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House passes veterans benefits bill on Veterans Day under fast-track procedure

What’s new: The House voted 392 to 18 on Thursday for a narrower competing veterans bill that omits the benefit cuts.

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 10 outlets across the spectrum.

12 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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Image via Just the NewsHow images are chosenReport this image

The House passed the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act on Veterans Day under a fast-track procedure. It passed by voice vote because Democrats did not request a recorded vote, reports say. Democrats called the tactic “dirty pool” and a “dirty trick.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal called the bill the biggest cut to veterans’ benefits in American history. The bill would expand some benefits and change VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus. The New York Times reports the House voted 392 to 18 on Thursday for a narrower competing bill that omits those cuts.

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. The House passed the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act on Veterans Day under a fast-track procedure.

    Across the spectrumReported byLeft2Center3Right2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times, ABC News
    Center
    Newsweek, PBS NewsHour, The Hill
    Right
    The Washington Times, Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Just the News

  2. The bill cleared the House by voice vote, with no recorded vote requested.

    Reported byCenter1Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    Newsweek
    Right
    The Washington Times, Washington Examiner

  3. The bill would change VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus, so some future claims could receive lower compensation.

    Reported byLeft1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times
    Center
    Newsweek

  4. The bill would also expand some benefits, including pay for combat-injured veterans.

    Reported byLeft2Center2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times, ABC News
    Center
    PBS NewsHour, The Hill

  5. A narrower competing veterans bill that omits the sleep apnea and tinnitus cuts passed the House 392 to 18 on Thursday, one report says.

    One outletThe New York Times· Left

  6. Both bills still need Senate approval and the president’s signature before they can become law.

    Reported byLeft1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times
    Center
    Newsweek

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that the House passed the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act on Veterans Day under a fast-track procedure. Left outlets stress the benefit cuts and the funding fight, center outlets the possible lower ratings and Democrats’ complaints, and right outlets Democrats’ missed vote.

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Mainstream left headlines present the bill as a funding fight or a benefit boost, while Far Left Raw Story calls it a “dirty trick” that “guts” veterans’ benefits.

    Sensational language“Fury”Fury describes an emotional state as a fact of the story and adds drama.More neutral: Democrats object toDisagree with this highlight? as GOP 'dirty trick' Loaded verb“guts”Guts implies the bill destroys benefits, which is a contested characterization rather than a reported fact.More neutral: cutsDisagree with this highlight? veterans' benefits — on Veterans Day
    Raw StoryFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    3 outlets

    Center headlines lead with the possible lower disability benefits for some conditions or with Democrats’ complaints about a partisan fast-track vote.

    Veterans Bill Could Reduce Disability Benefits For Some Conditions
    NewsweekCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    3 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right headlines stress the procedural shortcut and Democrats’ missed recorded vote, and Far Right outlets mock Democrats’ voting setbacks in opinion pieces.

    Veterans bill clears House without a recorded vote; Democrats accuse Republicans of rushing it
    The Washington TimesRightAll 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.

  • Left4

    floor dramaOutrage eruptedFuryguts

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right6

    got a taste of what is comingyou just can't make upflubcrashing halt

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    got a taste of what is comingMore neutral: The House passed the bill during the lame-duck session.

    The phrase implies the bill previews a broader agenda, a forecast the excerpt does not support.

    …pool” and a “dirty trick.” On this Veterans Day federal holiday, America got a taste of what is coming in this lame-duck session, as House Republicans passed the Take Care of…

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    you just can't make upMore neutral: This vote was procedurally unusual.

    The phrase is mocking commentary that asserts no checkable fact about the vote.

    Some things that take place in Congress, you just can't make up, readers.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    flubMore neutral: miss

    The verb flub presents the missed recorded vote as a blunder, a judgement beyond the fact that no recorded vote was requested.

    House Democrats accuse GOP of ‘dirty pool’ tactics as they flub second vote in two days

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Sensational language

    floor dramaMore neutral: with a procedural dispute

    The word drama frames a procedural vote as theatrical rather than stating what happened on the floor.

    House approves bill to boost compensation for many veterans, with some floor drama

    Used byABC News (Left)

Show 6 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    crashing haltMore neutral: setback

    The phrase dramatizes the vote outcomes beyond what the reported votes show.

    House Democrats‘ midterm euphoria came to a crashing halt on Capitol Hill this week, as two voting setbacks pierced the party’s victory lap.…

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Sensational language

    blunderMore neutral: missed vote

    Blunder labels the vote as a mistake by Democrats in the outlet’s own voice, which the vote record does not establish.

    Democrats’ midterm honeymoon over as they suffer quick-fire double voting blunder

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Sensational language

    Outrage eruptedMore neutral: Democrats objected

    Describing the reaction as outrage erupting adds drama beyond the reported statements.

    Outrage erupted Thursday morning as Republicans were accused of pulling a “dirty trick” to…

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    FuryMore neutral: Democrats object to

    Fury describes an emotional state as a fact of the story and adds drama.

    Fury as GOP 'dirty trick' guts veterans' benefits — on Veterans Day

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    gutsMore neutral: cuts

    Guts implies the bill destroys benefits, which is a contested characterization rather than a reported fact.

    Fury as GOP 'dirty trick' guts veterans' benefits — on Veterans Day

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    shocking DemocratsMore neutral: surprising Democrats

    The word shocking adds drama that the fact of a vote without a recorded tally does not require.

    …an extensive veterans' benefits package Wednesday without a recorded vote, shocking Democrats.

    Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

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.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    dirty trickMore neutral: a procedure Democrats objected to

    The term is Democrats’ accusation, quoted here, and carries their conclusion that the procedure was improper.

    Democrats are crying foul, calling it “dirty pool” and a “dirty trick.” On this Veterans Day federal holiday, America got a taste of what is coming in…

    Quoted byJust the News (Far Right)

    These are Democrats’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    blatant abuseMore neutral: use of procedure

    Calling the procedure a blatant abuse is a judgement, although it is attributed to the senator.

    “House Republicans resorted to a blatant abuse of established procedure — bypassing a fair vote — to sneak the biggest cut to…

    Quoted byRaw Story (Far Left)

    These are Sen. Richard Blumenthal’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

4 outlets

Leads with

  • Funding fight over combat veterans’ retirement pay
  • Cuts to sleep apnea and tinnitus benefits
  • Republicans moving before Democrats could respond
See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The New York TimesLeft

    House Passes Competing Veterans Bills in a Fight Over Funding

    Legislation addressing the retirement pay of veterans with combat-related disabilities is making its way through Congress, but could collapse amid a funding clash.

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

    Also published by The Boston Globe. It counts once.

  • Raw StoryFar Left

    Sensational language“Fury”Fury describes an emotional state as a fact of the story and adds drama.More neutral: Democrats object toDisagree with this highlight? as GOP 'dirty trick' Loaded verb“guts”Guts implies the bill destroys benefits, which is a contested characterization rather than a reported fact.More neutral: cutsDisagree with this highlight? veterans' benefits — on Veterans Day

    Sensational language“Outrage erupted”Describing the reaction as outrage erupting adds drama beyond the reported statements.More neutral: Democrats objectedDisagree with this highlight? Thursday morning as Republicans were accused of pulling a “dirty trick” to “sneak” through a bill that one Democratic senator called “the biggest cut to veterans’ benefits in American history” — on Veterans Day. …

    Read at Raw Story (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report

    House approves bill to boost compensation for many veterans, with some Sensational language“floor drama”The word drama frames a procedural vote as theatrical rather than stating what happened on the floor.More neutral: with a procedural disputeDisagree with this highlight?

    The House has passed a major package of veterans bills on Veterans Day — but not without confusion and controversy

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by PBS NewsHour. It counts once.

  • The Boston GlobeFar LeftSame report as at The New York Times

    House passes competing veterans bills in a fight over funding

    The Boston Globe published a report that is shown in full at The New York Times.

    Read at The Boston Globe (opens in a new tab)

From the center

3 outlets

Leads with

  • Possible lower ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus claims
  • Democrats’ “dirty tricks” complaint
  • Floor drama and confusion over the vote
See the 3 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • NewsweekCenter

    Veterans Bill Could Reduce Disability Benefits For Some Conditions

    Veterans filing sleep apnea or tinnitus claims could receive lower disability benefits under a new House bill.

    Read at Newsweek (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Democrats cry foul after Republicans fast track partisan veterans bill: ‘Dirty tricks’

    House Democrats are crying foul on Wednesday after Republicans used a fast-track tactic to pass partisan legislation designed to increase pay for disabled and injured veterans. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    House approves bill to boost compensation for many veterans, with some floor drama

    PBS NewsHour published a report that is shown in full at ABC News.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

3 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Democrats did not request a recorded vote
  • Democratic voting setbacks this week
  • Republicans fast-tracking a bill on Veterans Day
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • The Washington TimesRight

    Veterans bill clears House without a recorded vote; Democrats accuse Republicans of rushing it

    The Republican-led House passed an extensive veterans' benefits package Wednesday without a recorded vote, Sensational language“shocking Democrats”The word shocking adds drama that the fact of a vote without a recorded tally does not require.More neutral: surprising DemocratsDisagree with this highlight?.

    Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    Democrats’ midterm honeymoon over as they suffer quick-fire double voting Sensational language“blunder”Blunder labels the vote as a mistake by Democrats in the outlet’s own voice, which the vote record does not establish.More neutral: missed voteDisagree with this highlight?

    House Democrats‘ midterm euphoria came to a Sensational language“crashing halt”The phrase dramatizes the vote outcomes beyond what the reported votes show.More neutral: setbackDisagree with this highlight? on Capitol Hill this week, as two voting setbacks pierced the party’s victory lap. The caucus failed to defeat a Republican effort to kill articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, and on …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Washington Examiner
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Republicans fast track a veterans bill on Veterans Day, Dems cry foul

    It also deals with VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters, and it establishes a screening process for admission to certain mental health care programs. Democrats are crying foul, calling it “dirty pool” and a “dirty trick.”

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

    House Dems Took Their Eye Off the Ball, Letting GOP Score a Victory With Vote for Veterans

    Some things that take place in Congress, Sensational language“you just can't make up”The phrase is mocking commentary that asserts no checkable fact about the vote.More neutral: This vote was procedurally unusual.Disagree with this highlight?, readers.

    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

    2 hr later

    Its first report, Nov 11, 6:44 PM EST

  • Center

    First to report

    The Hill, Nov 11, 4:39 PM EST

  • Right

    1 hr 42 min later

    Its first report, Nov 11, 6:22 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The HillCenterNov 11, 4:39 PM EST
  2. Washington ExaminerRightNov 11, 6:22 PM EST
  3. ABC NewsLeftNov 11, 6:44 PM EST
  4. Raw StoryFar LeftNov 12, 8:21 AM EST
  5. The Washington TimesRightNov 12, 8:24 AM EST
  6. NewsweekCenterNov 12, 11:08 AM EST
  7. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 12, 1:28 PM EST
  8. The New York TimesLeftNov 12, 1:54 PM EST
  9. The Boston GlobeFar LeftNov 12, 3:38 PM EST

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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