Last Week In The News
Last Week In The News
Dec 22-29; Biggest Topics Across the Left & Right: 1. Ukraine Russia Conflict 2. Winter Storm 3. Cancellation of Flights 4. Elon Musk and Twitter 5. Supreme Court Title 42
Media splits our perceptions of the universe
The chart below measures front-page coverage on various topics from two popular outlets on the left and right, MSNBC and Fox News. Catch up on the discussion on Reddit 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 5 Topics of the Past Week
Top news stories/topics over the last week with the most attention across the Left, Center, and Right
1. Ukraine Russia Conflict
Topic Rank: Left #1 Right #1 International #1
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 3 months)
🟦 Left Headlines
Washington Post: Inside the Ukrainian counteroffensive that shocked Putin and reshaped the war
CNN: Russia carries out 'massive missile attack' on Ukraine
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 Reuters: Rouble recovers after hitting 8-month low vs dollar on sanctions fears
🌍 BBC: Russia fires dozens of missiles at Ukrainian cities
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Times: Russia, Ukraine crack open door toward peace talks but neither side ready to make concessions
Fox News: Another top Russian official tasked with arming country's military reportedly dies suddenly
2. Winter Storm Has Caused Travel Chaos And Numerous Deaths Across United States And Japan
Topic Rank: Left #2 Right #6 International #3
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 7 days)
🟦 Left Headlines
Washington Post: Criticism mounts over Buffalo’s response to deadly blizzard
MSNBC: 'Blizzard of the century': At least 55 dead in brutal winter storm
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 BBC: Deadly storm turns US city Buffalo into 'war zone'
🌍 Reuters: Japan's recent heavy snow has caused 13 deaths, many injuries
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Times: Christmas power outages spur debate over the fossil fuel’s future in Tennessee Valley
Fox News: 'Once-in-a-lifetime' winter storm leaves some parts of the US colder than Mars, wrecks travel for millions
3. Cancellation Of Flights Due To Winter Storm, Stranded Passengers, And Federal Scrutiny Of Southwest Airlines
Topic Rank: Left #3 Right #15 International #6
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 10 days)
🟦 Left Headlines
NBC News: Airline passengers face extraordinarily high ticket prices amid flight cancellations
CNN: Southwest: 'Keep your receipts'
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 BBC: Flight cancellations wreak havoc on US airports
🌍 Reuters: U.S. safety experts dispute aspects of Ethiopia 737-MAX air crash findings
4. Elon Musk's New Twitter Policy On Scientific Data Has Sparked Strong Reactions From Both Liberals And Conservatives
Topic Rank: Left #26 Right #2 International #9
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 2 months)
🟥 Right Headlines
Fox News: Elon Musk sparks strong reaction after he announces new Twitter policy on scientific data
Washington Times: Twitter Files: Ex-FBI lawyer tried to label Trump ‘Don’t be afraid of Covid’ post as misinformation
5. Supreme Court Has Ruled Trump-era Border Policy Known As Title 42, Which Allows For Quick Expulsion Of Asylum-seekers, Will Continue For Time Being
Topic Rank: Left #6 Right #3 International #25
Topic Maturity: 🐣 (Trending over the last 3 weeks)
🟦 Left Headlines
Washington Post: Supreme Court leaves in place pandemic-era border policy for now
NBC News: Supreme Court keeps in place Trump-era immigration policy allowing asylum-seekers to be quickly turned away
🟨 Center Headlines
The Wall Street Journal: High Court Leaves Pandemic Border Controls in Place
🌍 BBC: Top US court keeps curb on migrants crossing border
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Times: How the deportation of veterans ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill
Washington Examiner: Southern border could be the defining issue of 2023 for Biden
United Topics 🫰
Even-handed coverage across the spectrum. Perspectives may differ
1. Supreme Court Has Ruled Trump-era Border Policy Known As Title 42, Which Allows For Quick Expulsion Of Asylum-seekers, Will Continue For Time Being
Topic Maturity: 🐣 (Trending over the last 3 weeks)
🟦 Left Headlines
Washington Post: Supreme Court leaves in place pandemic-era border policy for now
NBC News: Supreme Court keeps in place Trump-era immigration policy allowing asylum-seekers to be quickly turned away
🟨 Center Headlines
The Wall Street Journal: High Court Leaves Pandemic Border Controls in Place
🌍 BBC: Top US court keeps curb on migrants crossing border
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Times: How the deportation of veterans ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill
Washington Examiner: Southern border could be the defining issue of 2023 for Biden
2. U.S. Congress Has Passed $1.66 Trillion Spending Bill, Which President Biden Is Expected To Sign
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 8 days)
🟦 Left Headlines
MSNBC: Here's the real winner of Congress's massive spending bill
Washington Post: House passes $1.7 trillion spending bill, sending it to Biden
🟨 Center Headlines
The Wall Street Journal: House Approves $1.65 Trillion Spending Bill
🌍 Reuters: U.S. Congress passes $1.66 trillion funding bill, Biden to sign
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Examiner: The House Republicans who voted with Democrats on $1.7T omnibus
Fox News: AOC issues scathing memo after being lone House Dem against spending bill
3. George Santos, Newly Elected Representative From New York, Is Under Investigation For Lying On His Resume
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 2 days)
Note: Articles across the spectrum are similar
🟦 Left Headlines
The New York Times: Santos Facing Federal and Local Inquiries Into His Lies and Finances
NBC News: New York prosecutor looking into Rep.-elect George Santos, citing 'fabrications and inconsistencies'
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 BBC: Republican George Santos admits lying on his CV
The Wall Street Journal: George Santos Admits He Lied About His Résumé
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Examiner: Republican district attorney launches investigation into George Santos
Washington Times: Embattled Rep.-elect George Santos admits he lied about his life story
Left Ignore 🟦🙈
The right and center is putting serious attention on this topic and the left isn’t which suggests the left is attempting to minimize this topic
1. Toyota's Views On Electric Vehicles, As Well As Company's Production Numbers For November
Topic Rank: Left #72 Right #32 International #7
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 3 months)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 Reuters: Toyota's Nov global vehicle production rises 1.5% to record 833,104
The Wall Street Journal: With New EVs Arriving, Brand Loyalty Goes Out the Window
🟥 Right Headlines
The Blaze: Toyota president says auto industry 'silent majority' wonders if electric vehicles 'are really OK to have as a single option'
Fox News: UNDER THE HOOD:Rogan podcast guest reveals 'heart-wrenching' source of EV batteries
2. China Is Taking Military Action In Response To U.S. Support For Taiwan
Topic Rank: Left #55 Right #31 International #13
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 2 months)
Note: Articles across the spectrum are similar
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 BBC: Taiwan extends mandatory military service to one year
The Wall Street Journal: China Sends Warplanes Near Taiwan in Response to U.S. ‘Provocations’
🟥 Right Headlines
Fox News: Taiwan scrambles fighter jets as Chinese warplanes, navy ships taunt island and fuel tensions
Washington Times: After blasting U.S. defense aid to Taiwan, China begins military exercises around island it claims
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. House Jan. 6 Committee's Final Report Concludes Trump's Actions Led To Capitol Insurrection
Topic Rank: Left #7 Right #52 International #N/A
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 10 days)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
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. United States Is Considering Implementing Restrictions On Travel From China Due To Spread Of Covid-19
Topic Rank: Left #10 Right #42 International #4
Topic Maturity: 🐣 (Trending over the last 5 weeks)
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. Elon Musk's New Twitter Policy On Scientific Data Has Sparked Strong Reactions From Both Liberals And Conservatives
Topic Rank: Left #26 Right #2 International #9
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 2 months)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟥 Right Headlines
Fox News: Elon Musk sparks strong reaction after he announces new Twitter policy on scientific data
Washington Times: Twitter Files: Ex-FBI lawyer tried to label Trump ‘Don’t be afraid of Covid’ post as misinformation
2. Bus Of Migrants Arrives In Washington Outside VP Kamala Harris's Home
Topic Rank: Left #18 Right #9 International #35
Topic Maturity: 🥚 (Trending over the last 7 days)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟥 Right Headlines
Fox News: Bus of migrants arrives in Washington outside VP Kamala Harris's home
The Blaze: Abbott shuts down ABC host with reality check when she tries to shift blame for border crisis
Domestic Ignore 🇺🇸🙈
International Media is putting serious attention on this topic and US-based outlets media aren’t which suggests domestic media is attempting to minimize this topic
1. Toyota's Views On Electric Vehicles, As Well As Company's Production Numbers For November
Topic Rank: Left #72 Right #32 International #7
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 3 months)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟨 Center Headlines
🌍 Reuters: Toyota's Nov global vehicle production rises 1.5% to record 833,104
The Wall Street Journal: With New EVs Arriving, Brand Loyalty Goes Out the Window
🟥 Right Headlines
The Blaze: Toyota president says auto industry 'silent majority' wonders if electric vehicles 'are really OK to have as a single option'
Fox News: UNDER THE HOOD:Rogan podcast guest reveals 'heart-wrenching' source of EV batteries
2. Investors Are Worried About Possible Recession, And States Are Taking Action To Prevent "Woke" Investments
Topic Rank: Left #65 Right #49 International #8
Topic Maturity: 🐔 (Trending over the last 3 months)
Relevant Articles: (1) (2) (3) (4)
🟨 Center Headlines
The Wall Street Journal: Wall Street and Fed Flopped in Trying to Predict 2022
🌍 Reuters: Analysis: U.S. stock investors face recession fears as they bid good riddance to 2022
🟥 Right Headlines
Washington Times: States’ $4 billion war on ESG forces big financial firms to retreat from ‘woke’ investments
Fox News: Most 'recession-proof' jobs of 2022
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.