In an article titled “In arguments, Bush, Kerry omit some finer details,” USA Today itself left out an important detail. During the September 30 presidential debate, Senator John Kerry placed the cost of the Iraq war at $200 billion. Purporting to fact-check that claim, USA Today noted that the cost has only thus far reached $120 billion or $145 billion “at best,” but failed to note that at least $200 billion is projected to be spent on Iraq.

NBC, MSNBC, and ABC all made a similar omission during each channel's respective post-debate coverage.