What is the importance of "newspapers" in the novel, Advise and Consent?

Newspapers are written and read twice daily during the era of the novel in morning and evening editions. Newspapers come from a host of local, state, and national organizations ranging from outfits like the Baltimore Sun and Christian Science Monitor to news stories written by the Associated Press. The news media is overwhelmingly liberal, with most papers fully endorsing Leffingwell. Likewise, only a handful of papers –including the Washington Post –refuse to print letters accusing Anderson of homosexuality.