New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia holds first briefing

Brutal ReviewsMore neutral: Critical Reviews

“Brutal” adds drama beyond the criticism reported.

Trump’s New Mouthpiece Hit With Brutal Reviews for Big Debut

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)Daily Mail (Right)

Train-WreckMore neutral: Briefing

The term train-wreck is a dramatic judgement of the briefing rather than a description of events.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Holds Train-Wreck Debut Briefing

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)The Daily Beast (Far Left)

excruciatingMore neutral: difficult

An intensifier that manufactures drama about a briefing that other outlets describe as brief and routine.

Katie Zacharia’s maiden briefing was excruciating – at least her predecessor had delivered her propaganda hot Well, that was weird.

Used byThe Guardian (Left)Daily Mail (Right)

FAKE NEWSMore neutral: inaccurate report or say what is false and how you know

Dismisses reporting wholesale; a false claim should be identified specifically.

…a news conference on Tuesday at 9:30 AM ET https://t.co/q7LDzft3Db BUCKLE UP, FAKE NEWS @KatieZacharia IS COMIN’ https://t.co/red1hrgnx2 Thank you to President Trump for…

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

cringeworthy thirst postMore neutral: social media post about his new press secretary

Repeats the headline's judgement in the outlet's own voice instead of describing what the post said.

President Donald Trump has made a cringeworthy thirst post about his new press secretary ahead of her first news conference.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Thirsts OverMore neutral: Trump posts about new press secretary

Describes the president's social media post as lustful, which judges his motive rather than reporting the post.

Trump, 80, Thirsts Over New Mouthpiece in Cringe Post

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Cringe PostMore neutral: Social media post

Calls the post embarrassing in the outlet's own voice, an opinion the headline does not attribute to anyone.

Trump, 80, Thirsts Over New Mouthpiece in Cringe Post

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

conspiracy theoriesMore neutral: describe the claim and the evidence against it

Ends the discussion by labeling; state the claim.

She also amplified right-wing conspiracy theories.

Used byNPR (Left)

chaosMore neutral: the 72 hours before Trump named

The word presents the period as disorder, which the reported events alone do not establish.

The 72 hours of chaos before Trump hired press secretary: Karoline Leavitt's late warning, how the president…

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

humiliating snubMore neutral: decision not to consult her

The adjective assigns an emotional reaction to the decision that the reporting does not establish.

Donald Trump has dealt his powerful chief of staff another humiliating snub by reportedly choosing his new White House press secretary without consulting…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Ice MaidenMore neutral: Susie Wiles

A nickname that pre-judges the chief of staff as cold.

Fresh Cracks Between Trump and His Ice Maiden Exposed in New Leak

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

ExposedMore neutral: reported

The verb implies wrongdoing or concealment that the reported leak does not establish.

Fresh Cracks Between Trump and His Ice Maiden Exposed in New Leak

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

merciless headlinesMore neutral: critical headlines

The adjective merciless adds a judgement about the coverage that the facts do not state.

…Her 72-hour ascent to the top media job in the country lands amid a torrent of merciless headlines and a sour political environment for her boss, President Donald Trump.

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

onslaught of negative headlinesMore neutral: criticism in recent headlines

The word onslaught adds drama to ordinary press criticism of the administration.

…Zacharia, 41, with first on-camera White House press briefing after onslaught of negative headlines

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

PloyMore neutral: approach to getting the job

The word calls her approach a scheme before the sourced account supports that reading.

Leavitt Replacement’s Ploy to Get Trump’s Attention Revealed

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

RevealedMore neutral: reported

The verb presents a single anonymous source’s account as an exposé.

Leavitt Replacement’s Ploy to Get Trump’s Attention Revealed

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

party lifestyleMore neutral: conduct

“Party lifestyle” labels the official’s private conduct before any finding is reported.

…reporting that she was the subject of a Inspector General investigation over her party lifestyle in Athens.

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

battles through nervesMore neutral: appears nervous in first press briefing

“Battles” dramatizes a nervous performance beyond what the headline reports.

Katie Zacharia battles through nerves as she gives eight-minute monologue in first press briefing

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

bitter White House power strugglesMore neutral: White House disputes

The word bitter characterizes the internal dispute beyond what the report states.

…new press secretary has found herself at the heart of claims of two bitter White House power struggles ahead of her first appearance behind the podium.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

insiders revealMore neutral: a Daily Mail report says

The sources are unnamed, so the reader cannot judge the claim.

Katie Zacharia speaks to the Daily Beast as insiders reveal how Trump really chose his press secretary.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

RockedMore neutral: Overshadowed by

The verb rocked adds drama and implies the debut was damaged.

New Trump Mouthpiece’s Big Debut Rocked by Rift Bombshell

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

BombshellMore neutral: report

The word bombshell manufactures drama about a reported rift.

New Trump Mouthpiece’s Big Debut Rocked by Rift Bombshell

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

savage reviewsMore neutral: critical reviews

“Savage” adds drama beyond the criticism reported.

Katie Zacharia, 41, suffered savage reviews from administration insiders and critics alike within minutes of taking the podium…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

administration insidersMore neutral: administration officials, named where possible

Attributes the criticism to a group of unnamed people.

Katie Zacharia, 41, suffered savage reviews from administration insiders and critics alike within minutes of taking the podium as White House press…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

awkward debutMore neutral: first briefing

The word awkward is a judgement about the debut that the outlet presents as fact.

Newly-minted press secretary lasts less than 15 minutes in awkward debut before the White House press corps

Used byThe Independent (Left)

beat an abrupt retreatMore neutral: left the briefing room

The phrase suggests a hasty flight rather than the reported end of the briefing.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia beat an abrupt retreat from the James Brady Briefing Room after just 14 minutes, during an awkward…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

awkward appearanceMore neutral: appearance

The word awkward is a judgement about the appearance rather than a description of events.

…retreat from the James Brady Briefing Room after just 14 minutes, during an awkward appearance in which she mixed up the man who hired her with the man to whom she is married…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

pulls plugMore neutral: ends briefing

The idiom frames a briefing ending early as abandonment.

Katie Zacharia visibly ‘nervous’ in first White House press briefing as she pulls plug after just 14 minutes

Used byNew York Post (Right)

clunkyMore neutral: halting

The adjective clunky is an evaluation of delivery presented as description.

Her cadence was clunky, closer to that of a fourth grader reading school announcements over an intercom than…

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

lavished praiseMore neutral: praised

Lavished implies excessive, insincere flattery, a judgement about the tone of the script.

…turned top Trump official began her appearance by reading from a script that lavished praise on President Donald Trump.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

fleeing the roomMore neutral: leaving the room

Fleeing implies panic, while the report describes her leaving after questions.

She then took questions from three reporters before fleeing the room.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

FleesMore neutral: Leaves

Flees implies escaping danger, while the report says she left the room after taking questions.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Flees First 14-Minute Briefing

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

critics howlingMore neutral: critics objecting

“Howling” characterizes critics’ reactions with drama beyond what is reported.

…briefing Tuesday before abruptly calling it quits, leaving reporters stunned, critics howling, and even White House insiders questioning how long she will last.

Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

Flops So BadlyMore neutral: Draws Criticism in First Briefing

“Flops” is a verdict on performance stated as fact rather than as reported reaction.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Flops So Badly, Insiders Are Already Talking Scaramucci

Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

InsidersMore neutral: Some White House officials

Attributes the claim to unnamed people without saying who they are.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Flops So Badly, Insiders Are Already Talking Scaramucci

Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

toutingMore neutral: citing

Touting is promotional language that adds a judgement about the messaging.

Zacharia opened the 14-minute briefing by touting Trump’s midterm campaign tour, manufacturing job gains, fraud crackdown efforts, and…

Used byThe Daily Signal (Far Right)

cut off the entire eventMore neutral: ended the briefing early

Cut off implies forced termination, while the report describes her ending the briefing early.

The new press secretary made an embarrassing faux pas and then cut off the entire event after just a few minutes.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

embarrassing faux pasMore neutral: mistake

Embarrassing is a judgement about the moment that the facts do not establish.

Within a few short minutes, she would make an incredibly embarrassing faux pas and then bolt early from the briefing room.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

bolt earlyMore neutral: leave early

Bolt implies fleeing, while the report describes her leaving early.

…a few short minutes, she would make an incredibly embarrassing faux pas and then bolt early from the briefing room.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

disasterMore neutral: poorly received briefing

Calling the briefing a disaster is an evaluation presented as fact in the headline.

Katie Zacharia’s first White House press briefing was a disaster of her own making

Used byThe Independent (Left)

esteemed perchMore neutral: podium

Esteemed used ironically pre-judges the podium and the speaker.

It is from this esteemed perch that Zacharia appeared physically strained as she struggled to deliver prepared…

Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

too much to endureMore neutral: difficult

The phrase is an exaggerated judgement about her ability, not a reported fact.

…as she struggled to deliver prepared remarks, as if the task of reading was too much to endure.

Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

BombsMore neutral: Holds first day

Bombs implies failure through a violent metaphor, a judgement about her performance.

Katie Zacharia Bombs First Day as White House Press Secretary

Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

tough reviewMore neutral: critical assessment

Tough review adds a judgement to the commentary rather than describing what was said.

The CNN anchor attended the press secretary’s first media conference and gave a tough review.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

Major BeefMore neutral: objection

Beef frames a press briefing as a personal dispute to create drama.

Kaitlan Collins Has 1 Major Beef With Katie Zacharia's First Press Briefing

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

nervy smash-and-grab raidMore neutral: short first briefing

Describes a short briefing with theft-like imagery, which adds a judgement of the event beyond the facts.

Katie Zacharia’s first briefing was a nervy smash-and-grab raid

Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

evisceratedMore neutral: criticized

Describes online criticism with a violent, strongly judgemental verb.

President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, has been eviscerated online after battling the nerves in her briefing room debut - which lasted just…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

can’t stop laughingMore neutral: online reaction

Presents online reaction as ridicule in the outlet’s own voice rather than reporting it neutrally.

Internet can’t stop laughing at White House press secretary’s short and awkward briefing: ‘Is this a hostage…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

awkwardMore neutral: short

Judges the performance in the outlet’s own voice instead of describing the briefing.

Internet can’t stop laughing at White House press secretary’s short and awkward briefing: ‘Is this a hostage video’

Used byThe Independent (Left)

Car Crash DebutMore neutral: rocky debut

A car crash is a serious accident, and the phrase overstates a briefing.

Katie Zacharia Sparks Exit Speculation After Car Crash Debut

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

painful to watchMore neutral: The debut drew criticism for its delivery.

Presents the author’s personal reaction as a description of the event.

Honestly painful to watch.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

SpinMore neutral: Fox News’ coverage

Pre-judges Fox News’s coverage as misleading before the reader sees the evidence.

Fox News' Spin On Press Secretary Debut Has Us Wondering If We Watched The Same Thing

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

The sharks are circling.More neutral: Critics are scrutinizing her.

A dramatic metaphor presenting criticism of the new press secretary as an attack in the outlet’s own voice.

The sharks are circling.

Used byRedState (Far Right)

Chilling WarningMore neutral: Warning

Adds dramatic menace to a warning that the article itself describes as advice from a former press secretary.

'Look Out': Former Trump Press Secretary Has Chilling Warning for New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia

Used byRedState (Far Right)

eerieMore neutral: flat

Adds an unsettling tone the reported facts of the delivery do not require.

With an eerie lack of emotion, she served up pro-Trump talking points, took only three questions and…

Used byThe Guardian (Left)

ZachbotMore neutral: Katie Zacharia

Calls her a robot, a mocking label that presents her as lacking human qualities rather than describing her performance.

Enter the Zachbot: Trump’s new press secretary malfunctions on podium debut

Used byThe Guardian (Left)

malfunctionsMore neutral: struggles

Implies a technical failure, comparing a person to a machine, while the article itself describes her delivery.

Enter the Zachbot: Trump’s new press secretary malfunctions on podium debut

Used byThe Guardian (Left)

barrage of criticismMore neutral: a lot of criticism

“Barrage” adds drama to the volume of criticism.

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was met with a barrage of criticism following her first briefing in her new role, leading some to question the…

Used byThe Hill (Center)

devastating verdictMore neutral: review of the debut

Frames the piece as a sweeping judgement of the debut rather than a description of it.

15 excruciating minutes later, he was speechless: NICK ALLEN's devastating verdict on the press secretary's debut

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

it was a messMore neutral: it had an unpolished delivery

States the author’s verdict on the briefing as fact.

…Zacharia stood behind the podium at the White House for the very first time, and it was a mess.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

cringe-inducingMore neutral: an awkward remark

Describes the author’s reaction rather than the event itself.

…of her press conference, however, she had one moment that was significantly more cringe-inducing than anything that preceded it.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

What?!More neutral: Called Her Husband during briefing

Manufactures surprise and drama around a routine remark.

New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Called Her Husband… What?!

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

upbraidedMore neutral: criticized

Upbraided implies a stern reprimand, which goes beyond reporting that people criticized her post.

Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki got upbraided on social media after she compared new Trump White House press secretary Katie…

Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

Catty ShotMore neutral: Post

Catty describes Psaki’s post as spiteful, a judgement the reported facts do not state.

Jen Psaki Gets a Tough Reality Check After Catty Shot at Katie Zacharia's White House Press Briefing Debut

Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

stumbled throughMore neutral: delivered

The verb adds a judgement about the quality of her delivery in the outlet's own voice.

…to question White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia’s experience after she stumbled through her first press briefing.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Takes Swipe atMore neutral: Criticizes

The verb frames a measured comment on her experience as a hostile attack.

One-Time Trump Aide Takes Swipe at His New Mouthpiece

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

disastrous first press briefingMore neutral: first press briefing

The word “disastrous” states a verdict on quality as fact, while the briefing’s length and questions can be reported without it.

Polymarket dropped a new question for traders shortly after Zacharia’s disastrous first press briefing Tuesday morning: When will she be canned?

Used byThe Independent (Left)

graciously admittedMore neutral: acknowledged

Graciously adds the outlet’s judgement of Zacharia’s manner to the report of her acknowledgement.

The gaffe, which Zacharia graciously admitted was 'a good one,' has led many to wonder more about the new press secretary's…

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

excruciating word-salad debutMore neutral: first press briefing

Excruciating and word-salad are the outlet’s own judgements of the speech rather than a description of what was said.

New Trump press secretary calls husband 'president' in excruciating word-salad debut

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

torn intoMore neutral: criticized

Describes a verbal criticism in forceful terms the reported segment does not require.

CNN anchor Erin Burnett has torn into President Donald Trump’s new press secretary for spending her first briefing…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

boastingMore neutral: speaking

Characterizes her remarks as boasting, which is a judgement about her motive and tone.

…into President Donald Trump’s new press secretary for spending her first briefing boasting about one of the president’s biggest obsessions as the midterms near.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

braggedMore neutral: spoke

Characterizes her remarks as bragging, which is a judgement rather than a description of what she said.

Erin Burnett appeared bemused as the new press secretary bragged about one of Trump’s favorite topics.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

SkewersMore neutral: Criticizes

Describes a TV host’s criticism in violent terms, adding judgement beyond what the segment reports.

CNN Star Skewers Trump’s Mouthpiece Over His Biggest Grudge

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

foaming at the mouthMore neutral: visibly angry

The idiom dramatizes the host’s demeanor beyond what the description reports.

Fox News veteran Sean Hannity was all but foaming at the mouth as he tried to defend Donald Trump’s new press secretary after her car-crash…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Melts DownMore neutral: criticizes

The headline describes a television host’s remarks as an emotional collapse, a judgement the reported content does not establish.

Fox Host Melts Down at Criticism of Trump’s New Mouthpiece

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

RagesMore neutral: Is angry

Presents Trump’s reaction as uncontrolled anger, a judgement the reported sourcing does not establish directly.

Trump Rages as New Press Sec Debut Fiasco Harshly Mocked Even by MAGA

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

FiascoMore neutral: Debut

Labels the debut a disaster, an evaluation that goes beyond the reported facts.

Trump Rages as New Press Sec Debut Fiasco Harshly Mocked Even by MAGA

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

top aides are wonderingMore neutral: unnamed aides have questioned

Attributes doubts about Zacharia’s future to unnamed people whose identity and basis are not given.

Donald Trump’s top aides are wondering just how long the president’s new press secretary will manage to stay on the…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Brutal VerdictMore neutral: reaction

Presents an unnamed reaction as a harsh ruling, which the article does not show.

Trump’s New Mouthpiece Given Brutal Verdict by White House Goons

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

GoonsMore neutral: aides

Describes unnamed White House staff with a term for thugs before any named source is given.

Trump’s New Mouthpiece Given Brutal Verdict by White House Goons

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

White House’s SpinMore neutral: The White House’s response

“Spin” presents the White House’s praise as a misleading tactic, a judgement the excerpt does not establish.

White House’s Spin On Katie Zacharia’s Debut Briefing Has Critics In Disbelief

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

commentators are wonderingMore neutral: some commentators are asking

Attributes a view to unnamed commentators without saying who holds it.

…held her first media briefing as the new White House press secretary - but commentators are wondering whether she can last longer in the role than some of her predecessors.

Used bySky News (Center)

flopMore neutral: rough start

Judges the briefing a failure in a single word, an opinion rather than a description of what happened.

…that, I’m sure, so this first at-bat in front of the White House press corps was a flop.

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

Harshly MockedMore neutral: criticized

The phrase characterizes the criticism with an intensifier that the reported remarks do not establish.

Transcript: Trump Rages as New Press Sec Harshly Mocked Even by MAGA

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

wincedMore neutral: reacted negatively to

“Winced” characterizes officials’ reactions with more drama than the reported comments show.

Multiple White House officials winced at Zacharia’s first briefing on Tuesday, which lasted just 14 minutes — throughout…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

cringingMore neutral: are critical of

“Cringing” adds a judgement of embarrassment that the reported comments do not state.

Even MAGA are cringing over Katie Zacharia’s press secretary debut

Used byThe Independent (Left)

snap decisionMore neutral: decision

“Snap” implies haste and error before the choice is judged, while the timing of the appointment can be stated without it.

Insiders worry that Trump’s snap decision to select Zacharia against the advice of his chief of staff echoes mistakes of his…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

chaotic daysMore neutral: early days

“Chaotic” is a judgement of the earlier administration that the reporting does not establish with specific facts.

…machine and exposing divisions within the administration not seen since the chaotic days of President Donald Trump’s first term.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

jaw-dropping debutMore neutral: debut

“Jaw-dropping” adds a judgement of drama that the description does not support with specifics.

After Katie Zacharia’s jaw-dropping debut on Tuesday, press secretaries from both sides of politics say the 41-year-old…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

MAGA mouthpieceMore neutral: press secretary

“Mouthpiece” casts her as a party tool before her record is weighed, where “spokeswoman” states the role.

…of the aisle say Zacharia now faces an uphill battle as the president’s latest MAGA mouthpiece.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Faces ChopMore neutral: Could Be Replaced

“Chop” is slang for firing and states the outcome as more certain than the advisers’ warning that she could be replaced.

Ex-Aides Warn Katie Zacharia Faces Chop as Trump’s ‘Sacrificial Lamb’

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

critics calling it awkward and stiltedMore neutral: named commentators who said the briefing was awkward and stilted

The phrase attributes a negative assessment to unnamed critics rather than to identified speakers.

…her first briefing as White House press secretary on Tuesday, with critics calling it awkward and stilted.

Used byCBS News (Left)

his longtime enforcerMore neutral: his longtime aide

“Enforcer” casts the chief of staff as a muscle figure rather than a senior aide.

Cracks keep appearing between the president and his longtime enforcer.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Fuels Fresh ClaimsMore neutral: Reports New Claims

“Fuels” presents the claims as stoked by the story rather than reported, and “Fresh” adds drama.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Fuels Fresh Claims of West Wing Dysfunction

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

fled out of the roomMore neutral: left the room

“Fled” implies flight from a difficult moment rather than simply leaving.

…she stumbled her way through a wordy briefing, took three questions, and fled out of the room after just 14 minutes.

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

TrashesMore neutral: Criticize

“Trashes” describes criticism in harsher terms than the reported remarks.

“She Could Barely Read”: Trump Team Trashes New Press Secretary

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

doomed Greek ambassadorMore neutral: Greek ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle

Calling Kimberly Guilfoyle doomed presents her position as settled before the facts are reported.

…Elina Shirazi was able to sneak in one question that confirmed the fate of doomed Greek ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

explain awayMore neutral: explain

Presents her remarks as an excuse before their content is described.

…House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia rushed back to conservative media to try to explain away her cringeworthy first public press briefing.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

cringeworthyMore neutral: first public press briefing

Adds a mocking judgement of the briefing without describing what happened.

…Katie Zacharia rushed back to conservative media to try to explain away her cringeworthy first public press briefing.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Spews Word SaladMore neutral: Katie Zacharia Discusses Her First Press Briefing

“Spews” and “word salad” judge her speech as nonsense before the content of her remarks is described.

Katie Zacharia Spews Word Salad to Explain Word Salad Press Briefing

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

clumsy liarMore neutral: press secretary whose statements have been challenged

Calling her a liar in the outlet’s own voice asserts what the reporting only questions.

An administration built on clumsy lies deserves a press secretary who’s a clumsy liar.

Used bySlate (Far Left)

lie embarrassinglyMore neutral: make false or misleading statements

The phrase asserts that she lies, rather than that her statements have been questioned.

…in a Donald Trump administration: Those who lie slickly and those who lie embarrassingly.

Used bySlate (Far Left)

Incompetent LiarMore neutral: Faces Questions About Her Background

The headline states as fact that she is a liar, while the piece rests on questions about her claims.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Is an Incompetent Liar.

Used bySlate (Far Left)

a mere 10 daysMore neutral: 10 days

The word mere adds a judgement that the tenure was insufficient, beyond the stated length.

Scaramucci served in his post for a mere 10 days before being fired in 2017.

Used byJust the News (Far Right)

grills herMore neutral: questions her

“Grills” implies hostile questioning, while the excerpt describes a television interview.

…Zacharia hints she regrets taking questions in rocky first briefing as Sean Hannity grills her on 'lawyer' claims

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

savage snubMore neutral: tough interview

Adds an intensified judgement to an interview the article itself describes mainly as questioning.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia has suffered a savage snub in what should have been a safe space: Fox News.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

car crashMore neutral: went poorly

Uses a dramatic image to describe the briefing rather than the facts of its length and questions.

…network on Thursday evening, two days after her first press briefing turned into a car crash .

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

brutal blowMore neutral: ended with tough questions

Uses a dramatic image to describe questioning that the article does not detail.

Katie Zacharia’s interview with the Fox News host ended with a brutal blow.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

torn apartMore neutral: questioned closely

Uses a dramatic image to describe questioning that the article does not detail.

…has ruthlessly trolled Donald Trump’s new White House Press Secretary after she was torn apart by Sean Hannity.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

left her squirmingMore neutral: left her struggling to answer

Describes her demeanor in the outlet’s own voice, which the article does not document.

But Hannity did not go easy on Zacharia—and left her squirming as he quizzed her on why she only took three questions from conservative outlets…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Ruthlessly TrollsMore neutral: Mocks

Presents a remark as a ruthless attack in the outlet’s own voice, which the article does not establish.

Gavin Newsom Ruthlessly Trolls Trump’s New Mouthpiece

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

crashed and burnedMore neutral: struggled

The idiom adds dramatic judgement about her performance beyond the reported facts.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia crashed and burned Thursday as she struggled to defend pretending to be an actual attorney.

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

pretendingMore neutral: describing herself as

The verb asserts that she knowingly deceived, which the reported facts do not establish in this text.

…Secretary Katie Zacharia crashed and burned Thursday as she struggled to defend pretending to be an actual attorney.

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

CrumblesMore neutral: struggles

The word presents her performance as a collapse rather than describing how the interview went.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Crumbles Under Slightest Pressure From Fox

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Trump palMore neutral: Fox News host Sean Hannity

The label ties Hannity to Trump in a way that frames his questioning as a favor rather than describing the interview.

…say, ‘I went to Pepperdine Law School and then took a different career path’” the Trump pal pressed her.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

critics are stunnedMore neutral: commentators reacted

The headline attributes a reaction to unnamed critics, while the text names only a few commentators.

Katie Zacharia gets grilled by Sean Hannity over ‘lawyer’ claim and critics are stunned: ‘Moving in for the kill’

Used byThe Independent (Left)

haplessMore neutral: new

Describing the press secretary as hapless pre-judges her competence.

Trump’s hapless new press secretary becomes the latest symbol of a collapsing regime

Used bySalon (Far Left)

collapsing regimeMore neutral: administration

Calling an elected administration a regime with a collapse presents a contested judgement as fact.

Trump’s hapless new press secretary becomes the latest symbol of a collapsing regime

Used bySalon (Far Left)

Bambi-on-iceMore neutral: press secretary

The nickname mocks her appearance and manner instead of describing her role.

President Donald Trump’s Bambi-on-ice press secretary has stumbled through a second humiliating Fox News interview.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

embarrassing herselfMore neutral: appearing on

The phrase tells readers how to judge her performance rather than describing what she said.

After embarrassing herself on network star Sean Hannity’s eponymous show Thursday evening, Karoline…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

SquirmsMore neutral: responds

The verb describes her manner in a mocking way rather than reporting what she said.

Trump’s New Mouthpiece Squirms During Fox Humiliation

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

HumiliationMore neutral: interview

The word asserts an outcome that the interview coverage does not establish.

Trump’s New Mouthpiece Squirms During Fox Humiliation

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

forced to admitMore neutral: acknowledged

The phrase adds compulsion to an acknowledgement that the excerpt describes as a plain admission.

She was forced to admit she never passed the bar exam after describing herself as a lawyer in more than a…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

throw Trump under the busMore neutral: says no one in the administration asked about her bar status

The idiom asserts that Zacharia blamed Trump, which the headline presents as her intent rather than as what she said.

Katie Zacharia seems to throw Trump under the bus for not passing the bar: ‘Those questions weren’t asked’

Used byThe Independent (Left)

shady credentialsMore neutral: legal credentials

The adjective implies wrongdoing that the reported facts, a missing bar pass, do not establish.

…has exposed himself as a hypocrite, pressing MAGA’s new mouthpiece over her shady credentials mere days after whining about the legacy media doing the same.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

whining about the legacy mediaMore neutral: criticizing the legacy media

The verb characterizes Hannity's earlier criticism as complaint rather than stating what he said.

…pressing MAGA’s new mouthpiece over her shady credentials mere days after whining about the legacy media doing the same.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

whiningMore neutral: complained or objected

Belittles the complaint.

…hypocrite, pressing MAGA’s new mouthpiece over her shady credentials mere days after whining about the legacy media doing the same.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Exposes Himself as a HypocriteMore neutral: Hannity Questions Zacharia on Credentials After Criticizing Press

The headline states as fact that Hannity is a hypocrite, a judgement the article does not establish.

Hannity Exposes Himself as a Hypocrite in MAGA Mouthpiece Interview

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Mar-a-Lago FaceMore neutral: Zacharia’s appearance

The derisive label attaches a mocking judgement to the appearance of the press secretary and her colleagues.

Mar-a-Lago Face Won’t Save You

Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

BonkersMore neutral: Unusual

The informal word judges the press secretary’s request before the facts are weighed.

Trump Press Sec Katie Zacharia Makes Bonkers Media Demand

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

implosionMore neutral: problems

The word is a dramatic metaphor that asserts a collapse the reporting does not document.

…while Fox News is reporting that she's already on her way out How do you measure an implosion?

Used byRolling Stone (Far Left)

embarrassing revelationsMore neutral: revelations

Calling the revelations embarrassing adds a judgement the excerpt does not source.

…Karoline Leavitt, Zacharia is already on the ropes after a series of embarrassing revelations and on-camera fumbles.

Used byRolling Stone (Far Left)

Nightmare First WeekMore neutral: First Week

The phrase manufactures drama and passes judgement on the first week before outcomes are known.

Katie Zacharia Is ‘Transitioning Out’ as Press Secretary After Nightmare First Week

Used byRolling Stone (Far Left)

dramatically firedMore neutral: fired

“Dramatically” adds drama to a report of a dismissal that other outlets describe in plainer terms.

Donald Trump dramatically fired his new Press Secretary Katie Zacharia after just five days in the job on…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Drops BombshellMore neutral: Comments on

“Bombshell” adds drama to a report of a White House staffing change.

Trump Drops Bombshell on Press Secretary Katie Zacharia

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

BREAKINGMore neutral: Trump says he is talking with his press secretary about her role

The urgency label adds drama before the remark is confirmed as a decision.

BREAKING: Trump Opens Door to Press Secretary Leaving

Used byThe Daily Signal (Far Right)

lambastedMore neutral: criticized

Describes the criticism as harsh censure without saying who criticized her.

Zacharia has been lambasted for the rocky start to her tenure, which began on Monday, following an awkward…

Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

devastating series of media appearancesMore neutral: series of media appearances that drew criticism

The adjective asserts the appearances were disastrous, a judgement the facts do not establish.

…secretary Katie Zacharia is likely to leave her post following a devastating series of media appearances and questions about her legal background.

Used byNew York Post (Right)

teeteringMore neutral: new

The word implies the press secretary is about to fall, a judgement the headline states as fact.

Trump to teetering White House press secretary Katie Zacharia: 'I'd reconsider'

Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

dismal performanceMore neutral: poorly received

Judges the briefing as dismal in the outlet’s own voice rather than describing how it was received.

…Donald Trump said she “should reconsider” whether to stay in the job after a dismal performance at her first briefing was followed by days of questions over whether she’d lied…

Used byThe Independent (Left)

whether she’d liedMore neutral: whether her statements were accurate

Uses lied, a charge of deliberate falsehood, where the questions concerned whether her statements were accurate.

…dismal performance at her first briefing was followed by days of questions over whether she’d lied about being licensed to practice law.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

disastrousMore neutral: rocky

Calls the first week a disaster in the outlet’s own voice where a neutral description would report what happened.

Trump says he told Katie Zacharia to ‘reconsider’ her role after disastrous first week: ‘Maybe it’s not for her’

Used byThe Independent (Left)

Sounds OffMore neutral: comments on

“Sounds off” implies a heated outburst where the report only says Trump commented.

(Updated) After Trump Sounds Off on Zacharia's Future Come Reports That She's 'Transitioning Out'

Used byRedState (Far Right)

Scandal-RiddenMore neutral: Kimberly Guilfoyle

The label attaches a scandal judgement to another official in the outlet’s own voice.

(RELATED: Scandal-Ridden Kimberly Guilfoyle Officially Resigns After White House Pressure) “Katie’s been…

Used byThe Daily Caller (Far Right)

bogus legal credentialsMore neutral: legal credentials she had described

“Bogus” asserts a judgement about credentials that the report describes without evaluating.

…has faced intense media scrutiny and blowback this week regarding her bogus legal credentials and train-wreck first press briefing .

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Fake LawyerMore neutral: press secretary Katie Zacharia

“Fake” states as settled a dispute about her credentials that the report only describes.

Trump Fires His Fake Lawyer Press Secretary After Just Five Days

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

most chaoticMore neutral: one of the shortest

“Most chaotic” is the outlet’s own judgement and adds drama to a short tenure.

…press secretary after less than a week on the job, capping one of the shortest and most chaotic tenures in the history of the role.

Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

revelationMore neutral: report

Calling an unconfirmed report a revelation presents it as established fact.

The revelation of Zacharia reportedly moving out of her position comes after President Donald Trump…

Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

widespread ridiculeMore neutral: criticism of her first briefing

The phrase asserts that ridicule was widespread without citing a measure of it.

…encouraged Katie Zacharia, his new press secretary, to step down amid widespread ridicule over her job performance after only five days on the job, the New

Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

0.45 ScaramuccisMore neutral: Five days, compared with 11 for Anthony Scaramucci

Compares her tenure with a predecessor’s in a mocking way, adding a judgement the facts do not carry.

That’s 0.45 Scaramuccis.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

disastrous daysMore neutral: five days on the job

Adds an evaluative adjective to a plain description of her time in the job.

After just five disastrous days on the job as the White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia was fired Friday.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

flubbed questionsMore neutral: answered questions

Describes her answers with a verb that implies failure rather than reporting what she said.

Her foundation grew shakier still after she flubbed questions about her legal background and work experience, having seemingly misled…

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

seemingly misled reportersMore neutral: gave statements to reporters that were later contradicted

Accuses her of misleading reporters on the strength of a hedge rather than a documented finding.

…flubbed questions about her legal background and work experience, having seemingly misled reporters on both.

Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

twisted the knifeMore neutral: He then added

The phrase is the outlet’s own dramatic framing of a remark that is reported in plainer terms elsewhere.

Then he twisted the knife a little further.

Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

Kicking Katie Zacharia to the CurbMore neutral: Trump Says He Urged Katie Zacharia to Reconsider

The idiom asserts a dismissal that Trump himself denied in the same exchange.

BREAKING: It Looks Like President Trump Is Kicking Katie Zacharia to the Curb

Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

grilledMore neutral: questioned

The verb describes the interview as a harsh interrogation rather than reporting the questions asked.

…had a particularly rough interview with Sean Hannity in which the Fox News host grilled her about failing the bar exam.

Used byTheBlaze (Far Right)

shaky podium debutMore neutral: first press briefing

Labels her first briefing with a judgement rather than describing what happened.

…secretary, getting the ax less than a week into the high-pressure job after a shaky podium debut and a scramble to defend whether she was a real lawyer.

Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

scramble to defendMore neutral: responded to questions about

Frames her responses to questions about her credentials as a frantic effort rather than a reply.

…ax less than a week into the high-pressure job after a shaky podium debut and a scramble to defend whether she was a real lawyer.

Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

a real lawyerMore neutral: a lawyer admitted to practice

Implies a conclusion about her credentials that the question itself leaves open.

…job after a shaky podium debut and a scramble to defend whether she was a real lawyer.

Used byThe Washington Times (Right)

flustered and disorganizedMore neutral: gave a brief briefing with questions from three reporters

Describes her demeanor with judgement rather than reporting observable conduct.

…just three reporters at Breitbart, Fox News and the Daily Mail, appearing flustered and disorganized.

Used bySalon (Far Left)

incompetentMore neutral: removed after less than a week in the post

Calling her incompetent is a verdict on her ability that the excerpt does not establish as fact.

Katie Zacharia was too incompetent even for Trump

Used bySalon (Far Left)

humiliatingMore neutral: after less than a week

Characterizes her departure with a judgement about her feelings and standing.

…Zacharia is out as press secretary in less than half of a Scaramucci, marking a humiliating new record for the 41-year-old fake lawyer turned White House flameout.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

fake lawyerMore neutral: who had not passed the bar exam

Labels her a fake before the bar-exam facts are weighed in the article.

…than half of a Scaramucci, marking a humiliating new record for the 41-year-old fake lawyer turned White House flameout.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

cannedMore neutral: removed

Informal verb that adds a mocking tone to a removal.

President Donald Trump canned his new MAGA mouthpiece Friday after she fled her first press briefing following three…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

fledMore neutral: ended

Implies flight rather than leaving a briefing, which is a judgement of her conduct.

President Donald Trump canned his new MAGA mouthpiece Friday after she fled her first press briefing following three softball questions and was then exposed for…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

FallenMore neutral: Press Secretary

Pre-judges her as a failure before the facts of her tenure are weighed.

Trump’s Fallen Press Secretary Eclipses Scaramucci to Grim Record

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Grim RecordMore neutral: Shortest Tenure

Adds a dramatic, negative tone to a short tenure report.

Trump’s Fallen Press Secretary Eclipses Scaramucci to Grim Record

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

disjointedMore neutral: a first press briefing that drew questions

The word characterizes the briefing with a judgement that the reporting does not establish.

…who characterized herself as a lawyer despite not having passed the bar, had a disjointed first press briefing on Monday.

Used byTheGrio (Left)

less than one half of a ScaramucciMore neutral: Her tenure was shorter than Scaramucci’s

The comparison is a mocking judgement of Zacharia’s tenure rather than a description of the facts.

She made it less than one half of a Scaramucci.

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

mercilessMore neutral: five-day

The adjective adds a judgement of cruelty to a report of a firing that the headline does not need to characterize.

Trump's 11-day communicator Anthony Scaramucci reacts to Katie Zacharia's merciless five-day tenure: 'Records are made to be broken'

Used byDaily Mail (Right)

brutal first press conferenceMore neutral: first press conference

Adds an evaluative adjective to a description of her first briefing.

It followed a brutal first press conference, some very weird remarks about her resume and whether she passed the bar…

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

very weird remarksMore neutral: remarks about her resume

Labels her remarks with a judgement rather than describing them.

It followed a brutal first press conference, some very weird remarks about her resume and whether she passed the bar exam — she did not — and her…

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

one-two punchMore neutral: two problems in quick succession

Uses a dramatic metaphor to characterize the events as a knockout blow.

It turned out to be a one-two punch and lights out.

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

Unenviable RecordMore neutral: a short tenure

Frames a short tenure as a dramatic record with an evaluative adjective.

Katie Zacharia's Ouster Breaks an Unenviable Record No One Thought Possible

Used byTownhall (Far Right)

charitable takeMore neutral: responded to the firing

Calling Scaramucci’s post charitable is a judgement of his motive, while the post itself can be reported without that assessment.

…who only served for 11 days as White House communications director, had a charitable take on the firing, posting on X, “Records are made to be broken.

Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Notoriously short-livedMore neutral: former White House communications director who served briefly

Describes Scaramucci’s tenure with a judgement about his reputation rather than only the dates.

Notoriously short-lived former White House communications chief Anthony Scaramucci quipped Friday…

Used byNew York Post (Right)

freshly cannedMore neutral: recently fired

Slang for being fired that adds a dismissive tone toward Zacharia.

…former White House communications chief Anthony Scaramucci quipped Friday that freshly canned press secretary Katie Zacharia beat his record as Trump’s fastest-ever-fired…

Used byNew York Post (Right)

paltry 11 daysMore neutral: 11 days

“Paltry” judges the length of his service rather than stating it.

But I take no pleasure in other people’s pain,” tweeted Scaramucci, who served a paltry 11 days as press secretary in 2017.

Used byNew York Post (Right)

quick ousterMore neutral: quick departure

The word ouster asserts a forced removal, while the reports describe her as transitioning out.

Trump blamed her treatment by the media for the quick ouster, specifically mentioning Thursday’s interview on Fox’s “Hannity.” .@POTUS:…

Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

Interview That Led toMore neutral: Hannity Interview With Katie Zacharia

The headline states a causal link to her departure, which the reports describe only as her being reportedly transitioning out.

Watch: Here's the 'Tough' Hannity Interview That Led to Katie Zacharia's Departure

Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

descended into a series of stumblesMore neutral: included questions about her credentials

Uses dramatic language to characterize her early days in the job.

…be “transitioning out” of her role, which began on Monday and quickly descended into a series of stumbles, culminating in Fox News pressing her earlier today on whether she…

Used bySemafor (Center)

rocky stintMore neutral: brief tenure

Labels her time in the job with a judgement rather than describing it.

Zacharia's rocky stint as press secretary ends

Used bySemafor (Center)

damning opinionMore neutral: reported opinion

Labels the president's private remarks as damning in the outlet's own voice.

President Donald Trump’s damning opinion of Katie Zacharia’s short-lived job as press secretary has leaked—and it is not…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

insiders told PoliticoMore neutral: people at the meeting, according to Politico

Relies on unnamed people for the report, which readers cannot assess.

…being fired on Friday, has “no talent” and “shouldn’t be on television,” insiders told Politico , paraphrasing the president’s words.

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

TV-obsessed presidentMore neutral: the president

Adds a personal judgement about the president's habits that bears on nothing in the report.

The TV-obsessed president made his true feelings known in a private meeting without his short-lived…

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

DamningMore neutral: Trump's private remarks

Calls the leaked remarks damning before readers see what they say.

Trump’s Damning Secret Verdict on Katie Zacharia Leaked

Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

stunning turn of eventsMore neutral: an unexpected change

The phrase adds dramatic emphasis to a personnel change that the description does not otherwise characterize as surprising beyond its timing.

…to a White House official not authorized to speak on the record, marking a stunning turn of events for the spokeswoman.

Used byNPR (Left)

jeeredMore neutral: said

Jeered describes how the commentator spoke, adding hostility beyond the words the outlet reports.

“At least Katie Zacharia has her career as a lawyer to fall back on,” jeered progressive commentator Alex Cole.

Used byThe Independent (Left)

hapless chaosMore neutral: disorder

The phrase adds a mocking judgement about the administration rather than describing specific events.

…is the period Zacharia represents: the Trump administration’s reversion to the hapless chaos of the president’s first term.

Used byThe Atlantic (Left)

disastrous press conferenceMore neutral: 14-minute press conference that drew criticism

The adjective passes a judgement on the press conference that the excerpt does not support with specific evidence.

In just five days, she was out – the result of a disastrous press conference that lasted all of 14 minutes, followed by a series of halting media…

Used byBBC News (Center)

failed at a critical timeMore neutral: left the job during a difficult period for the White House

The verb presents the press secretary’s tenure as a failure in the headline, which is a judgement rather than a reported outcome.

Analysis: Zacharia was thrown into a whirlwind - and failed at a critical time for Trump

Used byBBC News (Center)