Election Day, Trump's Closing Message, Iran War And The Midterms

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

Election Day is here, with control of Congress hinging on unexpectedly competitive races in states including Iowa, Arkansas and Mississippi.

President Trump sounded unusually subdued in his final campaign appearance, acknowledging the historical odds against the president’s party in midterm elections.

Iran has spent months using the Strait of Hormuz and high gas prices to pressure President Trump back toward negotiations, but Election Day could instead mark the start of another round of war.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

NPR presents Iran's use of the Strait of Hormuz as one-way pressure on Trump. It never mentions the US blockade of Iran's ports, or that Iran offered to reopen the strait if Washington lifted that blockade. Without this a reader takes Iran to be the only side applying pressure.

How we know

The Guardian reported“Iranian leaders offering to reopen the strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington agrees to lift a blockade on Iran’s ports”Will Trump relaunch his war on Iran after the midterm elections? (opens in a new tab)

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Rebekah Metzler, Tina Kraja, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis.

Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

(0:00) Introduction

(01:52) Election Day

(05:32) Trump's Closing Message

(09:24) Iran War And The Midterms

Read the original article on npr.org

What we found (2)

NPR's episode page names Iran as the only actor in its Iran sentence: Iran uses the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Trump, while Election Day 'could instead mark the start of another round of war' with no one named as starting it. Other coverage of the same day shows the renewed war under discussion is a possible new round of US and Israeli strikes that Trump would decide on. The page also leaves out the US blockade of Iran's ports, which Iran's Hormuz leverage is set against.

Leaves out what changes the picture
Minor
“Election Day could instead mark the start of another round of war”
Why this matters
NPR writes 'another round of war' as something that could simply start, with no one starting it. The only actor in the sentence is Iran, which 'has spent months using the Strait of Hormuz' to pressure Trump.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away thinking a new war may break out from the standoff Iran has been driving, with no sense of who would launch it.
The context
Coverage of the same day shows the renewed war under discussion is a new round of joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran. It would be a decision for Trump, whom Netanyahu was pressing to resume the war. The page never says who would strike.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“officials leaked plans for a new round of joint US-Israeli military strikes”Will Trump relaunch his war on Iran after the midterm elections? (opens in a new tab)
- Times of Israel reported“Trump publicly discussed US preparations for possible renewed strikes on Iran”Report: Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume Iran war after US ... (opens in a new tab)
- Times of Israel reported“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump over the phone on Saturday to resume the war against Iran immediately after Tuesday’s US midterm elections”Report: Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume Iran war after US ... (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Leaves out what changes the picture
Minor
What is missing
NPR presents Iran's use of the Strait of Hormuz as one-way pressure on Trump. It never mentions the US blockade of Iran's ports, or that Iran offered to reopen the strait if Washington lifted that blockade. Without this a reader takes Iran to be the only side applying pressure.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“Iranian leaders offering to reopen the strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington agrees to lift a blockade on Iran’s ports”Will Trump relaunch his war on Iran after the midterm elections? (opens in a new tab)
Show where it belongs

How other outlets reported it

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