Is the New York Sun Left or Right Leaning? Here’s What the Data Shows

Is the New York Sun Left or Right Leaning? Here’s What the Data Shows

Media Bias Comparison Tool

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Select up to 3 publications to view their political bias ratings based on independent media analysis systems.

How to use: Select publications from the dropdowns below. The tool displays ratings from MBFC (0-12 scale), Ad Fontes (0-42 scale), and AllSides (left/center/right classification).

Bias Comparison Results

MBFC Scale (0-12)

0 = Strong Left, 12 = Strong Right

Ad Fontes Scale (0-42)

-42 = Extreme Left, +42 = Extreme Right

AllSides Classification

The New York Sun isn’t a question of geography-it’s a question of politics. If you’re wondering whether this publication leans left or right, the answer isn’t up for debate among media analysts. Every major independent source that rates media bias agrees: the New York Sun is right-leaning. Not just a little. Not just occasionally. Consistently, clearly, and intentionally.

What the Bias Ratings Say

Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC) gives the New York Sun a RIGHT (6.0) rating on their 0-12 scale, where 0 is strongly left and 12 is strongly right. That puts it firmly in the conservative camp. They also rate its factual reporting as HIGH (1.8), meaning while its opinions are clearly conservative, its news reporting is well-sourced and factually sound.

Ad Fontes Media, which uses panels of analysts from left, center, and right to evaluate content, gives the New York Sun a bias score of 12.84 on a scale that runs from -42 (extreme left) to +42 (extreme right). That’s not just right-it’s Strong Right. Their reliability score is lower at 31.50, not because the facts are wrong, but because opinion pieces dominate the site. That’s the key distinction: news reporting is reliable; editorials are ideological.

AllSides, another trusted media bias tracker, also classifies the New York Sun as Right. Their methodology involves blind reviews by diverse panels, and they consistently find the publication favors conservative viewpoints in framing, word choice, and topic selection.

What Does the Content Actually Look Like?

Look at the headlines. Articles like “The Many Reasons Why Radical Progressivism Is a Total Failure” and “‘Vinegar Joe’ Biden Thinks His Mistake Is Being Too Sweet to the GOP” aren’t neutral. They’re opinion-driven, loaded with conservative framing, and clearly aimed at a right-leaning audience.

The bylines tell the same story. Regular contributors include Larry Kudlow, former economic advisor to Donald Trump and longtime Fox News personality, and Michael Barone, a conservative political analyst who’s been writing for decades about traditional American values. These aren’t random voices-they’re ideological anchors.

Current coverage focuses on Trump’s policies, criticism of progressive education, strong support for Israel, and skepticism toward climate regulations. The tone is often urgent, moralistic, and unapologetic. It doesn’t pretend to be neutral. It openly champions liberty, fiscal responsibility, and national sovereignty-all core conservative values.

It’s Not All Opinion-The News Reporting Is Still Solid

One common mistake is assuming right-leaning means unreliable. That’s not true here. MBFC notes that “straight news reporting features minimal bias in wording.” When covering breaking events-like a congressional vote or a Supreme Court ruling-the New York Sun often relies on AP wire reports or direct quotes from official sources. The facts are there. The spin comes in the headlines, the placement, and the opinion sections.

The publication separates its news from its commentary. Opinion pieces are clearly labeled. You won’t find editorializing hidden inside a news article. That’s actually a sign of journalistic discipline. It’s not about deception-it’s about transparency. They’re upfront: this is what we believe.

Split scene showing neutral news wires and conservative opinion pieces on a desk.

History Matters-But Not How You Think

The original New York Sun, founded in 1833 by Benjamin Day, was the first penny press newspaper and helped launch modern journalism. It was known for sensational stories and bold reporting. But under editor Charles Dana, starting in 1868, it became “increasingly conservative,” according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. That’s a historical footnote, not a direct lineage.

The modern New York Sun, revived in 2002 by Seth Lipsky, is a new entity. Lipsky, a former editor of The Forward and contributor to The Wall Street Journal and New York Post, built it with a clear mission: to offer an alternative to what he saw as liberal dominance in mainstream media. When Dovid Efune took over in 2021, nothing changed. The mission stayed the same. The tone stayed the same. The bias stayed the same.

How It Compares to Other Outlets

Compared to The New York Times (rated Left by all major bias trackers), the New York Sun is on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Wall Street Journal, often seen as center-right, still rates lower on the right scale than the New York Sun. National Review, a conservative magazine, is also rated Right-but the New York Sun has higher factual reliability scores, making it more credible than many partisan sites.

It’s not Fox News. It’s not Breitbart. It doesn’t rely on conspiracy theories or hyperbolic headlines. It’s more like a polished, well-written conservative newspaper that happens to be digital-only. It’s for readers who want solid reporting wrapped in a clear ideological framework.

Antique newspaper beside a modern tablet, symbolizing the legacy of conservative journalism.

Who Reads It-and Why

It doesn’t have mass circulation. Media Bias/Fact Check rates its traffic as “medium,” meaning it’s not competing with CNN or The New York Times. But it has a loyal audience. People who distrust mainstream media, value traditional values, and want news that doesn’t apologize for its perspective. It’s a niche, but a strong one.

Its motto-“It Shines for All”-sounds inclusive. But the content tells a different story. It shines for those who believe in limited government, strong borders, free markets, and a firm stance on national security. If you’re looking for balanced reporting that tries to please everyone, this isn’t it. If you want clear, fact-based journalism with a conservative point of view, it’s one of the best.

Final Take: Right-Leaning, Not Right-Wing Extremist

The New York Sun is not fringe. It’s not disinformation. It’s not a blog. It’s a legitimate news organization with a clear political identity. It reports facts well. It expresses opinions boldly. And it doesn’t hide either.

If you’re trying to understand where it stands, don’t look for neutrality. Look for consistency. And the data doesn’t lie: every expert, every rating, every article confirms it. The New York Sun is right-leaning. Not by accident. Not by mistake. By design.

About Author
Jesse Wang
Jesse Wang

I'm a news reporter and newsletter writer based in Wellington, focusing on public-interest stories and media accountability. I break down complex policy shifts with clear, data-informed reporting. I enjoy writing about civic life and the people driving change. When I'm not on deadline, I'm interviewing local voices for my weekly brief.