Spin Watch (9/10/25)

Trump ‘very unhappy’ with Israeli strike, says ‘not a good situation’

This article uses the language of passive acceptance to frame an act of violence as a political decision, rather than a human rights issue. The term “Israeli strike” is a euphemism for a military attack, which sanitizes the inherent violence and destruction involved in such actions. The statement “it’s not a good situation” further trivializes the severity of the act, making it sound like a minor inconvenience rather than a significant event with potentially grave consequences. The phrase “we want the hostages back” implies that the hostages are a commodity to be negotiated over, dehumanizing the individuals involved and reducing them to pawns in a political game.

The idea of legitimacy for this action is suggested through the framing of the situation as one where the US was merely notified of the impending attack, not involved in or supportive of it. The statement “this was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me” suggests an attempt to distance the US from the act, implying that they are not responsible for or supportive of it. However, the US’s political and military alliance with Israel contradicts this implication, revealing a contradiction between stated values and observable actions. Original Article


Lindsey Graham: ‘Israel has every right to defend itself’

The title of this article uses the language of self-defense to legitimize a military attack. The phrase “Israel has every right to defend itself” frames the act of violence as a necessary and justified response, rather than an aggressive act. This framing obscures the power dynamics at play and presents a skewed narrative where Israel is seen as the victim, rather than the aggressor.

The phrase “urging Hamas to surrender” further perpetuates this narrative, suggesting that Hamas is the primary aggressor and that Israel is merely responding to their actions. This language ignores the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the systemic power imbalances and human rights abuses that are central to this issue. The framing of the situation in this way serves to legitimize Israel’s actions and delegitimize any criticism or condemnation of them. Original Article


Ambassador Huckabee rocks the US Embassy in Jerusalem

This article uses lighthearted and celebratory language to discuss an event that is deeply entwined in a context of political tension and conflict. The phrase “Ambassador Huckabee rocks the US Embassy in Jerusalem” is an attempt to frame the US’s controversial decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem as a fun and positive event, rather than a political move that has been widely criticized and has contributed to heightened tensions in the region.

The absence of any mention of this context in the article serves to normalize the US’s decision and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories. This narrative presents a distorted view of the situation and obscures the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is an example of how language and framing can be used to shape perceptions and legitimize certain actions and decisions. Original Article


Qatar condemns Israeli strike, warns of retaliation

The title of this article uses neutral language to describe a condemnation of violence, framing it as a standard diplomatic response rather than a stance against human rights abuses. The term “Israeli strike” is again used as a euphemism for a military attack, sanitizing the violence involved and presenting it as a common and acceptable act of warfare.

The phrase “warns of retaliation” presents the potential response to the attack as a threat, rather than a reaction to aggression. This framing serves to portray Qatar as potentially aggressive and dangerous, rather than focusing on the original act of violence by Israel. It also implies that any retaliation would be unjustified, reinforcing the narrative that Israel’s actions are legitimate and justified. Original Article


Hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov released by Hamas

This article uses the language of liberation to describe a hostage release, framing it as a positive and voluntary act by Hamas, rather than the end result of negotiations or pressure. The term “released by Hamas” implies that the group chose to free the hostage out of goodwill, obscuring the coercive and violent nature of hostage-taking.

The phrase “we succeeded in bringing about her release” further supports this narrative, suggesting a proactive and successful effort on the part of the Israeli government. This framing serves to legitimize the Israeli government’s actions and strategies, while downplaying the role of negotiations or concessions in securing the release. Original Article


Hasbara: The Art of Explaining Israel

This article presents the concept of “hasbara,” or explaining Israel’s actions and policies, as an art form rather than a political strategy. By framing it as an art, the article implies a level of creativity and skill that obscures the underlying intent of shaping public opinion and justifying controversial policies.

The article’s assertion that “much of the world is deaf to Israel, the Jewish state, the Jewish national idea, and even to a great extent, our moral aspirations” presents Israel as the victim of misunderstanding or bias, rather than acknowledging legitimate criticism of its policies and actions. This framing serves to delegitimize criticism and present any negative perceptions of Israel as the result of ignorance or prejudice, rather than a response to its actions. Original Article