Outlet profile

Idaho Capital Sun

U.S. left-leaning

Owned byStates Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

FundingDonations from readers and philanthropic grants; no advertising, no subscriptions, free public access

On the administrationbroadly critical

Background

The Idaho Capital Sun launched on March 31, 2021, as the 21st outlet in the States Newsroom network. It was founded by Christina Lords, a former editor of the Idaho Statesman, along with three veteran Idaho journalists: Audrey Dutton, Clark Corbin, and Kelcie Moseley-Morris. The outlet was created to fill a gap in statehouse reporting as traditional local newspapers cut staff. It operates as a fully digital publication with no paywall and no advertising, relying on reader donations and philanthropic grants channeled through States Newsroom's 501(c)(3) structure. Media Bias/Fact Check rates it Left on editorial orientation but High on factual reporting, citing accurate sourcing; Ground.news aggregates its overall slant as Lean Left. The outlet has drawn criticism from Idaho conservative groups, including Idaho Freedom Foundation, which has accused it of favoring liberal viewpoints in story selection. Since the start of the Trump administration's second term in January 2025, the Sun has published extensively critical coverage of federal actions touching Idaho, including the administration's lawsuit against an Idaho election official over voter data, threats of criminal prosecution of election officials, and plans to store nuclear waste in the state.

Sources

Profile compiled 2026-07-31; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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