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Alaska governor orders investigation of Peltola Senate campaign

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Covered by 9 outlets across the spectrum.

10 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, has ordered an investigation into whether Mary Peltola’s Democratic Senate campaign broke state law by recruiting candidates to draw support from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The order followed a New York Times report that the campaign helped recruit a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan to run in the race. Dunleavy said the state Department of Public Safety will examine whether the effort violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted. He also said the state Division of Elections looked into similar concerns in June.

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

What happened

Key points

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

  1. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, ordered an investigation into whether the Peltola campaign broke state law by recruiting candidates.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left1Left2Center2Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    NBC News, ABC News
    Center
    BBC News, The Hill
    Right
    New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News, Fox News

  2. The New York Times reported that Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan to run against Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left1Left2Center2Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    NBC News, ABC News
    Center
    BBC News, The Hill
    Right
    New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News, Fox News

  3. Dunleavy said the state Department of Public Safety will examine whether the effort violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted.

    One outletABC News· Left

  4. Dunleavy said the Alaska Division of Elections looked into similar concerns in June.

    One outletABC News· Left

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The Peltola campaign recruited a same-name candidate to draw votes from Sen. Dan Sullivan.

    Right-side headlines and Townhall present a Democratic scheme as established, calling it trickery, scandal or election rigging. Center and left headlines attribute the recruitment to the New York Times report and call it alleged.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered a probe after a New York Times report of Peltola’s campaign recruiting a same-name candidate. Right headlines often name it a Democratic scheme, trickery or scandal, while left and center headlines lean on “alleged” or on the governor’s order.

  • the left

    3 outlets

    Left headlines stress chaos and stakes for the midterm, as NBC’s “Plunges Into Chaos” does; ABC’s uses “alleged”. The Far Left Daily Beast instead centers Trump’s demand.

    Alaska Senate Race Sensational language“Plunges Into Chaos”The headline describes the race as in chaos, a dramatic judgement the reported facts do not establish.More neutral: Alaska Senate race faces investigation over candidate recruitmentDisagree with this highlight? Amid Ballot Dispute
    NBC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center headlines report the governor’s order plainly and name the Peltola Senate campaign, with BBC using “alleged links” to hedge.

    Alaska governor orders investigation into Peltola Senate campaign
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    4 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right headlines name a Democratic-linked scheme or trickery, with NY Post’s “Decoy Dan” and “scandal”; Fox hedges with “alleged”, and far-right Townhall’s opinion piece calls it election rigging.

    Alaska governor orders probe of Mary Peltola Senate campaign over ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan Sensational language“scandal”The word labels the matter a scandal before any finding of wrongdoing.More neutral: investigationDisagree with this highlight?
    New York PostRightAll 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.

  • Left7

    elaborate same-name rusemelted downHit Withbombshell story

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right11

    tamperedtrickerydecoy candidatesiphon votes away

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    tamperedMore neutral: affected

    The verb asserts an illegal act in the outlet’s own voice while the excerpt describes it as the subject of an investigation.

    Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign illegally tampered with the election by recruiting a candidate with the same name to draw votes from the…

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    trickeryMore neutral: alleged scheme

    The headline states deception as a label before the investigation has established any facts.

    Alaska governor orders probe of Democrat nominee over alleged Senate race trickery

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Partisan shorthand

    decoy candidateMore neutral: candidate with the same name

    The term assigns the candidate a purpose the investigation has not established.

    …Dunleavy ordered a probe into Mary Peltola's campaign over a plot to recruit a decoy candidate sharing Sen.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    siphon votes awayMore neutral: draw votes away

    The verb implies a motive of illicit diversion in the outlet’s own voice.

    Dan Sullivan in a bid to siphon votes away from the incumbent.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Show 14 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    scandalMore neutral: investigation

    The word labels the matter a scandal before any finding of wrongdoing.

    …governor orders probe of Mary Peltola Senate campaign over ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan scandal

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    elaborate same-name ruseMore neutral: same-name candidate recruitment alleged in a report

    ‘Ruse’ presents a deliberate deception as settled while the recruiting is alleged in the reporting.

    A Democratic Senate campaign is being investigated over an elaborate same-name ruse after President Trump melted down over it.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    melted downMore neutral: reacted angrily

    ‘Melted down’ is a colloquial judgement of the president’s reaction rather than a description of what he said or did.

    …is being investigated over an elaborate same-name ruse after President Trump melted down over it.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Hit WithMore neutral: Under Investigation After Trump’s Demand

    ‘Hit with’ casts the probe as an attack on the campaign rather than a stated investigation.

    Dem Campaign Hit With Criminal Probe After Trump’s Demand

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    exploit the cheap laborMore neutral: benefit from low-wage labor

    The verb assigns exploitation and motive to the media and the political class without evidence in the text.

    …border security and immigration law, likely because most are rich enough to exploit the cheap labor that illegal immigration bestows on the political class.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    IllegalsMore neutral: people here without legal status

    ‘Illegals’ reduces immigrants to a status label used as a group noun before facts about any individual are established.

    Illegals being here doesn’t mean laws shouldn’t be enforced or that driver’s licenses should…

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    stack the ballotMore neutral: allegedly put same-name candidates on the ballot

    The excerpt states as fact an intent that the reporting only alleges.

    By now, you know Democrats were trying to stack the ballot with Dan Sullivans to dilute the vote in Alaska.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    Election-Rigging SchemeMore neutral: alleged scheme to field a same-name candidate

    The headline presents an alleged recruiting plan as an established election-rigging scheme before any finding.

    The Dems' Election-Rigging Scheme in Alaska Could End With Grand Jury Subpoenas

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Democrat-linkedMore neutral: involving Democrats

    The label ties the alleged scheme to a party through a link the wording does not spell out.

    In the wake of a New York Times report detailing an alleged Democrat-linked election scheme that involved the recruitment of a candidate with nearly the…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Dem-linkedMore neutral: involving Democrats

    The label ties the alleged scheme to a party through a link the wording does not spell out.

    Alaska's governor orders investigation after NYT report on alleged Dem-linked Senate election scheme

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    bombshell storyMore neutral: story

    Calling the report a bombshell adds drama the coverage does not need to convey the news.

    …biggest stars of the Republican and Democratic parties hit the campaign trail, a bombshell story is threatening to upend one of the midterms’ closest races in Alaska.

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    secret Democratic plot to sabotageMore neutral: alleged effort to recruit a same-name candidate

    Words such as plot and sabotage assert intent and secrecy that the investigation has not established.

    …an investigation after the New York Times reported on an alleged secret Democratic plot to sabotage the campaign of Republican Sen.

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    Plunges Into ChaosMore neutral: Alaska Senate race faces investigation over candidate recruitment

    The headline describes the race as in chaos, a dramatic judgement the reported facts do not establish.

    Alaska Senate Race Plunges Into Chaos Amid Ballot Dispute

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    to confuse Senate votersMore neutral: to recruit candidates for the Senate race

    The headline states the intent to confuse voters as fact in the outlet’s own voice before the investigation has reached a finding.

    Alaska governor orders probe into alleged effort to confuse Senate voters

    Used byABC News (Left)

Words quoted from someone else (2)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 verb

    Quoted

    manipulateMore neutral: change

    The verb asserts an improper aim as the official’s characterization of an unproven allegation.

    Mike Dunleavy described it as “an organized effort to manipulate Alaska’s elections by recruiting candidates—including one with the same name as an…

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    These are Mike Dunleavy’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    disturbing new evidenceMore neutral: new evidence

    The phrase characterizes the reporting in dramatic terms as the official’s own judgement.

    "Today’s New York Times reporting reveals disturbing new evidence of an organized effort to manipulate Alaska’s elections by recruiting…

    Quoted byFox News (Far Right)

    These are Mike Dunleavy’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

3 outlets

Leads with

  • the race’s stakes in the midterms
  • chaos and a ballot dispute
  • an alleged secret plot
  • Trump’s reaction
See the 3 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • ABC NewsLeft

    Alaska governor orders probe into alleged effort Loaded verb“to confuse Senate voters”The headline states the intent to confuse voters as fact in the outlet’s own voice before the investigation has reached a finding.More neutral: to recruit candidates for the Senate raceDisagree with this highlight?

    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is ordering an investigation into an effort to recruit candidates for the Senate race, including one with the same name as the sitting senator.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Alaska Senate Race Sensational language“Plunges Into Chaos”The headline describes the race as in chaos, a dramatic judgement the reported facts do not establish.More neutral: Alaska Senate race faces investigation over candidate recruitmentDisagree with this highlight? Amid Ballot Dispute

    While the biggest stars of the Republican and Democratic parties hit the campaign trail, a Sensational language“bombshell story”Calling the report a bombshell adds drama the coverage does not need to convey the news.More neutral: storyDisagree with this highlight? is threatening to upend one of the midterms’ closest races in Alaska. …

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Dem Campaign Loaded verb“Hit With”‘Hit with’ casts the probe as an attack on the campaign rather than a stated investigation.More neutral: Under Investigation After Trump’s DemandDisagree with this highlight? Criminal Probe After Trump’s Demand

    A Democratic Senate campaign is being investigated over an Absolutist framing“elaborate same-name ruse”‘Ruse’ presents a deliberate deception as settled while the recruiting is alleged in the reporting.More neutral: same-name candidate recruitment alleged in a reportDisagree with this highlight? after President Trump Sensational language“melted down”‘Melted down’ is a colloquial judgement of the president’s reaction rather than a description of what he said or did.More neutral: reacted angrilyDisagree with this highlight? over it. On Wednesday, The New York Times revealed that Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola’s campaign staff helped recruit a candidate with the same name as …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • the governor’s order
  • the Peltola Senate campaign
  • the New York Times reporting

Leaves out

  • the Alaska Division of Elections’ June review of similar concerns

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

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Alaska governor orders investigation into Peltola Senate campaign

    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) on Wednesday evening ordered an investigation into whether Mary Peltola’s (D) Senate campaign violated the state law when it reportedly recruited candidates in an effort to detract support from her opponent. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign's alleged links to rival candidate

    The Republican governor was responding to allegations in the New York Times that Democrats recruited a spoiler candidate, Dan Sullivan.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the right

4 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • the Democratic campaign’s role
  • a scheme to mislead voters
  • a same-name candidate as a ploy

Leaves out

  • the Alaska Division of Elections’ June review of similar concerns

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

See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Daily MailRight

    Bombshell new investigation opened into Democrat Mary Peltola after Trump declared 'fraud' in Alaska as 'Decoy Dan' scandal upends crucial race

    The probe came hours after Donald Trump demanded Peltola be thrown off the ballot and prosecuted, though he did not say what crime she had committed.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Alaska's governor orders investigation after NYT report on alleged Loaded modifier“Dem-linked”The label ties the alleged scheme to a party through a link the wording does not spell out.More neutral: involving DemocratsDisagree with this highlight? Senate election scheme

    Following a New York Times report on an alleged Democrat-linked scheme involving the state's U.S. Senate contest, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, ordered an investigation.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRight

    Alaska governor orders probe of Mary Peltola Senate campaign over ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan Sensational language“scandal”The word labels the matter a scandal before any finding of wrongdoing.More neutral: investigationDisagree with this highlight?

    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a probe into Mary Peltola's campaign over a plot to recruit a Partisan shorthand“decoy candidate”The term assigns the candidate a purpose the investigation has not established.More neutral: candidate with the same nameDisagree with this highlight? sharing Sen. Dan Sullivan's name.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Alaska governor orders probe of Democrat nominee over alleged Senate race Sensational language“trickery”The headline states deception as a label before the investigation has established any facts.More neutral: alleged schemeDisagree with this highlight?

    The announcement came after The New York Times reported Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a retiree named Dan J. Sullivan to run against U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
  • TownhallFar RightOpinion

    The Dems' Absolutist framing“Election-Rigging Scheme”The headline presents an alleged recruiting plan as an established election-rigging scheme before any finding.More neutral: alleged scheme to field a same-name candidateDisagree with this highlight? in Alaska Could End With Grand Jury Subpoenas

    The media will say it’s not a big deal because it happens all the time. That’s not a defense. The media have a lackadaisical attitude toward border security and immigration law, likely because most are rich enough to Loaded verb“exploit the cheap labor”The verb assigns exploitation and motive to the media and the political class without evidence in the text.More neutral: benefit from low-wage laborDisagree with this highlight? that illegal immigration bestows on …

    Read at Townhall (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

    0 min later

    Its first report, Oct 29, 6:57 AM EDT

  • Center

    8 min later

    Its first report, Oct 29, 7:05 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Oct 29, 6:57 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightOct 29, 6:57 AM EDT
  2. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 29, 6:57 AM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFar RightOct 29, 7:02 AM EDT
  4. BBC NewsCenterOct 29, 7:05 AM EDT
  5. NBC NewsLeftOct 29, 7:16 AM EDT
  6. The HillCenterOct 29, 7:54 AM EDT
  7. ABC NewsLeftOct 29, 8:21 AM EDT
  8. Daily MailRightOct 29, 8:24 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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