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Phil Collins calls Trump ‘nasty’ and ‘unattractive’ in TV interview

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 4 outlets across the spectrum.

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

Rock musician Phil Collins, 75, criticized President Donald Trump during an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” calling him “nasty” and his manner “unattractive.” Collins said that historically presidents have been “eloquent and elegant” and commanded respect even from those who disagreed with them, but that Trump’s demeanor leaves him feeling dislike. Several outlets reported that Collins also said he has an idea for an unwritten song about America titled “Fat People With Guns.” The interview came weeks before Collins’ induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. Separately, it was noted that Collins’ legal team previously sent Trump’s campaign a cease-and-desist letter over unauthorized use of his music.

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. Collins called Trump “nasty” and said his manner is “unattractive” during an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.”

    Reported byLeftRight

  2. Collins said historically presidents have been “eloquent and elegant” and commanded respect even from people who disagreed with them.

    Reported byLeftRight

  3. Collins mentioned an unwritten song idea about America titled “Fat People With Guns.”

    Reported byRight

  4. Collins is 75 years old and is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.

    Reported byLeftRight

  5. In 2020, Collins’ legal team sent Trump’s campaign a cease-and-desist letter after “In the Air Tonight” was played at a rally without authorization.

    Reported byLeft

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    1 outlet

    The Daily Beast’s headline foregrounds Collins’ exact quoted words (“nasty” and “unattractive”) without added commentary.

    Rock Icon, 75, Loaded verb“Rips Into”Frames Collins’ remarks as an aggressive attack rather than neutral criticism.More neutral: CriticizesDisagree with this highlight? ‘Nasty’ and ‘Unattractive’ Trump
    The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    Mantle’s analysis has no note on this side yet. One of its headlines is shown.

    Phil Collins says Trump 'sees everything as a deal': 'Very scary time'
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets · 1 opinion

    Both right-side outlets lead with Collins ‘blasting’ or ‘smearing’ Trump and prominently feature the proposed song title, with Breitbart’s language notably more combative than the Fox News report also published by the New York Post.

    British Rocker Phil Collins Loaded verb“Smears Trump”Describes Collins’ criticism as a smear, implying it is dishonest or unfair rather than neutrally reporting his opinion.More neutral: criticizes TrumpDisagree with this highlight? as 'Nasty,' Teases Song Calling Americans 'Fat People with Guns'
    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.

  • Left1

    Rips Into

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right6

    blastsbashing President Donald Trumpripping Americans ascome out bashing President Donald Trump

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    blastsMore neutral: criticizes

    Characterizes Collins’ comments as an attack rather than neutrally describing them as criticism.

    Phil Collins blasts Trump as ‘nasty’ — working on ‘Fat People with Guns’ song

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    bashing President Donald TrumpMore neutral: criticizing President Donald Trump

    Frames Collins’ criticism as an aggressive attack rather than neutral commentary.

    Retired British rocker Phil Collins is the latest celebrity to come out bashing President Donald Trump, Collins calling him "nasty" and says he is thinking of writing a new song…

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    ripping Americans asMore neutral: describing Americans as

    Adds judgmental framing to a factual description of a proposed song title.

    …Collins calling him "nasty" and says he is thinking of writing a new song ripping Americans as "fat people with guns."

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    come out bashing President Donald TrumpMore neutral: criticizing President Donald Trump

    ‘Bashing’ frames Collins’ remarks as an aggressive attack rather than neutral criticism.

    Retired British rocker Phil Collins is the latest celebrity to come out bashing President Donald Trump, Collins calling him “nasty” and says he is thinking of writing a new…

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    aging singer and drummerMore neutral: 75-year-old singer and drummer

    ‘Aging’ is an unnecessary judgmental descriptor not relevant to the facts of the interview.

    “His whole manner is unattractive,” the aging singer and drummer said.

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Smears TrumpMore neutral: criticizes Trump

    Describes Collins’ criticism as a smear, implying it is dishonest or unfair rather than neutrally reporting his opinion.

    British Rocker Phil Collins Smears Trump as 'Nasty,' Teases Song Calling Americans 'Fat People with Guns'

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Rips IntoMore neutral: Criticizes

    Frames Collins’ remarks as an aggressive attack rather than neutral criticism.

    Rock Icon, 75, Rips Into ‘Nasty’ and ‘Unattractive’ Trump

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

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

  • direct quotes from the interview
  • Collins’ broader history of conflict with Trump over music usage
  • list of other artists who have objected to Trump using their songs

Leaves out

  • the ‘Fat People With Guns’ song idea

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

See the headline from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Rock Icon, 75, Loaded verb“Rips Into”Frames Collins’ remarks as an aggressive attack rather than neutral criticism.More neutral: CriticizesDisagree with this highlight? ‘Nasty’ and ‘Unattractive’ Trump

    Rock legend Phil Collins, 75, made his distaste for President Donald Trump, 80, known. “His whole manner is unattractive,” the former Genesis lead singer said on Piers Morgan Uncensored . “Even when he’s saying he did nothing. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Phil Collins says Trump 'sees everything as a deal': 'Very scary time'

    Phil Collins is knocking President Trump as "nasty," saying that the commander in chief "plays politics like a businessman," even though handling U.S. and international relations isn't "really a business at all. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

2 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • the proposed ‘Fat People With Guns’ song
  • Collins’ criticism of Trump’s character
  • framing Collins as part of a wider pattern of celebrity criticism of Trump

Leaves out

  • Collins’ past cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign

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

See the 3 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    British Rocker Phil Collins Loaded verb“Smears Trump”Describes Collins’ criticism as a smear, implying it is dishonest or unfair rather than neutrally reporting his opinion.More neutral: criticizes TrumpDisagree with this highlight? as 'Nasty,' Teases Song Calling Americans 'Fat People with Guns'

    Retired British rocker Phil Collins is the latest celebrity to come out Loaded verb“bashing President Donald Trump”Frames Collins’ criticism as an aggressive attack rather than neutral commentary.More neutral: criticizing President Donald TrumpDisagree with this highlight?, Collins calling him "nasty" and says he is thinking of writing a new song Loaded verb“ripping Americans as”Adds judgmental framing to a factual description of a proposed song title.More neutral: describing Americans asDisagree with this highlight? "fat people with guns."

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRightFox News report

    Phil Collins Loaded verb“blasts”Characterizes Collins’ comments as an attack rather than neutrally describing them as criticism.More neutral: criticizesDisagree with this highlight? Trump as ‘nasty’ — working on ‘Fat People with Guns’ song

    The 75-year-old didn't hold back about his feelings about America.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by Fox News. It counts once.

  • Fox NewsFar RightOpinionSame report as at New York Post

    Singer Phil Collins blasts Trump as 'nasty,' teases song about America called 'Fat People with Guns'

    Fox News published a report that is shown in full at New York Post. The headline is the one Fox News gave it.

    Read at Fox News (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

    2 hr 52 min later

    Its first report, Oct 5, 1:16 PM EDT

  • Center

    23 hr 28 min later

    Its first report, Oct 6, 9:52 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Oct 5, 10:24 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightOct 5, 10:24 AM EDT
  2. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 5, 1:15 PM EDT
  3. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 5, 1:16 PM EDT
  4. The HillCenterOct 6, 9:52 AM EDT

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

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