Answer Details

Here are two relatively well‐known U.S. political news/commentary creators on TikTok that many people consider relatively trustworthy — though I’ll also share caveats (because, as research shows, TikTok news must be consumed with caution). 1) V Spehar (account: @UnderTheDeskNews) 6 Why they’re worth considering V Spehar runs the TikTok account UnderTheDeskNews, described as “the Gen Z and Millennials go-to source for news” on their site. Under the Desk News+2Wikipedia+2 They have a journalist-ish background and have been credited by media outlets for making current-events summaries on TikTok. Wikipedia+1 The format is short-form (which matters on TikTok), and they aim for daily recaps of headlines, which can help viewers keep up with major topics quickly. Under the Desk News Things to keep in mind / limitations Short-form means limited depth: TikTok videos often lack full context or nuance compared to traditional long-form journalism. Even a “trustworthy” creator on TikTok still must be cross-checked: You’ll want to look for their sourcing, whether they link to credible outlets, whether they note uncertainties. The platform itself has algorithmic and recommendation biases: e.g., a study found that during the U.S. 2024 election, Republican-seeded accounts on TikTok got ~11.8% more aligned content compared to Democratic-seeded ones. arXiv+1 2) Aaron Parnas (TikTok handle: @aaronparnas1) 6 Why they’re worth considering Aaron Parnas is a journalist/commentator who started on TikTok around early 2022; he has legal training (J.D.) and posts videos about U.S. politics and legal issues. Wikipedia He has broadened his work beyond just TikTok (newsletter, other platforms) which might signal a more serious approach to covering politics, rather than pure viral content. Things to keep in mind / limitations Even though he is more “serious” than purely meme-based creators, he still operates in the influencer space. That means the content may still have biases or leanings. The fact that a creator is credible doesn’t guarantee their every piece of content is fully referenced or comprehensive; always good to check sourcing. The social media environment is fast, and content may prioritize speed and engagement over deep investigative work, so treat it as one source among others. 🧭 Some broader cautions about political news on TikTok A survey found ~23% of U.S. adults who regularly get news via TikTok say they “often” see news that seems inaccurate. Pew Research Center TikTok’s recommendation engine can steer users toward more extreme or partisan content: one study found asymmetries in content exposure during the election. arXiv+1 Given the short-form nature of TikTok, it’s easy for context to be lost, nuance omitted, or a creator’s tone/leaning to slip in. If you like, I can compile a wider list (say 5-10) of TikTok accounts covering U.S. politics that are regarded as relatively trustworthy, with a mix of perspectives, and include their known leanings and how to evaluate them. Would you like that?