About Us

What is Daily Kos?

Founded in 2002, Daily Kos operates as a digital media platform providing “news you can do something about.” The organization employs staff writers who deliver stories and analysis on progressive issues, while an activism team furnishes tools including petitions, letter-writing campaigns, and protest information to mobilize readers.

The platform includes a community section allowing individuals to contribute content. Prominent figures including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, former President Jimmy Carter, and then-Sen. Barack Obama have utilized this community to share perspectives among thousands of other contributors.

Daily Kos maintains a related nonpartisan polling entity called Civiqs that conducts daily opinion research through an online survey panel.

Site Ownership and Funding

Daily Kos represents an independent media organization under Kos Media, LLC ownership, which also operates Civiqs polling services. Revenue derives from reader contributions, advertising, and email list development for Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations. The founder, Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (known as “kos”), maintains control of the LLC. There are no corporate overlords, and no outside person or group has any influence on our editorial decisions.

Editorial Mission

Daily Kos pursues “progressive news” aimed at strengthening democracy through voter education and governmental engagement.

Voice Characteristics: The outlet describes its approach as “strong, authoritative, confident, and informative” while maintaining emotional resonance. Content employs “passion, fierceness, joy, humor, and urgency” with “accessible, conversational, colloquial, and jargon-free” language.

Coverage Approach: Coverage maintains “assiduously factual, ethical, and unapologetically progressive” standards. The organization prioritizes original research and interviews over aggregation, aiming to elect “more and better Democrats.”

Core Coverage Areas:

  • Democracy and individual freedom
  • Elections and electoral processes
  • Progressive political analysis
  • Cultural conflict dynamics
  • Media criticism and conservative influence

Frequently Asked Questions

Site Name Origin: “Kos” derives from founder Markos Moulitsas’s Army nickname used during the 2002 launch.

Content Submission: Free account registration enables community members to publish stories on the platform.

Commenting: Account signup provides commenting access on published stories.