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Sullivan says Peltola allies recruited a namesake candidate, which Peltola denies

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 5 outlets, mostly right-leaning (60%).

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

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Image via PBS NewsHourHow images are chosenReport this image

Republican Senator Dan Sullivan said on CNN’s State of the Union that his Democratic opponent, Mary Peltola, is lying about her campaign’s role in recruiting a retired schoolteacher also named Dan Sullivan to run on the Alaska ballot. Sullivan said the move is confusing voters and that he expects to lose votes because of it. Peltola has denied involvement and said she had no idea her top political aides were involved. Citing the New York Times, the New York Post reports that a former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was “definitely aware,” and that Rios was pushed out in an August staff shake-up.

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. Sullivan says Peltola’s allies recruited a retired schoolteacher also named Dan Sullivan to run on the ballot to confuse voters.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Right
    The Washington Times, New York Post
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, RedState

  2. Peltola has denied involvement and said she had no idea her top political aides were involved.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Right
    The Washington Times, New York Post

  3. A former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the New York Times that Peltola was “definitely aware” of the effort, according to the New York Post.

    One outletNew York Post· Right

  4. On CNN’s State of the Union, Sullivan said the scheme is working and that he expects to lose votes to it.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Right2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Center
    PBS NewsHour
    Right
    New York Post, The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Breitbart News

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Questions the coverage answers differently, and who says what.

  • Was Mary Peltola aware of the effort to recruit a candidate named Dan Sullivan?

    Sullivan says her allies recruited the candidate and that she is lying about it, and Peltola says she had no idea her top aides were involved. The New York Times reported, according to the New York Post, that former campaign manager Elisa Rios said Peltola was “definitely aware.”

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports Senator Dan Sullivan’s charge that Democrat Mary Peltola is lying about a namesake candidate, and Peltola’s denial. The right leads with Sullivan’s accusations and adds a former aide’s claim she was aware; the center and left carry the AP report.

  • the left

    1 outlet

    The left side’s only coverage is the AP report that ABC News carried, using the wire’s headline and reporting Sullivan’s claim as an attributed statement.

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The center side’s only coverage is the AP report that PBS NewsHour carried, using the wire’s headline and reporting Sullivan’s claim as an attributed statement.

  • the right

    3 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-side headlines lead with Sullivan’s charges that Peltola is lying or that the scheme is working; the New York Post adds the “Decoy Dan” nickname, and the Washington Times runs AP’s wording.

    Alaska Sen. Sullivan warns alleged ‘Decoy Dan’ scheme is working: ‘I’m going to lose a lot of votes to that Delegitimizing label“trickery”Calls the ballot arrangement deceit, a judgement the article attributes to the senator rather than to an established finding.More neutral: the ballot schemeThese are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’
    New York PostRightAll 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.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right7

    lunaticshenaniganslunaticproclaimed

In the outlets’ own words

  • Delegitimizing label

    lunaticMore neutral: ranked choice voting (RCV)

    The adjective dismisses the ranked-choice voting system with a judgement the article does not support with evidence.

    …Senate race may well decide the balance of power in the 12th Congress, and our lunatic ranked choice voting (RCV) system may well have opened a door to shenanigans —…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    shenanigansMore neutral: allegations of improper conduct

    The word frames the alleged ballot scheme as playful mischief rather than describing the allegation.

    …and our lunatic ranked choice voting (RCV) system may well have opened a door to shenanigans — shenanigans like recruiting another Dan Sullivan to run against the incumbent Dan…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    lunaticMore neutral: (omit) and quote the statement

    Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.

    …Senate race may well decide the balance of power in the 12th Congress, and our lunatic ranked choice voting (RCV) system may well have opened a door to shenanigans —…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    proclaimedMore neutral: said

    The verb dramatizes a denial that is reported as her statement.

    Peltola spoke briefly with a local outlet, Alaska's News Source KTUU, and proclaimed her innocence in this matter.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded verb

    ProclaimsMore neutral: Says

    The verb presents Peltola’s denial as a dramatic public declaration rather than a statement.

    Mary Peltola Proclaims Her Innocence, but Alaska Voters Aren't Buying It

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    to confuse votersMore neutral: which critics say could confuse voters

    The phrase states the purpose of the recruitment as settled, though the purpose is contested.

    …in recruiting a retired schoolteacher also named Dan Sullivan onto the ballot to confuse voters in a race that could determine which party controls the Senate.

    Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    ventedMore neutral: said

    Describes the senator’s remarks as an emotional outburst rather than a statement.

    …that’s certainly deceitful, if not illegal, towards Peltola?'” the Republican senator vented to CNN’s “State of the Union.” “By the way, their scheme is working,” he said.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (4)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.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    LyingMore neutral: disputes

    The headline states Sullivan’s accusation with a word that asserts dishonesty; it is attributed to him and reported as his claim.

    Sullivan: Dem Opponent Peltola Is 'Lying' About Ballot-Stacking

    Quoted byBreitbart News (Far Right)

    These are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded verb

    Quoted

    still lyingMore neutral: disputes Peltola’s claim

    The phrase asserts dishonesty as fact; it is Sullivan’s claim, quoted in the headline.

    Sullivan claims Peltola is 'still lying' about campaign's involvement in Alaska ballot controversy

    Quoted byThe Washington Times (Right)

    These are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    certainly deceitful, if not illegalMore neutral: a scheme he says is designed to mislead voters

    Accuses the opposing campaign of deceit or illegality, an accusation the article reports from the senator without establishing it.

    …we trick people in Alaska so they can throw the vote in a way that’s certainly deceitful, if not illegal, towards Peltola?'” the Republican senator vented to CNN’s “State of…

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    These are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    trickeryMore neutral: the ballot scheme

    Calls the ballot arrangement deceit, a judgement the article attributes to the senator rather than to an established finding.

    …alleged ‘Decoy Dan’ scheme is working: ‘I’m going to lose a lot of votes to that trickery’

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    These are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

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

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Sullivan’s claim that Peltola is “still lying”
  • Peltola’s claim she had no idea of her aides’ role
See the headline from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Sullivan’s claim that Peltola is “still lying”
  • Peltola’s claim she had no idea of her aides’ role
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

3 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Sullivan’s accusation that Peltola is lying
  • the scheme confusing voters
  • the “Decoy Dan” nickname
  • Sullivan’s warning about losing votes
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • New York PostRight

    Alaska Sen. Sullivan warns alleged ‘Decoy Dan’ scheme is working: ‘I’m going to lose a lot of votes to that Delegitimizing label“trickery”Calls the ballot arrangement deceit, a judgement the article attributes to the senator rather than to an established finding.More neutral: the ballot schemeThese are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?’

    Incumbent Alaska Sen. Dan S. Sullivan on Sunday warned that the alleged scheme by allies of Dem rival Mary Peltola to recruit another Dan Sullivan onto the ballot "is working" and confusing voters.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • The Washington TimesRightAssociated Press report

    Sullivan claims Peltola is 'Loaded verb“still lying”The phrase asserts dishonesty as fact; it is Sullivan’s claim, quoted in the headline.More neutral: disputes Peltola’s claimThese are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?' about campaign's involvement in Alaska ballot controversy

    Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan said Sunday that he doubted claims by his Democratic opponent that she had no idea her top political aides were involved in recruiting a retired schoolteacher also named Dan Sullivan onto the ballot Absolutist framing“to confuse voters”The phrase states the purpose of the recruitment as settled, though the purpose is contested.More neutral: which critics say could confuse votersDisagree with this highlight? in a race that could determine …

    Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by ABC News and PBS NewsHour. It counts once.

  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    Sen. Sullivan: Dem Opponent Peltola Is 'Loaded verb“Lying”The headline states Sullivan’s accusation with a word that asserts dishonesty; it is attributed to him and reported as his claim.More neutral: disputesThese are Dan Sullivan’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?' About Ballot-Stacking

    Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) said his opponent for U.S. Sentate, Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK), is lying by denying any knowledge about the ballot-stacking plot to recruit another man named Dan Sullivan to run.

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar RightOpinion

    Mary Peltola Loaded verb“Proclaims”The verb presents Peltola’s denial as a dramatic public declaration rather than a statement.More neutral: SaysDisagree with this highlight? Her Innocence, but Alaska Voters Aren't Buying It

    Alaska Senate hopeful Mary Peltola's woes just keep growing more... woeful. Alaska's Senate race may well decide the balance of power in the 12th Congress, and our Delegitimizing label“lunatic”The adjective dismisses the ranked-choice voting system with a judgement the article does not support with evidence.More neutral: ranked choice voting (RCV)Disagree with this highlight? ranked choice voting (RCV) system may well have opened a door to Sensational language“shenanigans”The word frames the alleged ballot scheme as playful mischief rather than describing the allegation.More neutral: allegations of improper conductDisagree with this highlight? — shenanigans like recruiting …

    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

    30 min later

    Its first report, Nov 1, 11:52 AM EST

  • Center

    18 min later

    Its first report, Nov 1, 11:40 AM EST

  • Right

    First to report

    Breitbart News, Nov 1, 11:22 AM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Breitbart NewsFar RightNov 1, 11:22 AM EST
  2. The Washington TimesRightNov 1, 11:23 AM EST
  3. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 1, 11:40 AM EST
  4. ABC NewsLeftNov 1, 11:52 AM EST
  5. New York PostRightNov 1, 3:21 PM EST

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

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