IMO even CNN often isn't a good source although the European targetted version seems more moderate. BBC is mostly pretty accurate, doing actual research and the NOS was pretty good as well. But IMO even they have seen a downgrade over the years.
I have been to the States on multiple occasions, combined for about half a year. San Francisco is a very nice place to live, very European style. But already a very different mentality over in Sacramento (same state, couldn't even make a Bush joke there without faces turning red! That was in 2004.).