Center · Read · October 28, 2026
Oct 27 · Hackers target the Federal Election Commission's filing system, knocking campaign finance disclosures offline a week before the midterms
CNBC: Hackers target FEC as campaign money system goes dark before midterms
Grade C (76/100). CNBC reports the FEC's fix, the 24- and 48-hour reporting rules the outage blocks, America PAC spending as an example, and the commission's lack of a quorum.
C: Mixes in the reporter's opinion.
- Adds the reporter's own opinion or claims as fact (minus 24 points): says that with the system down 'new money can pour into races while the public stays in the dark' (the outlet's own analysis, ¶9)
Splits: CNBC reports the FEC's fix, the 24- and 48-hour reporting rules the outage blocks, America PAC spending as an example, and the commission's lack of a quorum.
Same story: NBC News, Washington Examiner
More graded coverage
- This story from the left, center and right
- More from CNBC: Trump says Iran war will end 'when I want it to' as costs reportedly balloon to $47 billion (C)
- More from CNBC: Trump says he approves of Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro coming to U.S. following election loss (B)
- More from CNBC: Luxury round-the-world cruise ends abruptly as fuel costs skyrocket (B)
- Also graded October 28, 2026: Timcast IRL: FBI RAIDS Democrat mega-donor's Beverly Hills mansion in connection with the Eric Swalwell investigation (F)
- Also graded October 28, 2026: The National Desk: VANCE SLAMS EL-SAYED | Vice President holds rally in Michigan (C)
- Also graded October 28, 2026: The Bulwark: Sarah Matthews reacts to Katie Zacharia claiming the media refused to let her do her job, following her disastrous five-day tenure as White House Press Secretary. (D)
- Every CNBC grade · Scores by outlet
- All stories from October 28, 2026 · Today's stories