Center · Read · October 29, 2026
Oct 28 · A federal judge refuses the Justice Department's request to make California set aside about 20,000 mail ballots it says are likely from noncitizens, and the department appeals
Scripps News: Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would 'wreak havoc' on voting
Grade C (76/100). Scripps runs the AP report: the ruling's key lines, the 3.7 million Californians who have already voted, the department's appeal and similar federal requests in Washington state and Alaska.
C: Mixes in the reporter's opinion.
- Adds the reporter's own opinion or claims as fact (minus 24 points): calls the ruling 'the latest legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to expand federal control over state-run elections' (the outlet's own characterization)
Splits: Scripps runs the AP report: the ruling's key lines, the 3.7 million Californians who have already voted, the department's appeal and similar federal requests in Washington state and Alaska.
Same story: NBC News, Washington Examiner
More graded coverage
- This story from the left, center and right
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- Also graded October 29, 2026: Washington Examiner: Amy Acton reacts to Ramaswamy Ad (B)
- Also graded October 29, 2026: The Bulwark: .@SarahAMatthews1 reacts to Trump defending Vivek’s vile ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother, who sided with the man who sexually abused her as a child as Ohio Republicans give him a standing ovation. (D)
- Also graded October 29, 2026: NPR: Hackers expose the identities of more than 40,000 DHS employees (C)
- Every Scripps News grade · Scores by outlet
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