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MacArthur Foundation Names 20 ‘Genius Grant’ Fellows for 2026

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 5 outlets, mostly left-leaning (80%).

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

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced its 2026 class of 20 fellows, spanning the arts, humanities and sciences. Each recipient will receive $800,000 over five years, a no-strings-attached stipend meant to support their creative and scholarly work. Recipients named across reports include saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and climate scientist Marika Holland. Other fellows include a historian who studies wage gaps between races and researchers working at the intersection of science and justice. The fellows range widely in age and discipline and are based across three continents, according to the Associated Press.

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. The MacArthur Foundation announced 20 new fellows for 2026.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  2. Each fellow receives $800,000 over five years, with no strings attached.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  3. Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins is among the recipients.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  4. Climate scientist Marika Holland is among the recipients.

    Reported byLeft

  5. A historian studying wage gaps between races is among the recipients.

    Reported byLeft

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Some fellows were recognized for work at the intersection of science and justice.

    Reported byLeft

  2. The fellows are separated in age by four decades and are based across three continents.

    Reported byCenter

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Left outlets' headlines focus on identifying the winners and their fields, with some highlighting specific thematic groupings like science-and-justice research.

    7 Black creatives and scholars named among the 2026 MacArthur Fellows
    TheGrioLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The center outlet, publishing an Associated Press report, frames the story around fellows who confront history and includes a personal anecdote from a recipient learning of the award.

    This year's MacArthur 'geniuses' include scholars and artists who confront history
    PBS NewsHourCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    No coverage yet

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

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.

Mantle found no loaded language in this coverage. Every headline and opening was checked against Mantle’s published word list, and Mantle’s AI read 5 of the 6 articles in context when it wrote the analysis. Straight reporting often has none.

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

  • names and disciplines of specific fellows
  • the $800,000 no-strings-attached grant
  • thematic groupings among winners

Leaves out

  • the age range and geographic spread of the fellows class
  • Wilkins's personal reaction to being notified

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

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • personal narrative of Immanuel Wilkins learning he'd won
  • the range of ages and geographic diversity among fellows
  • the purpose of the no-strings-attached award

Leaves out

  • climate scientist Marika Holland's inclusion
  • the historian studying racial wage gaps

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

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

    This year's MacArthur 'geniuses' include scholars and artists who confront history

    Commonly referred to as "genius grants," the no-strings-attached awards are intended to provide the flexibility necessary for recipients to pursue their artistic or scholarly visions.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

0 outlets

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

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

    First to report

    The Washington Post, Sep 29, 11:01 AM EDT

  • Center

    5 hr 41 min later

    Its first report, Sep 29, 4:41 PM EDT

  • Right

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Washington PostLeftSep 29, 11:01 AM EDT
  2. NPRLeftSep 29, 12:01 PM EDT
  3. The New York TimesLeftSep 29, 12:01 PM EDT
  4. PBS NewsHourCenterSep 29, 4:41 PM EDT
  5. TheGrioLeftSep 30, 11:09 AM EDT

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

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