Filters

X

Sources

All

Followed

Bias

All

Liberal

Center

Conservative

Source Analysis Score

All

Excellent (90%-100%)

Good (70%-89%)

Average (30%-69%)

Limited (0%-29%)

-12% Somewhat Left

Bias Meter

Extremely
Liberal

Very
Liberal

Somewhat Liberal

Center

Somewhat Conservative

Very
Conservative

Extremely
Conservative

-100%
Liberal

100%
Conservative

Bias Meter

How the Rating is Determined
  • Profile
Follow
Axios has a Bias Score of -12% Somewhat Left which is based on a variety of factors including its policy and politician leanings, article ratings, and the use of biased language. Its Reliability is rated as Good, and additional analytical insights are available in the other tabs.
  • Bias Rating

    -12% Somewhat Left

  • Reliability
    75% Reliable Good
  • Policy Leanings

    -2% Center

    Extremely
    Liberal

    Very
    Liberal

    Moderately
    Liberal

    Somewhat Liberal

    Center

    Somewhat Conservative

    Moderately
    Conservative

    Very
    Conservative

    Extremely
    Conservative

    -100%
    Liberal

    100%
    Conservative

    Average Reliability

    *Our bias meter rating uses data science including sentiment analysis, machine learning and our proprietary algorithm for determining biases in news articles. Bias scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores being more liberal and higher positive scores being more conservative and 0% being neutral. The rating is an independent analysis and is not affiliated nor sponsored by the news source or any other organization.

  • Politician Portrayal

    44% positive

Please to view the full detailed list.

Analysis of Axios Articles

Analysis of Bias in Axios Online Articles

Given that Axios seeks to serve as a middle ground between more comprehensive political news reporting and social media commentary, its content may be more easily understood by a general audience. This underscores the importance of understanding whether Axios is delivering unbiased, reliable content to its readers.

When determining bias, some of the most common metrics used include Tone, Tendency, Author, Diction, and Expediency Bias, which are the primary metrics we’ll focus on below.

  • Tone: This represents the attitude of the writing, formed distinctively but related to the author’s word choices or diction.
  • Diction: The specific words chosen by the writer.
  • Author: A metric related to the article’s author, taking into account their history of stance on issues based on past articles and social media posts.
  • Tendency: It measures how consistently an author exhibits bias in their work, including factors such as tone and perspective.
  • Expediency Bias: It refers to the immediate impression created by elements such as the article’s headline, images, or summary, which may indicate whether they favor a particular viewpoint.

A hand emerges from turbulent ocean waves beneath the headline "Black Americans' competing crises" on a news article page.

Source: Axios

Expand Analysis of Axios Articles

Axios Bias Overview

Axios is a short-form online news website based in the United States. It focuses on delivering relevant political news to readers in under 300 words, functioning as a mix of a typical political news organization and a social media site such as Facebook or X. In recent years, Axios has gained prominence, particularly after a combative interview with President Donald Trump that went viral ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Based on an analysis by Pew Research Center, Axios’s audience is disproportionately college-educated relative to other news organizations throughout the country.

Bar chart showing the percentage of U.S. adults with a college degree who get their news from 30 major sources; The Atlantic leads at 62%, Fox News is lowest at 25%. Pew Research Center data.

Source: Pew Research Center

Expand Axios Bias Overview

Axios Reliability Overview

Is Axios Reliable?

According to Biasly, Axios is rated as a Somewhat Left news source and is considered reliable overall. Axios has become more common in the news, making it important to assess its reliability.

Bar chart showing percentages of U.S. adults who trust information from local news (82%), national news (76%), family/friends (77%), and social media (34%), with most trusting news sources.

Source: Pew Research

As shown by Pew Research’s work, national news organizations such as Axios report that 59% of American adults say they have some confidence in the information they receive from these organizations. Trust in news sources comes from knowing whether a source is reliable. Reliability stems from factors such as accuracy and selection/omission. In this article, we will examine how these factors are present in Axios’s articles and determine how reliable they are.

Expand Axios Reliability Overview

Axios Editorial Patterns

Axios’s coverage of political topics often reflects a Somewhat Left bias, with consistent patterns in phrasing, source selection, and thematic focus that are Slightly Liberal. This content analysis examines how Axios handles liberal and conservative issues and evaluates its language choices and editorial tendencies.

Coverage of Liberal vs. Conservative Topics

When it comes to racial issues in America, Axios appears to align more with the liberal stance. More than one article attempts to relay sympathy concerning the way African Americans in the United States have been treated over time, including discussion about how they are treated differently by police, suffer from unequal access to healthcare, and are more fearful of their lives day-to-day relative to White Americans. This framing is not surprising given that the articles were released in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and the George Floyd protests, but this is a good example of how bias can creep into reputable organizations.

Policy and Issue Framing

Axios’s articles tend to vary between framing some topics neutrally while tilting more toward the liberal side in other cases. For example, in the article, “Congress’ partisan divide on paid family leave,” the story discusses both the liberal and conservative positions, highlighting Republicans’ opposition to taxes and Democrats’ support for increased government intervention. By contrast, in the article, “Rep. Ritchie Torres: “demonization” of transgender community has been “taken to a new extreme,” only one Democratic representative is discussed. There is no conservative commentary on the issue of LGBTQ equality. Implicit bias in issue framing is also seen in the article, “Immigrants on the front lines in the coronavirus fight.” It includes the following quote:

“New data provided to Axios spells out just how outsized a role immigrants play on the high- and low-skilled ends of the economy keeping Americans alive and fed during the coronavirus crisis.”

Expand Axios Editorial Patterns

Funding and Ownership

Last updated: January 31, 2026

Who Owns Axios?

Cox Enterprises

Cox Enterprises, Source: Wikimedia

Axios is a subsidiary of the privately held Cox Enterprises. Upon launch, Axios received investment from NBC News and the owners of Atlantic Media. The company does have other holdings, which include the major cable television provider Cox Communications. Cox Enterprises is owned by the Cox family and is operated by James C. Kennedy and Alexander C. Taylor.

The Cox family traces its origins to James Cox, a Democrat who served as governor of Ohio. When he passed, control moved to his three children. While there is no reporting on the political stances of Cox’s children or those currently controlling the company, assumptions can be made based on the background of its founder.

Expand Funding and Ownership

Additional Insights

News Source Comparison

When comparing news sources, Axios is often evaluated alongside other regional and national outlets that lean left or center-left. Sources like The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, or ABC News often present similar tones and editorial philosophies. While Axios maintains a Somewhat Left media bias, it differs from strongly partisan sources in that it occasionally includes opposing viewpoints and strives for a balanced regional coverage.

This contrasts with more biased media outlets that consistently present one-sided narratives without factual counterpoints. Readers seeking balanced political coverage may compare Axios’s framing of issues with outlets rated as Center or Lean Right on our Media Bias Chart, or explore other regional papers on our Similar Sources page.

Notable Contributors and Authors

The most well-known contributor to Axios is Jonathan Swan. In August 2020, he conducted an interview with President Donald Trump on a wide range of topics, including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Swan sharply questioned the president and repeatedly fact-checked Trump’s claims. The interview went viral online, both for Swan’s sharp line of questioning and for his facial expressions in response to the president’s commentary. In 2021, Axios won the Emmy Award for Best Edited Interview thanks to Swan’s interview. In 2023, Swan joined The New York Times.

Expand Additional Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Axios considered left or right-leaning?
Has Axios been accused of fake news or misinformation?
How does Biasly determine bias in news sources?
Is Axios reliable for fact-based reporting?