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US reportedly considers using largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 15 outlets, mostly right-leaning (60%).

20 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Massive GBU-43 MOAB bomb with yellow nose on flatbed trailer under a tent canopy.
Image via New York PostHow images are chosenReport this image

US military planners have reportedly drawn up options for strikes on Iran that could include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, according to unnamed sources. The options would apply if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat in a war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Trump told Newsmax in an interview that the bomb is not nuclear and that he would not use nuclear weapons, and Bloomberg reports he declined to rule out using it. Sources told CNN the bomb is unlikely to destroy nuclear sites or change the course of the war, according to The New Republic.

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. US military planners have reportedly drawn up strike options that could include the GBU-43/B bomb against Iran, according to unnamed sources.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left3Center2Right2Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    Truthout, The New Republic
    Left
    Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg, CBS News
    Center
    CNBC, France 24
    Right
    New York Post, Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire, Townhall

  2. The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic
    Left
    Al Jazeera English
    Center
    France 24
    Right
    Daily Mail
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire

  3. Trump told Newsmax the bomb is not nuclear and that he would not use nuclear weapons, but declined to rule out using the bomb on Iran.

    One side only: the leftReported byFar Left1Left2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic
    Left
    Bloomberg, CBS News

  4. Unnamed sources told CNN the bomb is unlikely to destroy nuclear sites or change the course of the war.

    One outletThe New Republic· Far Left

  5. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, have been at an impasse since the summer.

    One outletFrance 24· Center

What is contested

Where accounts differ

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

  • The bomb would be effective against nuclear sites or would change the course of the war.

    Sources told CNN, as reported by The New Republic, that it is unlikely to destroy nuclear sites or tip the war; Just the News describes doubts over how effective it would be in ending the conflict, without naming a source.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that US military planners have reportedly drawn up options that could include the GBU-43/B bomb against Iran, based on unnamed sources. Left outlets stress Trump’s own remarks and doubts about the weapon’s effect, while right outlets frame it as his personal decision, and center outlets as an option under consideration.

  • the left

    4 outlets · 1 opinion

    Left headlines center on what the bomb is and on Trump’s remarks about it, while Truthout and The New Republic stress doubts over whether it would work.

    What is the "mother of all bombs" that sources say the White House prepared for Iran?
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center headlines present the bomb as an option the US is considering, with CNBC pairing it with Iran’s vow to fight on and France 24 with the stalled diplomacy.

    U.S. reportedly considers use of 'mother of all bombs' as Iran vows to fight on
    CNBCCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    9 outlets

    Right headlines mostly cast Trump as the decision-maker, and Far Right Townhall frames the bomb as a threat to the Iranian regime; NY Post’s headline is a Reuters report.

    Trump considers using largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran as president faces pressure to end the war: report
    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.

  • Left4

    experts saytoutedMuses onisn’t doing a good job of explaining

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right7

    nuke sitesunleashingdevastating new assaultdeeply unpopular war

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    nuke sitesMore neutral: nuclear sites

    Informal shorthand makes the sites sound more alarming than the neutral term.

    New strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and nuke sites may use 'mother of all bombs': sources

    Used byJust the News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    unleashingMore neutral: using

    The verb describes the bomb’s possible use as a dramatic release rather than a planned military action.

    President Donald Trump is considering unleashing America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iran in a devastating new assault…

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    devastating new assaultMore neutral: new strike

    The phrase adds drama and anticipates the outcome of a strike that the reports describe only as an option under consideration.

    …unleashing America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iran in a devastating new assault as pressure mounts to end the deeply unpopular war.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    deeply unpopular warMore neutral: war

    The article states public opinion on the war as fact in its own voice without attributing or citing it.

    …bomb against Iran in a devastating new assault as pressure mounts to end the deeply unpopular war.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

Show 7 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    dramatic escalationMore neutral: escalation

    The phrase characterizes the planned use as a major turn without a source for the judgement.

    …Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure in what would represent a dramatic escalation of the six-month conflict.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Vague attribution

    experts sayMore neutral: a named military expert says

    Attributes an assessment to experts without naming them in the excerpt.

    …significantly escalate the ongoing conflict at a time when fighting has lulled, experts say.

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    military action against the regimeMore neutral: military action against Iran

    Calling the government a regime presents it as illegitimate, a judgement the reporting does not establish.

    The president has suggested there won’t be any military action against the regime before the midterm elections in November.

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    Iranian RegimeMore neutral: Iranian government

    Calling the government a regime presents it as illegitimate, a judgement the reporting does not establish.

    Iranian Regime Could Face 'Mother of All Bombs' Soon

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    toutedMore neutral: described

    Touted suggests overstatement, where described reports the same remark neutrally.

    He also touted "productive conversations" with Iran, though he did not provide specifics.

    Used byCBS News (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Muses onMore neutral: Trump Says He Has Not Ruled Out Future Iran Strike With ‘Mother of all Bombs’

    The verb suggests casual speculation, while the article reports that Trump declined to rule out using the weapon.

    Trump Muses on Future Iran Strike With ‘Mother of All Bombs’

    Used byBloomberg (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    isn’t doing a good job of explainingMore neutral: Trump has not clearly explained why he would use the bomb on Iran

    Judges the president’s performance in the interview rather than reporting what he said.

    President Donald Trump isn’t doing a good job of explaining why he would drop one of America’s largest bombs on Iran.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

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 · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Trump’s interview remarks
  • what the bomb is
  • doubts about its effectiveness
See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • US considering the option
  • Iran vowing to fight on
  • stalled diplomacy

Leaves out

  • Trump’s interview remarks that the bomb is not nuclear

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

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • France 24Center

    US considers hitting Iran with 'Mother of All Bombs'

    The United States is considering using its biggest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump should decide to renew combat in the war that has hit a deadlock, CNN reported Thursday. …

    Read at France 24 (opens in a new tab)
  • CNBCCenter

    U.S. reportedly considers use of 'mother of all bombs' as Iran vows to fight on

    The U.S. military has reportedly drawn up options for strikes on Iran that include the potential use of one of the biggest non-nuclear bombs in its arsenal.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)

From the right

9 outlets

Leads with

  • Trump as the decision-maker
  • pressure to end the war
  • Iranian regime as the target

Leaves out

  • Trump’s statement that the bomb is not nuclear

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

See the 9 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • PJ MediaFar Right

    Trump Mulls Using 'Mother of All Bombs' to Hit Iran

    Donald Trump wants to end the war in Iran. Iran isn't letting him. The Iranians are letting the Democrats and the media do their work for them in undermining support for ending the war on terms the U.S. …

    Read at PJ Media (opens in a new tab)
  • The Western JournalFar Right

    Trump Considering Using 'Mother of All Bombs' Against Iran: Report

    A massive weapon called the “Mother of All Bombs” is on the table for use against Iran, according to new reports. Known officially as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb,

    Read at The Western Journal (opens in a new tab)
  • Breitbart NewsFar Right

    Report: U.S. Military Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ for Potential Strikes on Iran

    The U.S. military has developed plans for potential strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure that could include deploying the “Mother of All Bombs,” the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal, if President Donald Trump authorizes renewed …

    Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
  • The American ConservativeRight

    Iran War Day 230: U.S. Considering Use of ‘Mother of All Bombs’ on Iran, Per Report

    State of the Union: Houthis struck the internationally recognized Yemeni government’s capital with missiles.

    Read at The American Conservative (opens in a new tab)
  • TownhallFar Right

    Delegitimizing label“Iranian Regime”Calling the government a regime presents it as illegitimate, a judgement the reporting does not establish.More neutral: Iranian governmentDisagree with this highlight? Could Face 'Mother of All Bombs' Soon

    President Donald Trump is considering allowing the military to use the “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB) while striking targets in Iran.

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    U.S. Military May Be Considering Dusting Off The MOAB For Iran

    The United States military is reportedly considering using the “mother of all bombs” against Iran if President Donald Trump orders renewed attacks. The weapon, formally known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (opens in a new tab)
  • Daily MailRight

    Trump considers using largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran as president faces pressure to end the war: report

    President Donald Trump is considering using America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure as pressure mounts to end the war.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRightReuters report

    US military weighs use of ‘mother of all bombs’ in future strikes on Iran: report

    The US military has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs," against Iran, according to a report.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    New strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and Sensational language“nuke sites”Informal shorthand makes the sites sound more alarming than the neutral term.More neutral: nuclear sitesDisagree with this highlight? may use 'mother of all bombs': sources

    The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, but there are doubts over how effective it would be in bringing about an end to the conflict with Iran.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Just the News

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

    11 hr 11 min later

    Its first report, Oct 15, 11:46 AM EDT

  • Center

    6 hr 9 min later

    Its first report, Oct 15, 6:44 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Oct 15, 12:36 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightOct 15, 12:36 AM EDT
  2. Daily MailRightOct 15, 12:49 AM EDT
  3. CNBCCenterOct 15, 6:44 AM EDT
  4. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 15, 11:46 AM EDT
  5. The Daily WireFar RightOct 15, 12:56 PM EDT
  6. TownhallFar RightOct 15, 1:00 PM EDT
  7. The American ConservativeRightOct 15, 1:51 PM EDT
  8. CBS NewsLeftOct 15, 3:25 PM EDT
  9. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 15, 5:01 PM EDT
  10. TruthoutFar LeftOct 15, 5:21 PM EDT
  11. BloombergLeftOct 15, 9:45 PM EDT
  12. France 24CenterOct 16, 5:27 AM EDT
  13. The Western JournalFar RightOct 16, 9:59 AM EDT
  14. PJ MediaFar RightOct 16, 10:07 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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