Justice Department abandons $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund after bipartisan backlash.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the DOJ would not move forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals who claimed government weaponization. The fund, created as part of a settlement with Trump over a tax-return leak lawsuit, faced opposition from Democrats and Republicans concerned it could benefit January 6 rioters. DOJ confirmed the abandonment in court filings on Friday.
33
Divergence score
This event sits in the top 23% of divergence this week. 16 outlets covered it, splitting into 16 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
16 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 16 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
NPR
CNN
CBS News
HuffPost
Washington Times
PBS NewsHour
South China Morning Post
Washington Examiner
Washington Post
The Hill
Bloomberg
Politico
Reuters
New York Times
ABC News
NBC News
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
HuffPost
Todd Blanche Says Trump Administration Isn't Moving Forward With Rioter Slush Fund
rioter slush fund · negative
Washington Times
Trump refuses to commit to dropping $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund
president won't confirm death · neutral
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- Politico+2.7 h
- HuffPost+6.3 h
- Washington Examiner+6.4 h
- PBS NewsHour+6.6 h
- CBS News+6.7 h
- Bloomberg+7.1 h
- Washington Post+7.2 h
- South China Morning Post+7.7 h
- NPR+21.4 h
- CNN+25.0 h
- ABC News+27.2 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
The right emphasizes Republican revolt forced the drop, while the left stresses the slush fund for rioters and the surviving tax immunity for Trump. Trump himself says it was a beautiful thing and won't confirm it's dead.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
THE LEFT
“Congress didn't kill Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund. So where does it stand?”CNN CNN LEFT
33LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Trump refuses to commit to dropping $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“5 lingering questions about Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'” · PBS NewsHour, South China Morning Post, The Hill, Bloomberg, Politico, Reuters
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 16 outlets put it
LEFT5
NPRNPR Takeaways from Iowa's primaries. And, DOJ nixes Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund 146d ago CNNCNN Congress didn't kill Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund. So where does it stand? 144d ago HPHuffPost Todd Blanche Says Trump Administration Isn't Moving Forward With Rioter Slush Fund 146d ago WPWashington Post Trump administration abandons $1.8 billion payout fund after revolt by GOP 146d ago TNew York Times Justice Dept. Promises to Drop Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund 143d ago LEFT-CENTER3
CBSCBS News Blanche says DOJ 'not moving forward' with $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund 146d ago ABCABC News Top DOJ official removes post on alternate plan for alleged 'weaponization' victims 145d ago NBCNBC News Trump says he's not sure if 'anti-weaponization' fund is really dead 143d ago CENTER5
PBSPBS NewsHour WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies 146d ago HThe Hill DOJ confirms in court filing 'anti-weaponization' fund 'will not' continue 143d ago BLBloomberg Blanche Says Trump to Drop $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund 146d ago PPolitico 5 lingering questions about Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' 146d ago RReuters Trump administration drops $1.8 billion 'weaponization' fund after Republican backlash 147d ago 7 tracked claims across 16 outlets
Fact ledger
All7Disputed1Claimed1Corroborated5
2/16
Disputed
President Trump has not committed to permanently dropping the fund, saying he would have to ask lawyers and calling it 'a beautiful thing.'
Corroborated
Disputed
6 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger