EconomyDevelopingUpdated Oct 5, 2026

White House economic adviser Hassett dismisses polls showing negative economic sentiment

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, mostly left-leaning (67%).

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

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said on CNN’s State of the Union that he does not believe recent polls showing Americans feel negatively about the economy, calling it “a classic Democrat move” ahead of the midterm elections. He pointed to consumption data and retail performance as evidence that people are not actually dissatisfied, and cited the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey showing partisan splits in views of the economy. The comments came two days after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the U.S. economy added only 29,000 jobs in September, fewer than expected. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly defended Hassett, saying polls have been wrong in past election cycles.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

New to Mantle? It shows who is covering each story across the political spectrum, and highlights loaded words. How to read a storyHide the guide

The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

Kevin Hassett said on CNN’s State of the Union that he doesn’t believe polls showing Americans feel negatively about the economy.
Reported byLeftCenterRight
Hassett called the negative polling “a classic Democrat move” ahead of the midterm elections.
Reported byLeftCenterRight
Hassett pointed to retail and consumption data as evidence contradicting the polls.
Reported byLeftRight
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the U.S. economy added only 29,000 jobs in September, 60,000 fewer than expected.
Reported byLeft
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey showed declining sentiment, with a partisan gap between Republicans and Democrats/Independents.
Reported byLeft
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended Hassett on social media, saying polls were wrong in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Reported byLeft

What is contested

Where accounts differ

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

Whether polls showing negative economic sentiment are accurate.
Hassett and right-leaning coverage suggest the polls may be partisan or unreliable, citing consumption and retail data as contrary evidence. Left-leaning coverage highlights jobs and consumer sentiment data as supporting the negative polls, framing Hassett’s denial as contradicted by the facts.

How each side tells it

Compare views

the left
2 outlets
Both left outlets frame Hassett’s comments as implausible or defensive, with one outlet using sharply derisive language about Hassett personally while the other focuses on the apparent contradiction between his claim and economic data.
Trump Dehumanizing label“Goon”Labels a White House official with a derogatory term rather than a neutral description of his role.More neutral: adviserDisagree with this highlight? Loaded verb“Fumes”Characterizes the official’s reaction with an emotionally charged verb rather than neutral reporting.More neutral: respondsDisagree with this highlight? at Pollsters as Sensational language“Embarrassing Numbers Pile Up”Frames the polling data with dramatic language rather than neutrally stating the trend.More neutral: polls show declining numbersDisagree with this highlight?
The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines
the center
1 outlet
The Hill’s headline quotes Hassett directly and neutrally without added framing.
Hassett says on negative polling on economy: ‘I just don't buy it’
The HillCenterAll center headlines
the right
0 outlets · 1 opinion
RedState frames the story as challenging the premise that Americans are economically miserable, suggesting the data support Hassett’s skepticism.
If Americans Are So Miserable About the Economy, Someone Explain These Numbers
RedStateFar 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.

Left5
bafflinglypushing back furiouslyGoonFumes
Center0
No loaded words in its own voice.
Right1
thinly disguised glee

In the outlets’ own words

Loaded modifier
bafflinglyMore neutral: says
Characterizes Hassett’s statement as confusing or irrational rather than neutrally reporting it.
Trump economic adviser bafflingly says ‘if people were unhappy, it’d show up in the data’
Used byThe Independent (Left)
Loaded modifier
thinly disguised gleeMore neutral: apparent satisfaction
Attributes a hidden emotional motive to unnamed political actors without evidence.
…indicators with a mixture of concern and apprehension — and, in some cases, thinly disguised glee.
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
pushing back furiouslyMore neutral: responding
Adds an emotional intensity not established by the quoted remarks themselves.
A top White House official is pushing back furiously against a wave of increasingly negative polls on Donald Trump’s economic…
Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)
Dehumanizing label
GoonMore neutral: adviser
Labels a White House official with a derogatory term rather than a neutral description of his role.
Trump Goon Fumes at Pollsters as Embarrassing Numbers Pile Up
Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Show 2 more phrasesShow fewer

Loaded verb
FumesMore neutral: responds
Characterizes the official’s reaction with an emotionally charged verb rather than neutral reporting.
Trump Goon Fumes at Pollsters as Embarrassing Numbers Pile Up
Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)
Sensational language
Embarrassing Numbers Pile UpMore neutral: polls show declining numbers
Frames the polling data with dramatic language rather than neutrally stating the trend.
Trump Goon Fumes at Pollsters as Embarrassing Numbers Pile Up
Used byThe Daily Beast (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

2 outlets

Leads with

contradiction with jobs/economic data
White House defense of Hassett
skepticism of his claim

Leaves out

Hassett’s specific point about retail/consumption data as of right coverage

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

See the 2 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

The Daily BeastFar Left
Trump Dehumanizing label“Goon”Labels a White House official with a derogatory term rather than a neutral description of his role.More neutral: adviserDisagree with this highlight? Loaded verb“Fumes”Characterizes the official’s reaction with an emotionally charged verb rather than neutral reporting.More neutral: respondsDisagree with this highlight? at Pollsters as Sensational language“Embarrassing Numbers Pile Up”Frames the polling data with dramatic language rather than neutrally stating the trend.More neutral: polls show declining numbersDisagree with this highlight?
A top White House official is pushing back furiously against a wave of increasingly negative polls on Donald Trump’s economic record. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung rallied to the defense of Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, after …
Oct 5, 2026Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
The IndependentLeft
Trump economic adviser Loaded modifier“bafflingly”Characterizes Hassett’s statement as confusing or irrational rather than neutrally reporting it.More neutral: saysDisagree with this highlight? says ‘if people were unhappy, it’d show up in the data’
President Donald Trump’s top adviser, Kevin Hassett, is pushing back on the idea that Americans are dissatisfied with the economy and cost of living
Oct 4, 2026Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

direct quotation of Hassett’s remarks

Leaves out

jobs report details
consumer sentiment survey details
Cheung’s defense of Hassett

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

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

The HillCenter
Hassett says on negative polling on economy: ‘I just don't buy it’
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said Sunday that he doesn’t believe in recent polls that show Americans’ negative feelings about the economy. …
Oct 4, 2026Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

0 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

questioning negative polling narrative
economic indicators cited by Hassett
political motives of polling ahead of midterms

Leaves out

jobs report shortfall
consumer sentiment survey details
Cheung’s defense of Hassett

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

See the headline from the rightHide the headlines

RedStateFar RightOpinion
If Americans Are So Miserable About the Economy, Someone Explain These Numbers
We are now less than a month away from the 2026 midterm elections, and, just like in any modern election, incumbents and those looking to unseat them are looking at the economic indicators with a mixture of concern and apprehension — and, in some cases, thinly disguised glee. …
Oct 4, 2026Read at RedState (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
1 hr 28 min later
Its first report, Oct 4, 12:08 PM EDT
Center
First to report
The Hill, Oct 4, 10:40 AM EDT
Right
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

The HillCenterOct 4, 10:40 AM EDT
The IndependentLeftOct 4, 12:08 PM EDT
The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 5, 6:52 AM EDT

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

White House economic adviser Hassett dismisses polls showing negative economic sentiment

Coverage spectrum

Key points

Where accounts differ

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

Trump economic adviser Loaded modifier“bafflingly”Characterizes Hassett’s statement as confusing or irrational rather than neutrally reporting it.More neutral: saysDisagree with this highlight? says ‘if people were unhappy, it’d show up in the data’

From the center

Hassett says on negative polling on economy: ‘I just don't buy it’

From the right

If Americans Are So Miserable About the Economy, Someone Explain These Numbers

How the coverage built up

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Polling firm Wedgewood admits its midterm polls were fabricated

Key points

Where accounts differ

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

Trump economic adviser bafflinglyLoaded modifier“bafflingly”Characterizes Hassett’s statement as confusing or irrational rather than neutrally reporting it.More neutral: saysDisagree with this highlight? says ‘if people were unhappy, it’d show up in the data’

From the center

Hassett says on negative polling on economy: ‘I just don't buy it’

From the right

If Americans Are So Miserable About the Economy, Someone Explain These Numbers

How the coverage built up

Read next

Zuckerberg considered leaving California over a proposed billionaire tax

Musk says Tesla and SpaceX have formed committees to weigh a possible merger

Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg; Kremlin says it is ready for three-way talks

Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard during US envoy Witkoff’s visit

Polling firm Wedgewood admits its midterm polls were fabricated

Trump economic adviser Loaded modifier“bafflingly”Characterizes Hassett’s statement as confusing or irrational rather than neutrally reporting it.More neutral: saysDisagree with this highlight? says ‘if people were unhappy, it’d show up in the data’