Abstract

Where do Americans turn for political information—and which sources do they actually trust? As traditional news organizations struggle with declining public trust (Brenan 2025; Ladd 2012), social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) are increasingly stepping into the information space (Bode 2016; Podimata & Cen 2025). Yet little is known about how these sources compare in citizens’ minds. This question matters because a well-functioning democracy depends not just on the availability of information, but on which sources individuals use and trust to support informed political judgments (Lupia & McCubbins 2019; Soroka & Wlezien 2022).

Against this backdrop, this article examines patterns of media use and trust using data from the Weidenbaum Center Survey (Wave 7), conducted in October 2025 on a nationally representative sample of Americans (n = 2,954). Four questions are addressed. First, how much do Americans rely on social media and AI chatbots for political information, relative to traditional news media? Second, how does trust in these newer sources compare to trust in traditional media as providers of political information? Third, do patterns of media use and trust diverge across age groups and partisan affiliations—reshaping who gets political news, and how? Finally, to assess the potential political role of AI tools more directly, to what extent do Americans use AI chatbots specifically for political information, as opposed to other purposes?

The results do not necessarily suggest the displacement of traditional news media. Instead, the findings point to a media environment in which newer technologies coexist with—rather than supplant—traditional news outlets as the source of political information for Americans, at least for now.

Author's Department

Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy

Author's School

Arts & Sciences

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

1-16-2026

Language

English (en)

Report Number

Report No. 2

Author's ORCID

Hwayong Shin, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1639-5444

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