Skip to content

PoliticsDeveloping

Michigan Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens split over Israel before election

By

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, mostly right-leaning (67%).

9 articles in total, 6 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Two people in suits speak on a sidewalk, a man in a brown jacket behind them.
Image via The New York TimesHow images are chosenReport this image

Michigan Democratic Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens have publicly split over Israel days before Election Day, according to the outlets covering the race. The New York Times says the rift stemmed partly from Israel and partly from personal egos and hurt feelings. Right-leaning outlets report that El-Sayed has not denounced a pro-El-Sayed ad that tied grocery costs to US aid to Israel, and that Van Jones called the ad anti-Jewish hate and urged him to denounce it. Townhall reports that Stevens later endorsed Republican Mike Rogers. NewsNation commentator Leland Vittert says El-Sayed refuses to admit he was wrong about past Israel comments.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Michigan Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens have publicly split over Israel days before Election Day.

    Reported byLeft1Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times
    Far Right
    RedState, PJ Media, Hot Air, Townhall

  2. The New York Times says the split stemmed partly from Israel and partly from personal egos and hurt feelings.

    One outletThe New York Times· Left

  3. A pro-El-Sayed ad produced by Rebellion PAC tied grocery costs to US aid to Israel.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Townhall

  4. Van Jones, a former Obama official, called the ad anti-Jewish hate and said El-Sayed should denounce it.

    One outletTownhall· Far Right

  5. Washington Examiner columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher said El-Sayed refused to denounce the ad.

    One outletWashington Examiner· Right

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. NewsNation commentator Leland Vittert says El-Sayed refuses to admit he was wrong about past Israel comments.

    One outletNewsNation· Center

  2. Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for US Senate, according to one report.

    One outletTownhall· Far Right

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three sides report a public split between El-Sayed and Stevens over Israel. The right stresses the ad as antisemitic and the campaign collapsing, the New York Times stresses personal egos, and the center column focuses on El-Sayed’s refusal to admit error.

  • the left

    1 outlet

    The only left-side coverage in this sample is one New York Times piece, which frames the split as a personal “meltdown” driven by egos and hurt feelings as well as Israel.

    Inside the Abdul El-Sayed-Haley Stevens Sensational language“Meltdown”Implies a loss of composure by both candidates, a judgement the reporting does not establish.More neutral: FeudDisagree with this highlight? in Michigan
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    0 outlets · 1 opinion

    The only center-side coverage is one NewsNation opinion column, whose headline frames El-Sayed as refusing to admit he was wrong about his past Israel comments.

    Leland Vittert: El-Sayed Loaded verb“refuses to admit he’s wrong”Refuses to admit presents a stance and a fault as settled, which the supplied headline does not establish.More neutral: has not retracted his past Israel commentsDisagree with this highlight? about past Israel comments
    NewsNationCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets · 3 opinion

    Right-side headlines cast the Democratic campaign as collapsing and the Israel ad as antisemitic; the far-right outlets go further, with PJ Media asking whether the campaign is “imploding” and Hot Air calling El-Sayed “Islamo-Left”.

    Democratic Coalition Appears To Break Down Days Ahead Of Michigan Senate Seat Election
    Hot AirFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left2

    sensitive egosMeltdown

  • Center1

    refuses to admit he’s wrong

  • Right12

    stunning developmentcomplete disarraybizarre attackDrama

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    stunning developmentMore neutral: notable development

    Adds dramatic emphasis in the outlet’s own voice to a reported dispute.

    That's a stunning development, because campaigns are typically heavily controlled operations.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    complete disarrayMore neutral: internal disagreement

    Uses an intensified description of Democratic campaign conduct in the outlet’s own voice without supporting detail.

    …nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, would be for Michigan, the Democrats have been in complete disarray.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    bizarre attackMore neutral: attack

    Pre-judges a campaign statement with a label of strangeness in the outlet’s own voice.

    We've seen things like El-Sayed delivering a bizarre attack on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that only shows his own issues, and Hegseth's dad…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    DramaMore neutral: dispute

    Frames the story as theatrics rather than a campaign dispute over a specific ad.

    MI Senate Drama As El-Sayed, Stevens, and Even Cenk Uygur Weigh in More on Israel Ad

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

Show 11 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded verb

    slammedMore neutral: criticized

    Describes criticism with a verb of violent attack in the outlet’s own voice, where a neutral verb would describe the same remarks.

    Washington Examiner economics columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher slammed Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed for refusing to denounce a…

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Sensational language

    spectacular fashionMore neutral: publicly

    Describes the dispute’s escalation with dramatic wording the facts given do not require.

    …El-Sayed has been simmering for a while now, and this weekend it exploded in spectacular fashion.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    HUGEMore neutral: New development

    Capitalized superlative presents a development as major before its significance is shown.

    HUGE Development in Michigan Could Be the Nail in the Coffin of El-Sayed’s Campaign

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    the worst political ad in the historyMore neutral: a highly criticized political ad

    An unverifiable superlative presented as the writer’s own judgement rather than a checkable fact.

    …El-Sayed, Democratic US Senate candidate for Michigan, may well be the worst political ad in the history of political ads.

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Islamo-LeftMore neutral: progressive Democrat

    A coined label that ties the candidate to a religious term and a political bloc without stating the link.

    Abdul El-Sayed: Tribune of America’s Islamo-Left

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    sensitive egosMore neutral: personal tensions

    Attributes temperament and motive to the two candidates without a stated source.

    The relationship shattered in part because of Israel, but also because of their sensitive egos and hurt feelings.

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Sensational language

    MeltdownMore neutral: Feud

    Implies a loss of composure by both candidates, a judgement the reporting does not establish.

    Inside the Abdul El-Sayed-Haley Stevens Meltdown in Michigan

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    refuses to admit he’s wrongMore neutral: has not retracted his past Israel comments

    Refuses to admit presents a stance and a fault as settled, which the supplied headline does not establish.

    Leland Vittert: El-Sayed refuses to admit he’s wrong about past Israel comments

    Used byNewsNation (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    sinking their coalitionMore neutral: straining their coalition

    Sinking suggests the alliance is already failing, which the reported sparring over Israel does not establish.

    …vied to be the party’s nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat appear to be sinking their coalition just days ahead of the election after sparring over Israel.

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Vague attribution

    Even the most ardent leftists saidMore neutral: Some Democrats and commentators said

    The claim is attributed to unnamed people, so readers cannot check who holds it.

    Even the most ardent leftists said it was peddling anti-Jewish hate.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Horrible TweetMore neutral: A Pro-El-Sayed Progressive Posted This Tweet Directed at Van Jones

    The adjective judges the tweet’s content before readers have seen it described in neutral terms.

    A Pro-El-Sayed Progressive Posted This Horrible Tweet Directed at Van Jones

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    economically illiterateMore neutral: economically mistaken

    Labels the ad with a disparaging term; it is the columnist’s own insult, quoted in the report.

    “If you look at that ad, not only is it also antisemitic, it’s also economically illiterate,” Doescher said Saturday on Fox News at Night.

    Quoted byWashington Examiner (Right)

    These are Tiana Lowe Doescher’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

1 outlet

Leads with

  • personal rivalry and egos
  • Israel as a cause of the split
  • the candidates’ broken relationship
See the headline from the leftHide the headlines
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Inside the Abdul El-Sayed-Haley Stevens Sensational language“Meltdown”Implies a loss of composure by both candidates, a judgement the reporting does not establish.More neutral: FeudDisagree with this highlight? in Michigan

    The relationship shattered in part because of Israel, but also because of their Loaded modifier“sensitive egos”Attributes temperament and motive to the two candidates without a stated source.More neutral: personal tensionsDisagree with this highlight? and hurt feelings. The split had been months in the making.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)

From the center

0 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • El-Sayed’s past Israel comments
  • refusal to admit error
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

2 outlets · 3 opinion

Leads with

  • the ad’s antisemitic content
  • Democratic infighting and collapse
  • El-Sayed’s refusal to denounce the ad

Leaves out

  • personal egos and hurt feelings as a cause of the split

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • TownhallFar Right

    A Pro-El-Sayed Progressive Posted This Sensational language“Horrible Tweet”The adjective judges the tweet’s content before readers have seen it described in neutral terms.More neutral: A Pro-El-Sayed Progressive Posted This Tweet Directed at Van JonesDisagree with this highlight? Directed at Van Jones

    Former Obama official Van Jones strongly opposed a pro-El-Sayed ad produced by Rebellion PAC that depicted a couple unable to buy groceries because Jewish people existed. Vague attribution“Even the most ardent leftists said”The claim is attributed to unnamed people, so readers cannot check who holds it.More neutral: Some Democrats and commentators saidDisagree with this highlight? it was peddling anti-Jewish hate. …

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • Hot AirFar Right

    Democratic Coalition Appears To Break Down Days Ahead Of Michigan Senate Seat Election

    Two Democrat candidates who vied to be the party’s nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat appear to be Loaded verb“sinking their coalition”Sinking suggests the alliance is already failing, which the reported sparring over Israel does not establish.More neutral: straining their coalitionDisagree with this highlight? just days ahead of the election after sparring over Israel.

    Read at Hot Air (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Hot Air
  • PJ MediaFar RightOpinion

    Sensational language“HUGE”Capitalized superlative presents a development as major before its significance is shown.More neutral: New developmentDisagree with this highlight? Development in Michigan Could Be the Nail in the Coffin of El-Sayed’s Campaign

    The feud between Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has been simmering for a while now, and this weekend it exploded in Sensational language“spectacular fashion”Describes the dispute’s escalation with dramatic wording the facts given do not require.More neutral: publiclyDisagree with this highlight?.

    Read at PJ Media (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from PJ Media
  • Washington ExaminerRightOpinion

    El Sayed ‘can’t denounce’ controversial ad tying Israel aid to grocery prices: Tiana Lowe Doescher

    Washington Examiner economics columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher Loaded verb“slammed”Describes criticism with a verb of violent attack in the outlet’s own voice, where a neutral verb would describe the same remarks.More neutral: criticizedDisagree with this highlight? Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed for refusing to denounce a controversial ad attacking Israel. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar RightOpinion

    MI Senate Sensational language“Drama”Frames the story as theatrics rather than a campaign dispute over a specific ad.More neutral: disputeDisagree with this highlight? As El-Sayed, Stevens, and Even Cenk Uygur Weigh in More on Israel Ad

    The Democrats' closing message in the Michigan Senate race has been a real mess.

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    The New York Times, Nov 1, 9:07 PM EST

  • Center

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Right

    10 hr 52 min later

    Its first report, Nov 2, 8:00 AM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The New York TimesLeftNov 1, 9:07 PM EST
  2. Hot AirFar RightNov 2, 8:00 AM EST
  3. TownhallFar RightNov 2, 3:00 PM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

Read next

Help someone else find the truth beneath the surface

Most people see one side of a story. Share this one, so they can see how every side is telling it and decide for themselves.

Email it
Embed

Show this story’s coverage card on your own site, blog or class page. It has the headline, who is covering it and a link back here, and it tracks nobody. See the card

Seen a mistake? Tell us what is wrong with this page