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Trump campaigns in red states ahead of midterms, calls Paxton a ‘pain in the ass’

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 25 outlets across the spectrum.

60 articles in total, 3 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

President Trump began a multi-state midterm campaign tour with stops in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. At a rally in Denton, Texas, he called Senate candidate and state Attorney General Ken Paxton “a pain in the ass” while also praising his loyalty, remarks that came a day after leaked audio of Paxton surfaced. Trump later played that audio at a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, and told supporters that Republicans were “worried about” Texas and Michigan in the midterms. He went on to rally in Mobile, Alabama. Outlets note the tour covers dozens of traditionally Republican-leaning states, with some citing a campaign strategist who says this reflects strategy rather than weakness, while others point to polling concerns about the GOP’s midterm prospects.

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. Trump called Ken Paxton “a pain in the ass” during a rally at a Peterbilt plant in Denton, Texas.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. Trump played leaked audio of Paxton discussing the midterm convention’s reception at a later rally in Durant, Oklahoma.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  3. Trump said Republicans are “worried about” Texas and Michigan ahead of the midterms.

    Reported byLeft

  4. Trump’s campaign swing includes stops in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, with Alabama next after Oklahoma.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. A campaign strategist described the stops in deep-red states as a deliberate strategy, not a sign of GOP trouble.

    Reported byRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. The U.S. economy added 29,000 jobs in September, down from a revised 133,000 in August.

    Reported byRight

  2. Paxton is running against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the Texas Senate seat.

    Reported byRight

What is contested

Where accounts differ

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

  • What the red-state campaign tour signals about Republican prospects in the midterms.

    Center-side reporting (PBS/AP) frames the red-state travel as reflecting an ‘uphill climb’ and broad disapproval of Trump’s performance, while a Fox News report cites a campaign strategist arguing pundits are misreading the strategy and that the tour reflects confidence, not trouble.

  • Whether Trump’s comments about Paxton were primarily critical or affectionate.

    Left-leaning coverage (The New Republic) frames the remarks as Trump ‘trashing’ Paxton, while right-leaning coverage (Daily Wire, Epoch Times) emphasizes Trump’s praise of Paxton’s loyalty alongside the ‘pain in the ass’ joke.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    14 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets frame the story around Trump’s mixed or critical remarks about Paxton and signs of Republican vulnerability in supposedly safe states.

    Trump Hits Campaign Trail as GOP Support Slips
    BloombergLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    3 outlets

    Center outlets emphasize Trump’s blunt remarks about Paxton and the broader context of a campaign tour through red states amid low approval ratings.

    Sunday shows preview: Trump boosts midterm candidates in final stretch; Supreme Court opens new term
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    8 outlets

    Right-leaning outlets, including the more combative Far Right pieces, focus on Trump’s praise of Paxton’s loyalty and frame the red-state tour as a deliberate, confident strategy rather than a defensive one.

    Trump Loaded verb“begs voters”‘Begs’ dramatizes Trump's request to supporters, implying desperation rather than neutrally describing his appeal.More neutral: asks votersDisagree with this highlight? to pretend he's on the Midterms ballot otherwise Democrats will 'impeach me'
    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.

  • Left15

    gets back atinfamoushumiliated and insultederratic Trump

  • Center3

    embattled state AGdeeply unpopular Iran warGOP scrambling to protect its majority

  • Right3

    taking another jabhidden strategy that pundits are missingbegs voters

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    embattled state AGMore neutral: state attorney general

    Labels Paxton as beleaguered, passing judgement on his political standing rather than stating a fact.

    …Peterbilt heavy truck plant in Denton to urge North Texas voters to send their embattled state AG to the Senate to replace longtime Sen.

    Used byRoll Call (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    gets back atMore neutral: responds to

    Frames Trump’s comment as retaliation rather than a neutral description of the remark.

    Trump gets back at Ken Paxton after he criticized GOP convention calling struggling Senate hopeful a…

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    infamousMore neutral: known for (describe)

    Judgement of reputation as fact.

    President Donald Trump staged his first rally in Oklahoma on Thursday since his infamous, nearly empty one at the height of the COVID pandemic, kicking off his midterm…

    Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    humiliated and insultedMore neutral: made disparaging remarks about

    Characterizes the remark with a strong value judgment rather than a neutral description.

    Donald Trump has humiliated and insulted Ken Paxton to his face while campaigning for the controversial Texas Senate…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Show 17 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    erratic TrumpMore neutral: Trump

    Attaches a judgmental personality label to Trump rather than describing his actions neutrally.

    …Texas, on Thursday to give Paxton’s midterm bid a much-needed boost when the erratic Trump veered off script.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    TrashesMore neutral: criticizes

    Presents Trump’s remark as a harsh attack rather than describing the comment neutrally.

    Trump Trashes Chosen MAGA Senate Candidate Right to His Face

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    embattled attorney generalMore neutral: attorney general

    Labels Paxton with a judgmental descriptor that presumes controversy rather than stating facts.

    Oh, there he is,” Trump said of the embattled attorney general and Senate candidate.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    taking another jabMore neutral: making another comment

    Frames Trump’s comment as an attack rather than a neutral description of his remarks.

    …Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton to the Senate, but not without taking another jab at his party’s nominee.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    hidden strategy that pundits are missingMore neutral: strategy that some analysts have questioned

    Implies a dramatic secret narrative rather than neutrally describing a strategist’s opinion.

    Donald Trump's 32-state rally tour through deep red states has a hidden strategy that pundits are missing, says a veteran campaign strategist.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    that voters are not experiencingMore neutral: that some voters say they are not experiencing

    Presents a contested claim about public perception of the economy as settled fact in the headline.

    Trump hits the trail to sell an economy ‘that voters are not experiencing’ as midterms near

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    seeks to stem damageMore neutral: is increasing spending

    Describes Republican fundraising in terms of crisis management, implying weakness rather than neutrally describing increased spending.

    …enter final stretch with surprisingly positive outlook as Republican money seeks to stem damage.

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    deeply unpopular Iran warMore neutral: the Iran war, which polls show is unpopular

    Presents the degree of unpopularity as settled fact rather than attributing it to polling data.

    …up voter turnout across traditionally red states, as rising costs and a deeply unpopular Iran war leave the GOP scrambling to protect its majority in Congress.

    Used byThe Hill (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    GOP scrambling to protect its majorityMore neutral: GOP working to protect its majority

    Scrambling implies panic or disorganization rather than neutrally describing campaign efforts.

    …red states, as rising costs and a deeply unpopular Iran war leave the GOP scrambling to protect its majority in Congress.

    Used byThe Hill (Center)

  • Vague attribution

    even some in his own party fear voters are sick of the sight of himMore neutral: some Republicans reportedly express concern about voter fatigue

    Attributes a strong claim about voter sentiment to unnamed Republicans without specifying who.

    Rallies have been mainstay of president’s brand but even some in his own party fear voters are sick of the sight of him “Get your asses in that car.” That was Donald Trump’s…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Vague attribution

    some fearMore neutral: some analysts suggest

    Attributes a dramatic prediction to unnamed sources without specifying who holds this view.

    …at helping them defend narrow congressional majorities in next month’s midterms, some fear that he is driving them towards an electoral wipeout.

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Sensational language

    electoral wipeoutMore neutral: significant losses

    Uses dramatic language to characterize a potential election outcome rather than neutral terms like heavy losses.

    …in next month’s midterms, some fear that he is driving them towards an electoral wipeout.

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    liability for RepublicansMore neutral: effect on Republicans

    Characterizes Trump's political value in a judgmental way rather than posing a neutral question about his campaign impact.

    Trump sets off on midterm blitz – are his trademark rallies a liability for Republicans?

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Republicans don’t want his baggageMore neutral: Republicans are wary of being associated with some of his controversies

    ‘Baggage’ is a judgmental term implying Trump is a liability rather than a neutral description of political concerns.

    Republicans don’t want his baggage, but without him, they run the risk of losing support from the…

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    desperate candidatesMore neutral: Republican candidates

    Characterizes Republican candidates' motives and state of mind rather than describing their actions neutrally.

    …his final years in office, the president is back on the campaign trail while desperate candidates try to recapture the 2024 campaign energy that put him back in the White House.

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    begs votersMore neutral: asks voters

    ‘Begs’ dramatizes Trump's request to supporters, implying desperation rather than neutrally describing his appeal.

    Trump begs voters to pretend he's on the Midterms ballot otherwise Democrats will 'impeach me'

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    Ultimate HumiliationMore neutral: Significant Setback

    Dramatic phrase presents a speculative political outcome as inevitable, amplifying drama beyond the sourced claim.

    This Is How Trump Can Face Ultimate Humiliation: Candidate

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Words quoted from someone else (2)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 modifier

    Quoted

    radical leftMore neutral: name the group or the position

    Escalating label used to signal disapproval rather than describe positions.

    “So in just 33 days from now, the people of Oklahoma are going to defeat the radical left Democrats once again,” he told a few thousand of his followers in Durant.

    Quoted byHuffPost (Far Left)The Daily Wire (Far Right)The Epoch Times (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    Bordering on angryMore neutral: Voter frustration mounts

    Presents a dramatic emotional characterization of voters as the framing device rather than a neutral description of the story.

    ‘Bordering on angry’: The state of play as US midterms enter final month

    Quoted byAl Jazeera English (Left)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

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

14 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump’s criticism of Paxton
  • GOP concern about Texas and Michigan
  • economic messaging gap with voters

Leaves out

  • campaign strategist’s view that the red-state tour is strategic, not defensive
  • September jobs report figures

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

See the 14 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

3 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump’s ‘pain in the ass’ comment
  • awkward Trump-Paxton dynamic
  • electorate’s disapproval of Trump’s performance

Leaves out

  • campaign strategist’s rebuttal that red-state stops are intentional
  • jobs report data

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

See the 3 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Sunday shows preview: Trump boosts midterm candidates in final stretch; Supreme Court opens new term

    With a month until the midterm elections, President Trump is hitting the campaign trail in an effort to ramp up voter turnout across traditionally red states, as rising costs and a Loaded modifier“deeply unpopular Iran war”Presents the degree of unpopularity as settled fact rather than attributing it to polling data.More neutral: the Iran war, which polls show is unpopularDisagree with this highlight? leave the Loaded verb“GOP scrambling to protect its majority”Scrambling implies panic or disorganization rather than neutrally describing campaign efforts.More neutral: GOP working to protect its majorityDisagree with this highlight? in Congress. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Hill
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    WATCH: Trump holds rally in Alabama as he tries to boost midterm enthusiasm

    Trump's decision to spend so much time in deep red states that have garnered relatively little attention during the critical final stretch underscores his party's uphill climb and the electorate's broad disapproval of his performance as president.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)
  • Roll CallCenter

    ‘Pain in the ass’: Trump again shows annoyance with Paxton after leaked audio

    President Donald Trump on Thursday once again had Texas on his mind, stumping for state Attorney General Ken Paxton a day after leaked audio added to the awkwardness between the president and a Senate candidate he called a “pain in the ass. …

    Read at Roll Call (opens in a new tab)

From the right

8 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump’s praise of Paxton as ‘the greatest attorney general’
  • strategic rationale for red-state rallies
  • Trump’s broader midterm travel schedule

Leaves out

  • Trump’s remarks that Republicans are ‘worried about’ Texas and Michigan

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

See the 8 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

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 50 min later

    Its first report, Oct 1, 5:51 PM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    Roll Call, Oct 1, 3:01 PM EDT

  • Right

    3 hr 38 min later

    Its first report, Oct 1, 6:38 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Roll CallCenterOct 1, 3:01 PM EDT
  2. CBS NewsLeftOct 1, 5:51 PM EDT
  3. The Washington TimesRightOct 1, 6:38 PM EDT
  4. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 1, 6:41 PM EDT
  5. BloombergLeftOct 1, 7:22 PM EDT
  6. New York PostRightOct 1, 7:24 PM EDT
  7. Washington ExaminerRightOct 1, 7:28 PM EDT
  8. ABC NewsLeftOct 1, 8:09 PM EDT
  9. The IndependentLeftOct 1, 8:42 PM EDT
  10. One America NewsFar RightOct 1, 8:44 PM EDT
  11. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 1, 9:39 PM EDT
  12. HuffPostFar LeftOct 1, 10:01 PM EDT
  13. The HillCenterOct 1, 11:17 PM EDT
  14. Daily MailRightOct 1, 11:19 PM EDT
  15. NBC NewsLeftOct 2, 7:21 AM EDT
  16. The New RepublicFar LeftOct 2, 9:02 AM EDT
  17. The Daily WireFar RightOct 2, 9:37 AM EDT
  18. Fox NewsFar RightOct 2, 11:19 AM EDT
  19. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 2, 12:25 PM EDT
  20. The Washington PostLeftOct 2, 4:48 PM EDT
  21. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 2, 9:59 PM EDT
  22. The New York TimesLeftOct 2, 10:29 PM EDT
  23. Los Angeles TimesLeftOct 3, 6:00 AM EDT
  24. The AtlanticLeftOct 3, 9:53 AM EDT
  25. The GuardianLeftOct 4, 7:00 AM EDT

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

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