Unmasking the Associated Press: A Legacy of Bias, Blunders, and Backroom Deals

The Associated Press (AP), once a cornerstone of American journalism, has increasingly come under fire for practices that undermine its reputation for impartiality. From subtle ideological slants to high-profile errors and ethical shortcuts, a pattern emerges of left-leaning tendencies, factual missteps, and controversies that favor narrative over neutrality. Drawing from a range of critiques, here's a deep dive into the dirt that's tarnishing AP's shine in the news industry.

Systemic Bias: Tilting the Scales with Loaded Language

AP's coverage often employs phrasing that critics argue amplifies progressive viewpoints while downplaying conservative ones, earning it a "left-center" bias rating due to editorializing and disproportionate scrutiny of right-wing claims. AllSides has grappled with its rating, settling on "Center" but noting leftward drifts in story selection and wording. Ad Fontes Media calls it "neutral/balanced" overall, yet acknowledges reliability dips in opinion-heavy pieces.

Examples include AP's stylebook mandates: It enforces "anti-abortion" over "pro-life" and "abortion rights" without "pro-choice," while avoiding "illegal immigrant" in favor of softer terms like "living in the country illegally." This led to backlash for not labeling Laken Riley's killer as an "illegal immigrant," opting for "Athens man" instead. On transgender issues, AP declares "gender is a spectrum" and requires "preferred pronouns," aligning with activist lingo. Funding from left-leaning donors like the Omidyar Network has fueled accusations of ideological capture.

In Middle East reporting, former AP correspondent Mark Lavie accused the Cairo bureau of an anti-Israel editorial line, blaming the Jewish state for all regional ills. X users echo this, calling AP a "propaganda vehicle" for unverified Hamas claims in Gaza coverage. Reddit threads describe it as "slightly left" but one of the last moderate holdouts, though Quora users peg it as "slight to moderate liberal bias."

Factual Flubs and Retractions: Accuracy Takes a Hit

AP's self-proclaimed rigor in fact-checking hasn't shielded it from embarrassing errors, especially in politically charged stories. In 2013, AP retracted a bombshell on Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe lying to federal officials, after his campaign denied it and AP admitted the sourcing was flawed—transmitting the correction at 11:23 p.m. after initial publication.

The 2000 Tuvia Grossman photo fiasco saw AP caption a bloodied Jewish student as a "Palestinian" assaulted by an "Israeli policeman," igniting global outrage and corrections; it birthed the watchdog HonestReporting. In 2018, AP wrongly claimed the Trump EPA aimed to "weaken radiation regulations," forcing a quick rewrite. A 2022 report on Russian missiles hitting Poland got a reporter fired for unsubstantiated claims.

On Claudine Gay's Harvard plagiarism, AP initially dismissed evidence as "right-wing cherry-picking," later backpedaling amid criticism. A 2013 hacked AP tweet about a White House bombing caused a stock "flash crash," highlighting lax security. X posts slam AP's "Not Real News" series as selective, ignoring left-wing misinformation. Breitbart flagged multiple 2017 Trump-story corrections, stoking bias claims.

Ethical Lapses: From Nazi Ties to Profiting on Pain

AP's moral history is riddled with stains. During WWII, it collaborated with Nazi Germany, exchanging 40,000 photos for antisemitic propaganda like SS brochures (Der Untermensch), continuing via neutral channels post-Pearl Harbor until 1941 expulsion; seized archives went to the Waffen-SS.

In 2002, reporter Christopher Newton was fired for fabricating 40+ sources in law enforcement tales. The 2021 dismissal of Emily Wilder for pro-Palestinian posts sparked viewpoint discrimination uproar, prompting a social media policy review. AP's 2022 NFT sale of a migrant boat photo for "funding" drew "profiting off suffering" backlash, leading to cancellation.

During the 1994 Somalia kidnapping of AP's Tina Susman, it urged rivals like The New York Times to suppress coverage, raising self-censorship flags. The 2021 Gaza office strike (shared with Al Jazeera) saw Israel allege Hamas use; AP and U.S. officials found no proof, but Reporters Without Borders mulled war crimes probes. X critics label it "anti-American" for progressive favoritism and historical Nazi ties.

Legal Tangles: Antitrust Wars and Access Fights

AP's courtroom battles reveal gatekeeping tendencies. The 1945 Supreme Court antitrust ruling (AP v. United States) ruled its bylaws violated the Sherman Act by blocking non-members from news access. Early 1900s probes uncovered secret profit-sharing pacts that doomed the original NYAP.

The 2013 DOJ subpoena of 20 AP reporters' phone records (on a CIA leak) was decried as a "massive intrusion," with AG Eric Holder recusing. A 2007-2017 FBI case involved an agent impersonating an AP reporter; AP sued and won, but a DOJ report suggested repeats were okay. Copyright clashes include suing Shepard Fairey over the Obama "Hope" poster (settled 2011) and blogs for "fair use" links (2008).

Recent Flashpoints: Layoffs, Gulf Snubs, and Propaganda Accusations

In November 2024, AP announced 8% workforce cuts and buyouts amid a "bloodbath" in MSM, with even Gannett dropping AP stories—signaling internal distrust. X users crow, "What a shame: Biased Associated Press announces staff layoffs."

The 2025 "Gulf of America" saga: AP refused Trump's rename (accepted by Google/Apple), sticking to "Gulf of Mexico" and calling it his "choice"—despite embracing Obama's Denali switch—prompting White House bans from Oval Office/Air Force One, branded "misinformation." Critics quip AP "wrote the book on biased far-left-wing slanted fake news." ACLU decried it as retaliation violating the First Amendment.

X backlash is fierce: AP smeared a pro-Chappelle protester as a "Nazi" in 2021; Portland police coverage was slammed as "copaganda" in 2023. On Obama scandals, X lists IRS targeting, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, AP phone seizures—ironic given AP's involvement. Users call it "Democrat propaganda trash" for fact-checks shielding shutdown blame. AllSides shifted AP to "Left" in 2024 based on surveys.

In Essence: Cracks in the Fortress of Facts

In essence, AP's fortress of facts is cracking under bias allegations, error admissions, and ethical echoes. With Pulitzers piling up alongside Pulitzers of problems, it's less "associated press" and more "agenda press"—leaving the industry questioning if neutrality was ever more than a byline.