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Kennedy announces up to $4.9 million for ibogaine research on PTSD

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Coverage spectrum

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

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

Man in dark suit speaking at podium bearing Seal of the President of the United States.
Image via The Epoch TimesHow images are chosenReport this image

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday that HHS, through its Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, is awarding up to $4.9 million to prepare for future U.S. studies of ibogaine, a psychedelic drug. Kennedy said the money will not fund patient research directly but will support manufacturing, dosing and study design. Ibogaine is currently illegal in the United States, and according to the Epoch Times, Trump signed an April executive order directing agencies to open access to it and other drugs for people with mental illnesses. Veterans groups and advocates say the drug is promising for post-traumatic stress disorder, while the Associated Press reports possible side effects including dangerous heart rhythms.

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. Kennedy said HHS is awarding up to $4.9 million through ARPA-H to prepare for future ibogaine studies.

    Reported byCenter1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, RedState

  2. Officials said the money will support manufacturing, regulatory and study-design groundwork, not patient trials directly.

    Reported byCenter1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, RedState

  3. Ibogaine is currently illegal in the United States.

    Reported byCenter1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times

  4. The Epoch Times reports that Trump signed an April executive order directing agencies to open access to ibogaine and other drugs for mental illness.

    One outletThe Epoch Times· Far Right

  5. Ibogaine can cause intense hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, tremors and sometimes deadly irregular heart rhythms.

    One outletPBS NewsHour· Center

  6. Veterans organizations and psychedelic advocates contend that ibogaine holds promise for PTSD and other hard-to-treat conditions.

    One outletPBS NewsHour· Center

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that HHS, through Kennedy, announced up to $4.9 million through ARPA-H to prepare for future ibogaine trials, not to fund patient studies directly. The center’s AP report stresses the drug’s risks and controversy, while the right-side outlets emphasize veterans and PTSD and call the investment bold.

  • the left

    No coverage yet

    No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The center’s only coverage here is an AP report carried by PBS NewsHour, which leads with the administration’s announcement and frames ibogaine as controversial and championed by Trump-aligned figures.

    WATCH: Trump administration officials announce PTSD research funding for psychedelic drug ibogaine
    PBS NewsHourCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets

    Both right-side outlets, rated Far Right, headline the funding as a bold or major step that could help veterans with PTSD, centering Kennedy and the Trump administration.

    RFK Jr. Announces Major Investment in Psychedelic Drug That Could Help Veterans With PTSD
    RedStateFar 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.

  • Left

    Has not covered this story.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right1

    bold investment

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    bold investmentMore neutral: investment

    Calling the funding bold is a judgement of its merit that the announcement itself does not establish.

    Just one day after celebrating Veterans Day, the Trump administration has made a bold investment in an unconventional treatment that could help treat post-traumatic stress…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

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

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • administration’s funding announcement
  • PTSD and veteran suicide risk
  • controversy and the drug’s risks
  • money not going to patient trials

Leaves out

  • Trump’s April executive order on ibogaine access

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

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    WATCH: Trump administration officials announce PTSD research funding for psychedelic drug ibogaine

    Federal officials on Thursday announced new funding to explore the medical potential of ibogaine, a controversial psychedelic drug championed by veterans, conservative lawmakers and podcasters aligned with President Donald Trump.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

2 outlets

Leads with

  • benefits for veterans with PTSD
  • Kennedy’s quoted remarks on veterans
  • Trump administration’s role
  • affordability and scientific evidence

Leaves out

  • ibogaine side effects, including heart rhythm risks

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

See the 2 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    RFK Jr. Announces Funding to Study Ibogaine Psychedelic Drug

    Ibogaine has potential to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses, officials said.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar Right

    RFK Jr. Announces Major Investment in Psychedelic Drug That Could Help Veterans With PTSD

    Just one day after celebrating Veterans Day, the Trump administration has made a bold investment in an unconventional treatment that could help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    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

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Center

    2 hr 13 min later

    Its first report, Nov 12, 4:58 PM EST

  • Right

    First to report

    RedState, Nov 12, 2:45 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. RedStateFar RightNov 12, 2:45 PM EST
  2. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 12, 4:58 PM EST
  3. The Epoch TimesFar RightNov 13, 8:01 AM EST

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

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