The Universe of Discourse

Sun, 13 Sep 2020

The front page of NPR.org today has this headline:

Screenshot of part
of web page. The main headline is “‘So Skeptical’: As Election Nears, Iowa Senator Under Pressure For
COVID-19 Remarks”. There is a longer subheadline undernearth, which I
discussed below.

It contains this annoying phrase:

The race for Joni Ernst's seat could help determine control of the Senate.

Someone has really committed to hedging.

I would have said that the race would certainly help determine control of the Senate, or that it could determine control of the Senate. The statement as written makes an extremely weak claim.

The article itself doesn't include this phrase. This is why reporters hate headline-writers.

(Previously)

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