Trump rallies for Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina before midterm elections

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

• Delegitimizing label

  Quoted

  communistsMore neutral: Democrats

  Labels a political opponent as communist without evidence, which is a judgement beyond the facts of the rally.

  “A vote for Darline is a vote to cast communists into political oblivion,” Trump told the crowd gathered inside a gymnasium in Rock…

  Quoted byScripps News (Center)

  These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

• Loaded modifier

  Quoted

  radical left lunaticMore neutral: Democratic opponent

  Labels the opponent with an insult about her character rather than describing her positions.

  Darline Graham, attacking her Democratic foe as “a radical left lunatic” and pleading with Republicans to vote.

  Quoted byRoll Call (Center)

  These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

• Loaded modifier

  Quoted

  radical leftMore neutral: name the group or the position

  Escalating label used to signal disapproval rather than describe positions.

  Darline Graham, attacking her Democratic foe as “a radical left lunatic” and pleading with Republicans to vote.

  Quoted byRoll Call (Center)

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

• Sensational language

  Quoted

  lunaticMore neutral: (omit) and quote the statement

  Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.

  Darline Graham, attacking her Democratic foe as “a radical left lunatic” and pleading with Republicans to vote.

  Quoted byRoll Call (Center)

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