False Dilemma
fallacy
Summary: Present only two options when more exist.
Complex issues are forced into either/or framing that ignores viable alternatives.
Pattern prevalence
- Authors: top 7.6%, bottom 2.9%, overall 1.6%
- Publications: top 4.3%, bottom 1.3%, overall 2.1%
- Articles: top 4.1%, bottom 0%, overall 2%
Recent example
going to control it.It's international waters. And Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow 'em up. They understand that. They'll be fine."
Recent articles
Trump yet to make 'final determination' on Iran deal after Situation Room meeting 0%
Fox News - By Anders Hagstrom - 5/31/2026, 10:32 AM
Halo Effect 22.7% - Negativity Bias 22.2% - Framing Effect 13%
President Donald Trump does not appear to have made a "final determination" on the Iran peace agreement as of early Sunday morning. War Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. Military is "more than capable" of resuming strikes against Iran's military if peace talks fall through on Sunday. The Israeli military announced its deepest... more
Pete Hegseth said any peace deal with Iran "will be a good deal" #shorts 0%
CBS News - 5/31/2026, 3:27 AM
Appeal to Authority 48.8% - Politically Right Leaning Bias 45% - Confirmation Bias 42.1%
Any deal will be a good deal. And I had a chance to talk to President Trump this morning. He He wanted me to reiterate how patient he is in ensuring that with America undertaking this kind of historic endeavor, any deal will be a good one, a great one, and he's patient in the pursuit of that because of how the implications of how that... more
Trump threatened to 'blow up' Oman — why the tiny Gulf kingdom is caught between DC and Iran 0%
Fox News - By Morgan Phillips - 5/30/2026, 1:00 PM
Confirmation Bias 19.7% - Negativity Bias 16.6% - Appeal to Authority 14.5%
President Donald Trump's threat to "blow up" Oman if the Gulf kingdom didn't "behave" has exposed a rare rupture with one of Washington's most valuable Middle East partners — a country that has spent decades quietly serving as America's backchannel to Iran. "The strait's gotta be open to everybody," the president said during a Cabinet... more
Trump ponders whether to move forward with Iran deal but hasn’t yet decided 0%
AP News - By AAMER MADHANI, MICHELLE L. PRICE - 5/29/2026, 2:13 PM
Negativity Bias 30.1% - Unattributed Quote 15.9% - Post Hoc (False Cause) 13.1%
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump held a White House Situation Room meeting with his advisers on Friday but has not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with a deal to extend the Iran ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the agreement has not been finalized. Ahead of the meeting, Trump said he was... more
U.S. military carries out new strikes in Iran, says ceasefire continues 0%
MS NOW - By Julia Jester - 5/28/2026, 12:52 AM
Appeal to Authority 30.7% - Confirmation Bias 24.9% - Biased Writer Voice 21.9%
The U.S. military on Wednesday carried out new strikes in Iran, shooting down four attack drones and targeting a ground control station. The military stated both the drones and ground facility posed a threat to the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said in a statement to MS NOW. The official said the ceasefire agreement remains in effect... more
Bolivia's president says protesters will be 'punished' if they don't want to talk 0%
Associated Press - 5/27/2026, 11:52 PM
Framing Effect 25.9% - Begging the Question 24.7% - Negativity Bias 23.5%
a la policía. Si no quieres hablar en el terreno que quieras, entonces viene la ley. Porque no le tenemos miedo a Bolivia nosotros la amamos y no tenemos temor. Un boliviano que le hace daño a otro boliviano tiene que ser castigado por la ley. No, no, no, no estamos de acuerdo porque esa no es la solución. Porque esa no es la solución. O... more
Gov. Kathy Hochul's attempt at dunking on President Trump's New York Knicks fandom backfires 0%
OutKick - By Matt Reigle - 5/27/2026, 8:15 PM
Biased Writer Voice 64.9% - Negativity Bias 38.7% - Appeal to Emotion 26.4%
Everyone is buzzing about the New York Knicks going to the NBA Finals, so much so that President Donald Trump says he's going to head to New York to catch a game. Of course, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul — who not too long ago was pleading for big-money ex-New Yorkers to return to the state — thought she would try to dunk on the president... more
US didn't break ceasefire with Iran, analyst says 0%
ABC News - 5/27/2026, 12:42 PM
Overconfidence Bias 55% - Burden of Proof 42% - Ambiguity (Equivocation) 38.6%
Let's bring in ABC News contributor, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, Mick Malroy for more. Hi Mick. So the vice president says he's extremely hopeful Iran will agree not to develop nuclear weapons. How is that commitment the administration is looking for different than those Iran has already made. >> So... more
Tom Steyer’s Closing Pitch at KQED Takes on Affordability Crisis, Corporate ‘Enemies’ 0%
KQED - By Marisa Lagos - 5/27/2026, 11:00 AM
Framing Effect 19% - Appeal to Authority 15.9% - Appeal to Emotion 14.8%
With one week until voting ends in California’s June primary, Democratic candidate for governor Tom Steyer sold himself as a populist who will use his experience in finance to squeeze more out of corporations and help average Californians with rising costs. Steyer, one of the race’s three leading candidates, is a former hedge fund... more
US bombs Iran missile sites and mine-laying boats to 'protect troops' as Trump pushes fragile peace deal 14%
Daily Mail - By James Gordon - 5/25/2026, 11:10 PM
Negativity Bias 33% - Framing Effect 30.6% - Biased Writer Voice 13.1%
The United States launched what officials described as narrowly targeted 'self-defense strikes' inside Iran on Monday night, escalating tensions in the region even as diplomats continued to push for a fragile ceasefire and broader peace talks. According to US Central Command, American forces targeted missile launch sites in southern Iran... more