With just days to go until Election Day, Judge Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in to the nation’s highest court – solidifying a major pre-election partisan victory for the Republican-controlled Senate. The drama in Congress began well before Barrett’s nomination was formally announced, as Republicans and Democrats fiercely argued the political legitimacy in replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat with a staunch conservative in an election year. With political tensions and heightened emotions in full gear, left-leaning publications emphasized that Barrett’s confirmation – on a nearly party-line vote – was an attempt to distract the American voters from the rapidly worsening coronavirus pandemic. While right-leaning media framed Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court as part of President Trump’s lasting legacy that will extend far beyond his first term

On the campaign trail, Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden hit crucial swing states in the run-up to Election Day. Both candidates traveled extensively this week, tailoring to voters who could cast potentially decisive ballots. As national polls show the democratic contender holding a sizable lead over Trump in 10 out of the 12 key battleground states – it’s important to note that the election polls did get it wrong four years ago in the 2016 presidential elections. Nonetheless, Georgia – a traditionally Republican-leaning state – came as the biggest shocker to politicians as it emerged as a key swing state. As Democrats argued that it’s the Peach State’s failure to keep up with its growing diverse population that is to blame, Fox News argued that the longtime red state could still be anyone’s game – highlighting that the two candidates remain deadlocked at 45% on the latest polls. 

The U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic took over the political conversation, as many states reported a sharp uptick in new cases and hospitalizations. “He’s jealous of Covid’s media coverage,” said former President Barack Obama, fiercely criticizing his successor’s handling of the outbreak. As the U.S. set another single-day record, with over 97-thousand cases reported on Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned the American people that a Covid-19 vaccine will not likely be available until next year. His remarks came as the White House released a statement taking credit for “ending the Covid-19 pandemic.” As Biden also took aim at the release, White House communications director Alyssa Farah attempted damage control telling Fox News that the statement sent from the White House science office was “poorly worded” – acknowledging that new cases are still on the rise. Nevertheless, President Trump continued to campaign through Midwestern battleground states seizing on a message that the nation has “turned the corner” from the devastating outbreak. In sharp contrast, Biden took a more somber tone warning Americans of some “tough days ahead” with the country surpassing 9 million total infections.

On Friday, President Donald Trump dangled a promise to get a weary nation “back to normal,” contrasting with Democratic rival Joe Biden, who pledged to level with America about the tough days still ahead after Tuesday’s election. While left-leaning articles highlight that Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden Jr. campaigned in a series of Midwestern states, right-leaning articles highlight that it’s been nearly 9 months since Joe Biden set foot in Iowa.

There are 4042 news articles covering this topic. 36% (1443) are left leaning, 49% (1972) are center, and 15% (627) are right leaning.

From the left: Biden & Trump Barnstorm Midwest virus ‘Red Zone’, The New York Times
From the center: Trump pitches ‘back to normal’ as Biden warns of tough days, AP News
From the right: Biden makes first stop in Iowa, where COVID cases are rising, Fox News

Also in the news: On Thursday, the Biden campaign slammed Facebook after thousands of its ads were blocked due to a technical glitch in the platform’s pre-election ban on political ads. While left-leaning articles highlight that Facebook admitted that it “improperly” restricted and paused some political and social issue ads, right-leaning articles highlight that on Friday, Twitter lifted its suspension of the New York Post’s main account.

With five days to the general election, polling data shows that Joe Biden is maintaining his lead over President Donald Trump. While left-leaning articles highlight that a CNN poll shows Biden with a rating of 55 percent favorable and 42 percent unfavorable, right-leaning articles highlight that Trump appeared confident in Lansing as he slammed Biden for pledging to raise taxes by $4 trillion.

There are 5266 news articles covering this topic. 50% (2621) are left leaning, 30% (1589) are center, and 20% (1056) are right leaning.

From the left: Where the race stands, five days from Election Day, The Washington Post
From the center: What Polls Say About Trump Vs. Biden in Swing States, Newsweek
From the right: Polls show Biden ahead in traditional GOP stronghold Arizona, Fox News

Also in the news: On Wednesday, the campaigns for President Trump and Minnesota GOP state legislature candidates filed a motion for the state’s Supreme Court to order the separation of all mail ballots received after Election Day. While left-leaning articles highlight that the U.S. Supreme Court delivered two blows to GOP, right-leaning articles highlight that although the recent Supreme Court decision about Pennsylvania's mail-in-voting rules favored Democrats, justices made it clear the issue could be reconsidered before Election Day.

On Wednesday, Anthony Fauci said a potential COVID-19 vaccine will likely not be available until next year. While left-leaning articles highlight that an alarming new surge of coronavirus infections drowned out Trump’s claims that the health crisis was “ending,” right-leaning articles highlight that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is taking aim at a White House release that includes “ending the COVID-19 pandemic” as part of Trump’s accomplishments.

There are 3272 news articles covering this topic. 36% (1159) are left leaning, 45% (1478) are center, and 19% (635) are right leaning.

From the left: Trump Struggles as Covid Spikes in Midwest States, The Los Angeles Times
From the center: Fauci: COVID-19 vaccine likely not available until next year, The Hill
From the right: Biden slams White House taking credit for ‘ending’ pandemic, Fox News

Also in the news: On Monday, police fatally shot 27-year-old Water Wallace in Philadelphia. The two leading candidates in the race, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, have both focused heavily on condemning violence and looting as part of demonstrations against police brutality. While left-leaning articles highlight that Biden and Harris called for “real police reform,” right-leaning articles highlight that Biden said there’s “no excuse whatsoever” for the looting and violence in Philadelphia.

New COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations have surged. While left-leaning articles highlight that on Tuesday, former President Barack Obama harshly criticized Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, right-leaning articles highlight that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz pleaded with residents not to attend crowded political rallies because of a spike in COVID-19 cases.

There are 7883 news articles covering this topic. 37% (2873) are left leaning, 40% (3171) are center, and 23% (1839) are right leaning.

From the left: Obama slams Trump: 'He's jealous of Covid's media coverage', CNN
From the center: Fox News Host Confronts Trump's Press Secretary, The Hill
From the right: Walz begs voters to skip campaign rallies: 'Google the candidate', Fox News

Also in the news: On Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in Georgia, as President Trump staged rallies in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. While left-leaning articles highlight that in an event in Georgia, Biden pledged that if elected he would act immediately on an array of issues, right-leaning articles highlight that the last Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential election was Southerner Bill Clinton in 1992.

According to recent polls, Biden has extended his lead in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. While left-leaning articles highlight that this year, a Democrat could win a seat in Georgia, right-leaning articles highlight that Biden spoke to supporter in Pennsylvania and took aim at Trump.

There are 3977 news articles covering this topic. 42% (1662) are left leaning, 33% (1297) are center, and 25% (1018) are right leaning.

From the left: Georgia, Once Reliably Red, Is Suddenly a Battleground, The New York Times
From the center: Biden holds lead in WI, with big edge among early voters, USA Today
From the right: Biden ‘not overconfident’ but predicts victory in battlegrounds, Fox News

Also in the news: On Monday evening, Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as the 115th justice on the Supreme Court. While left-leaning articles highlight that President Trump launched a new attempt to mislead America over the state of the pandemic, right-leaning articles highlight that by confirming Barrett to the Supreme Court, Trump solidified his administration’s legacy.