Emmer and Karl clash on ABC over 'communists' on the midterm ballot
On ABC's "This Week", House Majority Whip Tom Emmer insisted Democratic socialists on the midterm ballot are communists, and Jon Karl disagreed. The same interview covered Trump's Russian diesel deal, fuel prices and Iran.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., was interviewed on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday 11 October by co-anchor Jonathan Karl. ABC NewsLC “Emmer, R-Minn., told “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl.” Read at ABC News ↗ Fox NewsR “House Majority Whip Tom Emmer clashed with Jon Karl on ABC's "This Week,"” Read at Fox News ↗ Left · 1Emmer defended President Trump's decision to bring Russian diesel to the US, calling it "another example of our president thinking out of the box". ABC NewsLC “"It's another example of our president thinking out of the box.” Read at ABC News ↗ Left · 1ABC reported that Trump announced a deal to lift sanctions on Russian oil to lower diesel prices before the midterms, and that many experts say it is unlikely to lower US diesel prices but will benefit Russia. ABC NewsLC “Many experts say the plan is unlikely to have an effect on diesel prices in the U.S. but will benefit Russia.” Read at ABC News ↗
Mixed · 2Emmer called $4 gasoline and $6 diesel "unacceptable" and said Republicans agree on that, but added, "it’s not enough to vote for communists." Fox NewsR “"We Republicans agree on that. But it’s not enough to vote for communists."” Read at Fox News ↗ ABC NewsLC “Emmer called $4 gasoline and $6 diesel "unacceptable,” adding that "Republicans agree on that."” Read at ABC News ↗ Right · 1According to Fox News, Karl replied that most Democrats would say they are not communists and that there aren't a lot of communists on the ballot. Emmer interrupted: "Well you’re wrong, they are communists." Fox NewsR “"So, there aren’t a lot of communists on the ballot in these midterms."”“"Well you’re wrong, they are communists," Emmer interrupted.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Karl conceded there were "some Democratic socialists" on the ballot and tried to change topic. Emmer said Karl had used the label they want, argued there is "nothing Democratic about socialism", called them "communists and Marxists", and pointed to the Democratic Socialists of America platform. Fox NewsR “Karl conceded that there were "some Democratic socialists" on the ballot”“They are now communists and Marxists. Take a look at the [Democratic Socialists of America] platform," Emmer said.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Emmer said they want to defund the police and prisons, want government-only health care and the Green New Deal, which he said would cost every American family another $355,000. Fox NewsR “They want to defund the police. They want to defund prisons. They want government-only health care.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Emmer also criticised the media for covering gas prices and inflation under Trump differently from under Biden, claiming gas is about 13 percent below Biden-era levels and grocery inflation is 2 percent versus 13-point-something. These figures are Emmer's own claims, and neither outlet checked them. Fox NewsR “It’s about 13 percent below what Joe Biden had. Grocery inflation. Under Biden, it was 13-point-something. Under Donald Trump, it’s two percent.” Read at Fox News ↗ Left · 1On the elections, Emmer told viewers who may feel satisfied that they should still vote, saying "You show up and vote, we’re going to be fine" on defending the Republican majorities in the House and Senate. ABC NewsLC “"You may be satisfied, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t vote. You show up and vote, we’re going to be fine," Emmer said” Read at ABC News ↗
Left · 1Emmer also defended Trump's claim that he would not attack Iran until after the midterms, saying Trump "took the action that no one else would take for 47 years". ABC NewsLC “the president “took the action that no one else would take for 47 years.”” Read at ABC News ↗ Left · 1Asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, Emmer said he is personally not in favour of the death penalty but deferred to Trump to hold "criminals and the terrorists accountable". ABC NewsLC “"Personally, I’m not in favor of the death penalty.” Read at ABC News ↗ Right · 1Fox News noted Emmer made similar remarks to Fox News Digital the previous week, attacking Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has denied being a socialist, and said dozens of DSA-backed candidates are running in the midterms. Fox NewsR “He especially took issue with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, though he has denied being a socialist.”“Emmer's comments come as dozens of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates run for office during the midterm elections.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- ABC's own write-up is a straight interview recap, led by Emmer's defence of Trump's Russian diesel deal and his dismissal of Republican midterm worries.
- Emphasis
- Policy topics: the diesel deal, fuel prices, Iran and the Hasan execution livestream. It adds that many experts doubt the diesel plan will lower prices and that Russia would benefit.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 'communists' exchange or Emmer's criticism of the media.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox presents a confrontation in which Emmer pushes back on the ABC host, leading with the 'communists' remark.
- Emphasis
- The heated exchange, Emmer's attacks on DSA and Democratic candidates, and his complaint that the media does not report lower prices under Trump. It links to polls on socialism.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover the Russian diesel deal, the Iran remarks or the Hasan execution question. Emmer's economic figures are not checked.
- Charged language
- “heated ABC exchange”“communists”“far-left wing”
What every side reports
- Emmer appeared on ABC's "This Week" on 11 October with Jonathan Karl.
- Emmer called $4 gasoline and $6 diesel unacceptable and said Republicans agree.
- The interview took place ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Where accounts differ
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Whether candidates on the midterm ballot are communists
- Left
- ABC's write-up does not cover the exchange.
- Right
- Fox reports Emmer saying Democratic socialists are communists and Marxists, while Karl said most Democrats would say they are not and that few communists are on the ballot.
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Whether the media fairly reports prices under Trump
- Left
- ABC does not mention Emmer's media criticism.
- Right
- Fox reports Emmer saying journalists do not report that gas and grocery inflation are lower under Trump than under Biden.
Tom Emmer person
Emmer defends Trump's decisions, says Republicans agree fuel prices are unacceptable, urges voters to turn out, and insists Democratic socialists are communists and Marxists, accusing the media of not reporting lower prices under Trump.
“They are now communists and Marxists.” — Fox News
“You show up and vote, we’re going to be fine” — ABC News
Jon Karl person
Per Fox, Karl said most Democrats would say they are not communists and few are on the ballot, though he conceded there are some Democratic socialists. ABC says he pressed Emmer on the elections.
“"I think most Democrats would say they’re not communists," Karl replied with a chuckle.” — Fox News
“Karl also pressed Emmer on the upcoming elections.” — ABC News
Left1 article
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House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dismisses Republican concerns going into midterms
Neutral Straightforward recap of Emmer's interview on Trump's diesel deal, midterms, Iran and the Hasan execution, with context that experts doubt the diesel plan.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Tom Emmer tells Jon Karl there are 'communists' on the midterm ballot in heated ABC exchange
Mixed Frames the exchange as Emmer confronting Karl over 'communists', largely sympathetic to Emmer's account, with linked poll stories on socialism.
- 11 Oct 23:06 First ABC NewsLC House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dismisses Republican concerns going into midterms
- 12 Oct 01:19 +2h 13m Fox NewsR Tom Emmer tells Jon Karl there are 'communists' on the midterm ballot in heated ABC exchange
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.