind that different traffic estimation sites use different methodologies to calculate traffic numbers, and these figures should be taken as rough estimates rather than exact measurements.
However, despite the discrepancies between these reports, it’s clear that The Gateway Pundit continues to attract a sizable audience.
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The Gateway Pundit Reviews
The Gateway Pundit is infamous for its highly contentious and provocative content, which has stirred up controversy among both conservatives and liberals alike.
On one hand, conservatives see the website as a valuable source of news and commentary that is unafraid to challenge the mainstream media. On the other hand, they view The Gateway Pundit as a purveyor of fake news and conspiracy theories that stoke divisiveness and undermine their reputation.
After reviewing the TGP website, PolitiFact found that a significant portion of its content contains either partially false or completely false information, making it a questionable source of news and analysis.
PolitiFact has a tool called the “Truth-O-Meter” to check the accuracy of a statement. They grade it on a scale of six levels and The Gateway Pundit content got rated as follows:
- True: 4%
- Mostly true: 4%
- Half true: 4%
- Mostly false: 13%
- False: 60%
- Pants on fire: 13%
According to the review by NewsGuard, The Gateway Pundit received a score of 20 out of 100. The assessment indicates that the website falls significantly short of the expected standards of credibility and transparency.
NewsGuard recognizes that the website openly discloses its ownership and financing details, and also takes proper measures to label its advertising content. However, those are only three out of nine criteria. Some of the other NewsGuard standards The Gateway Pundit fails to comply with are:
- Presenting information responsibly
- Handling corrections and clarifications
- Avoiding deceptive headlines and practices
- Distinguishing news from opinion
- Providing an author bio of the site’s contributors
Besides, according to Health Feedback, The Gateway Pundit has promoted misinformation related to health, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, it published a post claiming that the Omicron variant was only found in fully vaccinated people – when, in fact, records show that there was at least one case of an unvaccinated traveler in Belgium infected with the Omicron variant.
TGP also misstated that the use of face masks causes problems for children’s development in the long term, without providing any scientific evidence to back up this claim.
Furthermore, MediaBias has rated The Gateway Pundit with a “Very Low” score and has identified an extreme right-wing bias in all of its publications.
According to them, the site has a history of spreading misleading and false information using questionable sources, such as Breitbart and Mike Cernovich, who have poor track records with fact-checkers.
In fact, the blog faced a defamation lawsuit in 2017 for falsely implicating a teenage boy from Charlottesville, Virginia, as the perpetrator responsible for the death of a counter-protester at a white supremacist rally.
To sum up, it’s clear that The Gateway Pundit is always putting out stories that are totally wrong or deceiving, all while trying to push their political views and diss the Dems and liberals. So, if you stumble upon one of their articles, you’ll need to fact-check the information and find other sources to get the real story.
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Alternatives to The Gateway Pundit
Fortunately, not all right-wing news sources are created equal.
As a conservative, you may feel frustrated with media outlets that often skew left and fail to represent your views. And while The Gateway Pundit prioritizes sensationalism and propaganda over factual reporting, there are actually plenty of alternative news sources available that offer more balanced reporting and fact-based journalism.
The following is a list of the best alternatives to The Gateway Pundit that aim to provide conservative perspectives on current events without sacrificing accuracy and objectivity.
1. The Federalist
The Federalist is an online publication that covers politics, culture, economics, and current events from a conservative perspective.
Whether you’re interested in tax reform, healthcare policy, or foreign affairs, The Federalist offers a mix of news, analysis, and opinion pieces that will help you better understand the issues at hand.
In addition to its written content, The Federalist also offers a podcast called “The Federalist Radio Hour”, which features in-depth interviews with conservative thinkers and leaders.
2. The Washington Times
Founded in 1982, The Washington Times has a long history of providing in-depth news coverage and insightful commentary on the most important issues of the day.
The newspaper’s writers and contributors are well-versed in conservative philosophy and are not afraid to tackle controversial issues. It’s primarily known for its political coverage, but it also covers other areas of interest to its readers, such as business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle.
One of its recent headlines is, “Bans on biological males competing in girls’ sports now sweeping the nation.”
3. TheBlaze
TheBlaze was founded by Glenn Beck, who you may know from his nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Glenn Beck Program. He also hosted a daily television show on Fox News from 2009 to 2011 called The Glenn Beck Show, which was known for its conservative commentary and provocative segments.
Now, one of the best features of TheBlaze is its commitment to providing alternative perspectives on the news of the day.
The site often covers stories that are ignored or downplayed by the mainstream media, providing its readers with a more complete picture of the world around them.
For example, in its article “California’s population shrank for the second year in a row, experts say it marks an ‘economic kind of stagnation,” TheBlaze offers a unique perspective on a major demographic and political shift in one of America’s largest and most influential states.
Additionally, the site also features interviews with prominent conservative thinkers and leaders, as well as multimedia content such as podcasts, radio shows, and live TV.
4. ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge is a finance and economics-focused news website that also covers a range of other topics, including politics, technology, and current events.
One of the things I like about this site is its alternative perspectives and independent, honest analysis.
It has a large following among those who are interested in exploring news and commentary that goes beyond the traditional media, and solid contributors who provide well-researched and thought-provoking content.
5. Breitbart
Breitbart News was launched by conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart in 2007. He was known for his outspoken views and his willingness to challenge liberal narratives.
After Breitbart passed away in 2012, the site continued under the leadership of former Breitbart editor-in-chief Steve Bannon, who went on to serve as a key advisor to President Donald Trump.
The site has established itself as a go-to source for conservatives who are looking for news and analysis that is aligned with their values and beliefs.
It covers a wide range of topics, including limited government, free markets, individual rights, as well as traditional family values, and the defense of American culture and traditions.
6. NewsBusters
NewsBusters is another great conservative news source. The site offers a detailed analysis of mainstream news coverage, highlighting instances of bias and calling out journalists and media outlets that it sees as promoting a liberal agenda.
In addition to its coverage of media bias, NewsBusters also offers a range of content on politics, culture, and entertainment.
I’m particularly impressed by the site’s commitment to providing evidence-based analysis and its use of data and statistics to support its claims.
7. Taki’s Magazine
Founded by Greek journalist Taki Theodoracopulos, the site combines a conservative political outlook with a libertarian approach to social issues, making it a popular choice among those who value individual liberty and personal responsibility.
To be honest, this is one of the most interesting sites I’ve ever read. Taki’s Magazine’s writers and contributors offer thoughtful and well-researched commentary on issues such as immigration, gun rights, and the role of government in society.
They also cover cultural trends and movements, providing a refreshing perspective on issues such as art, literature, and music. Totally recommended.
8. The Daily Caller
The Daily Caller, a conservative news and opinion website, offers a mix of original reporting, opinion pieces, and aggregated content from other sources.
One of the key features of The Daily Caller is its focus on breaking news and investigative journalism. The site’s reporters and contributors regularly break stories and provide in-depth coverage of issues such as politics, national security, and technology.
Another thing I appreciate about The Daily Caller is its willingness to challenge the status quo. While the site is unapologetically conservative, it’s not afraid to publish articles and opinion pieces that challenge conventional wisdom or offer a different take on the news.
So if you want to get a more balanced and nuanced view of the issues you care about, this is a great source.
9. RedState
RedState provides a platform for conservative writers and journalists to share their views on the latest news and issues affecting the United States.
While it has many great things, I especially like its easy-to-read, blog-style format. You can quickly find the most recent articles and opinion pieces on the homepage, which is updated regularly throughout the day.
The site covers a broad range of topics, from breaking news and political analysis to entertainment and lifestyle pieces. It also hosts a few podcasts covering politics and current events, including the popular “Malcolm on the Right” and “Cancel This! with Scott Hounsell.”
10. Project Veritas
If you’re looking for a unique news source with a focus on exposing corruption and unethical behavior, I’d definitely recommend checking out Project Veritas. Founded by James O’Keefe in 2010, this non-profit organization uses undercover investigations and sting operations to uncover the truth.
What sets Project Veritas apart from other news sources is its commitment to exposing wrongdoing in a variety of institutions. They’ve investigated everything from political campaigns to media organizations to healthcare providers.
While Project Veritas doesn’t offer traditional news coverage, its work is important for holding institutions accountable and shining a light on corruption.
A Note
While the alternatives to The Gateway Pundit that I’ve mentioned above are all worth checking out, you should be cautious. It’s critical to approach any news source with a healthy dose of skepticism and a willingness to fact-check and verify the information.
Even established news outlets can have biases or make mistakes. Some may be even struggling financially, which can lead to sensationalism or a focus on clickbait headlines
Ultimately, the best approach to news consumption is to seek out a variety of sources, fact-check information, and approach all news with a critical eye. By doing so, you can gain a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the world around you, and avoid falling prey to misinformation or propaganda.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, I think it’s safe to say that The Gateway Pundit isn’t a reliable source of news and should be approached with extreme caution. Multiple websites and fact-checking organizations have accused the site of publishing fake news and spreading misinformation.
But it’s not just the content of The Gateway Pundit’s articles that is problematic. The website has also been involved in numerous controversies and lawsuits.
Thankfully, there are plenty of reputable news sources out there that prioritize accurate and responsible reporting over clicks and sensationalism. I strongly recommend checking out The Washington Times, RedState, and Taki’s Magazine.
