Topic of the Week
Starter Topic
How it Works
- We select a topic each week and post links to varying reporting on it
- You can find the links here on Mondays and rate the content yourself
- Our team rates it too, and we post our scores here on Wednesdays
- Compare and discuss!
Check back on Wednesday to see our analysts’ scores and compare them with your own!
Homeland Security Secretary Impeachment Ends
- Week of April 22, 2024
Drop Charges Against Assange?
- Week of April 15, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: Axios– https://www.axios.com/2024/04/10/julian-assange-biden-prosecution-considering | 0.00 | 44.00 |
| Article 2: Associated Press– Australian Parliament wants WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange back home, not sent to US | 0.00 | 46.33 |
| Article 3: The Nation– End the Persecution of Julian Assange | -15.33 | 39.00 |
| Article 4: Daily Kos– Cartoon: Extradition threatens Julian Assange (and press freedom) | -8.33 | 37.67 |
| Article 5: New York Post– Biden ‘considering’ ending Julian Assange case — after Trump also flirted with idea | 10.67 | 41.67 |
| Article 6: Washington Examiner– Letting Assange walk would set a disastrous precedent for Western security | 13.00 | 27.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
‘Green Bank’ Funding
- Week of April 8, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: Axios– https://www.axios.com/2024/04/04/biden-climate-green-bank | 0.67 | 44.33 |
| Article 2: Daily Caller– ‘The Swamp Is Getting Deeper’: EPA Awards Billions From Biden’s Landmark Climate Bill To Orgs Loaded With Dem Insiders | 18.33 | 26.67 |
| Article 3: E&E News– US starts ‘green bank’ to finance community climate projects | -7.33 | 44.33 |
| Article 4: Spectrum News NY1– Harris celebrates $20 billion in climate action grants in North Carolina | -9.33 | 42.67 |
| Article 5: Earthjustice– Earthjustice Praises Announcement of New Climate Funds Awardees to Turbocharge Climate and Environmental Justice Investments in Disadvantaged Communities | -16.00 | 37.33 |
| Article 6: Washington Examiner– Biden’s green economy will break the energy grid | 14.33 | 29.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Baltimore Bridge Collapse
- Week of April 1, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: 6 ABC Action News Philadelphia WPVI– Baltimore bridge collapse: Biden administration approves $60M for bridge costs | 0.00 | 47.67 |
| Article 2: Axios– https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/baltimore-bridge-collapse-port-close-ripple-effects | 0.00 | 46.33 |
| Article 3: WIRED– Online Conspiracies About the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Are Out of Control | -6.67 | 42.00 |
| Article 4: Salon– Right-wingers blame the Baltimore bridge collapse on everything short of the Mothman | -8.67 | 38.33 |
| Article 5: Breitbart– Baltimore Bridge Mess: DOT Will Not Say How Many Reserve Ships Stuck | 15.00 | 21.67 |
| Article 6: Natural News– Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse an “absolutely brilliant strategic attack,” say multiple intel sources – NaturalNews.com | 26.00 | 6.33 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
More Homes for Homeless in CA
- Week of March 25, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: CBS News (website)– California voters approve Prop. 1, ballot measure aimed at tackling homeless crisis | -1.00 | 45.00 |
| Article 2: NBC Bay Area KNTV– California voters pass proposition requiring counties to spend on programs to tackle homelessness | 0.00 | 46.67 |
| Article 3: The Gateway Pundit– Los Angeles City Council Member Pushing for New ‘Department of Homelessness’ | 10.33 | 30.67 |
| Article 4: Washington Post– California approves Prop. 1 to fund mental health programs for homeless | 0.00 | 46.00 |
| Article 5: CalMatters– What Gavin Newsom's Prop. 1 means for mentally ill Californians | -0.67 | 45.00 |
| Article 6: Fox News (website)– California votes to spend $6.4B on homeless crisis despite spiraling debt | 7.33 | 39.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
House Votes to Ban TikTok
- Week of March 18, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: NPR– The House passed a TikTok ban bill. But is the app really a national security threat? | -0.67 | 45.00 |
| Article 2: The Gateway Pundit– House Passes Bill that Could Ban Chinese-Owned TikTok in America – 65 Members Vote No, Including 15 Republicans | 16.67 | 38.67 |
| Article 3: CNN (website)– Wait, is America actually banning TikTok now? | -0.67 | 46.00 |
| Article 4: New York Magazine– Trump Meets TikTok Investor, Suddenly Doesn’t Want to Ban It | -11.00 | 36.33 |
| Article 5: The Independent– Trump found one issue Republicans won’t just go along with him on: TikTok | -7.67 | 40.33 |
| Article 6: MEDIAite– Trump Stumbles Through Word Salad On Banning Or Not Banning TikTok In CNBC Hit | -12.33 | 30.33 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Nikki Haley Bows Out
- Week of March 11, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: Axios– https://www.axios.com/2024/03/06/nikki-haley-suspends-campaign-2024-presidential | -0.67 | 42.33 |
| Article 2: The Gateway Pundit– BREAKING: Nikki Haley Exits Presidential Race – Does NOT Endorse Trump! | 18.33 | 26.67 |
| Article 3: Not the Bee– Nikki Haley to (finally) drop out of 2024 presidential race | 18.67 | 26.67 |
| Article 4: Associated Press– Nikki Haley says she’s suspending her presidential campaign. What does that mean? | 0.00 | 41.67 |
| Article 5: MSNBC (website)– How a coalition of Haley-Biden voters could beat Donald Trump | -14.00 | 36.67 |
| Article 6: Time Magazine– How Trump Steamrolled His Way to the GOP Nomination | -12.67 | 32.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Biden and Trump Head to the Border
- Week of March 4, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: NPR– Biden and Trump were both at the border today, staking out ground on a key 2024 issue | -2.67 | 46.67 |
| Article 2: ABC News (website)– https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ahead-biden-trumps-dueling-visits-situation-texas-border/story | 0.00 | 46.33 |
| Article 3: The National Pulse– Biden Follows Trump To U.S. Southern Border Today. | 15.33 | 25.67 |
| Article 4: NBC News (website)– How Biden's border trip came together | -0.67 | 45.33 |
| Article 5: Austin American-Statesman– https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/issues/2024/02/28/joe-biden-border-visit-brownsville-texas-border-security-package/72760489007/ | -0.67 | 44.67 |
| Article 6: Western Journal– Biden and Trump Are Visiting Very Different Areas of the Border, Border Patrol Agents Say | 17.00 | 17.67 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
More Cancellation
- Week of February 26, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: USA Today– https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/22/biden-save-student-loan-forgiveness-progressive-win/72697376007/ | 0.00 | 45.33 |
| Article 2: ABC News (website)– https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-touts-new-student-debt-relief-ticket-chase/story | -2.67 | 45.33 |
| Article 3: US News and World Report– https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2024-02-21/biden-administration-cancels-1-2-billion-in-student-loan-debt-for-150-000-borrowers | -1.00 | 43.33 |
| Article 4: MSNBC (website)– Biden’s new student loans win undercuts some of his biggest liberal critics | -20.00 | 31.33 |
| Article 5: Fox News (website)– Biden's $1.2B student debt cancellation is about 'buying votes' to win re-election, says Gov Noem | 15.33 | 30.67 |
| Article 6: National Review– Biden’s Student-Loan Lawlessness Must Not Go Unanswered | 16.33 | 27.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
If Putin Could Vote…
- Week of February 19, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: British Broadcasting Corporation– Why Russia's Putin backing Biden for the US presidency is not what it seems | -1.67 | 33.67 |
| Article 2: HotAir– Putin: Of Course We Prefer Biden | 13.33 | 23.67 |
| Article 3: American Greatness– Putin Says He Prefers Biden over Trump Because He’s ‘More Predictable’ › American Greatness | 7.67 | 40.00 |
| Article 4: The Independent– Putin reveals who he wants to be the next US president | 1.00 | 32.33 |
| Article 5: People Magazine– Putin Now Says He Prefers Biden over Trump. The White House Tells Him to Stop Stirring the Pot | -2.33 | 41.67 |
| Article 6: CNN (website)– Opinion: Is Putin serious about preferring Biden? Ask Fidel Castro | -6.67 | 34.67 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Will SCOTUS Keep Trump on the Ballot
- Week of February 12, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: NBC News (website)– Supreme Court signals unlikely to let Colorado kick Trump off ballot | 0.00 | 47.67 |
| Article 2: Associated Press– The Supreme Court seems poised to reject efforts to kick Trump off the ballot over the Capitol riot | 0.00 | 46.00 |
| Article 3: The Hill– https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/juan-williams/4444418-scotus-must-throw-trump-off-the-2024-ballot/ | -11.67 | 32.67 |
| Article 4: Vox– The Supreme Court sure sounds eager to put Trump back on the ballot | -7.33 | 34.00 |
| Article 5: National Review– Trump Unlikely to Be Disqualified by Supreme Court | 1.67 | 41.33 |
| Article 6: Fox Business (website)– Varney: Trump's Colorado case shows how far Democrats will go | 12.33 | 30.67 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Lost in Translation
- Week of February 5, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: The Hill– https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4442166-greene-omar-censure-force-vote/ | 0.00 | 44.67 |
| Article 2: Minnesota Reformer– Republicans smeared Ilhan Omar over a faulty translation. Here’s what she really said. | -1.67 | 45.33 |
| Article 3: Boing Boing– Noted neologist Marjorie Taylor Greene ready to deport her colleague | -27.33 | 21.67 |
| Article 4: Washington Post– Greene seizes on a dubious social media attack to call for Omar’s deportation | -7.00 | 38.67 |
| Article 5: The Federalist– Rep. Ilhan Omar Is An Indictment Of Our Immigration System | 21.00 | 21.67 |
| Article 6: Washington Times– Somaliland official slams Rep. Ilhan Omar for ‘ethno-racist rhetoric’ | 2.67 | 39.33 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Where Has the Magic Gone?
- Week of January 29, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: OutKick– J.K. Rowling Attacked As ‘Known Transphobe’ In Unhinged Tweet By Popular Film Account | 10.67 | 30.67 |
| Article 2: Western Journal– Media Melts Down Over So-Called 'Transphobe' J.K. Rowling's Creative Control of New 'Harry Potter' Series | 7.67 | 39.33 |
| Article 3: FandomWire– “We don’t want a series”: J.K. Rowling Returns To New Harry Potter Project, Here’s Why Fans Don’t Want it | -4.00 | 32.67 |
| Article 4: The Mary Sue– Well, the ‘Harry Potter’ Show Is Still Happening With ‘She Who Shall Not Be Named’ | -13.67 | 29.33 |
| Article 5: Winter is Coming– Harry Potter show moving forward at Max, with J.K. Rowling "expected to be involved" | -12.67 | 31.00 |
| Article 6: Deadline– ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series On Max: Everything We Know About The Cast, Release Date, What J.K. Rowling Says & More | 0.00 | 47.33 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Texas Defies Border Access Demand
- Week of January 22, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: Daily Caller– EXCLUSIVE: Texas AG Ken Paxton Rejects Biden Admin’s Demands To Give Up Control Of Border Area | 17.67 | 27.00 |
| Article 2: Axios– https://www.axios.com/2024/01/18/texas-border-us-mexico-ken-paxton-biden-administration | -1.00 | 42.00 |
| Article 3: New York Post– Texas refuses to surrender migrant-packed Shelby Park to federal authorities after Biden admin sends cease-and-desist letter | 5.67 | 41.67 |
| Article 4: Boing Boing– Texas Gov. Abbott's antics kill three at the border | -24.00 | 6.67 |
| Article 5: El Pais– Deaths of three migrants on US-Mexico border raises tension between White House and Texas | -10.33 | 39.00 |
| Article 6: Reuters– https://www.reuters.com/world/us/three-migrants-drown-us-border-amid-dispute-between-texas-white-house-2024-01-14/ | 0.00 | 18.67 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Hunter Biden on Capitol Hill
- Week of January 15, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: New York Post– House Oversight chairman argues the Bidens ‘are the ones that got played’ by Hunter’s surprise contempt hearing cameo | 9.33 | 37.00 |
| Article 2: Axios– Why Hunter Biden showed up at the Capitol | 0.00 | 42.00 |
| Article 3: Fox News (website)– Comer: Marjorie Taylor Greene must've spooked Hunter, because he 'ran out of there' when she spoke | 17.33 | 33.00 |
| Article 4: HuffPost– Jared Moskowitz Slams GOP Hypocrisy At Hunter Biden's Hearing | -15.67 | 35.67 |
| Article 5: The Hill– https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4403477-hunter-biden-calls-the-gops-bluff/ | -18.00 | 31.00 |
| Article 6: Reuters– https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/hunter-biden-makes-surprise-appearance-house-contempt-hearing-2024-01-10/ | 0.00 | 44.67 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Foreign Profits Report
- Week of January 8, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: New York Post– Trump businesses got $7.8M from foreign countries while ex-prez in office, Dems say | 13.67 | 15.00 |
| Article 2: The Gateway Pundit– House Democrats Accuse Trump of Taking Millions in Foreign Bribes While President to Distract From Biden’s Crimes | 16.33 | 19.33 |
| Article 3: MSNBC (website)– Investigation: Trump businesses received millions from foreign governments | -10.33 | 32.00 |
| Article 4: New Republic– Trump’s Two-Year Take From Foreign Governments While He Was President Is Staggering | -16.67 | 31.00 |
| Article 5: USA Today– Trump received millions of dollars from foreign governments while president, House Democrats allege | -3.00 | 42.33 |
| Article 6: Axios– Report: Trump received at least $7.8M in foreign payments during presidency | 0.00 | 44.00 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
Happy New Year! Political Edition
- Week of January 1, 2024
| Topic of the Week – Starter | Bias | Reliability |
| Article 1: New York Post– Biden has to be reminded by Jill that ice cream is his favorite food during rare interview | 14.67 | 14.67 |
| Article 2: People Magazine– Joe and Jill Biden Arrive in St. Croix with Granddaughter Natalie, Continuing Family's New Year's Tradition | 0.00 | 42.00 |
| Article 3: NewsNation (website)– Biden’s New Year’s Eve message: America is ‘coming back’ | 0.00 | 42.00 |
| Article 4: The Guardian– Biden offers optimistic new year’s message as Trump lashes out | -6.33 | 40.67 |
| Article 5: The Sun – US– Americans say Joe Biden looks ‘unwell’ & ‘not like a real person’ during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve appearance | 11.00 | 27.67 |
| Article 6: The New York Times– https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/31/us/politics/biden-lies-low-in-st-croix-during-holiday-week.html | 0.00 | 45.33 |
Want to go deeper? Get complete lessons via educator subscription.
