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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says Arabs Do Not Produce Science

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 6 outlets, mostly left-leaning (66%).

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

Older man in dark suit gesturing while speaking at a podium with presidential seal.
Image via The IndependentHow images are chosenReport this image

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a Republican campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, alongside candidates John James and Mike Rogers, reports say. Coverage attributes to Kennedy the claim that Arabs do not produce science or literature and do not win Nobel prizes. Reports also say he called the Muslim Brotherhood a “death cult” and said that talking about the group is not Islamophobia. Critics called the remarks about Arabs “blatant bigotry,” and the claim was described as factually inaccurate.

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. Kennedy spoke at a Republican campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on a Monday, alongside John James and Mike Rogers.

    Reported byCenter1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    Newsweek
    Far Right
    The Daily Wire

  2. Kennedy said that Arabs do not produce science or literature and do not win Nobel prizes.

    Reported byLeft2Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    Al Jazeera English, The Independent
    Center
    Newsweek

  3. Kennedy called the Muslim Brotherhood a “death cult” and said that talking about the group is not Islamophobia.

    One outletThe Daily Wire· Far Right

  4. Critics called the remarks about Arabs blatant bigotry and described the claim as factually inaccurate.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

How each side tells it

Compare views

All sides present report that Kennedy, at a Michigan campaign event, made remarks about Muslims. The left and center lead with his claim that Arabs do not produce science or win Nobel prizes, while the right frames the rally around his attacks on the Muslim Brotherhood.

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Both left headlines carry Kennedy’s claim, with The Independent leading on accusations of blatant bigotry and factual inaccuracy, while Al Jazeera states the claim plainly.

    RFK Jr accused of ‘Sensational language“blatant bigotry”The word blatant adds emphasis to an accusation of bigotry that the headline attributes to unnamed critics rather than reporting as established.More neutral: criticism of bigotryThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?’ after claiming Arabs ‘Hateful rhetoric“don’t produce science or literature”The headline quotes Kennedy as saying an ethnic group is inferior in science and literature, a generalization about a group.Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.More neutral: said Arab people produce less science or literatureThese are RFK Jr’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’
    The IndependentLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    Newsweek’s headline leads with a quoted figure of 500 million Arabs and the phrase ‘Don’t Produce Science,’ framing the remark as a statement made at a rally.

    RFK Jr. Says 500M Arabs ‘Hateful rhetoric“Don’t Produce Science”The headline quotes a claim that a national group is inferior in science, a generalization about an ethnic group that the coverage presents as Kennedy’s own words.Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.More neutral: a claim that Arab people produce less scienceThese are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’ at Michigan Rally
    NewsweekCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    1 outlet

    The lone right-side report, from a Far Right outlet, leads with Kennedy’s attack on the Muslim Brotherhood and a claim that the group creates stagnant societies, not with the remarks about Arabs.

    RFK Jr. Loaded verb“Unloads On”The verb “unloads on” adds an aggressive tone that goes beyond reporting that Kennedy criticized the group.More neutral: criticizesDisagree with this highlight? Muslim Brotherhood ‘Delegitimizing label“Death Cult”The label “death cult” is a harsh characterization of a political and religious movement that the article presents as Kennedy’s own wording.More neutral: describes the group as extremistThese are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’ That Absolutist framing“Creates Stagnant Societies”The headline states as fact a contested causal claim about the group’s effect on societies, with no attribution in the headline.More neutral: that Kennedy says harms societiesDisagree with this highlight?
    The Daily WireFar 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

    Bigoted

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right4

    radical networkhell-bent on exterminationUnloads OnCreates Stagnant Societies

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    radical networkMore neutral: group

    The word “radical” pre-judges the group in the outlet’s own voice rather than describing it neutrally.

    …on the Muslim Brotherhood on the campaign trail in Michigan, branding the radical network a “death cult” hell-bent on extermination.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    hell-bent on exterminationMore neutral: that calls for the group’s destruction

    The phrase adds dramatic menace to the description of the group that the coverage does not otherwise support.

    …the campaign trail in Michigan, branding the radical network a “death cult” hell-bent on extermination.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Unloads OnMore neutral: criticizes

    The verb “unloads on” adds an aggressive tone that goes beyond reporting that Kennedy criticized the group.

    Unloads On Muslim Brotherhood ‘Death Cult’ That Creates Stagnant Societies

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    Creates Stagnant SocietiesMore neutral: that Kennedy says harms societies

    The headline states as fact a contested causal claim about the group’s effect on societies, with no attribution in the headline.

    Unloads On Muslim Brotherhood ‘Death Cult’ That Creates Stagnant Societies

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

Show 1 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    BigotedMore neutral: quote the statement

    Characterizes motive; quote the words.

    Makes Bigoted Remarks About Arabs on the Campaign Trial in Michigan

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

Words quoted from someone else (4)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.

  • Hateful rhetoric

    Quoted

    don’t produce science or literatureMore neutral: said Arab people produce less science or literature

    The headline attributes to Kennedy a generalization that an ethnic group is inferior in science and literature.

    Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

    says Arabs don’t produce science or literature

    Quoted byAl Jazeera English (Left)The Independent (Left)

    These are Robert F Kennedy Jr. and RFK Jr’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Hateful rhetoric

    Quoted

    Don’t Produce ScienceMore neutral: a claim that Arab people produce less science

    The headline quotes a claim that a national group is inferior in science, a generalization about an ethnic group that the coverage presents as Kennedy’s own words.

    Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

    Says 500M Arabs ‘Don’t Produce Science’ at Michigan Rally

    Quoted byNewsweek (Center)

    These are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    Death CultMore neutral: describes the group as extremist

    The label “death cult” is a harsh characterization of a political and religious movement that the article presents as Kennedy’s own wording.

    Unloads On Muslim Brotherhood ‘Death Cult’ That Creates Stagnant Societies

    Quoted byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

    These are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    blatant bigotryMore neutral: criticism of bigotry

    The word blatant adds emphasis to an accusation of bigotry that the headline attributes to unnamed critics rather than reporting as established.

    RFK Jr accused of ‘blatant bigotry’ after claiming Arabs ‘don’t produce science or literature’

    Quoted byThe Independent (Left)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

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

4 outlets

Leads with

  • bigotry accusation
  • factually inaccurate verdict
  • Nobel prize claim

Leaves out

  • Kennedy’s defense that criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood is not bigotry

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

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The New York TimesLeft

    RFK Jr. Makes Loaded modifier“Bigoted”Characterizes motive; quote the words.More neutral: quote the statementDisagree with this highlight? Remarks About Arabs on the Campaign Trial in Michigan

    Stumping for the Republican Senate nominee in Michigan, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed that Arabs did not win global awards for science and “don’t produce literature.”

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

    RFK Jr accused of ‘Sensational language“blatant bigotry”The word blatant adds emphasis to an accusation of bigotry that the headline attributes to unnamed critics rather than reporting as established.More neutral: criticism of bigotryThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?’ after claiming Arabs ‘Hateful rhetoric“don’t produce science or literature”The headline quotes Kennedy as saying an ethnic group is inferior in science and literature, a generalization about a group.Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.More neutral: said Arab people produce less science or literatureThese are RFK Jr’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’

    Health secretary suggests Middle Eastern Muslims do not win major prizes because their religion holds them back, a claim branded ‘factually inaccurate’ and offensive

    Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    RFK Jr. Faces Backlash After Trashing 500 Million Arabs in the World

    Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided to slander an entire ethnic group in a speech Monday. Kennedy told the Kent County GOP in Grand Rapids, Michigan, “There’s 500 million Arabs in the world. And yet they don’t produce science. …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
  • Al Jazeera EnglishLeft

    Robert F Kennedy Jr. says Arabs Hateful rhetoric“don’t produce science or literature”The headline attributes to Kennedy a generalization that an ethnic group is inferior in science and literature.Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.More neutral: said Arab people produce less science or literatureThese are Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?

    US Secretary of Health Robert F Kennedy Jr. has said that Arabs don’t produce science, literature, or win Nobel prizes.

    Read at Al Jazeera English (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • 500 million Arabs figure
  • science claim
  • campaign rally setting
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • NewsweekCenter

    RFK Jr. Says 500M Arabs ‘Hateful rhetoric“Don’t Produce Science”The headline quotes a claim that a national group is inferior in science, a generalization about an ethnic group that the coverage presents as Kennedy’s own words.Attacks or dehumanizes a person or a group because of who they are: their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.More neutral: a claim that Arab people produce less scienceThese are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’ at Michigan Rally

    RFK Jr. made sweeping remarks about Arabs and Muslims while campaigning for Republicans in Michigan.

    Read at Newsweek (opens in a new tab)

From the right

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Muslim Brotherhood as death cult
  • stagnant societies claim
  • rejection of Islamophobia charge
  • Michigan rally with GOP candidates
See the headline from the rightHide the headlines
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    RFK Jr. Loaded verb“Unloads On”The verb “unloads on” adds an aggressive tone that goes beyond reporting that Kennedy criticized the group.More neutral: criticizesDisagree with this highlight? Muslim Brotherhood ‘Delegitimizing label“Death Cult”The label “death cult” is a harsh characterization of a political and religious movement that the article presents as Kennedy’s own wording.More neutral: describes the group as extremistThese are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’ That Absolutist framing“Creates Stagnant Societies”The headline states as fact a contested causal claim about the group’s effect on societies, with no attribution in the headline.More neutral: that Kennedy says harms societiesDisagree with this highlight?

    Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unloaded on the Muslim Brotherhood on the campaign trail in Michigan, branding the Loaded modifier“radical network”The word “radical” pre-judges the group in the outlet’s own voice rather than describing it neutrally.More neutral: groupDisagree with this highlight? a “death cult” Sensational language“hell-bent on extermination”The phrase adds dramatic menace to the description of the group that the coverage does not otherwise support.More neutral: that calls for the group’s destructionDisagree with this highlight?. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (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

    7 hr 30 min later

    Its first report, Oct 27, 6:56 AM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    Newsweek, Oct 26, 11:26 PM EDT

  • Right

    7 hr 33 min later

    Its first report, Oct 27, 6:59 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. NewsweekCenterOct 26, 11:26 PM EDT
  2. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 27, 6:56 AM EDT
  3. The Daily WireFar RightOct 27, 6:59 AM EDT
  4. The New RepublicFar LeftOct 27, 11:08 AM EDT
  5. The IndependentLeftOct 27, 11:26 AM EDT
  6. The New York TimesLeftOct 27, 12:18 PM EDT

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

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