CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
← Today's headlines
38 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 18m ago
Different Spin
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
8 Left24 Center6 Right
DIFFERENT SPIN
HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT
Left-leaningCenter-leftMasked duo scales Empire State Building antenna to unveil message
The Oregonian (OregonLive)Mostly Factual
Right-leaningThey Call Themselves 'Skywalkers': Masked Empire State Building Daredevils Revealed
RedStateMixed
Center baseline · 
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)High2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
As of July 1, 2026 at 7:56 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
The headline split The left frames it as "Masked duo scales Empire State Building antenna to unveil message". The right frames it as "They Call Themselves 'Skywalkers': Masked Empire State Building Daredevils Revealed".
Match confidence High confidence. 38 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
38 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceStrong
76/99 — headlines create a clearly different first impression.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftMasked duo scales Empire State Building antenna to unveil message
The Oregonian (OregonLive) · Center-left · News report
Center2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightDaredevil couple scale Empire State Building and unfurl protest banner at very top before dramatic proposal
Daily Mail · Center-right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The Oregonian (OregonLive)News report · Jul 1, 7:56 PM
Masked duo scales Empire State Building antenna to unveil message
Their banner carried a sentiment straight out of a Huey Lewis chorus.
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Jul 1, 7:55 PM
Daredevil couple arrested after scaling Empire State Building to get engaged 1,450 feet in the air
The couple shared their experience on top of the antena via social meddia
CenterHigh
BBC News - US & CanadaNews report · Jul 1, 7:45 PM
Two people climb to top of NYC's Empire State Building
At one point while at the top of the building, one individual appeared to propose marriage to the other.
Center-leftMostly Factual
MashableNews report · Jul 1, 7:45 PM
Empire State Building climbing stunt turns into proposal — then arrest
Daredevil couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus appeared to get engaged after climbing the Empire State Building
Center-rightMixed
Daily MailNews report · Jul 1, 7:33 PM
Daredevil couple scale Empire State Building and unfurl protest banner at very top before dramatic proposal
A pair of masked daredevils were seen climbing the Empire State Building and flying a banner about love and peace.
Show all 38 sources
CenterHigh
Global News (Canada)News report · Jul 1, 7:16 PM
2 people arrested after climbing Empire State Building’s antenna
Dressed in black and wearing masks — but not tethers, it appeared — the two balanced on a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss atop the New York skyscraper’s antenna.
RightMixed
RedStateNews report · Jul 1, 7:14 PM
They Call Themselves 'Skywalkers': Masked Empire State Building Daredevils Revealed
CenterHigh
WCVB Boston (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WBAL Baltimore (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WISN12 Milwaukee (Hearst)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WGAL8 (Hearst, Lancaster)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WYFF4 (Hearst, Greenville)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
CenterHigh
WMTW8 (Hearst, Portland ME)News report · Jul 1, 7:07 PM
2 people arrested after flying banner at top of Empire State Building
Two people waving a banner were seen at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City Wednesday.
Center-leftMixed
The Daily BeastNews report · Jul 1, 6:58 PM
Daredevil Duo Scales Empire State Building in Cheesy Stunt
ABC Affiliate WABC / via REUTERS A daredevil couple rocked New York City on Wednesday with an apparent marriage proposal stunt atop the Empire State Building. Angela Nikolau, 33, and Vanya...
RightLow
WNDNews report · Jul 1, 6:47 PM
WATCH: Kissing daredevils climb to top of Empire State Building spire for marriage proposal
kissingdaredevilsclimbspire
'Every man everywhere has been shamed'
CenterMostly Factual
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteNews report · Jul 1, 6:46 PM
2 people arrested after hanging banner about 'the power of love' on Empire State Building antenna
Center-leftHigh
The Guardian USNews report · Jul 1, 6:36 PM
Two people arrested after unfolding banner atop Empire State Building
In apparent marriage proposal stunt, sign displaying message of peace was seen atop the New York landmark Two people have been arrested following an apparent marriage proposal atop the Empi...
Center-leftHigh
WNYCNews report · Jul 1, 6:33 PM
Two people arrested after climbing Empire State Building with banner, NYPD says
A helicopter flies nearby as two peope climb on the spire of the Empire State Building in New York on July 1, 2026. Two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building on July 1 and...
CenterHigh
WFMY News 2 (Tegna, Greensboro)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
CenterHigh
KING5 (Tegna, Seattle)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
CenterHigh
WUSA9 (Tegna, Washington DC)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
CenterHigh
WCNC Charlotte (Tegna)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
CenterHigh
KGW8 (Tegna, Portland OR)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
CenterHigh
WVEC 13News Now (Tegna, Norfolk)News report · Jul 1, 6:32 PM
Who climbed the Empire State Building?
Two people have been arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building's antenna in a stunt that ended in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
Center-rightMostly Factual
MediaiteNews report · Jul 1, 6:28 PM
See the Pulse Pounding Images Captured by Lovesick Daredevils on Top of the Empire State Building
He got down on bended knee — and took the world’s breath away. These are the stunning images captured atop the Empire State Building by daredevils Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus Wednesday...
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Jul 1, 6:25 PM
Detienen a dos personas tras escalar hasta la cima del Empire State Building
Dos personas que llegaron a lo alto de la antena del Empire State Building en la ciudad de Nueva York…
CenterHigh
KABC / ABC7 Los AngelesNews report · Jul 1, 6:14 PM
Daredevil couple ID'd after being arrested for brazen climb to top of Empire State Building
The couple, who has been identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, were seen holding a pro-peace banner at the very top of the spire. It appeared to read, "When the power of love beats...
CenterMostly Factual
South China Morning PostNews report · Jul 1, 6:09 PM
2 arrested after hanging ‘power of love’ banner on top of Empire State Building
Two people got to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna and unfurled a banner about “the power of love” at midday on Wednesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking selfie...
Center-rightMostly Factual
NJ1015.comNews report · Jul 1, 6:05 PM
Empire State Building climbers get engaged on spire
Two people scaled the Empire State Building antenna and unfurled a peace banner 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan — and it was all caught on camera. Continue reading…
Center-leftHigh
CBS NewsNews report · Jul 1, 6:04 PM
2 Empire State Building climbers in custody after apparently getting engaged at the top
climberscustodyafterapparentlygetting
Two people climbed to the top of New York City's Empire State Building, unfurled a banner, and then apparently got engaged Wednesday afternoon.
Center-rightMixed
The Washington TimesNews report · Jul 1, 5:53 PM
Pair climbs Empire State Building, unfurls pro-peace banner and becomes engaged
Two people are in custody after scaling the 1,450-foot-tall Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, unveiling a pro-love, pro-peace banner.
Center-leftMostly Factual
NBC News - US NewsNews report · Jul 1, 5:53 PM
Two people who climbed Empire State Building are in police custody
Two people who climbed the Empire State Building and livestreamed the stunt are now in police custody. NBC News’ Tom Winter reports that there are no injuries according to police and what’s...
CenterMostly Factual
ABC7 New YorkNews report · Jul 1, 5:45 PM
Daredevil couple climbs to top of Empire State Building with pro-peace banner, gets engaged
The two masked climbers held a banner that appeared to read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."
CenterHigh
The Belfast TelegraphNews report · Jul 1, 5:45 PM
Two arrested after unfurling ‘love’ banner on Empire State Building antenna
Details76/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 38 sources
76/99 Wording GapHigh confidence38 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 38 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Jul 1, 5:45 PM: The Belfast Telegraph joined the source map.
Jul 1, 5:45 PM: ABC7 New York joined the source map.
Jul 1, 5:53 PM: NBC News - US News joined the source map.
Jul 1, 5:53 PM: The Washington Times joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 76/99 and story health is stable · 38 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.