HotAir
U.S. right (conservative)
Background
HotAir was founded in 2006 by Michelle Malkin, a prominent conservative author and commentator, as one of the early major conservative political blogs. In February 2010, Salem Communications (now Salem Media Group) acquired the site from Malkin; Salem is a company that targets audiences interested in conservative and Christian values through radio, digital media, and publishing. After the acquisition, HotAir became part of Townhall Media, a Salem subsidiary that also houses Townhall.com, RedState, Twitchy, and Bearing Arms — all right-leaning outlets. The site's editorial work has for years been anchored by Ed Morrissey, a conservative blogger who came to HotAir from his own blog 'Captain's Quarters'; other regular contributors have included John Sexton and David Strom. Media Bias/Fact Check rates HotAir as Right Biased with a Mostly Factual (rather than High) factual record, citing reliance on curated conservative sources. The site does not position itself as neutral; its own tagline describes it as covering news 'from a conservative viewpoint.' During Trump's second term beginning in January 2025, HotAir's coverage has leaned supportive, framing the administration's first year favorably and criticizing Democratic opposition.
Sources
- Hot Air – Wikipedia
- Hot Air – Bias and Credibility – Media Bias/Fact Check
- Salem Communications Acquires HotAir.com – Salem Media Group press release
- Conservative Media Empire: Hotair, Townhall Owners To Acquire Red State, Others – BuzzFeed News
- Ed Morrissey – Wikipedia
- Salem's Big Reset: Debt-Free, Profitable & Repositioning its Business – MinistryWatch
- HotAir – Politics, Culture, Media, Breaking News from a conservative viewpoint
Profile compiled 2026-09-05; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.