Answer Details

Here are three U.S.-based TikTok accounts that stand out as relatively trustworthy for political news / civic-information. That said — as always on social media — no account is perfect: you should use them as *one* source among several, check their claims, and note their perspectives. --- ## 1. V Spehar (TikTok handle: @underthedesknews)      **Why this account earns trust:** * Spehar is a recognized creator who operates “Under The Desk News,” providing concise, daily explanations of U.S. news and politics. ([Wikipedia][1]) * They’ve been invited into more formal news and media-spaces (e.g., interacting with traditional outlets) which suggests a higher bar than typical random creators. ([underthedesknews.com][2]) * Their format is oriented around explanation and context rather than pure advocacy (though all creators carry a viewpoint). **Things to keep in mind:** * Even the most trustworthy creators are still producing short-form content on TikTok, which means nuance tends to be compressed and visuals / entertainment aspects dominate. * As a creator rather than a “traditional news organization,” oversight, editorial review, sourcing depth etc. may vary from what you get in long-form journalism. --- ## 2. The Washington Post TikTok (run by video team, formerly led by Dave Jorgenson)       **Why to consider it:** * A major legacy news outlet with established editorial standards. The account is the digital branch of that. ([Jareen Imam][3]) * According to reporting, the Washington Post studied how TikTok consumption works — evidence that they’re treating it as a serious news-channel, not just viral content. ([Reuters Institute][4]) **Things to keep in mind:** * Even a major news brand on TikTok is subject to the constraints of the platform: short videos, thumb-scrolling audience, potential for clicks/virality to drive format. * The account may present simplified / bite-sized versions of complex stories — good for staying informed, but shouldn’t replace deeper reading. --- ## 3. Brian Tyler Cohen (TikTok handle: @briantylercohen)       **Why this account can be useful:** * Cohen is a political commentator, journalist and podcaster with millions of followers across platforms. He is listed as having a TikTok presence focusing on politics. ([Wikipedia][5]) * He offers more extended content across platforms, which suggests that his TikTok videos are part of a broader information ecosystem (not just flash clips). **Things to keep in mind:** * As a commentator with a known viewpoint (progressive/liberal), his content must be read with awareness of that lens. * Again, TikTok format means brevity; always good to verify more detailed sources for big claims. --- ### ✅ Summary & My Recommendation If you want trustworthy political-news accounts on TikTok, a helpful strategy is: * Include at least **one major news organization** (like the Washington Post). * Include **one creator** who focuses on clear, explanatory news (like V Spehar). * Include **one commentator/analyst** to get viewpoint + deeper context (like Brian Tyler Cohen). * Always cross-check the big claims: find referenced sources, seek fuller articles (not just TikTok clips). * Remember: TikTok’s algorithm and format have known biases (e.g., some research found Republican-seeded accounts got more aligned recommendations). ([arxiv.org][6]) --- If you like, I can dig up **5 or 10** more TikTok accounts (across the political spectrum) that are considered relatively reliable and list them with their leanings + style. Would you like me to do that? [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_Spehar?utm_source=chatgpt.com "V Spehar" [2]: https://underthedesknews.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Under the Desk News" [3]: https://jareenimam.com/blog/who-are-the-top-journalists-on-tiktok?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Who are the top journalists on TikTok?" [4]: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/calendar/top-five-takes-washington-posts-tiktok-experiment?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top five takes from the Washington Post's TikTok experiment" [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Tyler_Cohen?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Brian Tyler Cohen" [6]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.17831?utm_source=chatgpt.com "TikTok's recommendations skewed towards Republican content during the 2024 U.S. presidential race"