Top stories — August 13, 2026 edition

Balanced left-and-right coverage from this SplitView News edition.

Senators Demand Navy Explain USS Abraham Lincoln Sailor Overboard Attempts

The USS Abraham Lincoln faces scrutiny over dire conditions after reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard during a nearly 250-day deployment. Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers from the Pentagon and Navy.

How coverage differs: Left outlets emphasize Democratic lawmakers' demands for Pentagon accountability over dire ship conditions, while right outlets focus on alarming overboard attempts and their implications for military morale and readiness.

Colombia Earthquake: Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Rising Death Toll

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia's Choco province has killed at least 250 people, with rescue operations entering their final phase. The disaster is testing the new far-right government's response as hundreds remain missing.

Francesca Hong's Primary Loss Signals Democratic Shift

Democratic socialist Francesca Hong lost Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, defying expectations and dealing a blow to progressives. Her loss, partly attributed to her "cancel Thanksgiving" post, highlights mixed signals from Democratic voters.

How coverage differs: Left outlets analyze Francesca Hong's ‘cancel Thanksgiving’ post as a campaign misstep for progressives, while right outlets frame her loss as a rejection of extreme progressive views by voters.

Karoline Leavitt Resigns as White House Press Secretary

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her role at the end of the month, as announced by President Trump. Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person to hold the position.

How coverage differs: Left outlets factually report Karoline Leavitt's resignation as White House Press Secretary, while right outlets immediately speculate on potential successors like Steve Bannon and Roger Stone.

Max Miller Sued by Ex-Wife Over Daughter's Nude Photo Release

GOP Congressman Max Miller is being sued by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, for allegedly sharing a nude photo of their 2-year-old daughter via a public Dropbox link. The lawsuit claims violations of federal laws on intimate image disclosure.

How coverage differs: Left outlets lead with serious allegations against Max Miller, stressing the alleged explicit photo and federal law violations, while right outlets report on the lawsuit and claims of a sensitive image.

Midwest Flooding and Power Outages Impact Thousands

Severe flooding in the Midwest has destroyed roads and inundated homes, leading to first responders rescuing trapped residents by boat. Over 540,000 homes, including 267,000 in Indiana, experienced power outages due to severe thunderstorms.

How coverage differs: Left outlets detail the immediate human impact of Midwest flooding with specific power outage numbers, while right outlets emphasize devastating community impact, individual resilience, and local support.

Powerball Jackpot Reaches $1.04 Billion, Single Winner in Illinois

A single ticket sold in Illinois won the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, marking the largest Powerball prize of the year. The winning ticket was drawn on Wednesday night.

How coverage differs: Left outlets report the $1.04 billion Powerball win as a factual event, while right outlets focus on the winner's financial implications after taxes and potential anonymity.

Lawsuit Alleges Trump's Early Truth Social Post Sales ‘Profoundly Corrupt’

Donald Trump is being sued over selling early access to his Truth Social posts, with free press groups arguing that charging for policy-related content is "unconstitutional." The lawsuit seeks to ban Trump Media from this practice.

How coverage differs: Left outlets frame the lawsuit against Trump's Truth Social post sales as ‘profoundly corrupt’ and unconstitutional, while right outlets report the company is ‘slammed as ‘blatantly corrupt’’ by the lawsuit's claims.

Trump's Secret Plane Switch Amid Iran Missile Threat

President Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey, moving from Air Force One to a decoy, after US and Turkish intelligence detected an Iranian plot to fire a missile. His cabinet members remained on the decoy plane.

How coverage differs: Left outlets emphasize the dramatic plane switch due to a serious Iranian missile threat, while right outlets downplay the danger by highlighting US intelligence skepticism regarding the plot's credibility.

Israeli Settlers Besiege West Bank Village; Israel Imposes Lockdown

Israeli settlers have besieged the Palestinian village of Qusra in the West Bank, cutting off water and electricity to homes. The IDF reversed an evacuation order, and the US envoy is "VERY" involved in efforts to end the siege.

How coverage differs: Left outlets highlight the Israeli settler siege and its impact on Palestinian homes, whereas right outlets focus on the IDF reversing an evacuation and limiting troop operations.

Bob Iger and Josh Kushner Acquire LA Lakers for Record $12.5 Billion

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, have agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion. This acquisition marks a significant change in ownership for the NBA team.

Putin Visits Disputed Islands; Japan Protests First Trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to the Pacific island chain claimed by Japan has drawn strong protests from Tokyo, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi calling it "absolutely unacceptable."

UK Special Election Pits Farage Against Count Binface in Stunt Race

Nigel Farage is running for re-election in a UK special election in Clacton, facing an unconventional challenger, Count Binface. The election has been described as a "stunt" by some, drawing significant media attention.

How coverage differs: Left outlets frame Farage's Clacton election against Count Binface as a stunt undermining serious politics, while right outlets acknowledge the “stunt” denouncement, focusing on Farage's high profile.

Senators Demand Navy Explain USS Abraham Lincoln Sailor Overboard Attempts

The USS Abraham Lincoln faces scrutiny over dire conditions after reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard during a nearly 250-day deployment. Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers from the Pentagon and Navy.

Colombia Earthquake: Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Rising Death Toll

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia's Choco province has killed at least 250 people, with rescue operations entering their final phase. The disaster is testing the new far-right government's response as hundreds remain missing.

Francesca Hong's Primary Loss Signals Democratic Shift

Democratic socialist Francesca Hong lost Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, defying expectations and dealing a blow to progressives. Her loss, partly attributed to her "cancel Thanksgiving" post, highlights mixed signals from Democratic voters.

Karoline Leavitt Resigns as White House Press Secretary

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down from her role at the end of the month, as announced by President Trump. Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person to hold the position.

Max Miller Sued by Ex-Wife Over Daughter's Nude Photo Release

GOP Congressman Max Miller is being sued by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, for allegedly sharing a nude photo of their 2-year-old daughter via a public Dropbox link. The lawsuit claims violations of federal laws on intimate image disclosure.

Midwest Flooding and Power Outages Impact Thousands

Severe flooding in the Midwest has destroyed roads and inundated homes, leading to first responders rescuing trapped residents by boat. Over 540,000 homes, including 267,000 in Indiana, experienced power outages due to severe thunderstorms.

Powerball Jackpot Reaches $1.04 Billion, Single Winner in Illinois

A single ticket sold in Illinois won the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, marking the largest Powerball prize of the year. The winning ticket was drawn on Wednesday night.

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