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Minnesota's $100 million homelessness grants included a harm reduction nonprofit

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, all right-leaning.

4 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

The Washington Free Beacon, The Western Journal, The Daily Wire and Townhall report that Minnesota announced $100 million in grants in 2024 for “Minnesotans facing homelessness,” with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Gov. Tim Walz announcing the program. Among the recipients was Southside Harm Reduction Services, a nonprofit that provides syringes, naloxone and other harm reduction supplies. The outlets say Southside also distributes kits that they call “booty bumping” kits, which include lubricant and are used to take drugs rectally. According to The Daily Wire, the state’s announcement did not mention the kits. Townhall puts the award to Southside at $8 million. Flanagan, now the Democratic Senate nominee, said the grants would help people find safe, stable housing.

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. Minnesota announced $100 million in grants in 2024 for Minnesotans facing homelessness, with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Gov. Tim Walz announcing the program.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    Washington Free Beacon, The Western Journal, The Daily Wire

  2. Southside Harm Reduction Services, a nonprofit, was among the grant recipients.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    Washington Free Beacon, The Western Journal, The Daily Wire, Townhall

  3. Townhall reports that the award to Southside was $8 million.

    One outletTownhall· Far Right

  4. Southside distributes booty bumping kits that include lubricant, for taking drugs through the rectum, a practice known as boofing.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    Washington Free Beacon, The Western Journal, The Daily Wire, Townhall

  5. The state’s announcement described Southside’s services as syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, HIV testing and housing referrals, and did not mention the kits, according to The Daily Wire.

    One outletThe Daily Wire· Far Right

  6. Flanagan, now the Democratic Senate nominee, said the grants would ensure that everyone can access the supports they need to find and secure safe, stable housing.

    One outletWashington Free Beacon· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The state grants funded booty bumping kits.

    The Free Beacon and Townhall say the money supported kits that Southside distributes, and Townhall calls its $8 million award one for the kits. The Daily Wire says the state’s announcement did not mention the kits and described Southside’s services as syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, HIV testing and housing referrals.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All four outlets report that Minnesota announced $100 million in 2024 grants for people facing homelessness, including to Southside Harm Reduction Services. The coverage stresses Flanagan’s personal role and the booty bumping kits, which The Daily Wire says the state’s announcement did not mention.

  • 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

    No coverage yet

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

  • the right

    3 outlets · 1 opinion

    Headlines tie Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan personally to funding for booty bumping kits, using words such as steered, junkies and disgusting; all four outlets are rated Far Right, so no milder right-leaning headline appears.

    Peggy Flanagan and Tim Walz Steered Millions To Pay for Sensational language“Disgusting”The word is a moral judgement about the kits rather than a description of what the grants paid for.More neutral: drug-use kitsDisagree with this highlight? ‘Booty Bumping’ Kits that Help Dehumanizing label“Junkies”The label reduces people who use drugs to a contemptible category before any facts about them are given.More neutral: people who use drugsDisagree with this highlight? Take Drugs Through ‘the Rectum’
    Washington Free BeaconFar 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.

  • Center

    Has not covered this story.

  • Right7

    Junkiesso-calledDisgustingfrittering

In the outlets’ own words

  • Dehumanizing label

    JunkiesMore neutral: people who use drugs

    The label reduces people who use drugs to a contemptible category before any facts about them are given.

    …and Tim Walz Steered Millions To Pay for Disgusting ‘Booty Bumping’ Kits that Help Junkies Take Drugs Through ‘the Rectum’

    Used byWashington Free Beacon (Far Right)The Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    so-calledMore neutral: (omit)

    Sneer quotes in word form.

    Tim Walz—for "Minnesotans facing homelessness," including so-called harm reduction for drug users.

    Used byWashington Free Beacon (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    DisgustingMore neutral: drug-use kits

    The word is a moral judgement about the kits rather than a description of what the grants paid for.

    Peggy Flanagan and Tim Walz Steered Millions To Pay for Disgusting ‘Booty Bumping’ Kits that Help Junkies Take Drugs Through ‘the Rectum’

    Used byWashington Free Beacon (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    fritteringMore neutral: spending

    The verb asserts waste as fact rather than describing how the money was spent.

    Peggy Flanagan isn’t frittering your tax dollars away via fraud, she still manages to outrage.

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Delegitimizing label

    via fraudMore neutral: in addition to

    The phrase asserts fraud as fact, and the coverage cites no finding of fraud.

    Peggy Flanagan isn’t frittering your tax dollars away via fraud, she still manages to outrage.

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Shove Drugs Up Their PosteriorsMore neutral: use drugs rectally

    The phrase is crude and vivid language used to provoke rather than to describe how the drugs were used.

    …Dem Senate Nominee Spent Taxpayer Money to Teach Junkies How to Shove Drugs Up Their Posteriors

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    “safe” ways to take drugsMore neutral: ways to take drugs with fewer health risks

    The scare quotes around safe signal doubt about a safety claim that the coverage does not test.

    …steer $8 million to a "harm reduction" group to supply drug users with "safe" ways to take drugs.

    Used byTownhall (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

0 outlets

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

From the right

3 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Flanagan’s personal role in steering funds
  • Booty bumping kits and rectal drug use
  • Taxpayer money going to a harm reduction group
  • Flanagan’s Senate campaign
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • TownhallFar Right

    Peggy Flanagan's Administration Awarded $8M to 'Harm Reduction' Group for 'Booty Bumping' Kits

    Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan helped steer $8 million to a "harm reduction" group to supply drug users with Delegitimizing label“"safe" ways to take drugs”The scare quotes around safe signal doubt about a safety claim that the coverage does not test.More neutral: ways to take drugs with fewer health risksDisagree with this highlight?. This group, Southside Harm Reduction Services, is a nonprofit that "promotes the health and wellbeing of drug users" by supplying syringes, …

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    Democrat Senate Candidate Helped Steer Gov Funds To ‘Booty Bump’ Drug Kits

    Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan helped promote state funding for a nonprofit that distributes kits for taking drugs through the rectum. Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, joined Gov. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington Free BeaconFar Right

    Peggy Flanagan and Tim Walz Steered Millions To Pay for Sensational language“Disgusting”The word is a moral judgement about the kits rather than a description of what the grants paid for.More neutral: drug-use kitsDisagree with this highlight? ‘Booty Bumping’ Kits that Help Dehumanizing label“Junkies”The label reduces people who use drugs to a contemptible category before any facts about them are given.More neutral: people who use drugsDisagree with this highlight? Take Drugs Through ‘the Rectum’

    Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan's (D.) administration spearheaded the awarding of millions of dollars in grants and contracts to a "harm reduction" group that supplies "booty bumping" kits to drug users to help them safely ingest drugs through "the butthole."

    Read at Washington Free Beacon (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar RightOpinion

    Report: Minnesota Dem Senate Nominee Spent Taxpayer Money to Teach Dehumanizing label“Junkies”The label reduces people who use drugs to a contemptible category before any facts about them are given.More neutral: people who use drugsDisagree with this highlight? How to Sensational language“Shove Drugs Up Their Posteriors”The phrase is crude and vivid language used to provoke rather than to describe how the drugs were used.More neutral: use drugs rectallyDisagree with this highlight?

    It’s pretty amazing that, even when Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan isn’t Loaded verb“frittering”The verb asserts waste as fact rather than describing how the money was spent.More neutral: spendingDisagree with this highlight? your tax dollars away Delegitimizing label“via fraud”The phrase asserts fraud as fact, and the coverage cites no finding of fraud.More neutral: in addition toDisagree with this highlight?, she still manages to outrage. Flanagan, the Democratic nominee for Senate,

    Read at The Western Journal (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

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Center

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Right

    First to report

    Washington Free Beacon, Oct 21, 3:45 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Washington Free BeaconFar RightOct 21, 3:45 PM EDT
  2. The Daily WireFar RightOct 22, 12:06 PM EDT
  3. TownhallFar RightOct 22, 4:45 PM EDT

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

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