The Spine

The Spine covers the news straight — and when politics gets loud, we show you where the real divides are.

Each day we read the top stories across left, center, and right outlets and publish one version: the shared facts up top, and exactly where each side's framing diverges laid out beside them.

Sports · recent

Left Center Right— dots show which sides covered the story
Image via The New York Times
5 sourcesThe New York Times, CNN, NPR +2

Dolly Parton, country music icon, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist, dies at 80 after brief battle with cancer

Dolly Parton died Tuesday at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville at age 80, after what her publicist Marcel Pariseau described as "a brief battle with cancer." Her death was confirmed by her nephew Bryan Seaver in a video statement and by a formal statement from her representatives. Parton's funeral will be private and intimate, limited to immediate family, per her wishes.

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Image via The New York Times
3 sourcesNPR, The New York Times, Fox News

Kyle Kirkwood wins inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix on National Mall streets

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar street race held Aug. 22–23, 2026, on a 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit around the National Mall, marked the first IndyCar race in Washington, D.C. Florida native Kyle Kirkwood won the race, leading 128 of 147 laps. The event was organized as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.

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1 sourceAssociated Press

AP projects Oregon to win 2026 College Football Playoff, with Notre Dame and Ohio State among top seeds

3 sourcesWashington Examiner, CNN, NPR

IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix brings a 1.7-mile street circuit to the National Mall for the US semiquincentennial

1 sourceWashington Examiner

Two former NBA players declare WNBA eligibility, citing female gender identity, as league convenes task force

2 sourcesCNN, Associated Press

UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC accuse FIFA and Infantino of 'deception' and 'breach of trust' over World Cup privatization plan

1 sourceNPR

Monty Roberts, horseman who developed the "join up" training method, dies at 91

2 sourcesWashington Examiner, Reuters

FIFA shelves plan to sell stake in World Cup commercial rights after resignations and broad backlash

2 sourcesNPR, Associated Press

Vincent Pastore, 'Sopranos' actor known for playing 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero, dies at 80

2 sourcesAssociated Press, NPR

Argentina and Spain meet in 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, closing a record 104-game tournament

3 sourcesCNN, Associated Press, The New York Times

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to hold wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden over July Fourth weekend

1 sourceAssociated Press

Chess federation suspends former world champion Kramnik for unproven cheating allegations against Naroditsky

1 sourceNPR

World Cup Knockout Matches Proceed Amid Triple-Digit Heat Wave Across Eastern U.S.

2 sourcesNPR, Politico

Uzbekistan completes its first World Cup group stage, drawing diplomatic and cultural attention to Central Asia

2 sourcesThe Washington Post, Politico

Egypt advances from World Cup Group G after 1-1 draw with Iran; late Iranian goal overturned by offside review

Every story is built from left, center, and right coverage of the same event — shared facts first, then where each side diverged. Read the full methodology →