President Donald Trump banned CNN (Lean Left bias), Politico (Lean Left), and MS NOW (Left) from the White House "effective immediately" via Truth Social on Friday.

Trump's Announcement: "I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MS NOW [and] Politico… from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS! Media Outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."

The Outlets' Responses: CNN asserted, "We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government." The outlet reported, "There was no indication his administration had taken any steps to follow through. CNN's team remained at the White House Friday afternoon," and said, "Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right." Politico similarly stated that it "will continue to fairly report on this White House and future ones [and] vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them." MS NOW declined to issue an initial comment.

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the political spectrum were critical of Trump's announcement. HuffPost (Left) called it "further escalation in his ongoing war against press freedom" and labeled the three news outlets as "credible." New York Post (Right) – though it didn't criticize the announcement or support the outlets as staunchly – said, "The prospective order has major practical implications – potentially upending the long-standing ability of reporters to gain access to the White House." It gave voice to a Fox News (Right) correspondent who denounced Trump's apparent agenda but noted, "It was unclear whether Trump intends for the outlets to [lose their] special access to the president or [be] banished altogether from the White House grounds — though the president indicated he favored the latter… Trump himself admitted his proposed restrictions might not hold up in court."

For Context: The White House attempted to ban Associated Press (Lean Left) from the Oval Office over the outlet's refusal to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in 2025. Some outlets on the right, such as Fox News and Newsmax (Right) sided with the outlet, and the case remains ongoing.

RELATED: White House Blocks AP from Oval Office Over 'Gulf of America' Stance | AllSides

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After receiving new documents, three House Republican-led committees released an updated report on the investigation into the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.

The Report: The new report released on Wednesday accused ActBlue of covering up fraudulent political donations and lying to Congress about its security policies. The report said that "ActBlue, in its own words, decided to take 'a more lenient approach' to fraud prevention in 2024," and "internal trainings directed ActBlue's fraud prevention team to 'look for reasons to accept contributions' rather than to examine them closely for indicators of fraud." The report also alleged that ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones misled Congress, and that the company appeared to be "knowing and willful in accepting foreign contributions." The report also highlighted internal ActBlue email and Slack communications that allegedly show the organization engaged in whistleblower retaliation.

RELATED: ActBlue CEO Pleads Fifth 21 Times in Congressional Probe on Alleged Illegal Donations

"Should Send Shockwaves": Townhall (Right bias) highlighted recent reporting that showed "an elderly Michigan woman made 15,000 donations totaling more than $150,000 to various candidates," adding that the "woman — who lives in a trailer on a fixed income — denied making those donations." The findings of the report, according to Townhall, raise questions over "How much questionable money made it through" and "who will be held accountable," adding that the "report should send shockwaves through the Democrat Party."

"Escalating Efforts": AllSides did not find any outlet from the left covering the report. However, The Washington Post (Lean Left) published an article the same day the report was released highlighting a law firm representing ActBlue presenting evidence to congressional investigators to show that the platform did not mislead Congress. The article said that the platform "has been embroiled in years of GOP investigations" and "is escalating efforts to clear its name." However, "GOP lawmakers weren't convinced," according to an unnamed Republican, who said ActBlue's new review was a "self-serving analysis." The article highlighted that "ActBlue and its supporters have painted the Republican probes as baseless and politically motivated," but also noted that in 2025, ActBlue lawyers informed the organization that CEO Wallace-Jones "may have misled Congress in her response because the steps for vetting foreign donations were not always followed."

"Warnings Weren't Heeded": The New York Post (Right) highlighted some of the policies used by ActBlue "with barely the appearance of proper vetting," which, according to the article, "let overseas money illegally flow to US campaigns and causes." A policy for passport verification, according to the report, uses "some very basic validation—number of characters—to ensure that the number entered is a valid passport number, but we do not verify the information in any other way." The article also noted that in early 2025, "lawyers for the platform had resigned" after claiming that "their warnings about the lax fraud safeguards weren't heeded."

"Pulls Back The Curtain": Daily Caller (Right) called ActBlue a "Democratic fundraising behemoth," saying that "the company may have recklessly laundered foreign money into American elections" and "CEO Regina Wallace-Jones may have perjured herself when she told Congress the platform is secure." The article explained that "When attorneys voiced concerns that the company may have broken the law, Wallace-Jones and others in ActBlue leadership simply retaliated against them." The outlet highlighted the running tally listed on the ActBlue's website, "shows the liberal money machine has raised nearly $20 billion as of Thursday," adding "How much of that enormous tranche originated abroad remains a complete mystery." The article said the "new congressional report pulls back the curtain" on Democratic fundraising.

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Gas prices increased to a national average of $4.44 on Thursday, with diesel fuel prices averaging at a record $6.40. The price surge prompted media speculation about if prices will continue to increase, how Trump has responded, and how this could affect midterm elections.

The Details: AAA found that national gas price averages increased from $4.31 to $4.44 since Sunday, with prices ranging from $3.92 per gallon in Indiana to $6.09 in California. Prices are still below the all-time national high of $5.02 per gallon in the summer of 2022 under President Biden. Average diesel prices are at the highest the US has seen, according to AAA.

For Context: The Hill (Center bias) and other outlets framed the gas price surge as a result of the U.S. war in Iran and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key waterway for more than a fifth of the world's oil distribution. Washington Post (Lean Left) reported that damage inflicted on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline could create a larger oil disruption that could further surge prices. The Post also alleged that "maritime tracking organizations say that far less oil is getting through the Strait of Hormuz than the Trump administration claims."

Trump's Response: President Donald Trump said that the increased gas prices are "a very inexpensive price to pay for what we've done. Remember that. It's a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more." He also said prices are "going to come tumbling down."

How the Media Covered It: The Hill wrote that gas prices "could prove detrimental to Republicans in November" and that Republicans "are grappling with how to overcome Democrats' affordability message as energy prices continue to rise." Washington Post claimed that "American motorists have paid an additional estimated $107 billion in extra gasoline and diesel costs as a result of the war." It also alleged that the federal government "has few tools left to confront the spiraling costs." New York Post (Lean Right) highlighted stickers making fun of the president that critics have pasted on gas station pumps and packages of beef, placing blame on Trump for high prices. New York Post noted that the stickers, which feature the president's face with the phrase "I did that!" written underneath, are identical to stickers used in 2022 with former President Joe Biden's face when fuel prices surged.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was named as a victim in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme that took place between 2016 and 2023. Outlets on the right generally emphasized the perpetrator was an unauthorized immigrant while many outlets on the left omitted it completely.

The Details: Siddharth Jawahar was sentenced to 11 years in prison after taking over $35 million from investors to fund an "extravagant" lifestyle, according to the Justice Department. The department reported Jawahar used the money for "travel on private jets, stays at luxury hotels, a luxury apartment in Austin and New York City," memberships to private clubs and multiple spending sprees. He was ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution to victims, which included Kelce and 64 others. It's unknown how much Kelce lost through the investments.

For Context: Between 2016 and 2023, Jawahar received more than $35 million from investors for his investment company called Swiftarc Capital LLC. According to the Justice Department, he only invested about $10 million. He also managed several additional investment entities. In January, he pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.

Immigration Status: The Associated Press (Lean Left) cited court documents that showed Jawahar came into the US from India in 2005 and had since been living in the US without legal status. After his incitement, Jawahar allegedly tried to coach a victim into giving a favorable statement to the FBI, lied about his immigration status and finances, and tried to get his sister to remotely wipe his iPhone to hide evidence.

From the Right: Outlets on the right often emphasized Jawahar's immigration status in their headlines and at the beginning of their articles. The Daily Wire (Right bias) referred to Jawahar as "the illegal immigrant" throughout its piece. Breitbart (Right), The Blaze (Right) and Townhall (Right) all described Jawahar as an "illegal alien" in their headlines. Townhall wrote, "Democrats will tell us we can't deport illegal aliens who are non-violent. But Jawahar was a prolific criminal who scammed a lot of people, even though he looked like a banker."

From the Left: Many outlets on the left completely excluded Jawahar's immigration status, instead focusing on details of the case. This included People (Lean Left), NBC News (Lean Left), ABC News (Lean Left) and The Guardian (Left). NBC also omitted Jawahar's alleged attempt to get a victim to lie about his immigration status but noted him asking for a favorable statement and for his sister to wipe his phone. The outlet also quoted Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) who commended Jawahar's time in jail where he "chose accountability" and helped establish educational programs.

From the Center: NewsNation (Center) and Newsweek (Center) focused on Kelce's fame and his marriage to Taylor Swift. NewsNation included stats from his first NFL game of the season. Newsweek also included a section about Kelce and Swift's net worth. Both outlets also omitted Jawahar's immigration status.

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The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 on Wednesday by 0.25%. 

The Details: The increase brings interest rates to between 3.75% and 4.00%. Fed's policymakers voted 12-0 for the hike and suggested one more 0.25% interest rate hike could come before the end of the year. President Trump responded on Truth Social by saying, "LOWER THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FAST!"

For Context: Interest rates are primarily raised to combat persistent inflation and cool down an overheating economy. President Trump has pressed the Fed to lower interest rates for years. Outlets across the political spectrum noted the decision was in response to price increases from the Iran war. The current inflation rate is above the Fed's 2% target, according to The Hill (Center bias).

US Economy: NBC News (Lean Left) said the increase "defied President Trump's wishes for lower interest rates." NBC's article painted a broader picture of the current economy, noting both the S&P 500 and Dow both closed below expectations on Wednesday, and bond yields were at their highest level in years. It noted Trump's previous calls to lower the interest rate and debunked his claims that the US has "the Best Credit in the World," saying Canada, Australia and Germany are all rated higher by S&P. NBC quoted Fed Chair Kevin Warsh saying "inflation is too high and has been for too long." It also quoted a Wells Fargo spokesperson who said Warsh and the committee were "sending a clear message that the Fed will not tolerate inflation drifting further above target."

Resilient Market: Fox Business (Lean Right) quoted the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which said, "Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace…domestic spending has been resilient. Productivity growth is strong, and capital investment is robust." FOMC noted "job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little…Today's policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee's 2% goal." It also quoted Warsh, but focused on his claims of a resilient economy, with him saying the panel "will deliver price stability" and that the decision "comes at a time when the American economy appears to be strengthening."

Trump Admin Response: The Hill quoted White House adviser Peter Navarro who it said "blasted" the Fed and called the increase "a bad decision." Navarro also accused the Fed of being politicized under Warsh's predecessor, Jerome Powell, and said he didn't think Warsh "was the right guy." The New York Post (Right) conversely highlighted Trump's "confidence" in Warsh despite the Fed "defying" his order. It quoted Trump saying he told Warsh, "You might as well vote with the board because it's just not going to matter." Trump also criticized the FOMC saying, "The board is very hostile. They're very political. They're doing the wrong thing. They're a bunch of politicians."

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The Trump administration has moved to legalize the accidental killing or injury of endangered animals, according to The New York Times (Lean Left bias).

The Details: The Times said it saw "an internal memo" sent to US Fish and Wildlife Service field offices on Sept. 14 that instructs a reinterpretation of the Endangered Species Act so only the intentional targeting of an endangered animal would be considered a crime. The Times said the memo gives a few example scenarios. It reportedly reads, "A vessel that inadvertently strikes a whale has not taken it, because the vessel's course was not set against the whale." In another, it says, "Felling a tree is not a take of the bats roosting in it unless the tree is felled for the purpose of killing or capturing them."

Story Framing: The Times framed the move as a "seismic shift" that has come "quietly." It said it would be "transformative" because in the US, "the killing of endangered animals almost always happens incidentally, in the course of economic activity," and that "until now, industries and individuals could be held accountable for those foreseeable deaths and, as a result, they have been incentivized to avoid them."

Previously: Back in July, the Trump administration rescinded the Endangered Species Act's definition of "harm," making it so that destroying an animal's habitat or nest was not illegal. This prompted lawsuits from 20 states and Washington, DC. The directive also took effect on Sept. 14 and sparked some pushback in Congress. On March 31, the Trump administration voted to exempt oil and gas companies drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act.

How The Media Covered It: The Times's report was not widely picked up across the spectrum, though AllSides found coverage from Common Dreams (Left) and Newsmax (Right). Mainstream outlets have widely covered the Trump administration's July directive since it was issued, however, and continued to do so this week since it took effect.

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Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday over his handling of the conflict in Iran. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced that the 7-week campaign recess will begin Wednesday, rather than the originally planned date on Thursday, delaying a vote on the impeachment until after midterm elections.

Massie's Plans to Impeach Hegseth: The Hill (Center bias) reported that Massie "hid" his Hegseth impeachment resolution from Republican leaders out of fear of subversion. Massie said, "I didn't want to show it to anybody. I was afraid that they would do something to subvert me getting on the floor for an hour and 20 minutes and reading these articles." The Hill noted that "it is unclear whether any other Republicans will join him in the effort to impeach Hegseth" and cited a variety of officials who have defended Hegseth, including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson. Wilson said, "By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's leadership than before."

House to Adjourn Early: CNN (Lean Left) wrote that the House's early adjournment will "stave off" a vote on impeaching Hegseth. CNN claimed that Republican lawmakers were already "in a dour mood" over contentious political issues such as tariffs and artificial intelligence before the "new headache" of Massie's resolution. The outlet alleged that Republicans found a way to "stall that vote" despite Johnson's claim that the recess had nothing to do with Hegseth. New York Post (Lean Right) similarly reported that "early exit allows GOP leadership to avoid a politically dicey vote" on impeaching Hegseth.

Responses from Lawmakers: Johnson said of Massie's resolution, "It is a publicity stunt by someone who wants attention. It will immediately be tabled, of course. But we probably won't do that today, we will do it when we come back. We should not be playing games with national security." The Post quoted Massie's X post about the recess, where he wrote, "And there it is. Just as I predicted. They're canceling Congress tomorrow to avoid the vote on IMPEACHING [Hegseth]. It will also make it harder for us to reach 218 signatures on the Epstein Discharge Petition before the election. We were at 190+ signatures last night."

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The median household income reached $87,460 in 2025 – the highest on record, according to the Census Bureau on Tuesday.

The Data: Poverty rate also declined to 10.2%, according to CNN (Lean Left bias). The $87,460 median income, which is adjusted for inflation, is the highest since 1967 when the Bureau first started tracking it. According to the report, the uninsured rate was around 7.9% and the poverty rate for children also fell a percentage point to 13.4%, CNN reported.

Different Demographics: The Hill (Center) reported that different racial groups experienced growth at different paces. It wrote, "Median income rose 3% for white households, but 4.8% for Black households" between 2024 and 2025. It noted that despite this growth, black households (which made an average $59,980) make less than other households on average. There was no change in 2025 for Asian ($126,300) or Hispanic ($73,260) households, according to the outlet. The median income for white households was $96,710. Wall Street Journal (Center) highlighted the gains among women, which grew about 3.2% to $60,760 in 2025. Men didn't see an increase and remained around $72,380.

A Reflection of Good Policy: The National Pulse (Right) wrote that the figures "highlight stable economic progress" in the first of President Trump's second administration. It mentioned the impacts of the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB) haven't been included and described the initiatives in the OBBB as tackling waste, fraud and abuse within government systems. Washington Examiner (Lean Right) reported that the number of Americans with health insurance coverage was relatively unchanged "despite Democrats' concerns." It focused on how this may be used by Democrats and Republicans ahead of the midterms and included that the uninsured rate has been dropping since 2010.

Cuts to Safety Nets: New York Times (Lean Left) focused on the poverty data, saying it "does not capture many of the changes enacted" in the Big, Beautiful Bill, which included "substantial cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other government aid." It reported the number of people were "shielded" from poverty in 2025 and said the number of those in poverty may increase in coming years. It also wrote that the "fairly stable headline numbers in the reports mask some concerning signs below the surface."

Affordability: Outlets across the political spectrum noted that even as income rose and inflation lowered, Americans still faced financial struggles. The Hill noted that mortgage rates have been rising, and that the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.71% in Sept. The Times said Americans were "anxious" about grocery prices, housing and child care costs, gas prices and inflation "eroding workers' paychecks." Washington Examiner reported that 4 in 10 uninsured US adults said it was somewhat difficult to afford their health insurance premiums.

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Days after several artificial intelligence (AI) researchers and engineers spoke out on social media about the potential risks and dangers of AI, President Donald Trump called attempts to limit the technology a "SICK conspiracy." Are Americans reaching a new age of anxiety around AI?

A 'Great AI Freakout': Wall Street Journal (Center bias) published an analysis exploring the reactions of Americans across a variety of industries after Jacob Coxon's posts on X went viral. The Journal cited Rev. Christopher Benek, a Christian faith leader who published the book Church Leader's Guide to Artificial Intelligence, who said he got an increase of questions and worries about AI from his congregation after Coxon's posts' virality. Rakesh Shah, vice president of product at the cybersecurity company Quest Software, told The Journal that his own children had voiced questions about an imminent "Matrix world." Shah said, "When the conversation becomes a dinner-table conversation, it's going to become, definitely, a board-level conversation." The Journal also quoted a mental health counselor, the executive director of an AI safety research nonprofit, celebrities in the entertainment industry, and others, all of whom echoed fears about AI and the need for regulation on it.

The Need for Government Intervention: A New York Times (Lean Left) analysis highlighted the "government paralysis" that seems to be occurring in the face of growing AI concerns. The Times reported that "more than 1,300 computer scientists" have called for their own industry to slow AI development. It also reported calls from Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic; Elon Musk; and Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, calling for a global slowdown on AI development. "Yet in Washington," The Times wrote, "there has been almost no substantive response." The Times also described one problem politicians face when regulating AI as a "Prisoner's Dilemma" because of the race for superintelligence with China. Because AI poses such a threat to national security for both nations, it would benefit both to cooperate on limits and regulations, and yet neither country trusts the other to abide by such an agreement.

Do We Really Need 'Doomerism'? National Review (Right) published an opinion by Michael Brendan Dougherty questioning some of the AI "doomerism" that has become popular. Dougherty called to light the book If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares, claiming that many of their predictions about how AI will contribute to human extinction have already been proven false. He also pushed back against worries about AI contributing to unemployment, arguing that so far evidence "points to AI creating more jobs than it destroys." Ultimately, Dougherty concludes that "artificial intelligence is thus likely to be a powerful prosthesis for human intellection," not a superintelligent being that humans need to fear.

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Rapper Macklemore was kicked off the remainder of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour dates after expressing pro-Palestinian views at a show in New Jersey.

The Comments: During his performance at MetLife Stadium on September 4, he said, "Free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten." On September 5, during another performance at MetLife, he addressed Jewish audience members and said, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality."

The Controversy: The comments prompted critical posts from the StopAntisemitism activist organization, one of which was amplified by pop singer P!nk. Subsequently, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, called Sheeran to tell him Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at his stadium and reportedly organized a boycott from other stadium owners. Kraft said his decision wasn't about "diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians" but that "advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas." Both P!nk and Kraft are Jewish Americans.

Tour Changes: Macklemore was then dropped from the tour, a decision Sheeran said was "the promoter's decision." Shortly thereafter, the other opening acts, which included Lukas Graham, Aaron Rome, Finneas, and Beoga – which performed as Sheeran's backing band – announced their withdrawal from all of Sheeran's upcoming dates.

Statements After: Sheeran wrote on Instagram, "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed."

Macklemore described Sheeran as a longtime "friend" who "was in a f***ed up position" because "his typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before." He also criticized what he described as the weaponization of antisemitism accusations, and concluded, "I didn't need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say. Free Palestine. But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on."

Past Politics: Macklemore's music has never shied away from political and social themes. In 2012, he and creative partner Ryan Lewis released the pro-gay rights song "Same Love," and in 2016 he released "White Privilege II," which commented on police brutality and Black Lives Matter. In 2014, Macklemore dressed in a costume that many argued resembled a Jewish man and was antisemitic, though Macklemore later apologized and said he didn't mean to offend anyone.

How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered by mainstream outlets, with some outlets publishing several pieces of coverage as new developments were reported. Some outlets from the left and center, like The New York Times (Lean Left bias), Associated Press (Lean Left), and DW News (Center), published headlines that framed Sheeran's tour as being in dire condition since the support acts withdrew. Fox News (Right) highlighted Democratic lawmakers and other liberal figures who voiced support for Macklemore.

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A memorial erected for late conservative activist Charlie Kirk was vandalized outside Turning Point USA's (TPUSA) headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday – three days after the anniversary of Kirk's assassination. TPUSA (Right bias), which Kirk founded in 2012, said it restored the memorial later that day. No arrests have been made at the time of this publishing.

RELATED: Was Charlie Kirk Practicing Politics the Right Way? | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: While media on the right more prominently emphasized the vandalism's satanic messaging, others reported less-specific details of the display. The Hill (Center) and The Guardian (Left), for example, more generally mentioned "red spray-paint" on the eight-foot statue and sign, but Fox News (Right) highlighted, "The word 'Jesus' and an image of a cross appeared to be crossed out, while 'Satan' was apparently scrawled across the display."

The Hill did quote TPUSA's assertion that crossing out Jesus' name was intentional, but Fox gave further voice to the organization, which said, "Hate cannot win. The radical Left is showing up to vote. What are you doing to save the country from this?" It also gave voice to Kirk's widow, Erika, who declared, "God will not be mocked," and others who called the vandalism "evil."

RELATED: Tennessee Man Wins $835,000 Settlement After Being Jailed For Charlie Kirk Meme | AllSides

For Context: Thursday marked one year since Charlie Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University, reigniting debates over the conservative commentator and his views on campus speech. The statue and sign were erected in memorial of the first anniversary. Suspect Tyler Robinson, 23, is currently standing trial for the aggravated murder, though he pleads not guilty. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly seeking the death penalty.

RELATED: Does Charlie Kirk's Assassination Portend More Political Violence? | AllSides

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to repeal carbon pollution limits for coal and gas power plants on Monday. Outlets on the left highlighted opposition from environmentalists and energy experts, while outlets on the right emphasized the potential for lowering energy costs and maintaining American power plants.

The Details: Current policies on pollution regulation were imposed under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and aimed to curb emissions of carbon dioxide, mercury, and other air pollutants that are believed to be linked to climate change. To comply with current regulations, coal plants could have used technology to trap and store carbon emissions, and gas plants could have operated on fuels such as hydrogen, which does not produce carbon emissions, according to New York Times (Lean Left bias). In June, when plans for this change were first announced, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the administration said that this change would "deliver savings to American families on electricity bills, and it will ensure that they have the electricity that they need today."

For Context: According to Washington Examiner (Lean Right), fossil fuel power plants have accounted for about 5% of global emissions since 1990. New York Times reported that power plants are the "second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States."

How the Media Covered It: Left outlets focused coverage on how this change could impact climate change and global warming, with the Times framing it as "the administration's erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama." The Times also reported that the Biden administration also "estimated that the regulation would also prevent other pollutants, such as soot, from escaping into the air, resulting in $120 billion in public health benefits by 2047." Washington Examiner noted that some power industry experts said that the technology required to meet current requirements "does not yet exist, and that the rules would effectively close most plants." Reuters (Center) framed the repeal as "​an important ​step in Trump's ⁠broader strategy on environmental regulations he views as unnecessary barriers to industrial development ​and expanded energy production."

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Reading and mathematics scores among 15-year-old students across 91 countries and economies fell to the lowest average levels in 26 years, according to a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) evaluation.

The Details: OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that average reading scores across OECD countries dropped by 28 points between 2015 and 2025, while math scores fell by 22 points. In the US, 65% of students met the baseline proficiency in math, while 74% did in reading and 78% did in science. US reading performance fell 14 points between 2022 and 2025, and was among the country's lowest recorded results since PISA began in 2000. The US fell behind several countries, including Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China and Canada, but scored above the overall OECD average in reading and science.

For Context: PISA is administered every three years to measure reading, science and mathematics skills in 15-year-old students. The 2025 assessment also evaluated students' critical thinking skills and their ability to apply what they've learned to real-world scenarios. More than 760,000 students participated, including 4,600 from the US.

On the Bright Side: Some outlets on the right pointed to bright-lines in the report, such as science scores rising 3 points from 2022 and the US investing more money into education. An article from The New York Post (Right bias) focused on the overall global decline, instead of just the US, writing, "It's a brain rot pandemic!" It mentioned the US's results toward the bottom of its article. A Fox News (Right) segment highlighted Mississippi's reading scores, which increased amid the overall decline. The National Desk (Right) contextualized the findings within an increase in education funding after COVID.

The US and China: Many outlets in the center and on the left emphasized the decrease among US students in comparison to Asian countries. CNN (Lean Left) contextualized the findings with "an intensifying rivalry between the US and China." It mentioned that China's results didn't come "without critics" as the data came from students in the country's more wealthy eastern coastal areas. The New York Times (Lean Left) also said China's results have "prompt[ed] skepticism about cherry-picked results."

Rise of AI: Outlets across the political spectrum noted the impacts of social media usage and the COVID-19 pandemic, but emphasized OECD's conclusion that AI strongly contributed to the decline. The Post wrote that the data "pointed to an obvious culprit behind the frightening phenomenon – students who regularly use AI and social media performed far worse." CNN wrote "higher digital distraction in the classroom" was one challenge identified in the study. The Times quoted someone from OECD that said AI is used in top Asian countries to "make students think harder, work harder" not make it easier for them. 

US Education System: The Times and The Hill (Center) used the report to talk more broadly about the US education system. The Times wrote that the findings are "the latest warning for an American education system that has seen test scores fall over the last decade." The Times argued that Asian countries "do a much better job of lifting up their most disadvantaged students." The Hill quoted the US Education Secretary who said the scores "confirm a decade of stagnation and a devastating gap: we successfully propel our highest achievers, but the lowest-performing students are falling further behind." Both outlets mentioned that the Trump administration had cut Education Department staff.

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Heads of state from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will meet in Cardiff on Monday to "sign a deal designed to kick-start the break-up of the United Kingdom," according to a new report from The Telegraph (Center bias).

Key Details: At the summit, the three will reportedly "demand the right to hold independence referendums," hold a press conference, and sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the economy, energy, Europe, and self-determination. Scotland and Wales will reportedly seek to rejoin the European Union as independent states, and Northern Ireland will seek unification with EU member Ireland.

For Context: On Saturday, during a visit to Dublin, American President Donald Trump said he would "love to see" Northern Ireland unite with Ireland and that "it's going to happen eventually." The New York Times (Lean Left) described Trump's comments as "breaking with decades of" US precedent. Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "not aware that there is a majority of public support for another [Scottish] referendum and until that changes there won't be one."

Political Context: On May 8, Nigel Farage's conservative Reform UK party surged in elections across the UK, taking a huge share of positions away from Burnham's liberal Labour party. Though Reform made big gains in both Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties remained the most popular in each country. Northern Ireland did not hold elections on this day. After these elections, both Bloomberg (Center) and UnHerd (Center) published opinions suggesting Britain was headed for a breakup.

RELATED: UK 'Rape Gang Inquiry Report' Widely Covered by Right, Barely by Left and Center | AllSides

Not a New Idea: Scotland's National Party formed in 1934 and has campaigned for independence since. In 2014, Scotland held an independence referendum, though the idea was rejected 55% to 45%. Wales has never held an independence referendum, though in 2011, Wales voted 63.5% in favor of a measure to expand their self-governing authority independent of Westminster. Northern Ireland has never held a referendum on becoming an entirely independent state. As part of the 1998 Belfast Agreement, the Northern Irish Secretary of State is obligated to call a referendum if it appears that a majority of Northern Irish voters would vote to leave the UK and unite with Ireland.

How The Media Covered It: As of Sunday morning, The Telegraph's report was not yet widely covered by major mainstream outlets. The Daily Mail (Lean Right) said the news "means all three countries are led by separatist leaders for the first time in modern history."

This is a developing story and may be updated as new coverage becomes available. Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.

Iran used high‑resolution satellite imagery provided by Chinese entities to help target a US military base in Jordan, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal (Center).

Images Helped Iran Track a US Base: "US officials familiar with details of the incident" told WSJ that Iran received high‑resolution satellite images of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base ahead of the July 17 missile strike, which killed three US troops and wounded four others. The officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved or say the Chinese government directly supported the attack. WSJ said it analyzed publicly available satellite images that showed damage to more than 20 structures at the base, and Iran released its own high‑resolution images within three days of the strike. Iran also targeted manned and unmanned aircraft at the facility, according to WSJ.

Iran's Eyes on US Forces: US officials said Chinese companies had been providing satellite imagery to Iran and that Washington had warned Beijing about the potential use of the imagery against US forces. The imagery was particularly significant because earlier US strikes had damaged Iranian radar, satellites and other surveillance equipment. US officials said Iran's ability to identify US targets appeared to improve during the summer. Iran also uses its own satellites, human sources and intelligence from Russia, according to US officials.

RELATED: Haaretz Claims UAE Warned Netanyahu of Oct 7 Attack Days Before, Netanyahu Says 'False' | AllSides

China's Response: Chinese authorities denied the allegations and called for evidence. A spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington accused critics of "maliciously" linking other countries to the conflict and said China's cooperation with Iran complies with international law. The report comes as tensions between the US and China remain high ahead of a planned Sept. 24 meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

How the Media Covered It: The Guardian (Left bias) put the report in the context of Iran's broader military capabilities, while questioning how much Chinese assistance contributed to the attack. The New York Post (Right) focuses more directly on the alleged China-Iran connection, the US troops killed, and previous reports of Chinese satellite support.

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Outlets across the spectrum weigh in with perspectives on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.

"Look Away": Opinion writer Liz Peek (Lean Right bias) for LizPeek.com (Lean Right) said "there are many in our country who want us to pretend that the greatest attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor never happened." According to Peek, "They want us to look away from the Muslim terrorists who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and who drove another plane full of innocents to their deaths in a grassy Pennsylvania field. They want us to forget that on that day in 2001, Americans came under attack for reasons that few understood, from a far away people who loathe our culture, our freedoms and our country." Peek added that "When Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., dismissively says, 'Some people did something,' she is trying to erase the truth. She wants us to forget who it was who purposefully killed 2,977 people." Peek urged that "Americans must not tolerate this rewriting of recent history," saying that "Twenty-five years later, we still mourn the friends we lost, the brave first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice, and thousands of others who died at Ground Zero."

"Bigoted Glass Ceiling": Dr. Jalal Baig, writing opinion for MS Now (Left), said that since the morning of September 11, 2001, "Islam became synonymous with terrorism in much of the American public's collective imagination," adding that "the effects of widespread Islamophobia have touched my life intimately." Even 25 years later, "Islamophobia remains a mainstream feature in American politics" according to Baig, who said "disgusting Islamophobic statements have been routinely uttered at the highest levels of government." She highlighted the "political rise of both Zohran Mamdani and Abdul El-Sayed," saying they have "challenged a bigoted glass ceiling," and that many of the "attacks against them remind us of the continued chasm between the nation's ideals and its sobering reality."

"Lost Sight": Opinion writer Jay Rogers (Lean Right) for The Hill (Center) worked in the World Trade Center for just over a year. He still thinks about "how ordinary that building felt to me once, and how it became the opening scene of a war most Americans didn't know they were already losing." Rogers said, "Osama bin Laden was a known, growing threat before 2001, and the government had chances to remove him it didn't take." According to Rogers, the cause "was a legally cautious, capture-first policy, shaped by an assassination ban dating back to Gerald Ford," adding that it "was a mindset left over from treating terrorism as a criminal justice and law enforcement question." 25 years later, the same complacency, Rogers said, "shows up closer to home now," explaining that "four years of open borders brought gangsters and traffickers into our neighborhoods. Socialism is on the rise nationwide—gaining ground where it would have been laughed out a generation ago—because too many have lost sight of what makes this country worth defending." Rogers laments, saying "My old office tower is gone. My neighbor is gone. The only tribute worth giving either of them is to keep the country's defenses—physical and cultural—current, not nostalgic."

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its "final update" on the Cyclospora outbreak reportedly caused by Taylor Farms de Mexico's shredded iceberg lettuce.

The Details: "This outbreak has ended," the CDC declared on Friday. "The contaminated lettuce linked to this outbreak is no longer available in stores or restaurants… As of September 11, 2026, FDA continues to investigate the cause of the contamination." The lettuce was recalled in mid-July.

RELATED: Are Food Recalls Really on the Rise? | AllSides

The agency also updated its general data hub about the parasite and said that while "cyclosporiasis season" in the US is May through August, it "continues to identify and investigate additional cases beyond this date" due to delayed reporting.

The CDC cited "19,595 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the US," along with thousands of others that may have been acquired outside the US or are not laboratory-confirmed. "For comparison," it said, "1,180 cases were reported in the US between May 1 and August 31, 2025" and further noted, "The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis is likely higher than the number reported."

Questions Remain: Outlets across the political spectrum highlighted several ongoing questions pertaining to the case. Associated Press (Lean Left bias) emphasized, "it still isn't clear how sewage could have contaminated enough food to sicken so many people," and Newsweek (Center) furthered, "scientists never identified a Cyclospora-positive lettuce sample. And although lettuce emerged as the leading suspect based on epidemiological and traceback evidence, the precise point at which contamination occurred may never be known." Newsweek also criticized that "no definitive source was ever identified" in many of the additional cases (though investigations are reportedly ongoing).

New York Post (Right) highlighted conflicting reports from Taylor Farms and the FDA: "Taylor Farms initially challenged the government's findings that its lettuce was contaminated and claimed the FDA 'apologized' to them about conflicting test results for its produce, adding that the agency made a 'mistake.' The FDA insisted that it did not apologize to Taylor Farms, noting that the company recalled 236,192 cases of salad due to potential contamination."

Differences In Framing: While Associated Press emphasized the outbreak as the "largest" in US history, Newsweek more accurately called it the "largest known" in US history. And while New York Post focused its report on a new multistate outbreak of salmonella, Associated Press linked the cyclosporiasis outbreak to "a worsening problem: US regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch contaminated produce before it lands on American plates" – a recent narrative consistent on the left.

RELATED: RFK Jr. Urges Healthier Diet, Politico Says Cyclospora Outbreak Hinders Effort | AllSides

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary. Image Credit: CDC

Late-night ABC talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will broadcast an interview with Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico on YouTube instead of network television following what he called threats by President Donald Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

For Context: Kimmel said the FCC threats were "based on simple traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings it would seem they don't like." In January, the FCC released guidance stating that entertainment talk shows should abide by the same "equal time" rules as broadcast news stations, which stipulates that shows are required to offer equal airtime to all candidates running for political office. Kimmel was also suspended last September for what was called "inflammatory remarks about [Charlie] Kirk's assassination" and faced calls to be fired after saying First Lady Malania Trump looked like "an expectant widow."  

RELATED: Protected Speech, or a Bridge Too Far?

"Politically Motivated": Outlets on the left like The New Republic (Left bias) and The Washington Post (Lean Left) were less likely to highlight the FCC "equal time" guidance, instead framing the story around what the New Republic called Trump's attempt "to censor late-night TV." The Washington Post article highlighted Kimmel suggesting "the pressure was politically motivated." Both articles mentioned Kimmel saying, "Thank goodness we have that [YouTube], because in the America that we live in right now, that is the best we can do."

"Did What He Does Best": Outlets on the right like The New York Post (Right) and Fox News (Right), conversely, were more likely to highlight the equal time guidance, with Fox calling Kimmel's remarks towards the FCC "defiant." The Post article mentioned that "Trump and Kimmel have repeatedly traded barbs over the past decade, with the president saying Kimmel has 'zero talent' and poor ratings and is the worst late-night host on television."

Possible Misinformation: The New York Post reported that Jimmy Kimmel Live will no longer be aired after May 2027, marking the last season after 24 years on air. However, according to USA Today (Lean Left) reporting, ABC refuted the report, saying "This information is inaccurate—any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative."

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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is facing criticism for her anti-ICE policies after an unauthorized immigrant fled ICE officials and crashed into the wife of East Brunswick's mayor. Outlets split over whether the crash reflected the negative impact of ICE enforcement or sanctuary policies.

The Details: According to local officials, an unauthorized immigrant attempting to flee a targeted ICE stop last week ran a stoplight and drove onto US 130 highway where they caused a crash. The driver was unnamed in news coverage. Dr. Penelope Cohen, wife of East Brunswick mayor Brad Cohen, was injured in the crash and treated for non-life threatening injuries, The New York Times (Lean Left bias) reported. The crash closed Route 130 in both directions for more than an hour.

For Context: Gov. Sherrill signed three immigration-related bills into law in March that limited state and local police cooperation with ICE deportation efforts. Among those was legislation codifying New Jersey's 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which generally prevents state and local officials from assisting ICE raids or providing resources to immigration officers. However, it allows for certain exceptions for criminal law enforcement.

From the Right: Fox News (Right) and Just the News (Lean Right) were both critical of Sherill's immigration policies and focused on the ongoing debate over sanctuary policies. They both cited Republican lawmakers who emphasized the crash as evidence that the state's "Trust Directive" creates public-safety risks. Fox News highlighted Republican criticism of Democrats, saying they "are wrongheaded to respond to such incidents by calling for ICE's abolition rather than stronger enforcement." Just the News quoted a Republican lawmaker who said, "This is just the latest in a long line of traffic incidents and vehicular incidents that wouldn't occur if New Jersey didn't have our sanctuary status." It also included criticism from Republican lawmakers that said Democrats have an "inability to accept responsibility for the incidents" and "are doing everything they can to avoid blame."

From the Left: Conversely, The New York Times positioned the crash as a local incident that happened amid a broader surge in ICE enforcement in New Jersey. It didn't ever describe the driver as an unauthorized immigrant compared to Just the News and Fox; it described the event as "federal immigration agents were chasing another driver" and described the immigrant as "the individual" and "the driver of the vehicle that was being pursued." It noted that ICE had detained more than 2,100 people in New Jersey in July – more than twice the roughly 850 to 950 people the agency had been arresting previously. The Times also quoted the North Brunswick mayor who said he supported efforts to apprehend serious offenders, but was concerned about the tactics being used.

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged a $5,000 "dividend" payment to every adult citizen in America if Republicans retain majorities in both the House and Senate in November.

"The Best Part": Trump made the pledge in what he called "the best part" of his speech at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. "If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them," Trump said, "I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000." He deemed it the "Trump dividend" and said, "Now all we have to do is win."

For Context: Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said "I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election…because Republicans (and America) will win!" The estimated cost of the dividend would be $1.23 trillion.  

"Policy That Could Pull It Off": Outlets on the right like Blaze Media (Right bias) and Breitbart (Right) highlighted the $5,000 "Trump dividend." Blaze said, "with the midterm elections only 55 days away, Trump and the Republican Party are pulling out all the stops to make history."  Blaze also mentioned other portions of the president's speech, saying he "vowed to make all of his tax cuts permanent, putting even more cash back into voters' pockets," adding that "Trump tied the proposed dividend to the 'over $20 trillion in foreign investment' he's recruited from allies, his tariffs, and Vice President JD Vance's war on fraud." According to Blaze, "Trump believes he can defy history and maintain control of Congress in the midterms — and he just announced the policy that could pull it off."

"Counting On Fools": Opinion writer Steve Benen (Left) for MS Now (Left) framed the dividend around a "desperate" Donald Trump who is "well aware of the fact that his party is likely to suffer a new round of election losses" leading him to "float another ridiculous vow." Benen asserted that "There's no reason to be coy about the circumstances: This plan will never come to fruition," adding that "Trump is counting on fools to accept this nonsense at face value, but even his most knee-jerk followers need to realize that this con is literally unbelievable." Benen explained that he knows this because Trump "has tried to pull eerily similar stunts before;" the money to pay for such an idea doesn't exist according to Benen; the idea is "legally dubious" and would require congressional approval "which will not happen;" and "If Trump were serious about this, he wouldn't have to wait."

Crossing Party Lines: One America News Network (Right), while not mentioning the dividend pledge, highlighted a "surprise appearance" at the convention by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). According to the article, the Senator crossed party lines "to offer praise for Republican candidates and critique anti-American and anti-Israel left-wing policies."

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