Two different-looking commutative algebraic ways to get the characteristic polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement appear in the literature: from the K-polynomial of the reciprocal plane (Orlik-Terao), and from the multidegree of the graph over this plane (Adiprasito-Huh-Katz).  We give a Stanley-Reisner initial degeneration explaining why these two are not different after all.

This talk is joint work with David E Speyer and Alexander Woo.