Answer Details

[](https://www.yahoo.com/news/v-spehar-reflects-4-years-103152690.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com) There isn’t any official, consensus list of “most trustworthy” TikTok political accounts, and overall trust in news (especially on social platforms) is pretty low. TikTok in particular is one of the platforms where users say it’s hardest to tell what’s trustworthy. ([MDPI][1]) That said, if you want *relatively* reliable U.S. politics on TikTok, the safest bets are: --- ## 1. Fact-checking & media-literacy accounts (top tier for trust) These don’t just give news; they *check* claims and teach you how to check them yourself. **1. @politifact** * PolitiFact is a U.S. fact-checking project run by the Poynter Institute that rates political statements on its “Truth-O-Meter” from *True* to *Pants on Fire*. ([Wikipedia][2]) * It’s been studied a lot in the academic literature and even won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for its 2008 election coverage. ([Wikipedia][2]) * A 2024 peer-reviewed article analyzes its TikTok presence alongside MediaWise, treating it explicitly as a verification agency on the platform. ([MDPI][1]) **2. @mediawise (and the Teen Fact-Checking Network)** * MediaWise is a non-profit, nonpartisan program of Poynter that focuses on teaching people, especially teens, how to spot misinformation. ([YouTube][3]) * The MediaWise Teen Fact-Checking Network is a virtual newsroom of middle and high schoolers who debunk viral misinformation with short videos on TikTok and YouTube. ([Poynter][4]) * MediaWise is a verified signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Code of Principles, which requires nonpartisanship, transparent sources, funding and corrections. ([PR Newswire][5]) **3. Other IFCN-linked fact-checkers with TikTok presences** (Handles vary by region, but they’re worth searching for in-app.) * IFCN signatories (AFP Fact Check, BOOM, etc.) are vetted for their methodology and transparency; some run TikTok accounts focused on debunking political rumors and viral claims. ([ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org][6]) These are the accounts I’d put at the very top of a “trust” list, because their *whole job* is verifying claims rather than pushing a political line. --- ## 2. Mainstream U.S. newsrooms on TikTok Official accounts of established outlets are not perfect or bias-free, but they have editorial standards, corrections policies, and external scrutiny. **4. @pbsnews (PBS NewsHour)** * PBS is a U.S. public broadcaster; NPR and PBS regularly show up among the more trusted news brands in cross-country trust comparisons. ([Poder360][7]) * PBS NewsHour promotes its TikTok account directly (tiktok.com/pbsnews), where it posts explainer clips and short political pieces. ([PBS][8]) **5. @washingtonpost** * The *Washington Post* is a major national newspaper; its TikTok was launched and grown by video journalist Dave Jorgenson specifically to reach younger audiences. ([The Daily Beast][9]) * The TikTok account mixes humor with coverage of elections, Congress, and big national stories, often shot inside the newsroom. ([Nieman Lab][10]) **6. Other big-brand news accounts (search in-app)** Rather than guessing specific handles, it’s safer to say: search TikTok for the verified accounts of outlets like: * **The New York Times** – launched its flagship TikTok account in 2023 with hard-news content. ([Nieman Lab][10]) * **Associated Press (AP)** – AP positions itself explicitly as an independent, factual wire service and is frequently cited as one of the most trusted global news providers. ([AP News][11]) Trust-wise, I’d put these a notch *below* the dedicated fact-checkers (they’re doing more than just verification), but above random influencers. --- ## 3. TikTok-native explainer journalists (more personality, still evidence-oriented) These are individuals who’ve become known primarily *on TikTok* for breaking down U.S. news and politics. They usually have a clear voice and perspective, but still cite sources and aim to explain. **7. @underthedesknews (V Spehar)** * V Spehar is a “citizen journalist” whose *Under the Desk News* account gives one-minute news recaps, literally filmed from under a desk. * They’ve built a bipartisan audience of several million followers and have been recognized by outlets like TIME and university lecture series as one of TikTok’s notable news voices. **8. @thepocketreport (The Pocket Report / G.L. DiVittorio)** * Gina (“Gaby”) DiVittorio, a Marquette alum, runs *The Pocket Report*, a viral news account with hundreds of thousands of followers that explains current events and politics in short videos. ([Marquette Wire][12]) **9. @aaronparnas1 (Aaron Parnas)** * Parnas is a lawyer and journalist whose TikTok and Substack focus on U.S. politics and legal analysis; he has several million followers across platforms. ([Wikipedia][13]) **10. @joshhelfgott (“Gay News”)** * Josh Helfgott is an LGBTQ+ activist whose “Gay News” TikTok series covers queer rights, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and relevant court cases; it’s more niche but solid if you care about those issues. ([Wikipedia][14]) These creators are more “voicey” than newswires or PBS, but they’re doing actual explainer journalism rather than pure culture-war dunking. --- ## 4. Advocacy & satire (use *as perspective*, not as neutral news) These can be useful to understand how certain groups frame issues, but they’re openly political. **11. @genzforchange** * Left-wing advocacy group that started as “TikTok for Biden.” Uses TikTok to push positions on abortion rights, unions, climate, student debt, etc., and has over 1.7M followers. ([Wikipedia][15]) **12. @waltermasterson** (and similar satirical accounts) * Comedic activist known for ambush interviews and stunts with right-wing figures; clearly progressive, more satire than straight news. ([Wikipedia][16]) I would **not** treat these as “trustworthy news” in the neutral sense—but they’re transparent about their politics, which is at least honest. --- ## How to sanity-check *any* TikTok political account Given how messy TikTok is, I’d use these quick filters on *everyone*, including the accounts above: 1. **Affiliation & transparency** * Are they tied to a known newsroom, fact-checker, or named journalist you can look up? * Do they clearly state who funds them and what their role is? (IFCN signatories, for example, must disclose this. ([ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org][6])) 2. **Sourcing behavior** * Do they link to original documents, court filings, bills, reputable reporting, rather than “I heard…”? * Do they give enough specifics (names, dates, jurisdictions) that you can verify the story via AP/Reuters/major outlets? 3. **Corrections & humility** * Have you ever seen them correct a mistake or walk back a claim? * Fact-checking orgs like PolitiFact explicitly publish corrections and explain their process; that’s a good sign. ([GIJN][17]) 4. **Cross-checking** * If a TikTok about U.S. politics shocks you, see if it lines up with coverage in at least one solid outlet (AP, Reuters, PBS, NPR, local papers). Pew and Reuters both find that people who mix sources tend to be better at spotting misinformation than those relying on a single social platform. ([MDPI][1]) --- If you want, next step I can: * Help you build a *“balanced playlist”* (e.g., a mix of fact-checkers, mainstream outlets, and a few explainers), or * Take a couple of accounts you already follow and walk through how I’d audit their trustworthiness. [1]: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/5/59 "Verification Agencies on TikTok: The Case of MediaWise and Politifact" [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PolitiFact?utm_source=chatgpt.com "PolitiFact" [3]: https://www.youtube.com/mediawise?utm_source=chatgpt.com "MediaWise" [4]: https://www.poynter.org/mediawise/programs/tfcn/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Teen Fact-Checking Network - MediaWise" [5]: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/very-legit-mediawise-teen-fact-checkers-receive-global-recognition-and-verification-301055143.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Very legit: MediaWise teen fact-checkers receive global ..." [6]: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/signatories?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Verified signatories - IFCN Code of Principles" [7]: https://static.poder360.com.br/2025/06/Reuters-Institute-Digital-News-Report-2025-1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025" [8]: https://www.pbs.org/video/october-26-2025-pbs-news-weekend-full-episode-1761494741/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "PBS News Hour | Season 2025 | October 26, 2025 - PBS ..." [9]: https://www.thedailybeast.com/wapo-star-dave-jorgenson-blasts-bezos-inconsistent-vision-after-quitting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "WaPo Star Blasts Bezos' 'Inconsistent Vision' After Quitting" [10]: https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/01/nytimes-is-now-on-tiktok/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "@nytimes is now on TikTok | Nieman Journalism Lab" [11]: https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-trump-supreme-court-36c3c3b42f743a35c69e1c74341f1f30?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The rise — and potential fall — of TikTok in the US" [12]: https://marquettewire.org/4088333/news/marquette-alumni-behind-viral-news-tiktok-account/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Marquette alumni behind viral news TikTok account" [13]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Parnas?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Aaron Parnas" [14]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Helfgott?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Josh Helfgott" [15]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen-Z_for_Change?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Gen-Z for Change" [16]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Masterson?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Walter Masterson" [17]: https://gijn.org/stories/what-politifact-learned-about-making-money-and-earning-trust/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "What PolitiFact Learned about Making Money and Earning ..."