From the Left · Watch · October 29, 2026
Oct 28 · Trump defends Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother at an Ohio rally as criticism of the ad continues
The Bulwark: .@SarahAMatthews1 reacts to Trump defending Vivek’s vile ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother, who sided with the man who sexually abused her as a child as Ohio Republicans give him a standing ovation.
Grade D (64/100). Plays Trump's rally defense of the ad, then Matthews on Acton's estrangement and the Ohio Republicans applauding
D: Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.
- Adds the reporter's own opinion or claims as fact (minus 24 points): [1:42] 'He is a morally bankrupt, pathetic little man.' (host's own judgment of Ramaswamy)
- Uses loaded words (minus 12 points): [1:07] 'clapping along like a trained seal' (host's own wording about Sen. Jon Husted)
Splits: Plays Trump's rally defense of the ad, then Matthews on Acton's estrangement and the Ohio Republicans applauding
Same story: NewsNation, Washington Examiner
More graded coverage
- This story from the left, center and right
- More from The Bulwark: Sarah Matthews reacts to Katie Zacharia claiming the media refused to let her do her job, following her disastrous five-day tenure as White House Press Secretary. (D)
- Also graded October 29, 2026: Washington Examiner: Judge denies DOJ bid to isolate 20,000 California mail ballots (A)
- Also graded October 29, 2026: Scripps News: Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would 'wreak havoc' on voting (C)
- Also graded October 29, 2026: NPR: Hackers expose the identities of more than 40,000 DHS employees (C)
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