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4 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 57m ago

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An Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot

The Independent reaches for "plot" where Arkansas Democrat-Gazette stays flat.

2 Left2 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of November 11, 2026 at 1:12 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened An Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot.
The headline split The left frames it as "An Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot". The center frames it as "Springdale man gets six years in prison for possessing images depicting sexual abuse of c...".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 4 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

4 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

61/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftAn Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot

The Independent · Center-left · News report

CenterAn Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot

Washington's Top News (WTOP) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Nov 11, 1:12 AM

An Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group. Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, pleade...

Open source
CenterHigh
Arkansas Democrat-GazetteNews report · Nov 10, 11:15 PM

Springdale man gets six years in prison for possessing images depicting sexual abuse of children

FAYETTEVILLE-- A Springdale man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday after pleading guilty earlier this year to child pornography charges.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Nov 11, 1:05 AM

An Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for an Islamic State support plot

plot

An Idaho man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for attempting to support the Islamic State group

Open source
Center-leftHigh
The Seattle TimesNews report · Nov 11, 1:09 AM

Idaho man gets 18 years in prison for Islamic State support plot

An Idaho man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for attempting to support the Islamic State group.

Open source
Details61/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 4 sources
61/99 Wording GapMedium confidence4 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 4 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Nov 10, 11:15 PM: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette joined the source map.

Nov 11, 1:05 AM: The Independent joined the source map.

Nov 11, 1:09 AM: The Seattle Times joined the source map.

Nov 11, 1:12 AM: Washington's Top News (WTOP) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 61/99 and story health is live match · 4 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.