PoliticsDeveloping
El-Sayed responds to question on Muslim Brotherhood, compares himself to JFK
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 12 outlets across the spectrum.
15 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
At a town hall in Caro, Michigan, on Saturday, a man who gave his name as “Tommy” asked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed questioned why he was being asked, reportedly saying it was “crazy” to assume he has “dual loyalties,” and compared himself to John F. Kennedy, who was questioned about his Catholic faith when he ran for president. Congressional staff records reportedly show the questioner is a former aide to Senator Josh Hawley. Right-leaning outlets also raise alleged ties between El-Sayed’s family and the Muslim Brotherhood. The exchange spread widely online after a video clip circulated.
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.
At a Saturday town hall in Caro, Michigan, a man who gave his name as “Tommy” asked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood.
Reported byFar Left3Left1Center1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Far Left
- Mother Jones, The New Republic, Truthout
- Left
- The Guardian
- Center
- The Hill
- Far Right
- One America News
El-Sayed questioned why he was asked, and reportedly said it was “crazy” to assume he has “dual loyalties.”
Reported byFar Left1Center2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
- Far Left
- HuffPost
- Center
- The Hill, Straight Arrow News
- Far Right
- Breitbart News, Fox News
El-Sayed compared himself to John F. Kennedy, who was questioned about his Catholic faith when he ran for president.
One side only: the rightReported byFar Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
- Far Right
- Breitbart News, Fox News, One America News
El-Sayed reportedly answered “Sure. Yeah, absolutely.” when asked whether he would disavow the group.
One outletThe Hill· Center
Congressional staff records reportedly show the questioner is a former aide to Senator Josh Hawley.
One outletThe Guardian· Left
Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points
Some right-leaning reports describe alleged family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- Daily Mail
- Far Right
- Fox News
El-Sayed has reportedly disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood in past remarks.
One outletTruthout· Far Left
What is contested
Where accounts differ
Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.
El-Sayed’s family has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Right-leaning outlets report alleged family ties to the group. Left-leaning outlets describe the question as a bigoted gotcha and do not address the allegations in the supplied text.
The question at the town hall was a bigoted attempt to trap El-Sayed.
Left outlets call the question a bigoted gotcha attempt. The center reports that El-Sayed criticized the implications of the question. Right outlets report that El-Sayed dismissed the questions as crazy.
How each side tells it
Compare views
All sides report that a town hall questioner asked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to disavow the Muslim Brotherhood and that he questioned the premise. Left outlets stress his rebuttal, right outlets focus on his JFK comparison and alleged family ties, and the center quotes his replies.
the left
5 outlets · 1 opinion
Left headlines present El-Sayed as having won the exchange, with far-left outlets using words like shuts down and schools; the Guardian instead leads with a records-based finding about the questioner.
Abdul El-Sayed Loaded verb“Shuts Down”“Shuts down” presents the exchange as a defeat of the questioner, a verdict the coverage does not establish.More neutral: responds toDisagree with this highlight? 'Muslim Brotherhood' Heckler With Lesson On The Constitution
HuffPostFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines the center
2 outlets
Center headlines report El-Sayed’s response in his own words, quoting him or describing him as criticizing or questioning the question; neither calls it a win or a trap.
El-Sayed criticizes implications of 'Muslim Brotherhood' question
The HillCenterAll center headlines the right
5 outlets
Right headlines center El-Sayed’s JFK comparison and his “dual loyalties” claim, with far-right outlets such as Fox News stressing alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties; the Daily Mail focuses on the alleged family ties.
El-Sayed Compares Himself to JFK: 'Sensational language“Crazy”Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.More neutral: (omit) and quote the statementThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?' to Assume I Have 'Dual Loyalties'
Breitbart 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.
Left17
bigoted questionbigotedbigoted Gotcha Attemptneutralized
Center1
shouted
Right4
heated exchangeThe truth behindties to the Muslim Brotherhoodclash
In the outlets’ own words
Loaded modifier
bigoted questionMore neutral: a question about his Muslim faith
The outlet characterizes the question as bigoted in its own voice, a judgement the supplied text does not establish.
…viral Saturday night, Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed countered a bigoted question about his Muslim faith at a Michigan town hall with a lesson in American…
Used byMother Jones (Far Left)
Loaded modifier
bigotedMore neutral: quote the statement
Characterizes motive; quote the words.
…went viral Saturday night, Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed countered a bigoted question about his Muslim faith at a Michigan town hall with a lesson in American…
Used byMother Jones (Far Left)
Loaded modifier
bigoted Gotcha AttemptMore neutral: a question about his Muslim faith
The headline labels the question a bigoted gotcha in the outlet’s own voice.
Abdul El-Sayed Flipped the Script on a Bigoted Gotcha Attempt
Used byMother Jones (Far Left)
Loaded verb
neutralizedMore neutral: answered
“Neutralized” describes the exchange as a defeat of the question rather than a response to it.
Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed neutralized a question about his views of the Muslim Brotherhood while on the campaign trail in…
Used byHuffPost (Far Left)
Show 18 more phrasesShow fewer
Loaded verb
derailedMore neutral: interrupted
“Derailed” implies the event was ruined, while the excerpt describes a heated exchange at a rally.
A rally in the Republican-dominated city of Caro got derailed when a young man who identified himself as Tommy shouted over the crowd to ask…
Used byHuffPost (Far Left)
Loaded verb
Shuts DownMore neutral: responds to
“Shuts down” presents the exchange as a defeat of the questioner, a verdict the coverage does not establish.
Abdul El-Sayed Shuts Down 'Muslim Brotherhood' Heckler With Lesson On The Constitution
Used byHuffPost (Far Left)
Loaded verb
tried to trapMore neutral: asked
“Tried to trap” attributes a hostile intent to the questioner that the coverage does not establish.
A Republican political operative tried to trap the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, into a viral…
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Sensational language
gotchaMore neutral: question
“Gotcha” characterizes the question as a trick, a judgement about intent.
…to trap the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, into a viral ‘gotcha’ moment.
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Loaded verb
posing asMore neutral: identified himself as
“Posing as” implies deception about the questioner’s identity that the coverage does not establish.
On Saturday, a man posing as a young Michigan voter named Tommy at a town hall in Caro, Michigan, asked El-Sayed…
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Loaded modifier
bigoted motiveMore neutral: motive
“Bigoted motive” states a judgement about the questioner’s intent in the outlet’s own voice.
El-Sayed, sensing the bigoted motive behind the question, immediately disavowed the question, and pressed Tommy on why…
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Loaded modifier
MAGA OperativeMore neutral: Republican operative
“MAGA” attaches a movement label to the questioner in the headline, while the description uses the more general term Republican political operative.
MAGA Operative Gives Abdul El-Sayed His Most Viral Campaign Moment
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Loaded verb
demandedMore neutral: asked
“Demanded” conveys more force than the questioner’s words as reported, which were a question.
Thomas Teepell, who worked for Republican senator, demanded El-Sayed disavow Muslim Brotherhood A man who heckled Democratic candidate for Senate…
Used byThe Guardian (Left)
Sensational language
heated exchangeMore neutral: exchange
“Heated” adds drama that the reported exchange does not itself establish.
A heated exchange between Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed and a man at a campaign town…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
The truth behindMore neutral: Details of
“The truth behind” implies a hidden fact that the article does not establish, while the claims about family ties remain allegations.
The truth behind Abdul El-Sayed's family's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood as clash goes viral in…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded modifier
ties to the Muslim BrotherhoodMore neutral: alleged family connections to the Muslim Brotherhood
“Ties to” links the candidate’s family to the group without spelling out the link, and the article describes these as alleged.
The truth behind Abdul El-Sayed's family's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood as clash goes viral in razor-thin Senate race
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
clashMore neutral: exchange
“Clash” adds drama to an exchange that the description calls a heated question and answer.
The truth behind Abdul El-Sayed's family's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood as clash goes viral in razor-thin Senate race
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded verb
SchoolsMore neutral: Responds to
“Schools” suggests the candidate won a contest over the questioner, a verdict the exchange as reported does not settle.
Abdul El-Sayed Schools Heckler Who Questioned His Loyalty to the US
Used byTruthout (Far Left)
Vague attribution
many consider a terrorist groupMore neutral: which some governments and officials describe as a terrorist group
The label is attributed to unnamed people, so the reader cannot tell who holds the view.
…in Michigan, about whether he condemns the Muslim Brotherhood, which many consider a terrorist group.
Used bySlate (Far Left)
Loaded verb
shoutedMore neutral: asked
Shouted adds volume and drama that the reported exchange does not establish.
A young man shouted a question to Abdul El-Sayed this weekend about his views on a terrorist group.
Used byStraight Arrow News (Center)
Loaded verb
gin upMore neutral: build
Gin up suggests manufacturing opposition, a judgement about the group’s conduct beyond what the filing shows.
Timmy Teepell’s firm paid $250,000 by America Next, which has been trying to gin up ‘organic’ opposition to El-Sayed Man who heckled El-Sayed is former Josh Hawley aide,…
Used byThe Guardian (Left)
Loaded modifier
supposed allegianceMore neutral: alleged
Supposed casts doubt on the question’s premise while the article does not establish that premise either way.
…to ambush Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with a question about his supposed allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood – which El-Sayed parlayed into a viral clip for his…
Used byThe Guardian (Left)
Loaded verb
parlayed into a viral clipMore neutral: which became a viral clip for his campaign
Parlayed suggests a calculated exploitation of the exchange, a motive the article does not show.
…about his supposed allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood – which El-Sayed parlayed into a viral clip for his campaign – is the son of a political operator who recently received…
Used byThe Guardian (Left)
Words quoted from someone else (3)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.
Sensational language
QuotedcrazyMore neutral: (omit) and quote the statement
Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.
Kennedy and said it is “crazy” to assume he has “dual loyalties.” Host Ali Velshi said, “You
Quoted byBreitbart News (Far Right)
Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.
Loaded modifier
QuotedcrazyMore neutral: said it was unreasonable
The word is a quoted remark by El-Sayed and is attributed to him in the headline.
Abdul El-Sayed invokes JFK to dismiss 'crazy' questions over family's alleged ties to Muslim Brotherhood
Quoted byFox News (Far Right)
These are Abdul El-Sayed’s words. The outlets are reporting them.
Delegitimizing label
Quotedterrorist sympathizerMore neutral: who has said El-Sayed is sympathetic to a terrorist group
The label is a characterization by a political opponent, not a finding, and the article does not give its basis.
…Republican congressman Mike Rogers, who has characterized El-Sayed as a terrorist sympathizer.
Quoted byStraight Arrow News (Center)
These are Mike Rogers’s words. The outlets are reporting them.
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
5 outlets · 1 opinionLeads with
- El-Sayed’s rebuttal of the question
- a lesson on the Constitution and loyalty
- the questioner’s link to a Republican senator’s office
Leaves out
- alleged family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood
Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.
See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
- The GuardianLeft
Michigan heckler the son of Republican adviser paid for ‘influencer marketing’ against El-Sayed
Timmy Teepell’s firm paid $250,000 by America Next, which has been trying to Loaded verb“gin up”Gin up suggests manufacturing opposition, a judgement about the group’s conduct beyond what the filing shows.More neutral: buildDisagree with this highlight? ‘organic’ opposition to El-Sayed Man who heckled El-Sayed is former Josh Hawley aide, records show The man who attempted to ambush Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with a question about …
1 more from The Guardian
- TruthoutFar Left
Abdul El-Sayed Loaded verb“Schools”“Schools” suggests the candidate won a contest over the questioner, a verdict the exchange as reported does not settle.More neutral: Responds toDisagree with this highlight? Heckler Who Questioned His Loyalty to the US
The heckler asked El-Sayed if he disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, which the candidate has done in past remarks.
- The New RepublicFar Left
Loaded modifier“MAGA Operative”“MAGA” attaches a movement label to the questioner in the headline, while the description uses the more general term Republican political operative.More neutral: Republican operativeDisagree with this highlight? Gives Abdul El-Sayed His Most Viral Campaign Moment
A Republican political operative Loaded verb“tried to trap”“Tried to trap” attributes a hostile intent to the questioner that the coverage does not establish.More neutral: askedDisagree with this highlight? the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, into a viral ‘Sensational language“gotcha”“Gotcha” characterizes the question as a trick, a judgement about intent.More neutral: questionDisagree with this highlight?’ moment. He ended up becoming the story instead. …
- HuffPostFar Left
Abdul El-Sayed Loaded verb“Shuts Down”“Shuts down” presents the exchange as a defeat of the questioner, a verdict the coverage does not establish.More neutral: responds toDisagree with this highlight? 'Muslim Brotherhood' Heckler With Lesson On The Constitution
The Senate candidate confronted questions over his “dual loyalties” while campaigning in a deep red region of Michigan on Saturday.
- Mother JonesFar Left
Abdul El-Sayed Flipped the Script on a Loaded modifier“Bigoted Gotcha Attempt”The headline labels the question a bigoted gotcha in the outlet’s own voice.More neutral: a question about his Muslim faithDisagree with this highlight?
In a clip that quickly went viral Saturday night, Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed countered a Loaded modifier“bigoted question”The outlet characterizes the question as bigoted in its own voice, a judgement the supplied text does not establish.More neutral: a question about his Muslim faithDisagree with this highlight? about his Muslim faith at a Michigan town hall with a lesson in American government. …
Abdul El-Sayed’s Viral Moment With a Heckler Was Revealing—but Not in the Way the Heckler Intended
A clip of Michigan’s Democratic Senate candidate is proving a political Rorschach test.
From the center
2 outletsLeads with
- El-Sayed’s criticism of the question
- his own words in quotation marks
- his “Why are you asking the question?” reply
Leaves out
- the questioner’s link to a Republican senator’s office
Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.
See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
- Straight Arrow NewsCenter
‘Why would you think that about me?’: El-Sayed questions his questioners
The Michigan Democratic Senate candidate went viral for turning the tables on a questioner. For better or worse, it’s his go-to move.
- The HillCenter
El-Sayed criticizes implications of 'Muslim Brotherhood' question
Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed criticized the implications of a question asked at a Saturday town hall concerning the Muslim Brotherhood. At a campaign event in Michigan, El-Sayed was asked by an attendee whether he would "disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. …
From the right
5 outletsLeads with
- the JFK comparison
- the “dual loyalties” remark
- alleged Muslim Brotherhood family ties
Leaves out
- the questioner’s former aide link to Senator Josh Hawley
Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.
See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- One America NewsFar Right
El-Sayed asked to disavow Muslim Brotherhood — compares scrutiny of his Islamic religion to JFK’s Catholicism
When asked to disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed compared himself to former President John F. Kennedy (JFK), referencing how the 35th president had been questioned about his allegiance to his faith as the United States’ first Catholic …
- Fox NewsFar Right
'The View' co-hosts defend El Sayed comparing himself to JFK over Muslim Brotherhood scrutiny
"The View" co-hosts clashed over whether Abdul El-Sayed's family's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood are a legitimate concern or Islamophobic questioning.
- TownhallFar Right
Abdul El-Sayed Was Asked to Disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. Here's What He Had to Say.
Over the weekend, Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was asked to draw a line: Would he disavow the Muslim Brotherhood?
- Daily MailRight
Sensational language“The truth behind”“The truth behind” implies a hidden fact that the article does not establish, while the claims about family ties remain allegations.More neutral: Details ofDisagree with this highlight? Abdul El-Sayed's family's Loaded modifier“ties to the Muslim Brotherhood”“Ties to” links the candidate’s family to the group without spelling out the link, and the article describes these as alleged.More neutral: alleged family connections to the Muslim BrotherhoodDisagree with this highlight? as Sensational language“clash”“Clash” adds drama to an exchange that the description calls a heated question and answer.More neutral: exchangeDisagree with this highlight? goes viral in razor-thin Senate race
A Sensational language“heated exchange”“Heated” adds drama that the reported exchange does not itself establish.More neutral: exchangeDisagree with this highlight? between Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed and a man at a campaign town hall has reignited a debate over his alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Breitbart NewsFar Right
El-Sayed Compares Himself to JFK: 'Sensational language“Crazy”Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.More neutral: (omit) and quote the statementThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?' to Assume I Have 'Dual Loyalties'
On Saturday’s broadcast of “MS NOW Reports,” Michigan’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, compared himself to late President John F. Kennedy and said it is “Sensational language“crazy”Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.More neutral: (omit) and quote the statementThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?” to assume he has “dual loyalties.” Host Ali Velshi said, “You
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 10 min later
Its first report, Oct 18, 11:33 AM EDT
Center
6 hr 57 min later
Its first report, Oct 18, 5:20 PM EDT
Right
First to report
Breitbart News, Oct 18, 10:23 AM EDT
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 18, 10:23 AM EDT
- Mother JonesFar LeftOct 18, 11:33 AM EDT
- Fox NewsFar RightOct 18, 3:52 PM EDT
- The HillCenterOct 18, 5:20 PM EDT
- HuffPostFar LeftOct 18, 5:58 PM EDT
- The New RepublicFar LeftOct 19, 9:18 AM EDT
- The GuardianLeftOct 19, 10:40 AM EDT
- Daily MailRightOct 19, 11:28 AM EDT
- TownhallFar RightOct 19, 11:45 AM EDT
- TruthoutFar LeftOct 19, 1:08 PM EDT
- Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 19, 8:08 PM EDT
- One America NewsFar RightOct 20, 6:17 PM EDT
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.
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