A live tracker of how left-leaning, center, and right-leaning outlets are covering the 2026 Iran conflict — with framing analysis, source counts, and narrative shifts over time.
How the story evolved across the political spectrum
How left and right told the story each week
Which events got coverage from which side — and which were ignored
| Event | Left | Ctr-Left | Center | Ctr-Right | Right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trump-Iran nuclear talks show progress Aug 5 | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Strait of Hormuz deal appears imminent Aug 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
US military strikes batter Iran economy Aug 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — |
Hormuz deal negotiations stall amid tensions Aug 9 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 2 |
Hormuz deal hopes fade as reparations debated Aug 11 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Iran threatens to keep Strait shut indefinitely Aug 12 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | — |
Trump declares Strait of Hormuz US territory Aug 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
US pulls last aircraft carrier from Pacific Aug 16 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
US-Iran ceasefire expires without new agreement Aug 17 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
Trump declares economic war on Iran Aug 20 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
US pauses strikes, shifts to economic sanctions Aug 25 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 7 | — |
US resumes strikes; oil surges to $90/barrel Aug 31 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 4 |
US and Iran exchange fresh strikes Sep 2 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 6 |
US diesel prices hit record high Sep 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — |
Oil surges above $100 amid escalation Sep 9 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 3 |
Iran strikes US base in Bahrain Sep 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — |
Iran joins BRICS summit without US Sep 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — |
Iran war costs US $246 million daily Sep 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — |
UN says US may have committed war crimes Sep 18Blindspot | 3 | 9 | 1 | — | — |
Trump delivers combative UN speech on Iran Sep 22 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
Iran nuclear talks at UN described productive Sep 23 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Iran proposes seven-day Hormuz reopening plan Sep 25 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 4 |