The Trump administration has finalized a rule that ends the use of federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for gender surgeries and treatments for minors.

The Details: The rule, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), prohibits Medicaid funding for "sex-rejecting procedures for children under 18" and blocks CHIP agencies from using funds for the same procedures for people under 19. Beneficiaries currently receiving hormone therapy can continue to claim benefits for six months after the rule comes into effect, which is expected on October 12. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level.

Key Quotes: CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said, "Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and convey no proven benefits. By cutting off federal funds for these sex-rejecting procedures, we're following the science, saving taxpayer dollars, and, most importantly, protecting children from potentially irreversible harm so they can truly flourish." Several outlets quoted Ma'ayan Anafi of the National Women's Law Center for an opposition perspective. Anafi called the move "politically motivated" and said it's "not about following the science. It's about promoting this administration's anti-transgender agenda. This stigma is really the primary function of this rule."

For Context: The Hill (Center bias) noted a 2024 study that found less than one percent of minors received some sort of gender surgery before adulthood. The Hill added that the study also found more cisgender male minors received gender surgeries than transgender minors. It cited breast reductions as an example, noting that 97% of them were males seeking treatment for gynecomastia. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level. In January 2025, a week after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order, "Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation."

Related Storylines: On Thursday, the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that alleged hospitals used false diagnostic codes to bill insurance companies for gender-related care for minors. Subsequently, Vice President JD Vance ordered the Justice Department to investigate healthcare providers for fraud related to gender treatments.

How The Media Covered It: The Federalist (Right) referred to gender surgeries for minors as "​​child genital mutilation surgeries" and framed them as carrying significant risk. The publication also only included quotes from the Trump administration and framed the rule as final, with "​​the force and effect of law." The Guardian (Left), on the other hand, prominently said that "legal challenges could delay or block [the rule] entirely." Outlets from the left were more likely to refer to gender surgeries and treatment as "gender-affirming care."

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hired more than 2,000 video gamers to serve as air traffic controllers amid ongoing shortages.

The Details: The accelerated hiring was part of a campaign launched in April by the Transportation Department to fill positions by recruiting gamers. In an X post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the department has met 94% of its hiring goal.

Decline in Controllers: The number of air traffic controllers has declined 6% over the last decade, meanwhile there's been a 10% increase in the number of flights that rely on the air traffic control system, according to the US Government Accountability Office. The New York Post (Right) reported that the FAA has struggled to staff control towers since pandemic-era mass layoffs, which have coincided with an increase in plane collisions. In May, the FAA said it was reducing its target for air traffic control staffing from 14,633 to 12,563 in an effort to modernize scheduling and increase the time employees spend managing traffic. 

How the Media Covered It: The story was covered more by outlets in the center and on the right. AllSides found left-leaning coverage from only CBS News (Lean Left), USA Today (Lean Left), VICE (Left) and The Independent (Lean Left). CBS covered the story more objectively compared to other left coverage.

The Skills Needed: Outlets on the right emphasized Duffy's praise for the campaign. Zero Hedge (Lean Right), National Desk (Right), New York Post, Daily Caller (Right) and CBS all cited Duffy's claims that video gamers have skills like quick-thinking, focus and managing complex situations that are needed in air traffic control. They all also noted that additional training is needed and that controllers must meet federal eligibility requirements. Both Zero Hedge and CBS reported that the typical entry-level education for a controller is an associate's degree, with no related field work experience.

Safety Concerns: Vice covered the story more cynically, writing that the news was "surely meant to impress us but is actually deeply concerning." The outlet called the campaign a "half-cocked theory" and concluded with, "Maybe gaming skills help some people become good air traffic controllers, but planes are not video games, and passengers are not NPCs who can die and be save-scummed back to life." The Independent quoted a former FAA official who said video game experience "doesn't replace aptitude, or discipline, or decision making under pressure." It also cited anonymous online users who voiced concerns over safety, saying, "If they f*** up people die. They can't just restart a new game."

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly plans to spend $20 million on gloves that can deliver electric shocks as a "de-escalation device." Outlets on the left emphasized mistrust of ICE due to past instances of violence and excessive use of force. Outlets on the right downplayed the effects of the devices and highlighted the need for more safety and protective tools for immigration officers.

The Details: The G.L.O.V.E. device, which stands for "Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter," could be distributed to ICE agents by March 2027. The gloves deliver about 380 volts of electricity when they come in contact with skin after they have been activated, though they cannot transmit electricity through hair, clothes, fur, or other barriers. For comparison, a TASER device typically delivers around 2,000 volts when in contact with the body, according to Newsweek (Center bias). John Peters, the president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, said, "It's immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting."

For Context: The G.L.O.V.E. manufacturer notes that "no more than two gloves should be applied at one time, and generally for no longer than 15 seconds." It also warns "against using them on certain higher-risk individuals, including children, pregnant women, the elderly and disabled people," according to Newsweek.

Concerns About Abuse: A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told Associated Press (Left), "ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do. Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public." Left outlets tended to describe the gloves as delivering "painful electrical shocks," while outlets on the right tended to highlight Peters' quote comparing it to a bee sting.

A Useful Deterrent During Arrests: Daily Wire (Right) noted that ICE's investment in the devices "comes as sources within ICE have described an uptick in violence by the individuals they're trying to arrest." It highlighted that ICE agents have seen a 1,300% increase in assaults and a 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, based on numbers provided by the Department of Homeland Security.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down her position at the end of August, President Trump announced on Wednesday.

The Details: Leavitt is stepping down to spend time with her family and children, according to a Truth Social post by Trump. She'll now serve as one of his "top outside" advisers, he said. In an X post, Leavitt thanked Trump for the opportunity, calling it "the honor and adventure of a lifetime." Leavitt recently gave birth to her second child in May and returned from maternity leave on July 16. No successor for Leavitt has been announced yet.

For Context: Leavitt served in Trump's first administration as an assistant press secretary from 2019 to 2021. She became a spokesperson for Trump's super PAC MAGA Inc. ahead of the 2024 presidential election and later transitioned to his campaign. Leavitt was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary at 27 years old.

Communication Style: The Hill (Center bias) and The New York Post (Right) noted that Leavitt was known for her more "aggressive and combative press strategy." The Post said she used this to "reprimand certain outlets for their coverage of the president." Politico (Lean Left) said Leavitt has been "widely praised on both the left and the right for being an effective communicator" and that "She earned a reputation for her tough but friendly banter with the press in that format."

From the Right: Coverage on the right generally focused on Trump's praise for Leavitt and her comments about wanting to be a more present mother. The Daily Signal (Right) and Daily Wire (Right) primarily cited quotes about Leavitt's decision to spend time with her family. The Daily Wire also noted Leavitt's statement that the US "is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party that seeks to destroy everything great about America." The New York Post said the press secretary role was "notorious for burnout" and that most White House press secretaries last about 1.5 to 3 years.

From the Left: The Guardian (Left) said the departure comes with Trump's approval rating "at a historic low" and as voters express frustration over increasing prices and the Iran war. The outlet juxtaposed Leavitt being a "devout Christian" with her more aggressive interactions with media and said that her briefings "rarely strayed off message…but did keep fact-checkers occupied." NBC News (Lean Left) mentioned that Leavitt is the fifth woman in a high-ranking position to leave the Trump administration this year. It detailed the tenure lengths of Trump's previous press secretaries and also noted Leavitt's unsuccessful Congressional bid in 2022.

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Chinese shipping company Sea Legend is slated to launch its first voyage along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) this week, prompting several new developments and media discourse on the viability of Arctic trade routes.

The Route: Sea Legend's vessel will depart from Ningbo, China, and reach Felixstowe, UK, on its "Ice Silk Road" route. The route, which has relied on summer temperatures and melted Arctic ice, avoids chokepoints controlled by other countries or militant groups and is expected to take half as long as going through the Suez Canal. According to American maritime outlet gCaptain (Center bias), the main operators are expected to be Chinese companies NewNew Shipping and Sea Legend, reaching European destinations such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, and Arkhangelsk.

For Context: Last year, 23 voyages were completed along the route, up from 15 in 2024. This week, gCaptain reported that a tanker on the NSR suffered "serious damage to its hull… highlighting the risks" of the route.

Russia's Role: Much of the route skirts along Russia's coastline, and ships need permits from Russian state energy company Rosatom to make the trip. Additionally, Russian icebreakers will reportedly assist the Chinese vessels. According to Vincent Clerc, CEO of Danish shipping giant Maersk, sanctions on Russia make the route nonviable for many shipping companies. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his administration has seen "growing interest" from some countries in utilizing the NSR. He added, "These partners include, above all, our friends China, India, and other nations who are actively discussing these matters with us."

'New Era': Christopher Jasper of The Telegraph (Center) said the upcoming voyage "promises to herald a new era in world trade." Jasper highlighted that the voyage is the "first-ever scheduled container service" using the route and is expected to run once a week over the next two months. "If the experiment goes to plan, it will establish the Northern Sea Route – as the new trade lane is known – as the quickest maritime link between East Asia and north-west Europe," he wrote. Jasper framed the route as particularly valuable in light of the Yemeni Houthis' repeated attacks on ships in the Red Sea. He also noted a recent report that found Arctic ice is once again melting rapidly, and said it "raises the prospect" that China may eventually be able to cut its voyage time even more and avoid Russian waters by sailing in waters closer to Iceland and Greenland. He also quoted a shipping analyst who said that for Russia and China, the move could also be "an attempt to achieve hegemony in the region."

'Reality Check': Richard Milne of Financial Times (Center) said despite "plenty of hype" around Arctic shipping, "the cold, hard fact remains" that it's "nothing more than a niche commercial activity." He added, "There is a long way, and time, to go until it becomes a viable business proposition of scale. Nonetheless, moves like Sea Legend's are hugely interesting geopolitically." Milne previously spoke with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, who said there are still geopolitical, environmental, and commercial complications that need to be solved before it can be a fully viable option. Milne concluded, though, that some of the recent developments are reminders that "slow change still can bring momentous shifts with time."

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Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who was imprisoned by Russia for over four and a half years, was released and returned to the US after his health deteriorated to a life-threatening condition.

Key Quotes: Trump wrote on Truth Social, "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return – No exchange took place." The Kremlin said it freed Gilman for "humanitarian reasons." Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, said, "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action."

The Detention: Gilman was arrested in Voronezh in January 2022, over a month before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He was convicted of assaulting a police officer who evicted him from a train for allegedly causing a disturbance while drunk and sentenced to three and a half years. His sentence was extended after he was convicted of assaulting several Russian prison officials. Eric Lebson of Global Reach, a nonprofit that aims to return wrongly detained Americans home, denied the account of his alleged crimes and said he was hit by police, fell ill, and accidentally kicked the officer.

Split Account: Fox News' (Right bias) coverage differed from outlets from the left and center in that it reported a backstory and more context on why Gilman was allegedly in Russia in the first place. Gilman family representative Kieran Ramsey told Fox on Friday that Gilman was "not even supposed to travel to Russia" when he was on his way to Moldova in November 2021 and fell "violently ill." According to Ramsey, he went to Moscow to stay with a relative while he recovered, and after he thought he recovered, he went to the US embassy to renew his passport and became "violently ill" again. "At that point," Ramsey added, "the Russian police approach him thinking he's drunk, claiming that he assaults them, and then they proceed to assault him and arrest him and charge him. And that nightmare has exponentially expanded since that point."

The Return: Concerns for Gilman's health arose when he was moved from a prison hospital to a civilian hospital on June 30. Hospital staff said his condition was "dire and life-threatening," according to Global Reach. Last week, a State Department spokesperson said they were "deeply concerned" about Gilman's health and "continued detention." Gilman arrived in Washington, DC, on Tuesday night, and according to Ramsey, he was "very frail" and unable to walk off the plane on his own.

Past Prisoner Releases: Both the Biden and Trump administrations have conducted prisoner swaps and releases with the Kremlin. Read AllSides' coverage of some of the most notable ones:

• Russia Releases US Marine Trevor Reed in Prisoner Exchange
• Brittney Griner Released in Prisoner Swap for Arms Dealer
• WSJ Journalist Evan Gershkovich, Former US Marine Paul Whelan to be Released from Russia in Prisoner Swap
• Marc Fogel, American Teacher Imprisoned in Russia, Back in US
• US Citizen Ksenia Ksarelina Freed in Prisoner Exchange With Russia
• Trump and Putin Agree to Prisoner Exchange, Russian Foreign Minister Says

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President Donald Trump issued an executive order reducing the number and schedule of recommended childhood vaccines. Outlets on the right framed the decision as shifting medical power to parents, while outlets on the right and center tended to emphasize pushback from the larger medical community.

The Details: Trump's order, called the "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations," reduces the number of recommended vaccines from 18 to 11 as well as suggests parents spread out the vaccines over 5 appointments rather than administering them all at once. The order also splits vaccines into three categories: those recommended for all children, those recommended for children at high risk of infection, and those recommended after consultation with a physician. In the memo, the president wrote, "Parents can still choose to give their children all of the vaccinations if they wish, it's up to the parents—we're making recommendations that are strong—but it's up to the parents if they wish, and they will be covered by insurance. However, this updated recommendation finally aligns the United States with other advanced and developed nations around the world. More importantly, it aligns us with common sense and knowledge."

For Context: Trump said that his new recommendations align more closely with other peer nations in Europe, according to Fox News (Right bias). However, Reuters (Center) reported that "vaccine experts say that other developed countries that may recommend ⁠fewer shots face different disease risks and have different healthcare systems."

How the Media Covered It: Fox News wrote that Trump's order "dramatically shift[s] medical power to parents," emphasizing the reported alignment with other countries' vaccine schedules and the president's continued support of the Make America Healthy Again movement. Reuters reported on the World Health Organization's response to the order, writing that the organization "defended" its "science-based" process of determining childhood immunization schedules. Both Reuters and CNBC (Lean Left) denied Trump's comments linking vaccines to autism. Reuters wrote that "scientific studies and public health authorities have found no evidence of a link" between autism and childhood vaccines, and CNBC wrote that Trump "falsely tied vaccines to autism."

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A short text message chain involving Dr. Anthony Fauci sent from his government phone in early 2021 revealed he thought mRNA COVID-19 vaccines could have "theoretically" been "associated with miscarriage" in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The Details: The messages were released by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Monday. Johnson's office said the phone had over 34,000 messages and 522 voicemails. In the exchange with Fauci were Doctors Vivek Murthy and Rochelle Walensky, the former US Surgeon General and CDC Director, respectively.

Key Exchange: Murthy asked on January 25, "For pregnant women considering getting the vaccine, are you aware of any data or theoretical reason why vaccinating early vs late in pregnancy would be preferred?"

After a reply from Walensky, Fauci wrote, "There are no data or theoretical reason to believe that vaccinating early versus later in pregnancy would be preferred… There is this misperception out there that we need to deal with that mRNA somehow can 'get into your genes'. When the misperception gets extended to an early developing fetus, the anxiety heightens." He added, "I asked around a bit more and another issue came up that you need to be aware of. Since many people have significant cytokines storm and fever after the 2nd dose, this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester."

Later in the chat, Fauci said, "A large number (more than 10,000) pregnant women have been vaccinated. No issues have arisen. The FDA and the ACIP and the ACOG are all permissive for pregnant women to have a choice."

Previously: Several outlets across the spectrum that covered the story noted that days later in 2021, the Food and Drug Administration had found "thus far, no red flags about… pregnant women."

How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered by major outlets from the right, though several major outlets from the left and center covered the story also. Outlets from the right generally framed Fauci's texts as an admission of risk or "concerns," and often noted his "no red flags" comment days later in headlines. Brittany Bernstein of National Review (Lean Right bias) split from this framing and published an analysis headlined, "No, Fauci's Texts Are Not Proof of a Conspiracy to Hide Vaccine Risks to Pregnant Women." From the center, Forbes and The Hill framed headlines around the release of the texts. Several outlets from the left noted the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine in headlines.

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Jason Arday, a high-profile professor at Cambridge University, resigned after investigations by major British outlets revealed inconsistencies and plagiarism in his personal story and works, prompting widespread media discussion on race and academia.

For Context: Arday was raised by Ghanaian immigrant parents and in 2023 became the youngest-ever black professor at Cambridge. He resigned on August 5.

The Investigations: Most notably, investigations from The Times (Center bias), The Telegraph (Center), and The Guardian (Left) revealed different false claims made by Arday.

The Telegraph: On July 24, The Telegraph said it analyzed Arday's 401-page PhD thesis and found "more than 100 passages" that were "identical or nearly identical to a 2009 PhD thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers." In his thesis, The Telegraph, which described Arday as "a poster boy for the university's diversity drive," said he mentioned Zwozdiak-Myers by name 17 times. The Telegraph also spoke to several other academics who said they were suspicious of inconsistencies in Arday's work previously. On August 5, The Telegraph claimed he had repeatedly lied about being the author of a book titled Being Young, Black and Male: Challenging the Dominant Discourse.

Arday's Statement: On July 31, Arday told The Times, "I am accountable for the mistakes I've made. I hold myself accountable and other people should hold me accountable. We're talking about academia here. I didn't murder somebody. I think the cruelty that I've experienced, and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist, is totally unacceptable."

The Guardian: On August 1, The Guardian published a report that opened by mentioning a keynote speaker Arday gave in April where he accused conservatives of being racist and overscrutinizing the works of black academics. "That's the cancer that we need to eradicate from academia," Arday said. The Guardian said some of the audience thought Arday's speech was "strange" for a keynote. The publication then mentioned The Telegraph's July 24 report and two academics who previously criticized Arday's work, which it described as having "controversial views on race." Though it offered a softened framing at times, The Guardian reported, "But prominent academics of color that the Guardian spoke to said the claims of plagiarism were legitimate, and that Arday's alleged actions risked undermining others who study race."

The Times: On August 5, The Times analyzed Arday's work and said it found "false funding declarations; participant quotes that appear to have been taken from another researcher's own analysis; and 'impossible' samples, such as a breakdown of his participants' genders, which adds up to 110 per cent."

Police Investigate Journalist: On August 4, The Telegraph reported that Times journalist Jack Grove was investigated for four months by London police as he questioned Arday about his work. Grove said he hadn't been made aware of the investigation until after it ended and told his side of the story on August 5. American outlet Reason (Center) highlighted the investigation in a news feature on August 11.

From the Right: Taki Theodoracopulos, founder of The American Conservative (Lean Right) described Arday as a "black conman" who "was a poster boy for diversity" and criticized leftism because "Those who at first suspected our hero to be a cheat and a liar and a total phony were called a despicable lot of patronizing ignoramuses." Theodoracopulos added that even after Arday was forced to resign, he "did not offer an admission of guilt, nor did he apologize" and that "his ardent defenders on the left continue to attack the accusers who discovered his lies." Julie Burchill of The Spectator (Right) said Arday's story "has highlighted the strangeness of academia," where students gleefully put themselves "into lifelong debt to enter this LaLa Land."

From the Center: David Moriquand of Euronews (Center) said, "As to be expected, Arday's fall from grace has led rightwing media outlets and commentators to pile-on and exploit his story, making him their poster boy in an ongoing culture war centered around 'wokeness' and DEI." Moriquand questioned whether Arday is a "liar and fantasist who duped the system" or "a victim of that very same system which has led to an ambitious man being caught in the crossfire of the agendas of both liberal types who have exploited him and far-right figures guilty of scapegoating him."

From the Left: Jason Okundaye of The Guardian argued, "The takedown of Jason Arday has overjoyed the right, and must be a wake-up call for the left." He said Arday "rightly" resigned, but that it "won't end the targeting of senior black figures or the lazy way institutions promote faux equality." In an opinion for New Statesman (Left), Cambridge professor Nick Guyatt called on the university to thoroughly investigate how Arday ascended to the level he did, but "reject" media hype that racial politics and "woke" have taken over top British institutions. Guyatt said, "Since at least the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, much of the UK press (and conservative media around the world) has been obsessed with DEI and the narrative that white people are being discriminated against on every front by a liberal elite which prizes diversity over fairness." Daniel Engber of The Atlantic (Left) chronicled Arday's "unlikely ascent," which he said came to a "tragic end," and ultimately likened him to Icarus, the Greek god who flew too close to the sun.

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The University of Michigan (UM) will switch from letter grades to "pass or no credit" for some first-semester freshmen beginning in fall 2027. Outlets across the political spectrum highlighted debates over whether this will be effective or if higher-ed institutions are coddling students.

The Details: Only incoming freshmen in UM's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will be part of the pilot program, known as "grade covering." The university said the decision is part of an effort to "curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals." The university will retain internal records of the students' grades for academic advising, potential academic awards and scholarships, however, grades collected during the first semester won't be factored into GPA calculations. LSA students' grades will be recorded in their transcripts and reflected in their GPAs beginning in their second semester.

For Context: Other institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College and Wellesley College have implemented similar grading policies. Conversely, the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted in May to cap the number of A-grades given out by professors to 20%.

'Coddling' Students: Fox News (Right bias) said the policy "shield[s]" students. The outlet quoted psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert who said, "We're raising a generation of students to believe that discomfort is dangerous…A bad grade can be upsetting, embarrassing and stressful. That's not a mental health emergency. That's college." Alpert also criticized what he said was "therapy culture invading the classroom." The New York Post (Right) quoted Alpert separately saying, "At some point, young people have to learn that feeling bad is not the same thing as being harmed."

Praise for the Decision: The New York Times (Lean Left) and Washington Post (Lean Left) both led with the decision being an effort to "ease stress" for freshmen. The Times noted opposition to the change, but focused more on students and faculty who praised the idea, including the UM student body president who said the system is "an incredible thing" that "will do a lot to help get students into a routine that is healthy and sustainable." 

A Shift in Higher-Ed: Wall Street Journal (Center) wrote the move comes "as schools wrestle with grade inflation and the need for remedial instruction for freshmen ill-prepared for college-level classes." The Journal mentioned other universities that have sought to reinstate entrance exams and testing because incoming students were less prepared. It quoted a former Michigan professor who said he didn't think the new policy would make much of a difference because "grades have lost their value as an indication of quality or excellence."

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) this weekend announced that she is freezing her eggs as she shared a series of clips documenting her journey online. Many outlets speculated about what the decision could mean for AOC's political career, while some on the right were split in their support and criticism.

The Details: Ocasio-Cortez, 36, said she felt the decision could normalize conversations about women's fertility and help others facing similar decisions. She told viewers she'd been considering freezing her eggs for a long time and acknowledged what she called the "political risk" of publicly discussing the procedure. AOC also described the decision as taking back control over her body amid "an administration that wants to politicize our bodies." In an interview after the clips were posted, she said that she was open to running for president or the Senate.

Hypocritical: The Daily Wire (Right) was critical of her posts and suggested she was being hypocritical after telling young people to reconsider having children due to climate change and reproductive policies in the US. The outlet wrote the decision was "a notable shift in tone" as AOC "has long championed feminist causes, including abortion-on-demand." The Wire framed the discussion in terms of age and reproductive timing, saying "For AOC, the biological clock is ticking – and she knows it."

Praise for the Decision: Some outlets highlighted praise for AOC's decision and its potential to inspire other women to have children. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) quoted Katie Miller, wife of White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, saying, "Good for her for wanting to be a mother and preserving the ability to do so. If she inspires other women to want to become mothers, awesome we need more babies." The Examiner said AOC's announcement comes as the US fertility rate has continued a two-decade decline. Reason (Center)'s Liz Wolfe wrote, "God bless her. Having kids is a wonderful thing!"

The Rise in Egg Freezing: Data shared in Reason showed that the number of women freezing their eggs quadrupled between 2014 and 2021. Many outlets on the left, including CNN (Lean Left), CBS News (Lean Left) and Axios (Lean Left) listed reasons why women may freeze their eggs and said AOC was joining tens of thousands of other women who have also undergone the process. The National Review (Right) and Daily Signal (Right) both wrote that the decision for women to have kids later on in life are most likely due to a lack of having a partner or because they are with someone who does not want to be a parent.

Presidential Prospects: Many outlets on the left generally focused on what the announcement could mean for AOC's political prospects. The New York Times (Lean Left) said the ABC interview was AOC's "most public suggestion yet of aspirations for higher office." The Times described AOC's position among the Democratic party and the rise of socialist Democrats this year. The National Review suggested the announcement could be a political strategy as AOC attempts to make herself "look relatable" ahead of a presidential bid. The outlet wrote that her decision was probably "political and cynical," but argued that people shouldn't "start attacking women" for wanting to become mothers at any age.

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As Flock Safety cameras have sparked privacy concerns nationwide, many major outlets across the spectrum have published opinions and analysis on the issue.

For Context: Flock is an Atlanta-based company that operates over 120,000 cameras nationwide. Last month, the city of Los Angeles cut ties with Flock after a dispute arose over who would control the data their cameras captured. Many other cities across the US have also cut their ties with Flock.

Privacy Infringement: Adriel Perez-Gonzalez of The Daily Caller (Right bias) framed Flock cameras as stifling and highlighted instances such as police "using the database to stalk ex-girlfriends" and "innocent drivers" that were "held at gunpoint over cases of mistaken identity." Perez-Gonzalez said "the central question is not whether a society can become safer by monitoring more of its citizens" but "whether Americans are willing to trade whatever semblance of privacy remains in exchange for safety and call it freedom." She also noted that China has deployed surveillance cameras widely and that "we are not China." Perez-Gonzalez concluded, "There will always be another threat. Another crime. Another emergency. Another reason why the responsible thing to do is to surrender just a little more privacy. And there will always be a politician willing to promise that this is the last concession. It never is."

Safer Streets: In an opinion for The Atlantic (Left), Charles Fain Lehman (Lean Right) argued, "Police cameras can help make the criminal-justice system both fairer and less punitive – if we let them." Lehman opened by highlighting that San Francisco rapper Dreamlife Rizzy, who is a convicted felon, has vocally stated he is against the cameras. He added that in addition to "criminals" being "upset" about the cameras, "Flock has become a fixation of the populist right," naming Tucker Carlson (Right) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) as opponents of them. Lehman touted data from Colombia, Sweden, Uruguay, and China that showed cameras lowered crime. He concluded that Flock is "an easy target for populist backlash," and while "some of the concerns are reasonable," eliminating them altogether would "just be foolish."

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Recent reports, including the results of a two-year-long investigation released in late July, detail decades of alleged abuses at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.

The Details: NPR (Lean Left bias) highlighted the case of Paul Busch, who publicly shared his story for the first time in the exclusive report on Monday. Busch's ballet teacher at Interlochen, Thomas Clower, pleaded guilty to attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct against the then-16-year-old in 2005. The charge, classified as a misdemeanor, resulted in a 90-day jail sentence, of which he served two-thirds due to "overcrowding." NPR reported, "Busch said he felt like a 'social pariah' for his final two years at Interlochen… [He] said he's still waiting for accountability."

Clower was added to Michigan's sex offender registry and fired from Interlochen, but he later obtained employment at the Ballet Academy of Texas, where he was described in his professional biography as "one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country." He is not registered as a sex offender in the state of Texas.

Clower's case is among about 70 from the 1950s to 2010s, including some connected to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, who was an alumnus and benefactor of the school. The cases – "not only [against] staff but [against] trustees and guest artists," according to Michigan Advance (Center) – came to light in a 97-page report from Sanghavi Law Office, which conducted a two-year investigation with reported assistance and cooperation from Interlochen.

How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum emphasized Epstein's connection to the school, despite him being one of about 50 alleged abusers. Michigan Advance highlighted, "After his 2008 conviction, and again after new charges were filed in 2019, Interlochen said it conducted an internal review of their records and found both times no reports of misconduct at Interlochen involving Epstein, though the external investigation indicates that is inaccurate." Another NPR report from February said Epstein and Maxwell's coordinated abuses of Interlochen students were made possible because Epstein's financial standing with the school "allowed for access to students and campus."

Common Ground: NPR called the cases "a stark contrast to the longtime idyllic image of Interlochen, which helped launch the careers of performers such as Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Chappell Roan, Felicity Huffman and Da'Vine Joy Randolph." It criticized, "Interlochen said that today it is 'fundamentally different from the institution described in this report.' In a statement to NPR, the school described safety measures it has put in place to protect students and a network of resources, including a team of school counselors, social workers and a psychologist…But for Busch, the response from Interlochen is not enough."

Michigan Advance agreed, "The report details an overwhelmingly permissive culture for this type of conduct to have occurred at Interlochen – made possible by a number of factors, including limited contact with family members by students and the power dynamic between students and teachers. But the lack of response from Interlochen made the overall environment one where adults were able to get away with this type of behavior." Blaze Media's (Right) article described the cases as "damning," harrowing" and "astounding."

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Israeli prosecutors have charged settler activist Yinon Levi with reckless homicide in the July 2025 shooting that killed Palestinan activist Awdah Hathaleen. The case marks the first such indictment of an Israeli in the West Bank in more than seven years.

How The Media Covered It:

Coverage agreed that the indictment was highly unusual but differed in how broadly it framed the case. Left-leaning sources often noted Israel's low conviction rate for violence against Palestinians. Center outlets paired the charges and Levi's denial with wider data on rising settler attacks, and right-leaning coverage focused on the criticism from both sides and the political debate over violence in the West Bank.

A "Rare Break" From Impunity: Haaretz (Lean Left) framed the indictment within a broader pattern of limited accountability for Israeli violence against Palestinians. The report cited Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that monitors law enforcement in the West Bank, which found that "only three percent" of relevant cases opened between 2005 and 2025 led to a full or partial conviction. It also stressed that Levi was released to house arrest one day after the shooting and described reckless homicide as a less severe charge carrying up to 12 years in prison.

Charges, Denial, and A Broader Issue: Reuters (Center) highlighted the rarity of the prosecution while laying out competing claims and broader rise in West Bank violence. It noted that Levi denied firing the fatal shot and included Israel's position that authorities always investigate wrongdoing, alongside UN figures showing that 18 Palestinians had been killed in settler-linked incidents so far in 2026. B'Tselem called the indictment "the exception that proves the rule," arguing that Israeli impunity allows the violence "to continue and escalate."

Disputing the Charges: The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) brought forth Levi's self-defense argument and competing criticism of the reckless homicide charge by highlighting specific footage of the confrontation. While Hathaleen's family called the charge too lenient, Levi described the prosecution as "de facto support for terrorism," and his attorney called it a "mistaken decision." The report also connected the case to wider political tensions, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Israeli settlers are "99.9% law-abiding citizens."

For Context:

• The 1995 Oslo II agreement divided the West Bank into Areas A, B and C, with differing levels of Israeli and Palestinian civil and security control. Umm al-Kheir is located in Area C, which remains under Israeli civil and security control.
• UN Humanitarian Data recorded more than 1,330 settler attacks resulting in casualties or property damage across 250 Palestinian communities during the first seven months of 2026.
• The Israeli government's position is that the West Bank is disputed territory and that the settlements are not inherently prohibited under international law.

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Americans pay more in taxes than they spend on food, clothing and shelter combined, according to data from the Committee to Unleash Prosperity (Lean Right bias) and a report from the US Treasury.

The Details: In an X post, economist and co-founder of Unleash Prosperity, Stephen Moore, shared a chart that estimated Americans paid about $8.19 trillion in taxes in 2025, compared to roughly $7.39 trillion spent on food, clothing and housing combined. The chart estimated Americans paid $2,691 billion in state and local taxes and $4,401 billion in federal income taxes, including $2,599 billion in federal personal income taxes in 2025. This is compared to an estimated $3,801 billion in housing and utilities; $1,530 billion in food at home; $1,495 billion in restaurants and accommodation, and $562 billion in clothing and footwear.

Data Framing: The data corroborated a recent a Treasury report shared by Real Clear Markets (Lean Right) showing individual income taxes increased 7% in the first nine months of the fiscal year to $136 billion. Unleash Prosperity used the data to argue that the government is too "big and bloated," and that "taxes make life less affordable."

Pressure to Increase Taxes: Real Clear Markets outlined the findings in the Treasury report. According to the outlet, total federal taxes have increased 57% from 2018 to 2025, with individual income taxes up nearly 60% and corporate tax revenue increasing 120%. The outlet said that the massive increase in taxes "is not enough for big government supporters" as "virtually every Washington interest group is calling on Congress to raise taxes even more to 'fund our unmet needs.'" It argued that "Congress should put a cap on total federal taxes and make every American's life more affordable."

The Iran War: The Center for American Progress (Lean Left) reported on the impact of the Iranian war on American spending. It reported that five of the top oil and gas companies have brought in $65.5 billion in profit this year – up 65% from last year – writing, "While Trump's war is driving up costs for consumers, oil and gas companies have been making enormous profits at the expense of everyday Americans and their families." The Center argued this isn't a coincidence, but part of President Trump's agenda to "enrich the industry" after he accepted millions of dollars in campaign donations from the oil and gas industry. It concluded by saying, "The first step in bringing energy prices down for American consumers is to stop the Trump administration's reckless and unnecessary war in Iran."

Affordability Challenge: Affordability continues to be a top issue for Americans, driven by increasing tax rates, the cost of living and an increase in gas prices amid the Iranian war. In April, a Pew Research Center (Center) survey found that 60% of US adults believed they paid more in federal taxes than is fair – up from 56% in 2023. A recent report by the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation found that 90% of respondents identified groceries and food prices as their biggest cost concern, ahead of housing and healthcare.

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A report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) (Left bias) approximated President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown through deportations will cost American taxpayers an average of $2,358 throughout the course of his presidency. AllSides did not find coverage from the right of EPI's report outside of Newsmax (Right). However, right-leaning outlets heavily covered other elements of immigration news, such as the record levels of ICE arrests in 2026.

The Details: EPI estimated that the federal government will spend $268.9 billion on deportations throughout Trump's second term, with costs concentrated in major population centers rather than rural areas. Axios (Lean Left) noted that the EPI estimated the cost for taxpayers regionally, writing that taxpayers in a small, highly populated city like Washington, D.C., could pay around $3,930 each, while taxpayers in smaller, rural areas like West Virginia might only pay around $1,297.

Comparing the Numbers: EPI's report compared how the same funds could be spent in other programs. Los Angeles, for example, is estimated to use $9.25 billion, which the EPI reported could fund 24,000 teachers in the area. The amount spent in West Virginia could fund SNAP benefits for 328,000 people or Medicaid coverage for 31,000 people, according to Axios.

What EPI Didn't Measure: Newsweek (Center) quoted the president of NumbersUSA, an organization that advocates for immigration reform, saying, "The calculator doesn't measure the cost of non-enforcement. Just a couple of years ago, a historic surge in illegal immigration threatened to bankrupt even the largest and wealthiest cities in America." A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said, "It's ridiculous that investments to enforce the law are making headlines while the devastating consequences of breaking it went completely ignored under the Biden administration. Illegal immigration costs American taxpayers over $150 billion every single year, and that number will only grow unless our nation's laws are enforced. Deportations are absolutely vital to stop the bleeding." Daily Wire (Right) reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 51,000 immigrants in July, setting a new monthly record.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) was just used to create brand-new viruses, prompting echoes of both hope and fear across the political spectrum.

Equal Parts Hope and Terror: Every outlet covering the AI biological milestone highlighted both the plausible benefits to such research as well as the concerns. The Guardian (Left bias) said the "breakthrough offers hope for new medicines but also raises urgent biosecurity questions." The New York Times (Lean Left) said the study "goes well beyond duplicating viral genes," explaining how AI was coached "to recognize patterns of DNA structure in nature, and then to use that data to write recipes for entirely new viruses." The Daily Wire (Right) said that the breakthrough could be used by doctors to "successfully fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs and deliver targeted gene therapies," but added that "some biosecurity experts are warning of dark possibilities." The Independent (Lean Left) said "The results have inspired equal parts hope and terror about the future of AI-inflected biology."

Plausible Benefits: According to researchers cited by The Independent, "The newly created viruses showed promise in overcoming resistance from their hosts, suggesting similar methods could be used to develop medication targeting tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus."

No Guardrails: The study, according to The New York Times "adds to growing worries that artificial intelligence might enable the creation of a new generation of biological weapons, from deadly poisons to unstoppable pandemics." Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Dr. Moritz Hanke believes "governments and scientific organizations have been slow to develop guardrails that could block the creation of a deadly virus—even as the science races ahead." The Daily Wire highlighted recent federal guidelines "restricting high-risk laboratory research," but explained that these guidelines "stop short of prohibiting purely computer-based bio-design, leaving AI-created DNA blueprints in a regulatory gray zone."

Gain-Of-Function: Both The Guardian and The Independent cited professor of synthetic genome engineering at Imperial College London Tom Ellis saying "the threat from full AI design and writing of a genome of a virus or bacteria is very overblown when we consider that just taking existing pathogens and making gain-of-function changes to their genomes is so much easier and much more likely to be a real pathogenic threat."

New Creations: The viruses created by scientists at Stanford University and the Arc Institute using an OpenAI model called Evo pose no threat to humans. This is because they are bacteriophages resembling what is known as Phi X-174, which is only capable of infecting bacteria such as E. coli. The AI generated 700,000 potential DNA recipes, of which the scientists chose 285 to synthesize. Of the 285 DNA molecules, only 16 were viable, tested by inserting them into bacteria spread across petri dishes. According to the study, the new viruses were just as resilient as natural ones, with some multiplying even faster than Phi X-174.

Related: Senate Panel Refers Fauci to Justice Department After Contempt Vote

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A new report from Politico (Lean Left bias) suggested an outbreak of cyclospora is "prompting people to reconsider their fresh food choices" as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for Americans to eat more "real food."

Politico Report: Politico said the "record outbreak" has hindered the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) efforts and "sickened thousands of Americans." Politico included several quotes from critics of HHS. Marion Nestle, an NYU professor who, according to Politico, "has supported parts of the MAHA agenda," said, "It's pretty hard to tell people to eat real food if that food is contaminated with pathogens." Sandra Eskin, former Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety during the Biden administration who now leads the activist organization Stop Foodborne Illness, said, "If we have outbreaks like this one and then a few months later, it's another one, that totally undermines the message." Politico's original headline, "​​RFK Jr.'s 'Eat Real Food' agenda gets snarled in cyclospora outbreak," was later changed to, "Fear of lettuce is making RFK Jr.'s food messaging harder for consumers to swallow."

HHS Response: In an X post, HHS senior adviser Calley Means noted that the Stop Foodborne Illness alliance includes many of the biggest food companies in the US and said, "You actually can't make this up. These companies are funding a fake 'food borne illness advocacy' group to give quotes to media attacking RFK's 'real food' pitch and argue ultraprocessed food is safer." He added, "There are cyclospora outbreaks every year. This is the first year there is a media frenzy." The Daily Caller (Right bias) highlighted this in an article. When asked for comment on cyclospora by Politico for its original report, Means said, "I don't have a comment on cyclospora. I don't want to get into it."

For Context: Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis that can cause various stomach-related ailments such as diarrhea or fatigue. On July 21, Kennedy acknowledged the outbreak and said, "We do have the outbreak under control. We've identified the source of the outbreak. We and the companies that are involved have implemented a recall." Last week, the CDC said one current outbreak is linked to 15 states and iceberg lettuce in particular. In total so far, the CDC has received reports of 10,468 lab-confirmed cases, and tips regarding 12,255 additional cases. The previous high was in 2019 when the CDC reported 2,408 lab-confirmed cases.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected President Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza, saying that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.

The Details: Hamas previously agreed to a plan proposed by Trump's Board of Peace in which it would forfeit its weaponry in exchange for Israel ending "all forms of aggression." Netanyahu said Israel "rejects the 15-point document" and "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens." He also said, "They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some are not acceptable to us, and we know how to stand firm on these things."

For Context: Last week, after Hamas agreed to the plan, Israel expressed "serious" concerns and bombed Gaza, killing at least 19.

How The Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) included several full direct quotes from Netanyahu, compared to other outlets analyzed, which generally offered shorter snippets. BBC News (Center) included a bit of analysis near the end of its news coverage. It called the development a "blow" for Trump's plan and said, "Just months before Israeli elections, the Israeli prime minister is unlikely to want to make concessions." Reuters (Center) wrote in its opening lines, "Netanyahu ‌is in campaign mode as he seeks re-election at a vote due on October 27 but is caught between far-right ministers angered by concessions in Gaza and his key military backer, Trump." Qatar-based Al Jazeera (Lean Left) included the total Gaza death toll so far, which it states as 73,300, at the end of its coverage.

Hamas' Position: As of Sunday morning, most outlets AllSides reviewed didn't include a quote from Hamas, but Reuters reported one. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told the publication, "We expect the mediators and the U.S. guarantor to press Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap and not obstruct the process for internal political and electoral reasons, while continuing to jeopardize the region's security and stability." Fox News mentioned Naim's statement to Reuters but paraphrased it in its own words and didn't link to the coverage.

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Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying he wants the league to apply its eligibility rules equally as debate continues over transgender athletes in women's sports.

The Declaration: Freedom, who played 11 NBA seasons before the Houston Rockets waived him in February 2022, announced his plans in a video posted on social media.

"After careful consideration and reviewing the current eligibility guidelines, I'm officially declaring myself a @WNBA prospect. If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA," Freedom said on X.

Freedom added that he was "definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices." He said his team had reviewed the WNBA's eligibility criteria and rules regarding self-identification and inclusion.

What the Rules Say: The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." The CBA does not define "women" or specifically address transgender athletes. Freedom's announcement comes after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she opposes transgender women competing in the WNBA. Several WNBA players and coaches have said they would welcome transgender athletes, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Response: NewsNation (Center) reported that the Women's National Basketball Players Association issued a response following Freedom's announcement. The union said it supports "justice, equity, diversity and inclusion" while protecting women's sports.

"Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm," the union said. "We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."

Mostly Right and Center Coverage: Media coverage of Freedom's announcement appears to have largely come from center- and right-leaning outlets, although Yahoo News (Lean Left) also covered the story through Yahoo Sports. CNN (Lean Left bias) took a different approach, focusing on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and the broader political debate surrounding her team. Its coverage examined political activism at WNBA games, including a Seattle Storm co-owner's suspension after confronting teens wearing anti-trans messages, and how debates involving Cunningham and Caitlin Clark have expanded into broader disputes over gender, race and women's sports. 

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