California Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences to life without parole

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 26 outlets across the spectrum.

30 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday in an open letter that he has commuted the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row, converting each to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He said state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values and undermines the legal system. The decision comes as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years as governor. The New Republic calls it the largest death sentence commutation in American history, and Fox News reports sharp backlash from victims’ rights advocates. Newsom said the decision was among the most difficult of his career.

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The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

Newsom said he has commuted the death sentences of all 548 people on California’s death row, converting each to life without parole.
Across the spectrumReported byFar Left1Left2Center4Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The New Republic
Left
NBC News, The Independent
Center
The Hill, Straight Arrow News, BBC News, Deutsche Welle
Right
The Washington Times, Daily Mail
Far Right
Fox News, Just the News
Under California law, a commutation automatically converts a death sentence to life without parole.
Reported byLeft1Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Left
TheGrio
Right
The Washington Times
Far Right
Fox News, Just the News
Newsom announced the decision in an open letter, saying state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values.
Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The New Republic
Left
TheGrio
Center
Straight Arrow News
Far Right
Fox News, Just the News
The move comes as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years as governor.
Reported byFar Left1Left2Center1Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
The New Republic
Left
TheGrio, The Independent
Center
Deutsche Welle
Right
Daily Mail
The New Republic describes it as the largest death sentence commutation in American history.
One outletThe New Republic· Far Left
Fox News reports the move drew sharp backlash from victims’ rights advocates.
One outletFox News· Far Right

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three sides report that Newsom has commuted the death sentences of 548 California inmates on Thursday. The main difference is emphasis: the left stresses his moral opposition to executions, the center sticks to the figures, and the right dwells on the crimes of those spared.

the left
13 outlets · 1 opinion
Left headlines report the commutation as a move or a plain act, and the Far Left New Republic frames it as saving everyone on death row in Newsom’s final act.
California Gov. Newsom commutes all death sentences in the state
NBC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines
the center
7 outlets
Center headlines state the act and the count plainly with no evaluative words, and Deutsche Welle adds that Newsom is a rumored presidential candidate.
California governor commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row
BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines
the right
7 outlets
Fox News and Just the News frame it as wiping out the death row, and the Daily Mail says it spares every murderer, while the Washington Times reports it plainly.
Gavin Newsom Loaded verb“spares every murderer”The verb spares frames the commutation as a favour to convicted killers, while the plain fact is a change in sentence.More neutral: commutes the sentences of every inmate onDisagree with this highlight? on California's death row in one of his final acts as Governor
Daily MailRightAll 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.

Left5
self-inflicted testcourageous standsparked global outrageSave Everyone
Center2
rumoredspare
Right6
claimedbombshellescape ultimate punishmentspared every murderer

In the outlets’ own words

Loaded verb
claimedMore neutral: said
The word implies doubt about the governor’s stated reasons, which the article does not contest.
The governor claimed the decision comes after 30 years in public service and that he is doing so because…
Used byJust the News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
self-inflicted testMore neutral: political test
The label self-inflicted presents the decision as a self-caused problem, which is the columnist's judgement rather than a reported fact.
Newsom's decision, as he ponders a run for the White House, is a self-inflicted test of political endurance from a savvy politician who didn't need to go there.
Used byLos Angeles Times (Left)
Loaded modifier
courageous standMore neutral: decision to commute the sentences
The adjective courageous is praise that expresses the columnist's view of the decision rather than reporting it.
On Thursday, Newsom took what can only be described as a courageous stand, a risky stand — commuting the death sentences of the 548 men and women condemned…
Used byLos Angeles Times (Left)
Sensational language
sparked global outrageMore neutral: drew criticism
The phrase asserts the scale of a reaction to the Pike execution without citing evidence of its extent.
The move comes after the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee sparked global outrage and renewed calls for a nationwide pause on capital punishment.
Used byThe Guardian (Left)

Show 9 more phrasesShow fewer

Sensational language
bombshellMore neutral: move
The word presents a policy decision as dramatic shock without adding facts.
Gavin Newsom dropped a bombshell move on Thursday to commute all 561 death row inmates in California.
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded verb
escape ultimate punishmentMore neutral: have their death sentences commuted
The verb escape frames the commutations as letting inmates avoid deserved punishment, which presumes the sentences were deserved.
Gavin Newsom lets all of California’s 561 death row inmates escape ultimate punishment
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded verb
spared every murdererMore neutral: commuted the sentences of every inmate on
The verb spared frames the commutation as a favour to convicted killers, while the plain fact is a change in sentence.
Gavin Newsom has spared every murderer on California's death row in one of his final acts as governor.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded verb
spares every murdererMore neutral: commutes the sentences of every inmate on
The verb spares frames the commutation as a favour to convicted killers, while the plain fact is a change in sentence.
Gavin Newsom spares every murderer on California's death row in one of his final acts as Governor
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded verb
Save EveryoneMore neutral: commutes all death sentences on California’s death row
Save presupposes that the inmates were in mortal danger, which pre-judges the purpose of the commutations.
Newsom Moves to Save Everyone on California’s Death Row in Final Act
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Loaded verb
wipes outMore neutral: commutes all death sentences
The verb suggests the death row was destroyed, while the story reports that sentences were commuted to life in prison.
Gavin Newsom wipes out California's death row in historic mass commutation
Used byFox News (Far Right)
Vague attribution
rumoredMore neutral: report only what can be confirmed, or name the source of the rumor
Publishes a rumor while disclaiming it.
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and a rumored presidential candidate, moved to commute the death sentences of 548 inmates in…
Used byDeutsche Welle (Center)
Loaded verb
ApplaudsMore neutral: ACLU welcomes
The headline reports the announcement as praise from an advocacy group in a verb that adds approval.
ACLU Applauds Gov.
Used byCommon Dreams (Far Left)
Loaded verb
spareMore neutral: end the death sentences of
Spare implies the inmates deserved execution and were given mercy, which is a judgement the excerpt does not establish.
The decision to spare death row inmates is largely symbolic in a state that has not executed a prisoner…
Used byBBC News (Center)

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

13 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

Newsom’s moral opposition to state killing
Timing as he leaves office
Scale of 548 inmates

Leaves out

Backlash from victims’ rights advocates

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

See the 14 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

Rolling StoneFar Left
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Commutes Hundreds of Death Row Sentences
The move comes on the same day the United States plans to execute three people, the second time this has happened in 2026
19 min agoRead at Rolling Stone (opens in a new tab)
TheGrioLeft
Gavin Newsom moves to commute every death row inmate in California
Commuting a death sentence changes the punishment to life in prison without the possibility of parole. California Governor Gavin Newsom
1 hr agoRead at TheGrio (opens in a new tab)
NBC NewsLeft
California Gov. Newsom commutes all death sentences in the state
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has commuted all death sentences in the state, saying he opposes "state-sanctioned killing." NBC News' Danny Cevallos has details on the governor's decision.
1 hr agoRead at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
1 more from NBC News
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes all death sentences
MS NOWFar Left
Gavin Newsom says he will spare all death row inmates in California
The governor, who leaves office in January, called executions “incompatible” with the state’s values but acknowledged his decision may hurt victims’ families.
1 hr agoRead at MS NOW (opens in a new tab)
The New RepublicFar Left
Newsom Moves to Loaded verb“Save Everyone”Save presupposes that the inmates were in mortal danger, which pre-judges the purpose of the commutations.More neutral: commutes all death sentences on California’s death rowDisagree with this highlight? on California’s Death Row in Final Act
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom commuted the sentences of 548 death row inmates in one of his last acts in office. This is the largest death sentence commutation in American history. …
2 hr agoRead at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
The IndependentLeft
Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences in California as he prepares to leave office
Newsom said the decision was among his hardest as governor of California
2 hr agoRead at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
CBS NewsLeft
Newsom moves to commute all California death sentences
The move does not repeal California's death penalty or prevent prosecutors from seeking it in future cases.
2 hr agoRead at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report
Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without parole
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’ll change all death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole
2 hr agoRead at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
Also published by PBS NewsHour. It counts once.
CNNLeft
Newsom commutes sentences of all California death row prisoners
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he is commuting every death sentence in his state to a sentence of life in prison without parole. …
2 hr agoRead at CNN (opens in a new tab)
The GuardianLeft
Gavin Newsom commutes more than 500 death sentences in California
Democrat’s move prevents these people from executions under future governors, after Christa Pike’s failed execution Gavin Newsom , California ’s governor, has commuted the death sentences of more than 500 people on the state’s death row on Thursday, a move that ensures they can …
2 hr agoRead at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
The New York TimesLeft
Newsom Commutes the Sentences of California’s 548 Death Row Inmates
Gov. Gavin Newsom, in one of his last acts, commuted the sentences of all prisoners with death sentences, calling capital punishment morally objectionable. That’s about a quarter of death sentences nationwide.
2 hr agoRead at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
Also published by The Boston Globe. It counts once.
Los Angeles TimesLeft
Newsom moves to commute all California death sentences to life in prison without parole
The outgoing governor's plan to remove the threat of capital punishment hanging over more than 500 condemned inmates comes as he considers a run for president.
2 hr agoRead at Los Angeles Times (opens in a new tab)
1 more from Los Angeles Times
- Chabria: Newsom wants to empty death row. Most politicians wouldn't bother — or dareOpinion
Common DreamsFar LeftOpinion
ACLU Loaded verb“Applauds”The headline reports the announcement as praise from an advocacy group in a verb that adds approval.More neutral: ACLU welcomesDisagree with this highlight? Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All Death Sentences in California
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that he was moving to commute all death sentences in California, marking a historic step towards ending the death penalty in California and across the country. …
1 hr agoRead at Common Dreams (opens in a new tab)
The Boston GlobeFar LeftSame report as at The New York Times
Newsom commutes the sentences of California’s 548 death row inmates
The Boston Globe published a report that is shown in full at The New York Times.
1 hr agoRead at The Boston Globe (opens in a new tab)

From the center

7 outlets

Leads with

The 548 inmates affected
Conversion to life without parole
Newsom’s final acts in office

See the 7 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

The HillCenter
California Gov. Gavin Newsom to commute all death sentences in state
Newsom said he is changing the penalty for all 548 death row inmates to life without parole.
1 hr agoRead at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
Straight Arrow NewsCenter
Gavin Newsom commutes all California death sentences
In an open letter, Gov. Newsom said capital punishment goes against California’s values and public safety goals.
1 hr agoRead at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
BBC NewsCenter
California governor commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row
California has historically had the largest population of death row inmates in the US.
1 hr agoRead at BBC News (opens in a new tab)
Deutsche WelleCenter
Gavin Newsom commutes sentences of all death row inmates in California
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and a Vague attribution“rumored”Publishes a rumor while disclaiming it.More neutral: report only what can be confirmed, or name the source of the rumorDisagree with this highlight? presidential candidate, moved to commute the death sentences of 548 inmates in California for one of his last acts as governor.
2 hr agoRead at Deutsche Welle (opens in a new tab)
France 24Center
'Inhumane punishment': California governor Gavin Newsom to commute 548 death sentences
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday said he would commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole, marking a major step away from capital punishment as he prepares to leave office after eight years.
2 hr agoRead at France 24 (opens in a new tab)
Sky NewsCenter
All 548 death row inmates in California to have sentences changed to life in prison
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he'll change all death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
7 hr agoRead at Sky News (opens in a new tab)
PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report
Newsom says he will commute all 548 of California's death sentences to life without parole
PBS NewsHour published a report that is shown in full at ABC News. The headline is the one PBS NewsHour gave it.
2 hr agoRead at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

7 outlets

Leads with

The crimes of those spared
Backlash from victims’ advocates
Botched Tennessee execution context

See the 7 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

TheBlazeFar Right
Gavin Newsom says death penalty is 'incompatible' with California values in massive commutation announcement
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will commute the sentences for all California prisoners on death row. The historic decision will be one of the last of his administration since he has been term-limited out of office. …
14 min agoRead at TheBlaze (opens in a new tab)
The Daily CallerFar Right
Gavin Newsom Enacts Largest Death Row Mass Commutation In US History
‘The harm they inflicted persists across generations.’
34 min agoRead at The Daily Caller (opens in a new tab)
Fox NewsFar Right
Gavin Newsom Loaded verb“wipes out”The verb suggests the death row was destroyed, while the story reports that sentences were commuted to life in prison.More neutral: commutes all death sentencesDisagree with this highlight? California's death row in historic mass commutation
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will commute all 548 death sentences to life without parole, drawing sharp backlash from victims' rights advocates.
2 hr agoRead at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
The Washington TimesRight
Gavin Newsom commutes all California death sentences to life in prison
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that he has granted clemency to every person facing a death sentence in California, erasing their possible executions but leaving them in prison for life, without the chance at parole.
2 hr agoRead at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
Daily MailRight
Gavin Newsom Loaded verb“spares every murderer”The verb spares frames the commutation as a favour to convicted killers, while the plain fact is a change in sentence.More neutral: commutes the sentences of every inmate onDisagree with this highlight? on California's death row in one of his final acts as Governor
Gavin Newsom has spared every murderer on California's death row in his final act as Governor.
2 hr agoRead at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
New York PostRight
Gavin Newsom lets all of California’s 561 death row inmates Loaded verb“escape ultimate punishment”The verb escape frames the commutations as letting inmates avoid deserved punishment, which presumes the sentences were deserved.More neutral: have their death sentences commutedDisagree with this highlight?
Gov. Gavin Newsom dropped a Sensational language“bombshell”The word presents a policy decision as dramatic shock without adding facts.More neutral: moveDisagree with this highlight? move on Thursday to commute all 561 death row inmates in California.
2 hr agoRead at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
Just the NewsFar Right
California Dem Gov Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences in state to life in prison without parole
The governor Loaded verb“claimed”The word implies doubt about the governor’s stated reasons, which the article does not contest.More neutral: saidDisagree with this highlight? the decision comes after 30 years in public service and that he is doing so because he believes that “state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with” the Golden State's values.
22 hr agoRead at Just the News (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
4 hr 13 min later
Its first report, Nov 5, 2:21 PM EST
Center
First to report
Sky News, Nov 5, 10:09 AM EST
Right
4 hr 29 min later
Its first report, Nov 5, 2:37 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

Sky NewsCenterNov 5, 10:09 AM EST
Los Angeles TimesLeftNov 5, 2:21 PM EST
The New York TimesLeftNov 5, 2:28 PM EST
The GuardianLeftNov 5, 2:28 PM EST
New York PostRightNov 5, 2:37 PM EST
NBC NewsLeftNov 5, 2:42 PM EST
CNNLeftNov 5, 2:47 PM EST
Daily MailRightNov 5, 2:48 PM EST
ABC NewsLeftNov 5, 2:50 PM EST
CBS NewsLeftNov 5, 2:52 PM EST
The IndependentLeftNov 5, 2:52 PM EST
The New RepublicFar LeftNov 5, 2:53 PM EST
The Washington TimesRightNov 5, 2:56 PM EST
France 24CenterNov 5, 2:59 PM EST
Fox NewsFar RightNov 5, 3:03 PM EST
Deutsche WelleCenterNov 5, 3:04 PM EST
PBS NewsHourCenterNov 5, 3:07 PM EST
The Boston GlobeFar LeftNov 5, 3:11 PM EST
BBC NewsCenterNov 5, 3:12 PM EST
Straight Arrow NewsCenterNov 5, 3:12 PM EST
The HillCenterNov 5, 3:18 PM EST
MS NOWFar LeftNov 5, 3:37 PM EST
TheGrioLeftNov 5, 3:55 PM EST
The Daily CallerFar RightNov 5, 4:35 PM EST
Rolling StoneFar LeftNov 5, 4:50 PM EST
TheBlazeFar RightNov 5, 4:54 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.

Key points

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Commutes Hundreds of Death Row Sentences

Gavin Newsom moves to commute every death row inmate in California

California Gov. Newsom commutes all death sentences in the state

Gavin Newsom says he will spare all death row inmates in California

Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences in California as he prepares to leave office

Newsom moves to commute all California death sentences

Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without parole

Newsom commutes sentences of all California death row prisoners

Gavin Newsom commutes more than 500 death sentences in California

Newsom Commutes the Sentences of California’s 548 Death Row Inmates

Newsom moves to commute all California death sentences to life in prison without parole

ACLU ApplaudsLoaded verb“Applauds”The headline reports the announcement as praise from an advocacy group in a verb that adds approval.More neutral: ACLU welcomesDisagree with this highlight? Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All Death Sentences in California

Newsom commutes the sentences of California’s 548 death row inmates

From the center

California Gov. Gavin Newsom to commute all death sentences in state

Gavin Newsom commutes all California death sentences

California governor commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row

Gavin Newsom commutes sentences of all death row inmates in California

'Inhumane punishment': California governor Gavin Newsom to commute 548 death sentences

All 548 death row inmates in California to have sentences changed to life in prison

Newsom says he will commute all 548 of California's death sentences to life without parole

From the right

Gavin Newsom says death penalty is 'incompatible' with California values in massive commutation announcement

Gavin Newsom Enacts Largest Death Row Mass Commutation In US History

Gavin Newsom wipes outLoaded verb“wipes out”The verb suggests the death row was destroyed, while the story reports that sentences were commuted to life in prison.More neutral: commutes all death sentencesDisagree with this highlight? California's death row in historic mass commutation

Gavin Newsom commutes all California death sentences to life in prison

California Dem Gov Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences in state to life in prison without parole

How the coverage built up

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ACLU Loaded verb“Applauds”The headline reports the announcement as praise from an advocacy group in a verb that adds approval.More neutral: ACLU welcomesDisagree with this highlight? Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Historic Commutation of All Death Sentences in California

Gavin Newsom Loaded verb“wipes out”The verb suggests the death row was destroyed, while the story reports that sentences were commuted to life in prison.More neutral: commutes all death sentencesDisagree with this highlight? California's death row in historic mass commutation