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Collins and Jackson clash over Iran war and costs in third Maine Senate debate

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 6 outlets across the spectrum.

8 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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Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson clashed on Oct. 13 in their third Maine Senate debate, three weeks before the November election. They sparred over the Iran war, cost-of-living issues and President Donald Trump, and The New York Times, The Hill and The Daily Beast describe a heated exchange. The Epoch Times reports that Collins said she voted nine times to end the war. Fox News cites a Suffolk University poll, conducted Oct. 8 to 11, showing Jackson at 49% and Collins at 47% among likely voters, within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.

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. Collins and Jackson clashed in their third Maine Senate debate on Oct. 13, three weeks before the November election.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    The New York Times
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, One America News

  2. The two sparred over the Iran war and over how to address cost-of-living issues, and Jackson tied Collins to President Trump's decision to go to war.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times

  3. Collins said she voted nine times to end the war in Iran.

    One outletThe Epoch Times· Far Right

  4. A Suffolk University poll conducted Oct. 8 to 11 had Jackson at 49% and Collins at 47% among likely voters, within the margin of error.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

  5. Collins warned that Maine could lose crucial federal funding if voters replace her with Jackson.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

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

  • Whether Collins's record opposes or backs the Iran war

    Collins said she voted nine times to end the war, according to the Epoch Times; Democrats, as reported by the Epoch Times and The Daily Beast, tie Collins to Trump's decision to go to war.

  • Whether Republicans misrepresent their records on the war and energy costs

    Republicans said Democrats misrepresented their records, according to the Epoch Times; Democratic candidates in the reported debates blame the war for higher fuel and heating prices.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All sides report that Collins and Jackson clashed in the third Maine Senate debate over the Iran war and cost-of-living issues. Left outlets stress a heated, personal exchange and Collins distancing herself from Trump, while right-side outlets stress Collins's record and a close poll.

  • the left

    2 outlets

    Left outlets stress a heated, personal debate; the Far Left Daily Beast goes further, saying Collins threw Trump under the bus.

    5 Takeaways From a Heated and Personal Maine Senate Debate
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The Hill uses a takeaways format and a fight metaphor, framing the debate as a clash over Iran war votes and cost-of-living differences.

    Collins, Jackson duke it out in third Maine Senate debate: 3 takeaways
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    3 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right outlets stress Collins's record and a close race; the Far Right Fox News headline labels Jackson a socialist, and the Washington Examiner column says she outclassed him.

    Collins insists socialist rival won't beat her as Maine's money machine: 'You'll lose big time'
    Fox NewsFar 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.

  • Left1

    Throws Trump Under the Bus

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    Throws Trump Under the BusMore neutral: Collins distances herself from Trump

    The phrase frames Collins’s differences with Trump as a betrayal, a judgement the reporting does not establish.

    Desperate Must-Win Republican Throws Trump Under the Bus

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far 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

    schooling himMore neutral: explaining federal and state roles to him

    Schooling implies the opponent was taught a lesson, a judgement about the exchange rather than a description of it.

    …“outclassed” her opponent Troy Jackson during their latest senatorial debate, schooling him in government knowledge.

    Quoted byWashington Examiner (Right)

    These are Guy Benson’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    outclassedMore neutral: showed more command of the issues than

    Outclassed is a judgement that one candidate was clearly superior, offered as a columnist's opinion rather than an observed fact.

    Susan Collins ‘outclassed’ opponent Troy Jackson on knowledge during debate: Guy Benson

    Quoted byWashington Examiner (Right)

    These are Guy Benson’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

2 outlets

Leads with

  • Collins breaking with Trump
  • heated, personal tone
  • the war in Iran

Leaves out

  • Collins's claim that she voted nine times to end the war
  • Suffolk University poll showing a close race

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

See the 2 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Desperate Must-Win Republican Loaded verb“Throws Trump Under the Bus”The phrase frames Collins’s differences with Trump as a betrayal, a judgement the reporting does not establish.More neutral: Collins distances herself from TrumpDisagree with this highlight?

    Maine Sen. Susan Collins has thrown President Donald Trump under the bus during a fiery debate. Collins, 73, took part in her third debate with her Democratic challenger for Maine, Troy Jackson, 58, on Tuesday. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    5 Takeaways From a Heated and Personal Maine Senate Debate

    Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, and her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, disagreed over the war in Iran and President Trump in the third of four debates in a key race.

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

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Iran war votes
  • cost-of-living differences
  • the sparring between the candidates
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Collins, Jackson duke it out in third Maine Senate debate: 3 takeaways

    Republican Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Democrat Troy Jackson clashed Tuesday in their third Maine Senate debate with just three weeks until Election Day. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

3 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Collins's record on the Iran war
  • Suffolk poll showing a tight race
  • Collins's warning on federal funding
  • Democrats tying Republicans to war and energy costs
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Collins insists socialist rival won't beat her as Maine's money machine: 'You'll lose big time'

    A Suffolk University poll shows Troy Jackson edging Susan Collins 49%-47% ahead of their final Maine Senate debate in a statistical dead heat.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • One America NewsFar Right

    Maine: Troy Jackson, Susan Collins clash in Senate debate 3 weeks before election

    Senator Susan Collins and Democrat Senate nominee Troy Jackson clashed on the debate stage ahead of the November election that will decide the Pine Tree State’s next senator.

    Read at One America News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    Democrats Tie Republicans to Iran War and Energy Costs in 3 Battleground Senate Debates

    Republicans said Democrats misrepresented their records, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she voted nine times to end the war.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Epoch Times
  • Washington ExaminerRightOpinion

    Susan Collins ‘Loaded verb“outclassed”Outclassed is a judgement that one candidate was clearly superior, offered as a columnist's opinion rather than an observed fact.More neutral: showed more command of the issues thanThese are Guy Benson’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’ opponent Troy Jackson on knowledge during debate: Guy Benson

    Washington Examiner columnist Guy Benson said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) “outclassed” her opponent Troy Jackson during their latest senatorial debate, Loaded verb“schooling him”Schooling implies the opponent was taught a lesson, a judgement about the exchange rather than a description of it.More neutral: explaining federal and state roles to himThese are Guy Benson’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight? in government knowledge. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, 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

    1 hr 40 min later

    Its first report, Oct 13, 10:25 PM EDT

  • Center

    1 hr 24 min later

    Its first report, Oct 13, 10:09 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    The Epoch Times, Oct 13, 8:46 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 13, 8:46 PM EDT
  2. The HillCenterOct 13, 10:09 PM EDT
  3. The New York TimesLeftOct 13, 10:25 PM EDT
  4. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 13, 11:22 PM EDT
  5. One America NewsFar RightOct 14, 4:42 PM EDT
  6. Fox NewsFar RightOct 15, 9:48 AM EDT

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

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