Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal
Bebeto Matthews/The Associated Press
We ran the numbers: There are 109 news articles covering this topic. 65% (71) are left leaning, 21% (23) center, 4% (4) right leaning, and 10% (11) articles were from sources not analyzed by Nobias.
In February Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey introduced the “Green New Deal,” a piece of legislation that would set goals to drastically cut carbon emissions (full text here). Legally speaking, the Green New Deal has no teeth; it's a “nonbinding resolution,” so if it were to pass it wouldn’t create new programs. Rather, it is a statement of support for anti-climate change legislation. Some prominent Democrats—like Senators Dianne Feinstein and Joe Manchin—have come out against the bill, while others—like Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris—have supported it. The Green New Deal appears to be opposed by every Republican politician on the federal level.
Articles identified by us as left-leaning were more likely to act as “explainers” discussing the specifics of the Green New Deal while stressing that none of the goals put forward would be required or enforceable. (See: “The Green New Deal, explained” (V0X) and “The Democratic Party Wants to Make Climate Policy Exciting” (The Atlantic).) They also more often included background on climate change research and information about global rising temperatures.
Articles identified by us as right-leaning, on the other hand, were more likely to focus on the outrage and skepticism with which the Green New Deal has been greeted. (See: “Democrats struggle to defend much-mocked Green New Deal” (Washington Times) and “HA! Greenpeace Co-Founder Took Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal Behind The Shed And Hacked It To Death” (Townhall).) Right-leaning articles were also more likely to include quotations from both Democrat and Republican politicians who believe the Green New Deal is unrealistic or unaffordable.
Articles of all political slants seem to agree that the Green New Deal in its current form would prove difficult to pass through Congress.