Last Week From The Top Down
Last Week From The Top Down
Dec 7-15; Top topics: 1. Twitter Censorship, 2. Release of Brittney Griner 3. France beats England 4. Fed Hikes
Media divides us by focusing on different parts of the universe
The chart below measures front-page coverage on various topics from the two biggest outlets on the left and right, CNN and Fox News.
For a topic that both outlets report on, journalists make liberal use of slant (focusing on specific facts to paint a narrative). Here’s an example of how someone would come away with a different perspective on the economy and inflation by reading in their bubble.
Front Page Headlines for MSNBC
U.S. economy on a great trajectory, says senator following inflation report
Front Page Headlines for Fox News
Front Page Headlines for Wall Street Journal
In the end, one perspective will turn out to be more correct than other perspectives - so it’s really important to assess them all. No one wants to be misinformed, which is why this newsletter exists.
Tune into this week’s discussion on Reddit about these issues here.
The following report is a quick way to read all of the mainstream news (left, center, & right, domestic & international) efficiently with a bias map - here’s the legend. The rankings and categorizations are entirely algorithmic - here’s how it works. We scrape all front-page stories and use AI to triangulate every side’s perspective. The format has been simplified for readability, based on all your feedback.
Top 4 Topics of the Past Week
Top news stories/topics over the last week with the most attention across the Left, Center, and Right
1. Twitter Is Facing Criticism For Its Handling Of Misinformation And Its Alleged Silencing Of Conservatives
Topic Rank: Left #2 Right #1 International #3
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
2. Release Of Brittney Griner From Russian Custody In Prisoner Swap Has Been Met With Mixed Reactions
Topic Rank: Left #1 Right #2 International #4
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
3. France Has Advanced To World Cup Semifinals After Defeating England 2-1
Topic Rank: Left #3 Right #68 International #1
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
4. Federal Reserve Has Hiked Interest Rates Again And Signaled More Hikes Are To Come As Inflation Cools
Topic Rank: Left #20 Right #26 International #2
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
United Topics 🫰
Even-handed coverage across the spectrum. Perspectives may differ
1. Release Of Brittney Griner From Russian Custody In Prisoner Swap Has Been Met With Mixed Reactions
🟦 Left Perspective
Focuses on Brittney Griner's safe return home
Highlights US's efforts to secure Griner's release
🟥 Right Perspective
Criticizes Biden's decision to trade Griner for weapons dealer
Highlights plight of Paul Whelan
2. Federal Reserve Has Hiked Interest Rates Again And Signaled More Hikes Are To Come As Inflation Cools
🟦 Left Perspective
The Federal Reserve's rate increases are bad for consumers
The Federal Reserve has credibility problem
🟥 Right Perspective
3. Ongoing Conflict In Ukraine, With Some Suggesting Russia Is Escalating Its Involvement
🟦 Left Perspective
Criticizing Russia's actions in Ukraine
Highlighting need for aid and support for Ukraine
🟥 Right Perspective
Questioning effectiveness of aid to Ukraine
Focusing on consequences of Russia's actions in Ukraine
4. Founder Of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, Has Been Arrested And Charged With Defrauding Investors
🟦 Left Perspective
On criminal activity of FTX founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, and potential fraud he committed against investors
Highlights political donations made by Bankman-Fried and scrutiny his parents are facing for their connections to his business
🟥 Right Perspective
The legal action taken against Bankman-Fried, calling it 'old-fashioned embezzlement', and clash between Elizabeth Warren and Kevin O'Leary during FTX hearing
Points out Bankman-Fried's use of fake names to make political donations
Left Obsess 🟦👁
The left is putting serious attention on this topic compared to the right and center, indicating that the left is magnifying this topic
1. Weather Forecast For Western United States, Which Includes Snow, Rain, And Tornadoes
Topic Rank: Left #4 Right #52 International #28
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3)
Right Ignore 🟥🙈
The left and center is putting serious attention on this topic and the right isn’t which suggests the right is attempting to minimize this topic
1. France Has Advanced To World Cup Semifinals After Defeating England 2-1
Topic Rank: Left #3 Right #68 International #1
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
2. Argentina Has Advanced To World Cup Semifinals After Defeating Netherlands
Topic Rank: Left #7 Right #61 International #7
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
3. China's Response To Covid Pandemic, Including Its Testing And Quarantine Procedures, As Well As Public's Reaction To Outbreak
Topic Rank: Left #24 Right #62 International #12
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
4. U.S. Scientists Have Made Breakthrough In Nuclear Fusion Energy
Topic Rank: Left #17 Right #55 International #29
Note: Articles across the spectrum are similar
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Right Obsess 🟥👁
The right is putting serious attention on this topic compared to the left and center, indicating that the right is magnifying this topic
1. Twitter Is Facing Criticism For Its Handling Of Misinformation And Its Alleged Silencing Of Conservatives
Topic Rank: Left #2 Right #1 International #3
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
2. Issue Of Transgenderism, With Dictionary.com Announcing Its Word Of Year As "woman" And San Francisco Public Schools Partnering With Local Children's Hospital For Transgender Trainings
Topic Rank: Left #25 Right #3 International #11
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
3. People Who Have Been Killed After Being Attacked Or After Accidentally Setting Themselves On Fire
Topic Rank: Left #33 Right #5 International #23
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3)
4. Biden Administration Is Taking Legal And Policy Action To Address Illegal Immigration At U.S.-Mexico Border
Topic Rank: Left #36 Right #4 International #49
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Left and Right Obsess 🟦🟥👁
The left and right are putting serious attention on this topic compared to the center, indicating that the left and right are magnifying this topic
1. Biden Administration Is Taking Legal And Policy Action To Address Illegal Immigration At U.S.-Mexico Border
Topic Rank: Left #36 Right #4 International #49
🟦 Left Perspective
Focus on need for immigration reform and humanitarian crisis at border
Highlight negative effects of Trump-era policies
🟥 Right Perspective
Emphasize need for stricter border control and enforcement
Highlight dangers of illegal immigration
2. GOP Is In Disarray After Midterms, With Some Leaders Calling For Trump To Be Replaced In 2024 And Others Refusing To Commit To Endorsing Him
Topic Rank: Left #12 Right #8 International #62
🟦 Left Perspective
GOP leaders need to rethink Trump strategy
Focus on voting rights and gerrymandering
Support for workers who keep 1 percent running
🟥 Right Perspective
Mitt Romney warns Trump will lose in 2024
Break free from fake Republicans
Flip Iowa state seat
3. Recent Election In Georgia, In Which Democrat Raphael Warnock Won And Republican Herschel Walker Lost
Topic Rank: Left #11 Right #24 International #N/A
🟦 Left Perspective
Focusing on implications of Georgia election results and need for new strategy for GOP
Also emphasizing importance of high voter turnout and reasons for Herschel Walker's loss
🟥 Right Perspective
Questioning Democrats' claims of voter suppression and emphasizing record high turnout in Georgia
Also criticizing Herschel Walker and Donald Trump for loss in Georgia election
4. House Republicans Are Divided Over Whether Or Not To Support Kevin McCarthy For Speaker Of House, With Some Believing He Is Angling For Position And Others Criticizing Him
Topic Rank: Left #16 Right #14 International #N/A
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
In Top Down News, we unify and compare a multitude of mainstream perspectives that capture the majority of America’s political readership to approximate the truth. This entire newsletter is composed using a transparent and ever-improving methodology. Read how this works here. Dive deeper into the analysis for this post here, powered by AI-based Natural Language Understanding and D3-based Dynamic visualizations.