It is time for our annual rundown of the run-down journalism seen from America’s media complex: The Townhall 50. Throughout the entire year, we compile the worst examples of violations in journalism ethics in the daily “Riffed From the Headlines” column, and from this, we collate the names of repeat offenders.

In order to measure and rank the worst journalists, we apply a strict and regimented, arbitrary formula based on media reach, the output of content, impact of reporting, and influence wielded by the individual. In this, the final entry, we climb our way down to the worst journalists seen last year, with the top (bottom?) 10 journalists of 2025.

The Townhall 50 – Ranking the Worst Journalists of 2025, Part 1: #31-50

The Townhall 50 – Ranking the Worst Journalists of 2025, Part 2: #11-30

So, armed with these metrics, here they are, in ascending order, the worst examples of journalism malpractice, ethics violators, and miscreants found in the media last year.

Behold, the conclusion of The Townhall 50.

10. Jacob Soboroff – MS NOW: After deciding to remain at MSNBC, becoming MS NOW, he strove to deliver decidedly leftist-anti-Trump content on the regular. Jacob began the year with a visit to Stephen Colbert and insisted that a toughened border policy does not stem immigration; yet, as he said that deterrence at the border does not work, the number of illegals had already begun crashing, leading to negative net migration. When the California wildfires erupted, Jacob was on the scene, giving Gov. Gavin Newsom the chance to spin better PR for himself. NBC News had to settle a major defamation suit based on Soboroff’s errant reporting of a doctor alleged to have performed unneeded hysterectomies on immigrants. It was entirely based on a sole witness later proven to be unreliable, so the network paid out the penalty. Soboroff was a regular sympathizer of illegals and a critic of ICE in a string of slanted reports.

He shamed himself with an excitable interview at a No Kings rally – by shoving his microphone into the snout of an inflatable pink unicorn protester.

“We’re here peacefully protesting, looking as ridiculous as we can, just so maybe we appeal to the president because he’s a ridiculous leader that is normalizing abuse of power. And we cannot stand and act like nothing is happening.” 🦄 pic.twitter.com/NB2yM6cbRN

9. Jeffrey Goldberg – The Atlantic: The Editor in Chief for the outlet splashed the biggest controversy this year with his report about being inadvertently added to a Defense Department messaging discussion on airstrikes on the Houthis. While certainly a major foul-up by the officials (leading to the dismissal of Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor), the supposed downfall of Secretary Pete Hegseth did not occur. This is because, despite Goldberg’s claims of being privy to sensitive intel, he never delivered on the promise to reveal such. Jeff had the first reveal of the Kamala Harris election book, which was not a significant scoop, largely due to his publisher being tight friends with the former VP. He told Jake Tapper the press could not report on Joe Biden’s mental slide without firm sourcing, although Alex Thompson wrote about how White House officials confirmed they had lied about his condition, and the press played along.

8. Rachel Maddow – MS NOW: The highly paid queen at this outlet stepped back from her nightly news show at Trump’s 100-day mark in order to only work Monday nights. She had a dramatic meltdown over birthright citizenship. In her trademarked fact-free style, she complained that Trump ordered a fleet of Teslas and accused him of corruption with Elon Musk, despite the reality that the order had been placed under Biden’s term. Rachel actually complained that the president was highlighting a pediatric cancer patient during his State of the Union address. 

Maddow roundly mocked a Florida sheriff for his allegedly militant crackdown on No Kings protesters when he promised to arrest those blocking roadways, and she then showed the protests were properly controlled. She concocted a fever-dream conspiracy that Trump targeted drug boats so he could freely deport all Venezuelans. The openly gay hostess allowed Kamala Harris to explain that she did not choose Pete Buttigieg as her running mate because, “as a black candidate with a gay running mate, it would be a real risk.”

After President Trump featured the young cancer patient D.J. Daniel during the State of the Union, Rachel was raging about the touching moment and had to turn it bitterly political.

When will Democrats be brave enough to point out @MSNBC is actually hurting them? Trump celebrates DJ Daniel, a 13yo who beat brain cancer, and not only do Democrats not cheer, but Rachael Maddow rages. These people are out of touch and in a bubble. pic.twitter.com/byLRsOHa4X

7. Scott McFarlane – CBS News: The network’s stentorian correspondent was largely despondent much of the year. The January 6 obsessive was upset that the DOJ took down its Jan. 6 web page. Scott was perturbed by GOP behavior during the SOTU, but had zero comment on the crude shouting from Democrats. In a report, he was critical of calling drug cartels terrorist groups,........

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