Last Week from the Top Down
Introducing perspectives from the left, right, and center; Twitter, Ukraine, and Shootings
Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll keep this short. We’re testing out introducing a new section of the newsletter - perspectives. Discover in a quick glance how the national narrative between the left and right and center is evolving. This is all powered by the latest in AI and deep learning. For stories that are more objective reporting of an event, Top Down will stick to the previous format of showing relevant headlines.
Please let me know if you find it helpful and would like more of this!
Top 3 Topics of the Past Week
Twitter Is In Chaos After Elon Musk's Latest Email, Which Has Caused Many Employees To Resign
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Topic Maturity: 🐔 (In the news for 12.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left is concerned about the recent resignations at Twitter and the possible implications for the platform. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right is mocking the left for their obsession with Twitter and their panic over the recent resignations. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center is concerned about the potential impact of the recent resignations at Twitter on the company's regulatory compliance. (1) (2)
Top Headlines
⬜🌍 Reuters: After Elon Musk's ultimatum, Twitter employees start exiting
🟥🇺🇸 Fox News: Elon Musk's latest email triggers liberals, causes Twitter employee exodus
🟦🇺🇸 CNN: Twitter chaos spills into public view as Musk clashes with and fires employees on the platform
Ongoing Conflict In Ukraine, With Russia Being Accused Of Stepping Up Attacks And Using Missiles To Target Civilians
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Topic Maturity: 🐔 (In the news for 12.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left perspective tends to focus on the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine, such as the civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure. They also criticize Russia's involvement in the war and call for more support for Ukraine from the international community. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right perspective tends to focus on the military aspects of the war and the strategic failures of the Russian forces. They also argue that the United States should provide more support to Ukraine in order to contain the war. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center perspective tends to focus on the humanitarian impacts of the war and the need for both sides to find a peaceful resolution. They also call for more support for Ukraine from the international community. (1) (2)
Top Headlines
⬜🇺🇸 The Wall Street Journal: Russia Redoubles Attacks in Ukraine’s East
🟦🇺🇸 NBC News: Ukraine clashes with U.S. and allies over Poland missile in rare public split
⬜🌍 Reuters: Ukraine energy supply under persistent Russian attacks, heavy fighting in east
At Least Six People Were Killed In Shooting At Walmart In Virginia, With Gunman Reportedly Being Disgruntled Employee
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 1.0 of the last 15 weeks)
Top Headlines
Note: Headlines across the spectrum are similar. Here's one:
🟦🇺🇸 The New York Times: 6 People Are Fatally Shot at a Walmart in Virginia, the Authorities Say
Left Obsess 🟦👁
At Least Six People Were Killed In Shooting At Walmart In Virginia, With Gunman Reportedly Being Disgruntled Employee
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 1.0 of the last 15 weeks)
Top Headlines
Note: Headlines across the spectrum are similar. Here's one:
🟦🇺🇸 The New York Times: 6 People Are Fatally Shot at a Walmart in Virginia, the Authorities Say
Veteran Who Was At Colorado LGBTQ Club When Gunman Opened Fire Tackled Shooter, Disarming Him
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 1.0 of the last 15 weeks)
Top Headlines
🟦🇺🇸 NBC News: Colorado veteran who tackled gunman at LGBTQ club describes risking his life to save his family
🟦🇺🇸 The New York Times: ‘He Saved a Lot of Lives’: Combat Veteran Tackled Colorado Gunman
🟦🇺🇸 CNN: 'Heroic' club patrons ended Colorado gunman's attack
Deadly Snowstorm Has Hit Western New York Region, Dropping Over Six Feet Of Snow In Some Areas
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 2.0 of the last 15 weeks)
Top Headlines
🟦🇺🇸 CNN: The historic storm slamming New York dropped more than 6 feet of snow in some places. Forecasters say it's not over yet.
🟦🇺🇸 NBC News: National Guard activated amid deadly western New York snow storm that has dropped more than 6 feet of snow in region
Right Obsess 🟥👁
House Republicans Are Investigating Joe Biden For His Role In His Son's Business Dealings
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Topic Maturity: 🐣 (In the news for 8.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left is focused on the potential investigations into Joe Biden and his family's business dealings by House Republicans. They see this as an attack on the Biden family and a way to distract from the Trump administration's own scandals. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right is focused on the potential investigations into Joe Biden and his family's business dealings by House Republicans. They see this as a way to get to the bottom of possible corruption by the Bidens. (1) (2)
Biden Administration Is Welcoming Would-be Illegal Immigrants, While Mark Kelly Criticizes Fellow Democrats For Not Understanding Situation At Border
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 2.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left perspective is focused on the idea that Congress needs to take action in order to solve the issue of the coming border surge. They also believe that Mexico could become the next Venezuela if something isn't done soon. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right perspective is focused on the idea that the Biden administration is welcoming would-be illegal immigrants. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) believes their own party is not doing enough to help the situation at the border. Lastly, they think that the US should be sending more armored vehicles to the Mexico border. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center perspective is focused on the idea that the US is talking to Mexico and other countries in order to facilitate the return of Venezuelan migrants. They also believe that Republican states should seek to preserve Trump-era US border curbs. (1) (2)
Kevin McCarthy Is Planning To Remove Ilhan Omar From Her Committee Assignment Because Of Her Allegedly "antisemitic And Anti-american" Remarks
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Topic Maturity: 🐣 (In the news for 3.0 of the last 15 weeks)
Top Headlines
🟥🇺🇸 The Blaze: Kevin McCarthy vows to boot Ilhan Omar from committee assignment over 'antisemitic and anti-American' remarks
Left and Right Obsess 🟦🟥👁
Four College Students In Idaho Were Brutally Murdered, And Authorities Are Not Ruling Out Link Between These Murders And Series Of Unsolved Stabbings. Additionally
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 2.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left is focused on the victims of the University of New Mexico shooting, the University of Virginia bus shooting, and the Idaho college students who were stabbed to death. They are questioning why these events happened and are calling for more information. The left is also highlighting the heroism of a 13-year-old who protected his teacher during a shooting. (1)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right is focused on the possible links between the Idaho college students' murders and other unsolved stabbings. They are also revealing details about the 'party house' where the students were killed. The right is also highlighting the arrest of the Tyson Foods CFO and the creation of a special counsel for the UVA shooting. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center is focused on the students injured in a science experiment gone wrong, the dozens sentenced to death in Algeria, and Instagram's decision to take down a drill music video. The center is also confirming the University of Idaho students were stabbed to death. (1) (2)
Top Headlines
🟥🇺🇸 Fox News: Idaho police not ruling out link between students' brutal murders, unsolved stabbings
🟥🇺🇸 Washington Times: Mystery surrounds stabbing deaths of 4 Idaho students
🟦🇺🇸 CNN: What we know -- and don't know -- about the killings of 4 University of Idaho students
Attorney General Merrick Garland Has Appointed Special Counsel To Investigate Possible Criminal Charges Against Former President Donald Trump
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 1.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left is focused on the fact that a special counsel has been appointed to investigate Trump. They are emphasizing that this is a serious matter and that Trump is in legal jeopardy. They are also highlighting who the special counsel is and his experience. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right is criticizing the appointment of a special counsel, calling it politically motivated. They are also highlighting the mixed history of the special counsel in pursuing high-profile politicians. Finally, they are questioning the timing of the announcement. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center is simply reporting the facts of the special counsel appointment. They are not taking a position on the matter. (1)
Reaction Of LGBTQ People To Colorado Springs Shooting, With Some People Being Angry At Rhetoric Targeting Them And Others Searching For Hope
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Topic Maturity: 🥚 (In the news for 1.0 of the last 15 weeks)
🟦 Left Perspective
The left is focused on the idea that the Colorado Springs shooting was motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiment, and that this is a problem that needs to be addressed. They believe the real root of the problem is hate. (1) (2)
🟥 Right Perspective
The right believes that the left is too quick to blame Christianity for the Colorado Springs shooting, and that the real culprit is mental illness. The right is focused on the fact that the shooter was stopped by heroic patrons and that the shooter was a nonbinary individual. (1) (2)
⬜️ Center Perspective
The center believes that the Colorado Springs shooting was a tragedy that could have been prevented. They believe that both sides are to blame for the shooting, and that more needs to be done to address the issue of hate in America.
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.