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Trump posts Sen. Cotton’s number in time-change dispute; Tillis warns he’d respond in kind

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 8 outlets across the spectrum.

11 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

President Trump posted Sen. Tom Cotton’s personal cell phone number on Truth Social and urged supporters to call him after Cotton opposed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, according to multiple outlets. Trump defended the move when asked by reporters. Sen. Thom Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate, said on ABC’s “The View” that he would not accept similar treatment, telling hosts “I got his number too.” Tillis, promoting a new memoir detailing his clashes with Trump that includes private text exchanges, also called Trump “a great political force” despite their disputes. Separately, House Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, pressed the Senate to pass the Sunshine Protection Act after Trump voiced support for ending the twice-yearly clock change.

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 posted Sen. Tom Cotton’s personal cell phone number on Truth Social and urged supporters to call him over his opposition to a permanent daylight saving time bill.

    Reported byFar Left2Left1Center1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic, HuffPost
    Left
    The Independent
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, Fox News

  2. Sen. Thom Tillis said on ABC’s “The View” that he would release Trump’s phone number too if Trump tried to dox him.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    HuffPost
    Left
    The Independent
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, The Western Journal, Townhall

  3. Tillis has written a memoir, “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents,” detailing his tense relationship with Trump, including private text exchanges.

    Reported byFar Left1Center1Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    The Western Journal, Townhall

  4. Tillis is retiring from the Senate at the end of his current term.

    Reported byFar Left1Center1Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Center
    The Hill
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, The Western Journal, Townhall

  5. The book reportedly includes a text in which Tillis told Trump to “go blank yourself”/used an expletive after Trump called him a “loser.”

    Reported byFar Left1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Far Right
    The Western Journal

  6. House Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, pushed the Senate to pass the Sunshine Protection Act making daylight saving time permanent after Trump voiced support.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

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

  • Whether Tillis’s appearance on “The View” amounted to defending Trump or attacking him.

    Breitbart and Washington Examiner frame Tillis as refusing to join an anti-Trump “bashing session” and praising Trump as a political force; The Western Journal and Townhall frame the same appearance as an attack on Trump, including a “veiled threat” to dox him; The Daily Beast frames Tillis as calling out Trump’s “thin skin.”

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets center the story on Trump’s decision to post Cotton’s number and frame Tillis’s pushback and criticism of Trump’s “thin skin” as notable confrontations with the president.

    GOP Senator Calls Out Trump, 80, for Having ‘Thin Skin’
    The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The Hill’s headline and lede focus narrowly on Tillis’s quoted warning, presenting the exchange with minimal commentary.

    Tillis defends insulting Trump officials: 'I stand by all that'
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    3 outlets · 2 opinion

    Right-leaning coverage splits: some outlets frame Tillis as defending Trump against a hostile “View” panel, while opinion pieces cast Tillis as disloyal and self-destructive; Fox News instead emphasizes House Republicans’ push to pass the daylight saving bill.

    Trump's daylight saving push gets new pressure campaign from House GOP leaders
    Fox 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.

  • Left6

    no remorserationalizedstunning overstepBonkers Defense

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right9

    slammedrapidly aging actvirulently Trump-hating venuesvanquished political career

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    no remorseMore neutral: did not express regret

    Implies the writer’s judgment that Trump should feel guilt, rather than stating facts about his response.

    The president feels absolutely no remorse about doxing Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    rationalizedMore neutral: explained

    Suggests the explanation was an unjustified excuse rather than neutrally describing that Trump explained his reasoning.

    Donald Trump rationalized the stunning overstep while speaking with reporters Saturday, defending the…

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    stunning overstepMore neutral: decision

    Adds dramatic, judgmental framing to the act rather than describing it neutrally.

    Donald Trump rationalized the stunning overstep while speaking with reporters Saturday, defending the decision to post Cotton’s…

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Bonkers DefenseMore neutral: Unusual Defense

    Characterizes Trump’s explanation with a dismissive, judgmental adjective rather than describing it neutrally.

    Trump Gives Bonkers Defense for Doxing Tom Cotton

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Show 11 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded verb

    took a swipe atMore neutral: responded to

    Frames Tillis’s remark as an attack rather than neutrally describing the comment.

    Tillis took a swipe at Trump after he posted the cell phone number of Arkansas Sen.

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Trump foeMore neutral: Trump critic

    Labels Tillis with a combative term rather than a neutral descriptor like senator or critic.

    Trump foe threatens to reveal president’s phone number if doxxed

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    slammedMore neutral: criticized

    Characterizes Concha’s criticism with a combative verb rather than neutral reporting language.

    Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha slammed ABC’s The View over the hosts’ reaction to Sen.

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    rapidly aging actMore neutral: long political career

    Disparages Tillis’s career and persona rather than describing events.

    …retirement, thanks to his habit of crossing President Donald Trump — took his rapidly aging act to one of the most virulently Trump-hating venues on network television Monday…

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    virulently Trump-hating venuesMore neutral: a show often critical of Trump

    Presents the show as settled in its hostility rather than describing its tone factually.

    …President Donald Trump — took his rapidly aging act to one of the most virulently Trump-hating venues on network television Monday to hawk his memoirs of a vanquished political…

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    vanquished political careerMore neutral: ending political career

    Characterizes Tillis’s career in dismissive, defeated terms rather than neutrally noting his retirement.

    …Trump-hating venues on network television Monday to hawk his memoirs of a vanquished political career.

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Sucks Up toMore neutral: appears on

    Frames Tillis’s TV appearance as obsequious flattery rather than describing his actual remarks.

    Thom Tillis Sucks Up to 'The View' by Threatening to Dox Trump's Personal Phone Number

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    crazinessMore neutral: unusual

    Adds unsupported dramatic judgment to the description of Tillis’s book tour.

    It’s craziness.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    just wildMore neutral: notable

    Exaggerates the nature of the promotional tour with unsupported drama.

    …he’s penned a new book, because why not, and is going on a promotional tour that’s just wild.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    MeltdownMore neutral: Controversy

    Frames Tillis’s actions as an emotional collapse rather than describing specific statements or actions.

    Meltdown: Thom Tillis Seems Intent on Burning Every Bridge Imaginable

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Burning Every Bridge ImaginableMore neutral: Criticizing Former Allies

    Casts Tillis’s actions as reckless self-destruction rather than describing them neutrally.

    Meltdown: Thom Tillis Seems Intent on Burning Every Bridge Imaginable

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)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.

  • Dehumanizing label

    Quoted

    hens on The ViewMore neutral: the hosts of The View

    Reduces the show’s hosts to a demeaning animal label, though the phrase is attributed to Concha as a quote.

    “I think the hens on The View, guys, expected a total Trump-bashing session, which basically makes up 99.9% of…

    Quoted byWashington Examiner (Right)

    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

4 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump doxxing a fellow Republican
  • Tillis’s willingness to retaliate
  • Tillis’s broader criticism of Trump’s temperament

Leaves out

  • House GOP’s legislative push for the Sunshine Protection Act

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

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    GOP Senator Calls Out Trump, 80, for Having ‘Thin Skin’

    Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has accused President Donald Trump of having surprisingly “thin skin” for a public figure who’s always picking fights. …

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

    GOP Senator Says If Trump Doxes Him, 'I Got His Number Too'

    But Sen. Thom Tillis also praised Trump as “a great political force.”

    Read at HuffPost (opens in a new tab)
  • The IndependentLeft

    Loaded modifier“Trump foe”Labels Tillis with a combative term rather than a neutral descriptor like senator or critic.More neutral: Trump criticDisagree with this highlight? threatens to reveal president’s phone number if doxxed

    Tillis Loaded verb“took a swipe at”Frames Tillis’s remark as an attack rather than neutrally describing the comment.More neutral: responded toDisagree with this highlight? Trump after he posted the cell phone number of Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton on Truth Social

    Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    Trump Gives Sensational language“Bonkers Defense”Characterizes Trump’s explanation with a dismissive, judgmental adjective rather than describing it neutrally.More neutral: Unusual DefenseDisagree with this highlight? for Doxing Tom Cotton

    The president feels absolutely Loaded modifier“no remorse”Implies the writer’s judgment that Trump should feel guilt, rather than stating facts about his response.More neutral: did not express regretDisagree with this highlight? about doxing Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. Donald Trump Loaded verb“rationalized”Suggests the explanation was an unjustified excuse rather than neutrally describing that Trump explained his reasoning.More neutral: explainedDisagree with this highlight? the Sensational language“stunning overstep”Adds dramatic, judgmental framing to the act rather than describing it neutrally.More neutral: decisionDisagree with this highlight? while speaking with reporters Saturday, defending the decision to post Cotton’s personal phone number as a method to pressure him into bending to …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • Tillis’s direct quote
  • context of Trump’s leaked number
  • Tillis’s history of clashing with Trump

Leaves out

  • House GOP’s legislative push for the Sunshine Protection Act
  • details of NSFW texts in the book

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

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

3 outlets · 2 opinion

Leads with

  • Tillis’s praise of Trump as a political force
  • criticism of Tillis’s retirement and book tour
  • House GOP legislative momentum on daylight saving time

Leaves out

  • Trump’s own stated justification for posting Cotton’s number
  • the content of Tillis’s NSFW texts with Trump

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

See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Trump's daylight saving push gets new pressure campaign from House GOP leaders

    Trump shared Tom Cotton's cell phone number after the Arkansas senator opposed the Sunshine Protection Act for permanent daylight saving time.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    ‘The View’ expected a ‘total Trump-bashing session,’ but Thom Tillis did not deliver: Joe Concha

    Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha Loaded verb“slammed”Characterizes Concha’s criticism with a combative verb rather than neutral reporting language.More neutral: criticizedDisagree with this highlight? ABC’s The View over the hosts’ reaction to Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) defending President Donald Trump. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    Tillis on Possibility of Trump Giving Out His Phone Number: 'I Have His Number Too'

    Monday on ABC’s “The View,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said, “I have his number too,” when warned President Donald Trump could give out his phone number. Co-host Sunny Hostin said, “Last year, you announced you’re retiring from the Senate after this

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • TownhallFar RightOpinion

    Sensational language“Meltdown”Frames Tillis’s actions as an emotional collapse rather than describing specific statements or actions.More neutral: ControversyDisagree with this highlight?: Thom Tillis Seems Intent on Loaded modifier“Burning Every Bridge Imaginable”Casts Tillis’s actions as reckless self-destruction rather than describing them neutrally.More neutral: Criticizing Former AlliesDisagree with this highlight?

    Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is about to exit public life, and he’s not going quietly. For reasons that escape logic, he seems intent on burning every bridge there is, including releasing texts he sent to President Trump. It’s craziness. …

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar RightOpinion

    GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Loaded verb“Sucks Up to”Frames Tillis’s TV appearance as obsequious flattery rather than describing his actual remarks.More neutral: appears onDisagree with this highlight? 'The View' by Threatening to Dox Trump's Personal Phone Number

    Some guys will go anywhere if they’ve got a book to sell. Outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis — a man looking squarely at political retirement, thanks to his habit of

    Read at The Western Journal (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

    First to report

    The New Republic, Oct 5, 10:35 AM EDT

  • Center

    22 hr 47 min later

    Its first report, Oct 6, 9:22 AM EDT

  • Right

    6 hr 5 min later

    Its first report, Oct 5, 4:40 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The New RepublicFar LeftOct 5, 10:35 AM EDT
  2. The IndependentLeftOct 5, 3:34 PM EDT
  3. HuffPostFar LeftOct 5, 3:47 PM EDT
  4. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 5, 4:40 PM EDT
  5. The HillCenterOct 6, 9:22 AM EDT
  6. Washington ExaminerRightOct 6, 10:43 AM EDT
  7. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 7, 4:52 AM EDT
  8. Fox NewsFar RightOct 7, 6:30 AM EDT

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

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