> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mutual-dissent.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# dissent ask

> Run a new multi-model debate

Fan out a query to the panel, run reflection rounds, and synthesize a final answer.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
dissent ask QUERY [OPTIONS]
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Description                      |
| -------- | -------------------------------- |
| `QUERY`  | The question or prompt to debate |

## Options

| Option                     | Default                                | Description                                   |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `--panel`                  | `claude-opus,gpt,gemini,grok,nemotron` | Comma-separated model aliases                 |
| `--synthesizer`            | `claude-opus`                          | Model alias for final synthesis               |
| `--rounds`                 | `1`                                    | Reflection rounds, 1–3                        |
| `--verbose`                | off                                    | Show all round responses, not just synthesis  |
| `--no-save`                | off                                    | Skip saving transcript to disk                |
| `--output`                 | `terminal`                             | Output format: `terminal`, `json`, `markdown` |
| `--file PATH`              | —                                      | Write output to file instead of stdout        |
| `--ground-truth TEXT`      | —                                      | Reference answer to score synthesis against   |
| `--ground-truth-file PATH` | —                                      | File containing reference answer              |

## Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Basic debate
dissent ask "What are the risks of agentic AI systems?"

# Two-model debate with extra reflection
dissent ask "Is formal verification practical?" --panel claude,gpt --rounds 2

# Different synthesizer, verbose output
dissent ask "Explain homomorphic encryption" --synthesizer gemini --verbose

# Score synthesis against a reference answer
dissent ask "What year was TCP/IP standardized?" --ground-truth "1982"

# Write markdown output to file
dissent ask "Compare MCP vs function calling" --output markdown --file report.md

# JSON transcript to stdout
dissent ask "What is prompt injection?" --output json --no-save

# Single-model multi-agent debate (3 independent Claude agents)
dissent ask "What are the tradeoffs of microservices?" --panel claude,claude,claude

# Mixed panel with duplicates
dissent ask "Evaluate this strategy" --panel claude,claude,gpt --synthesizer gpt
```

## Output

In default (`terminal`) mode, Mutual Dissent prints the synthesized answer with a metadata summary. With `--verbose`, all round responses are shown before synthesis.

The transcript is saved to `~/.mutual-dissent/transcripts/` as `YYYY-MM-DD_shortid.json` unless `--no-save` is set.