PoliticsDeveloping
Susan Collins’ Biddeford, Maine office vandalized with vulgar graffiti
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 4 outlets, all right-leaning.
6 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
A constituent office of Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Biddeford, Maine, was spray-painted over the weekend with a vulgar message reading “Trump wh*re,” according to Collins’ staff and Maine Republican officials. Collins’ chief of staff, Katie Brown, said “Senator Collins and her staff will not be intimidated.” The vandalism came amid a competitive midterm Senate race in which Democratic nominee Troy Jackson has repeatedly said Collins is controlled by President Trump, including telling reporters in Portland that “Donald Trump owns her.” Reports differ on whether Jackson initially declined to comment on the vandalism before later addressing it.
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.
Collins’ Biddeford, Maine office was spray-painted with the message “Trump wh*re.”
Reported byRight
Collins’ chief of staff Katie Brown said the senator and her staff “will not be intimidated.”
Reported byRight
The vandalism was reported over the weekend and discovered/publicized on Monday.
Reported byRight
Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson has repeatedly said Collins is controlled by Trump, including saying “Donald Trump owns her.”
Reported byRight
Accounts differ on whether Jackson stayed silent about the vandalism or later commented on it.
Reported byRight
An image of the vandalism was shared by Maine Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matt Harrington.
Reported byRight
What is contested
Where accounts differ
Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.
Whether Democratic nominee Troy Jackson responded to the vandalism.
One Fox News headline states Jackson stayed silent on the incident, while another version of the same outlet’s story says he later broke his silence.
Whether Troy Jackson or his allies bear responsibility for or encouraged the vandalism.
RedState suggests Jackson’s allies or supporters may be linked to the incident, framing it as a consequence of his campaign’s rhetoric; other outlets report the vandalism without attributing responsibility.
How each side tells it
Compare views
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
4 outlets · 1 opinion
Right-leaning outlets uniformly report the vandalism as an attack on Collins, with mainstream outlets like the Washington Examiner and Fox News framing it factually while further-right outlets such as RedState and the Western Journal use more dramatic language and link the incident to Jackson’s rhetoric or campaign allies; Fox News published two versions of its headline reflecting a change in Jackson’s response.
'Trump Wh*re': Susan Collins' office vandalized
TheBlazeFar 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.
Right8
well-documented evidence of his antisemitismcomplete lack of respect for womenPointing Fingersvicious vandalism
In the outlets’ own words
Absolutist framing
well-documented evidence of his antisemitismMore neutral: allegations of antisemitic remarks
Presents a contested characterization of a political figure as an established, settled fact.
…that, at bare minimum, they were going to look away from the well-documented evidence of his antisemitism, his anti-Americanism, and his complete lack of respect for women…
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
complete lack of respect for womenMore neutral: allegations regarding his conduct toward women
Applies a sweeping, judgmental characterization to a person rather than describing specific allegations.
…evidence of his antisemitism, his anti-Americanism, and his complete lack of respect for women and the boundaries they set.
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Vague attribution
Pointing FingersMore neutral: Prompts questions about Troy Jackson
Attributes blame to unnamed “people” without specifying who is doing the accusing.
A Nasty Incident at Susan Collins' Maine Office Has People Pointing Fingers at Troy Jackson
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Sensational language
vicious vandalismMore neutral: vandalism
Adds dramatic judgment beyond describing the act of spray-painting graffiti.
Susan Collins was targeted by vicious vandalism in a coastal Maine town over the weekend, according to a Maine lawmaker’s report…
Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)
Show 4 more phrasesShow fewer
Loaded modifier
Glaring red spray paintMore neutral: Red spray paint
Uses dramatic, emotionally charged description rather than a neutral factual description of the paint.
Glaring red spray paint appeared on a double glass door of Collins’ office in Biddeford, Maine, with…
Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)
Loaded verb
blast the vandalismMore neutral: criticize the vandalism
Uses a dramatic verb of speech that adds judgment rather than neutrally reporting the criticism.
And CNN commentator Scott Jennings used his radio show to blast the vandalism — with a scathing condemnation of American leftists thrown in.
Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)
Sensational language
scathing condemnationMore neutral: strong criticism
Amplifies the drama of a commentator’s remarks beyond a neutral description.
…Scott Jennings used his radio show to blast the vandalism — with a scathing condemnation of American leftists thrown in.
Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)
Loaded verb
breaks silenceMore neutral: comments
Implies deliberate avoidance or evasion rather than neutrally reporting that a comment was made.
Dem Senate nominee breaks silence after Susan Collins' office was vandalized with vulgar message
Used byFox News (Far Right)
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 outletsNo left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the center
0 outletsNo center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the right
4 outlets · 1 opinionLeads with
- the vulgar content of the graffiti
- Collins’ statement of defiance
- Troy Jackson’s prior comments about Collins being ‘owned’ by Trump
- Jackson’s silence or delayed response
See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- TheBlazeFar Right
'Trump Wh*re': Susan Collins' office vandalized
An unknown assailant vandalized the constituent office of Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Biddeford, Maine. A message in red spray-paint seen Monday read "TRUMP" on one door and "WHORE" on another. …
- Fox NewsFar Right
Dem Senate nominee silent after Susan Collins' office was vandalized with vulgar message
Republican Sen. Susan Collins vowed she won't be "intimidated" after her Biddeford office was vandalized, while her Dem rival Troy Jackson stayed silent on the act.
- The Western JournalFar Right
GOP Sen. Susan Collins' Office Vandalized with Vulgar Message Amid Tight Midterm Race
An office of Republican Sen. Susan Collins was targeted by vicious vandalism in a coastal Maine town over the weekend, according to a Maine lawmaker’s report on the social media
- Washington ExaminerRight
Susan Collins office in Maine spray-painted with obscenity
One of Sen. Susan Collins’s (R-ME) federal offices in Maine was vandalized with profane graffiti, her top deputy confirmed on Monday. Chief of staff Katie Brown said that “Senator Collins and her staff will not be intimidated” after her office in Biddeford, one of six in the …
A Nasty Incident at Susan Collins' Maine Office Has People Vague attribution“Pointing Fingers”Attributes blame to unnamed “people” without specifying who is doing the accusing.More neutral: Prompts questions about Troy JacksonDisagree with this highlight? at Troy Jackson
Throughout Graham Platner's Senate campaign, Democrats at the state and national levels repeatedly demonstrated that, at bare minimum, they were going to look away from the well-documented evidence of his antisemitism, his anti-Americanism, and his complete lack of respect for …
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 Examiner, Sep 28, 3:11 PM EDT
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- Washington ExaminerRightSep 28, 3:11 PM EDT
- The Western JournalFar RightSep 28, 5:10 PM EDT
- Fox NewsFar RightSep 28, 6:35 PM EDT
- TheBlazeFar RightSep 29, 2:30 PM EDT
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.
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