Sean Combs, who did not testify during his federal trial, made his first substantial comments in court at Friday’s sentencing hearing.Credit...Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated
The article has one lead image. The absence of audio and videos places a greater emphasis on the narrative and language used.
Sean Combs Begged Judge for Mercy Before Sentencing
Standout words: “begged,” “mercy,” “before sentencing.” The Title and headline frame the story around the defendant’s emotional plea rather than the consequences of his actions.
True change cannot exist without acknowledging the harm one has caused. Claiming to have changed while continuing to defend the very behavior that led to incarceration is not accountability; it is avoidance. Mr. Combs repeatedly shifts between denying responsibility, seeking sympathy, and reshaping the narrative to suit his immediate needs. Real transformation is consistent, honest, and uncomfortable; it does not depend on who is watching or what outcome is desired. Until he confronts his actions as wrong and takes full responsibility, any claim of change is hollow.”
Media points out Combs’ resistance to responsibility, reinforcing moral judgment in the narrative.
All of this trauma was compounded by the impact of my testimony at my abuser’s trial. The investigation and pre-trial process threw me back into a world I had spent years desperately trying to suppress.
Anonymous source shows ongoing trauma from public legal proceedings. This humanizes the story apart from legal facts.
Combs is the third major criminal conviction of an influential man in the entertainment world since 2020. Singer R. Kelly was convicted in 2021 for racketeering and sex trafficking, and in 2022 for child pornography. He is serving a combined sentence of 31 years in federal prison. Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was first convicted of rape and a criminal sex act in New York, which was overturned in 2024 and retried — leading to another conviction this year. A separate conviction in Los Angeles for sexual assault and rape still stands. Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the Los Angeles charges in 2022.
Comparison to other celebrity cases frames narrative. There is a pattern highlighting celebrity abuse as a societal concern.
While the defense attorneys at trial suggested that my time with Combs was akin to a ‘great modern love story,’ nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing about this story is great, modern, or loving—this was a horrific decade of my life stained by abuse, violence, forced sex and degradation.
Vivid trauma language. Media emphasizes victim experiences over defense framing.
During my time with Combs, I was in a constant state of hypervigilance, as I was always anticipating demands for sex acts or otherwise fearing retribution for any perceived slight,
Words like, “hypervigilance” and “fearing retribution” refers to the trauma and psychological control. A direct victim quote adds emotional weight.
To Ms. Ventura and the other brave survivors that came forward, I want to say first: We heard you,
Judicial acknowledgment of victims. The tone frames survivors as courageous and emphasizes accountability. Victim-centered story.
Poll Questions
How many people were interviewed? 1,562 U.S. adults nationwide were interviewed. 867 employed adults were also analyzed for workforce-specific questions. How were the people chosen? Participants were selected using random digit dialing, meaning randomly generated landline and cellphone numbers. Interviews were conducted by live interviewers. Demographic weighting (age, gender, race, education, region) was applied. When was the poll conducted? April 3–7, 2025 What is the sampling error? The margin of error is: +/- 2.5 percentage points for the full sample of U.S. adults +/- 3.3 percentage points for the employed-adult subset
These are among the findings in a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today examining attitudes about artificial intelligence.
Who paid for the poll? Quinnipiac University paid for and sponsored the poll. This was done in collaboration with the School of Computing & Engineering and the School of Business at Quinnipiac.
The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: Americans Wary Of Impact On Daily Life, See Harm To Education, Benefits To Medical Advances, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Americans Expect AI Will Cause Job Losses But Workers Don't Think Their Own Jobs Will Disappear
Who conducted the survey? The poll was conducted by the Quinnipiac University Poll, an independent, non-partisan polling organization based at Quinnipiac University.
Jeff Jackson, the Democratic state attorney general, said at a news conference that nonprofits would not be “able to pick up the slack,” describing the actions of the Trump administration as a “deliberate precipitation of a major hunger crisis.”
This is speculation. Jeff Jackson is suggesting a motive (“deliberate”) and predicting a future event (“hunger crisis”).
“There is no excuse for this administration to abandon families who rely on SNAP, or food stamps, as a lifeline.”
This is an informed opinion from the state attorney general, Letitia James. She is knowledgeable about legal policy issues, but it still reflects her personal judgment.
the Agriculture Department said the contingency fund was “not legally available” during the government shutdown
This is factual reporting based on an official statement by the USDA.
More than two dozen states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its recent refusal to fund food stamps during the government shutdown
This is a fact because it reports a verifiable event that can be confirmed.
Tennessee fans rallied to show up for the scrimmage portion of the practice. The scrimmages have long been open to the public, which sparked an online movement from fans to attend and show their love for the coach who has orchestrated a brilliant run.
The impact of this decision can affect many people. UTK baseball fans, opposing teams, San Fran. Giants, the coach's family, etc.
candidate for the vacant manager position with the San Francisco Giants
Values: Proximity This is not only directly affecting UTK athletics/baseball fans, but also affecting the San Francisco Giants fanbase.
the best coach in program history
UTK baseball has never seen a coach like this.
the decision to remain in Knoxville as the saga surrounding Vitello's future continued another day.
The premise of the story. Tony Vitello is considering leaving the University of Tennessee for another job offer. Values: Proximity, Prominence, Impact, Conflict