Slate HoodieHistory: Slate is an online magazine that covers current affairs, politics, and culture in the United States. It is knownand sometimes criticizedfor adopting contrarian views, giving rise to the term "Slate Pitches". It has a generally liberal editorial stance. It was created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. In 2004, it was purchased by The Washington Post Company (later