First News with Toby Howell (KARN)
First News with Toby Howell offers a center-leaning local perspective, focusing on policy and fiscal issues with a critical eye on progressive figures.
What This Tone Is Based On
The tone scores on this page come from analyzing how this show covers each political figure it mentions. Below is the breakdown of how many of those reads were positive, neutral, or negative.
Net media tone Neutral across 61 figure-in-episode tone reads (not audience/impressions).
That average is a partisan split, not genuine neutrality — 38% of reads are positive and 34% negative, and they cancel to the middle.
How First News with Toby Howell (KARN) Differs from Other Shows
Overall this show runs marginally more favorable than the rest of the media — mean tone -0.04 vs the media's -0.12.
Editorial Identity
The editorial fingerprint of this center local news show — who it elevates, who it goes after, and where it breaks from the pack.
First News with Toby Howell is a center-leaning local news program that emphasizes policy discussions, particularly around federal spending, national debt, and housing affordability. The show often critiques progressive figures like Chuck Schumer and Zohran Mamdani, while showing support for more conservative or centrist figures such as John Thune and Mike Johnson. The program's coverage is heavily policy-driven, with a significant focus on competence and government ethics, reflecting a pragmatic approach to news reporting.
The show tends to support figures like John Thune and Mike Johnson, who are portrayed positively in their roles. It also covers issues like national security and defense, and inflation with a generally supportive tone, indicating a focus on economic stability and security.
First News with Toby Howell is notably critical of progressive figures such as Zohran Mamdani and Chuck Schumer, often highlighting their perceived shortcomings in policy and governance. The show also scrutinizes issues related to federal spending and border security, reflecting a critical stance on government inefficiency and immigration policies.
The show stands out for its intense focus on housing affordability, covering it far more than the average outlet, and its critical approach to federal spending and national debt. These issues are given a platform significantly above the norm, indicating a local concern for economic issues that impact the everyday lives of its audience.
Coverage Volume
Transcribed episodes per week — last 26 weeks
Sentiment Trajectory
Average weekly tone toward figures — green favorable, red critical
Near-zero tone here is a polarized average — this show boosts one side and attacks the other, which cancels to the middle.
Top Issues First News with Toby Howell (KARN) drives
Top Issues ranked by lift — how much harder this show pushes an issue than the average outlet. ≥ 1.25× over-indexes.
First News with Toby Howell (KARN) pushes Housing Affordability hardest — 5.5× the average outlet's rate of coverage.
Show organizations & places →Organizations & Places They Focus On
Recent Stories
Hooton's Arkansas Football Magazine has released its 34th edition, featuring over 500 action shots of high school football players. Owner Thomas Thrash discussed the magazine's significance in documenting Arkansas football history and its role in highlighting local teams and players. The magazine is available at various retailers across the state, emphasizing its importance to the community.
Superintendent Jeff Senn reported a successful start to the school year in the Plasky County Special School District, highlighting a new pacing guide aimed at improving student performance. The district has also addressed HVAC issues and is undergoing several capital improvement projects, including renovations and new constructions at various schools.
The Arkansas State Red Wolves are entering the new football season with high expectations after a successful 7-6 record last year, including a bowl victory. Despite losing key players like quarterback Jalen Raynor, the team has retained significant talent and made investments to strengthen their roster, aiming for another successful season in the Sun Belt Conference.
Doug Shackleford, public affairs officer for Central Arkansas Water, discussed the importance of cybersecurity in protecting water systems from hacking attempts. He highlighted that while Central Arkansas Water has not experienced any hacking incidents, they remain vigilant, especially after recent attacks on smaller utilities. The FBI has provided guidance to water providers, emphasizing the need for robust security measures, which Central Arkansas Water has already implemented.
Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure to phase out the state income tax, which was perceived as a plan that would raise taxes across the board. The proposal included provisions that would expand sales and use taxes, leading voters to opt against it, fearing immediate tax increases.
The Arkansas House and Senate education committees approved a personal education tax credit proposed by Representative Brett McKenzie. This credit, aimed at homeschool families, has raised concerns about potentially undermining the existing Education Freedom Accounts by offering a lesser amount of financial support.
The North Little Rock School District is set to open its doors for the new school year on August 11, with pre-K already in session. Superintendent Dr. Greg Poluski highlighted changes in policies, including a no-cellphone rule during class hours, and discussed exciting new construction projects, including a state-of-the-art middle school and renovations to historic buildings.
The North Little Rock School District is dealing with a financial mishap involving over $12,000 that was mistakenly deposited into the wrong bank account. Superintendent Dr. Poluski explained the ongoing legal efforts to recover the funds, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in the situation.
A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment during his testimony regarding COVID-19. The committee's decision has led to potential criminal charges being referred to the Department of Justice, raising questions about the implications of his presidential pardon and the possibility of state-level investigations into his actions during the pandemic.
The July jobs report revealed a disappointing loss of 23,000 jobs, primarily due to a significant decline in local government education jobs. Despite a decrease in the unemployment rate, the report indicated a troubling trend with a drop in labor force participation, suggesting a weak job market overall.
Middleton Heat and Air, a family-owned business in Arkansas, has grown from a garage operation in the 1970s to employing over 300 people today. The company emphasizes its commitment to customer service, offering 24/7 support and maintenance plans to ensure reliable heating and cooling solutions for the community.
Congressman Hill shares his optimism for the upcoming Arkansas Razorbacks football season under new coach Silverfield, despite expectations for a rebuilding year. He highlights the challenges posed by a tough schedule and expresses support for the team's efforts.
Congressman Hill provides an update on the Clarity Act, which is awaiting a Senate vote after passing the House with bipartisan support. He discusses the challenges related to ethics provisions and the urgency of establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets before the end of the congressional session.
Representative French Hill discusses the increasing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America within the Democratic Party, highlighting internal conflicts and the radical agendas of far-left candidates. He attributes this growth to historical events like the Obama administration and expresses concern over the implications of such ideologies on governance and economic policy.
Hill expresses skepticism about the potential for a peace deal with Iran, citing the difficulties of negotiating with unreliable entities like Hamas. He emphasizes the complexity of the situation and the challenges facing the president in achieving lasting peace in the region.
A proposed amendment to rewrite Arkansas's state constitution has been disqualified due to insufficient valid signatures and discrepancies in petition language. The Secretary of State's office highlighted issues such as duplicate signatures and incorrect notarization, leading to the conclusion that the amendment could not proceed. This outcome is seen as a victory for those opposing the amendment and a reinforcement of the importance of following procedural rules.
The federal government has rejected Arkansas's request to extend its Medicaid expansion program, which has been criticized for being overly costly. The Trump administration is shifting away from a model that allowed for expensive private insurance plans for able-bodied adults, emphasizing a need for work requirements and a focus on truly needy populations. This decision could lead to significant savings for taxpayers and a potential decrease in health insurance premiums.
Congressman Rick Crawford discussed the ongoing peace talks with Iran, expressing skepticism about their sincerity and commitment to diplomatic efforts. He noted that the U.S. President is showing forbearance but is running out of options due to Iran's consistent bad faith actions.
Crawford provided updates on the budget situation, indicating that the Senate may have a deal on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. He emphasized the importance of timely appropriations to prevent disruptions to federal services and the impact on working-class individuals.
Crawford shared encouraging news regarding the farm bill, stating that the Senate is set to mark it up soon. He expressed optimism that the bill could be reconciled between the House and Senate by the end of the year, which is crucial for his district's agricultural community.