Sen. Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury over a basketball game but mixed up the Atlanta Hawks and Iowa Hawkeyes
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 29, 2026, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury, claiming Smith lied about attending an Atlanta Hawks NBA game on Feb. 3, 2024. Smith clarified he had attended an Iowa Hawkeyes women's college basketball game in Maryland that day, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pointed out Schmitt had confused the team names. Schmitt did not concede error and maintained his accusation afterward.
17
Divergence score
6 outlets covered it, splitting into 6 framing camps across 3 bias groups.
6 camps
3 bias groups
The spectrum · how 6 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
HuffPost
Washington Post
PBS NewsHour
New York Times
NBC News
Washington Times
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
Republican Senator Makes Embarrassing Mistake While Accusing Jack Smith Of Crimes
gaffe as embarrassment for GOP · negative
Washington Times
Hawks? Hawkeyes? Schmitt in probing Smith mistakes basketball mascots
Schmitt's strategic questioning despite mascot error · neutral
First to report
- Washington Postfirst
- HuffPost+4.3 h
- PBS NewsHour+4.8 h
- NBC News+7.6 h
- Washington Times+10.1 h
- New York Times+10.4 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
Coverage splits between outlets highlighting Schmitt's mascot confusion as central to the gaffe (HuffPost, WaPo, NBC, Washington Times) versus those treating it as peripheral distraction from the actual perjury allegation (NYT, PBS). Right-leaning outlets amplify Schmitt's strategic probe despite the mix-up.
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
“Republican Senator Makes Embarrassing Mistake While Accusing Jack Smith Of Crimes”HP HuffPost LEFT
17LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Hawks? Hawkeyes? Schmitt in probing Smith mistakes basketball mascots”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“WATCH: Schmitt suggests Jack Smith perjured himself about a basketball game, but mixes up 2 teams - PBS” · PBS NewsHour
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 6 outlets put it
LEFT3
HPHuffPost Republican Senator Makes Embarrassing Mistake While Accusing Jack Smith Of Crimes 7h ago WPWashington Post Senator's basketball mixup derails 'gotcha' moment at Jack Smith hearing 11h ago TNew York Times Jack Smith Defends Against Republican's Perjury Claim 1h ago 9 tracked claims across 6 outlets
Fact ledger
All9Claimed4Corroborated5
2/6
Claimed
Schmitt suggested Smith traveled to Atlanta to coordinate with Fani Willis about prosecuting Trump
Corroborated
Disputed
8 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger