Liberal magazines
Go to your local newsstand and you are likely to see it leaning to the right. For a little balance, try subscribing to any of these magazines. They are all excellent, and the blurbs on them are my own personal opinions. As an added bonus to Turn Left readers, we are pleased to be able to offer subscriptions to several of the magazines below. Just click on the "subscribe" link after a magazine's title to get the guaranteed lowest rate on the Internet via a secure server.
Really Liberal
 Liberal Opinion Week
A weekly compendium of all your favorite liberal columnists and cartoonists (including the hard to find Ted Rall and Tom Tomorrow cartoons). No editorial slant of its own, it reflects the varying currents of modern liberal thought.
The American Prospect
A magazine on American politics and society with emphasis on public policy from a liberal perspective. Sometimes hard to find on newsstands, but well worth reading if you get a chance.
The Progressive
A monthly very left-wing "feature" (as opposed to news) magazine. Lots of interviews, and good feature stories. I've been irked by their anti-Israel stance, but they are still a great read.
The New Times
Along with Mother Jones, the premier investigative liberal periodical. Comes out bi-weekly, allowing for some good news analysis pieces. Also has excellent columns and writers.
The Nation
One of the oldest left magazines, the Nation dates from the Civil War era. They liken their editorial policy to popping balloons, and it is an apt description. Often features good culture pieces and good foreign policy coverage.
Mother Jones ...  subscribe
The king (or queen?) of muckraking liberal magazines. Pulls no punches and does excellent investigative reporting. Among other things, MJ was the first magazine to uncover the seamier side of Newt.
Washington Monthly
Written by Charles Peters, a self-proclaimed "neo-liberal," the Washington Monthly is an excellent magazine for pragmatic liberals. Somewhat Washington-focused, the Monthly often features excellent analytical articles and reports. It is also know for printing "how-to-fix-it" articles on aspects of government; and Peter's column, "Tilting at Windmills" is one of the best inside the Beltway.
In These Times
This is a great little bi-weekly magazine that is proudly liberal. It features good investigative reporting, coverage of stories the mainstream media often overlook, and a healthy sense of humor. One of my favorites and highly recommended.
Flush Rush Quarterly
A great quarterly (duh!) which has one purpose: to document and expose Rush Limbaugh's lies. Each issue is full of expertly documented example of Rushian mendacity, as well as entertaining "fan" mail from the right wing loony fringe
Public Citizen
Ralph Nader's magazine, published monthly. I haven't really seen this one too much, but it seems to focus on consumer issues and campaign reform.
The Utne Reader ...  subscribe
Sort of a "Readers Digest" of the alternative press. Every bi-monthly issue features an eclectic mixture of thought and opinion pieces usually organized along some general theme which changes from issue to issue. Also notable for a huge catalogue of alternative periodicals stuck int he back of each issue.
Tikkun
A bi-monthly intellectual magazine edited by Michael Lerner, Tikkun approaches social issues from a progressive viewpoint, with a hefty dose of psychoanalytic analysis. Well known for advocating "a politics of meaning." Well worth reading!
New York Review of Books
A bi-weekly journal of literature, which often featurs essays on political and social topics. For decades it has been a formidable and influential voice on the left side of the political spectrum.
Leaning to the Left
The New Yorker
A culture/art/political magazine from a New York perspective. The political articles are usually pretty liberal leaning, and if you are doing any traveling in the New York area, the magazine is a must-read for its entertainment listings.
George Magazine ...  subscrbe
This magazine, the brainchild of John Kennedy, Jr. claims to be "post-partisan" but in reality leans slightly to the left. This is the Vogue of politics...plenty of fashion articles and nice perfumed ads, profiles of political leaders, and stylish photography.
Harpers ...  subscribe
A venerable thought magazine with occasional fiction, Harpers usually has some liberal bend to it, but they generally publish thought-provoking pieces from many points along the spectrum.
The Atlantic ...  subscribe
Another elderly thought magazine. The Atlantic is known for publishing one very provking cover story each issue guaranteed to make you think. Not always liberal, but definitely not conservative.
The Washington Post National Weekly ...  subscribe
The Post's weekly magazine contains news and opinion stories from the past weeks' paper. A good way for those outside of DC to keep up on what the Post has to say. Editorially, this paper leans liberal, although they are scrupulously fair from a jouranlistic standpoint.
The New Republic ...  subscribe
The old standard of liberal periodicals, the New Republic hasn't been really liberal (other than in gay issues) for decades. It is perhaps best described as militantly moderate. Worth reading for some good barbs at conservatives and because it is still one of Washington's most influential periodicals.
Spin ...  subscribe
What is a music magazine doing here?! Well, in addition to reviwing the latest Pearl Jam disc, Spin has been known for some very good cultural and political coverage. They are unapologetically progressive, and have covered the peace movement, environmental issues, political corruption, and AIDS with very in-depth reporting. And the music stuff isn't bad either!
Mushily Moderate but still barely liberal
Time ...  subscribe
The biggest general-audience newsmagazine in the United States, Time is very much down the middle of the political spectrum. They tend to be fair, and they are worth reading, if only to see what middle America will be reading about at checkout stands and doctors offices.
Newsweek ...  subscribe
Playing Pepsi to Time's Coca-Cola, Newsweek is generally thought to be slightly more liberal editorially, however they also have a nasty habit of running George Will columns oftentimes.
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