Politics Added 122d ago · originally reported 123d ago 7 outlets

Rep. Jen Kiggans responds to radio host's racist remark about Hakeem Jeffries during Virginia redistricting discussion

During a Monday radio interview with Richmond-based host Rich Herrera, Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans appeared to agree when Herrera used the phrase "cotton-picking hands" in reference to Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' involvement in Virginia redistricting efforts. Kiggans said "That's right. Ditto," in response. Democrats, including House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Congressional Black Caucus chair Greg Meeks, called for her resignation, while Kiggans later claimed she was only agreeing that Jeffries should stay out of Virginia politics and did not condone the language.

Divergence score

This event sits in the top 17% of divergence this week. 7 outlets covered it, splitting into 6 framing camps across 4 bias groups.

6 camps

4 bias groups

The spectrum · how 7 outlets placed this story

LeftCenterRight

Al Jazeera

Axios

Washington Examiner

The Hill

New York Times

Reuters

HuffPost

Horizontal = outlet biasColor = this story's framing

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

Washington Examiner

Jen Kiggans fends off calls to resign over radio interview

Kiggans defends against Democratic overreach · positive

New York Times

Jen Kiggans, Virginia Republican, Faces Uproar Over Radio Host's Racist Remark About Jeffries

Kiggans agreed with racist comments amid reelection fight · negative

How Washington Examiner and New York Times compare across every story →

First to report

Reutersfirst
Axios+6.9 h
Washington Examiner+17.5 h
New York Times+19.7 h
The Hill+20.2 h
HuffPost+22.0 h
Al Jazeera+23.5 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

All outlets report the exchange identically, but diverge sharply on whether her response endorsed the racist language: Democrats and most coverage treat it as approval of the slur, while Kiggans and conservative framing treat it as agreement with the substantive redistricting criticism. The intent question splits the narrative.

How each outlet covered it