The biggest stories, with left and right coverage side by side
Alaska Senate race
DOJ lawsuit over certification
DOJ filed Oct 22 asking the court to block certification if incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and would have won had the other Sullivan's votes gone to him under ranked-choice counting. Alaska courts kept the challenger on the ballot.
Outlets cited in this story (3), grouped for this brief. This shows who is quoted here, not a bias rating.
Democratic groups and the League of Women Voters of Alaska asked to join the case, arguing DOJ has no authority over state certification. Sen. Murkowski said DOJ “should never have filed this lawsuit.”
Calls the other Sullivan a “spoiler” and says Republicans fear he could be decisive. Quotes DOJ saying the suit protects “the integrity” of the election, and notes Peltola's campaign denies involvement.
Both agree: DOJ filed Oct 22, and Alaska courts kept the challenger on the ballot.
Open question: How the court rules, and whether DOJ's single claim under the National Voter Registration Act holds up. The intervenors call it a stretch.
California ballot dispute
48-hour DOJ letters head to court
DOJ sent 48-hour letters to 57 of 58 California counties demanding they set aside ballots from about 20,000 voters it calls “likely noncitizens.” A federal hearing is set for Tuesday while mail ballots are being counted.
Outlets cited in this story (2), grouped for this brief. This shows who is quoted here, not a bias rating.
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Left-leaning: LA TimesCenter, wire, international: none citedRight-leaning: Fox News
Reports DOJ asked the 9th Circuit for emergency relief and calls its request only to “sequester” the ballots. California says counties lack authority and that processed ballots cannot be pulled back, including 331,000 in LA County.
Both agree: Letters went to 57 of 58 counties with a 48-hour demand about roughly 20,000 voters, and a hearing is set for Tuesday.
Open question: Whether a court orders the flagged ballots set aside, and what happens to ballots already processed.
Iran
Intelligence warning and embassy drawdowns
The DNI memo says Iran “substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel,” with lethal plots at “advanced stages.”
Outlets cited in this story (6), grouped for this brief. This shows who is quoted here, not a bias rating.
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Left-leaning: NBC News, CBSCenter, wire, international: AP, Axios, Al JazeeraRight-leaning: Fox News
Wed Oct 21
Saudi Arabia
State orders nonessential staff and families out amid Houthi attacks.
NYT, as cited by Al Jazeera, reports one official downplayed Iran's ability to carry out the plots. CBS notes the memo names no targets and the administration is weighing renewed strikes.
Watch next: Whether more posts draw down, and whether strikes resume after Nov 3.
Minor headlines below
Minor headlines
Smaller stories from Oct 23 to 24, one line each. Dot color shows the outlet group.
Outlets behind these 11 headlines, grouped for this brief. This shows the mix of sources, not a bias rating.
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Left-leaning: The Guardian, NBC News, NPR, The Guardian (AFP)Center, wire, international: Nieman Lab, Reuters via Yahoo News, Al Jazeera, Focus Taiwan (CNA)Right-leaning: Fox News x2, New York Post
Supreme Court lets New Hampshire bar student IDs for voting; Justice Jackson dissentsOct 23CourtsElections