Navigating the Harlan Program Blogs and News Sources Database
- Navigation: The Douglas S. Harlan Program in State Elections, Campaigns, and Politics Blogs and News Sources Database contains over two hundred web-based sources providing state-specific politics and policy news and analysis. These sources utilize a variety of approaches to provide articles that go beyond the popular headlines and give an in-depth picture of the political scene in each state capital. Sources were collected through blog compilations,* engine-based searches, online newspaper searches, and blog-roll searches. The Harlan program does not treat all of the sources herein as equal, but rather sees this database as representative of the best each state has to offer. The Harlan Program does not endorse the views contained in these blogs.
Database Selection Criteria
All sources in the database were searched for and selected based on the following criteria. They must be:
- State-specific: Each source covers the politics of a specific state (or group of states)
- Updated: All blogs here included post at least three times per month, although many post articles weekly or even daily.
- Current: The stories each source covers have occurred recently, as opposed to in past months or years
Description
The database describes the sources using the following indicators:
- Blog vs.News Source: A blog is distinguished from a news source by the fact that its articles go beyond mere description of events to provide original analysis and commentary. Article length and ideological bent have no bearing on this distinction.
- Topics of Focus: Each source contains a topics indicator, meant to convey any specific areas on which the source focuses. Sources with a "General Policy" marking go beyond analysis of the political process to discuss the expected impact and shortcomings of various state laws. Many sources cover specific policy areas such as education or the environment. Additionally, many contain analysis on elections, the media, and state culture.
Gray Areas
Sources in the database vary widely by:
- Ideology: The database has sources that take a wide variety of points of view, conservative, liberal, and non-ideological. It is important to note that the "conservative" and "liberal" indicators on certain sources in the database are blanket terms, and do not describe to which of the many facets of that ideology the source belongs.
- Article Length: The database contains a variety of article lengths, from short, daily news updates to long analyses.
Restrictions
The database does not contain party-produced blogs, candidate-produced blogs, consultant's blogs, or blogs that require a payed subscription to access.
*Special thanks to the Washington Post's "The Fix" blog for its 2013 compilation of the "Best State Political Blogs."
Alabama
Alaska
- The Mudflats: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Culture, Environment
- Alaska Pride: Blog
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Culture, Media
Arizona
- Blog for Arizona: Blog
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Campaign Finance
Arkansas
California
- CalBuzz: Blog
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Culture
- Capitol Weekly: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
Colorado
- ColoradoPols: Blog
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Elections
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
- Beach Peanuts: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Energy & Environment
- Florida Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
Georgia
- Georgia Pundit: Blog & News (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: Elections, State Politics
- Peach Pundit: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Budget, Campaign Finance
Hawaii
- Honolulu Civil Beat: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Education, Energy & Environment, Urban Development
Idaho
- Northwest Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
Illinois
- Illinois Policy Blog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: Economy, Taxes, Education, Labor, Healthcare
- CapitolFax.com: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Economy, General Policy
- Progress Illinois: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/Local Politics, Labor, Education, Energy & Environment
Indiana
- Hoosier Access: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State/National/Local Politics
- Indy Politics: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/Local Politics, Education
Iowa
- Iowa Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
Kansas
- Kansas Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
Kentucky
- Hillbilly Report: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Economy, Health Care, Religion, Taxes, Culture
Louisiana
Maine
- Agree to Disagree: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy
- Dirigio Blue: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Culture
Maryland
- Monoblogue: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Media
- Red Maryland: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, Media
Massachusetts
- BlueMass Group: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
- Boston Magazine: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: Local/State Politics, Business, Education, Media
- BroadSide: News
Topics of Focus: New England/National/Local Politics, Culture
Michigan
- Eclectablog: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
- Right Michigan: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy
Minnesota
- Bluestem Prairie: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/Local Politics, Energy & Environment, Agriculture
- True North: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Budget, Media
Mississippi
- Cottonmouth: Blog
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Health Care
- Y'all Politics: Blog
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Media, General Policy
Missouri
- Missouri Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- PoliticMo: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
Montana
Nebraska
- Nebraska Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- Bold Nebraska: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Energy & Environment
Nevada
- Desert Beacon: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: General Policy, State/National Politics, Economy
- Ralston Reports: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/Local Politics, General Policy
New Hampshire
- Blue Hampshire: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Media, Culture
- Granite Grok: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
- NH Journal: News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Elections
New Jersey
- Save Jersey: Blog & News (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Budget & Taxes, Health Care, Gun Rights
New Mexico
- New Mexico Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
New York
North Carolina
- Civitas Review: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Budget, Education
- Progressive Pulse: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Economy, Education, Budget, Environment
- Daily Haymaker: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Economy, Culture
- Watugawatch: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: Local/State Politics
North Dakota
- North Decoder: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
- Say Anything Blog: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy
Ohio
- Ohio Daily Blog: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: General Policy, Media, State Politics
- Ohio Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- Plunderbund: Blog
Topics of Focus: General Policy, State/National Politics, Corruption
- Capitol Blog: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
- Third Base Politics: Blog & News (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Elections
Oklahoma
- Okie Funk: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Education, Energy
- Oklahoma Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- Capitol Beat OK: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Culture, Budget & Taxes, Business, Education, Reform, Legal Policy, Health Care
- The Okie: News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Elections, Budget & Taxes, Energy & Environment, Education, Economy
Oregon
- Northwest Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- Blue Oregon: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Media
Pennsylvania
- Politics PA: Blog
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy
Rhode Island
South Carolina
- FitsNews: Blogs & News
Topics of Focus: State/National/International Politics, Economy, Culture
South Dakota
- Madville Times: Blog (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy
Tennessee
- Tennessee Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
Texas
- Big Jolly Politics: Blog & News (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State/Local Politics, General Policy, Education
- Texas Watchdog: Blog & News (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- The Texas Tribune: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, Economy, Education, Energy & Environment, Health, Law Enforcement, Immigration, Transportation
Utah
- Sutherland Daily: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Budget & Taxes, Religion, Marriage, Health Care, LGBT Issues
Vermont
- Vermont Digger: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Business, Economy, Law Enforcement, Education, Energy & Environment, Health Care, Culture
Virginia
- Bearing Drift: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Economy
- Blue Virginia: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy
Washington
- Northwest Watchdog: Blog (Conservative)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, Taxes, General Policy, Corruption
- Strange Bedfellows: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State/National/Local Politics, Economy, Energy & Environment, LGBT Issues, Elections, Culture
Washington, D.C.
Wisconsin
- Blogging Blue: Blog & News (Liberal)
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Elections
- WisPolitics: News
Topics of Focus: State/National Politics, General Policy, Budget & Taxes,
Wyoming
- WyoFile - Capitol Beat: Blog & News
Topics of Focus: State Politics, General Policy, Energy & Environment, Culture, Native American Issues