Friday, October 30, 2026

The Country

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The day's top stories from across the country graded using Jim Lehrer's Rules for Journalism to help you separate fact from spin. Learn how it works

From the Left
Center
From the Right

Oct 30 · The Justice Department issues a new wave of subpoenas in its probe of the second Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot, and Mary Peltola says she knew nothing about the effort

ABC News
ABC News: With four days until the midterms, President Trump has canceled red-state rallies this weekend, and there is fallout in Alaska, where two people named Dan Sullivan are on the Senate ballot. ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports.
Score:C

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number and uses loaded words.

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The Hill
The Hill: At a campaign rally on Aug. 3, Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola (D) said "it should be a criminal offense" to mislead voters. Peltola has denied any knowledge of her campaign's alleged recruitment of Dan J. Sullivan to challenge her opponent, incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R).
Score:

No problems found.

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Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner: Alaskans react to the "Decoy Dan" investigation.
Score:B

Leaves out key context.

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Oct 30 · A local ceasefire holds in Russian-held Oleshky in southern Ukraine as a humanitarian operation opens a window for aid deliveries and civilian evacuations

PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour: In Ukraine, a local ceasefire in Oleshky held for a third day with humanitarian aid set to enter the city soon. Roughly 2,000 people remained trapped in the Russian-held area.
Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

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Euronews
Euronews: A rare ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky has entered its fourth day, with humanitarian and evacuation operations expected to begin today. Those who choose to leave could face harsh interrogations; those staying will receive aid, as @sashavakulina explains on #EuropeToday.
Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

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Newsmax
Newsmax: A FRAGILE WAY FORWARD: A humanitarian ceasefire is allowing aid deliveries and civilian evacuations in Oleshky, but can it lead to something larger? Dr. James Robbins and retired Col. Wes Martin examine Russia's leverage, Ukraine's territorial dilemma and the difficult path
Score:D

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.

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Oct 29 · Asked by a Reuters reporter whether skipping a Kansas rally had to do with his health, Trump says "I feel perfect" and tells him "You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell"

The Bulwark
The Bulwark: Trump abruptly canceled a Kansas rally days before the election. When a reporter asked if he was feeling okay, Trump unleashed a barrage of personal insults. @samstein reacts, calling the behavior despicable and questioning what Trump isn't telling us.
Score:D

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.

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C-SPAN
C-SPAN: Q: "You not going to Kansas has nothing to do with you being sick of travel?" President Trump: "You're sick to ask that question. You are sick...I don't feel I have to go to Kansas...I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell!"
Score:

No problems found.

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Fox News
Fox News: "You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell." President Trump unloads on a reporter after he repeatedly questions whether the president's decision to skip a Saturday rally in Kansas has anything to do with his health or travel schedule.
Score:

No problems found.

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Oct 29 · Trump tells a rally that Black or Jewish voters who back Abdul El-Sayed are "crazy," and El-Sayed, Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee, answers the attacks on his faith

Crooked Media
Crooked Media: .@AbdulElSayed: "I believe in Michiganders. I believe that we're good people, open-hearted people, and I believe that they're going to pick a Michigan that is a lot bigger than Donald Trump wants to make it out to be."
Score:C

Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

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Breaking Points
Breaking Points: Abdul El-Sayed addresses the islamophobia used against him "People are open minded, they're big hearted...what we're going to see is a rejection of this effort to smear me." @krystalball @AbdulElSayed
Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

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Daily Wire
Daily Wire: TRUMP: "If you're black or if you're Jewish, and you vote for Abdul, you're crazy."
Score:B

Leaves out key context.

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Oct 29 · With five days to go, Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson make their closing cases in Maine's Senate race, the only Republican-held seat up this year in a state Trump lost in 2024

Brian Tyler Cohen
Brian Tyler Cohen: .@TroyJackson207: "They have someone like Susan Collins who's the rubber stamp, and they don't want to lose her. And they know that I don't owe the millionaires anything… What I know is that every day, people in this country need somebody in their corner, and that's not Elon
Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

Watch on X ↗X ↗
NewsNation
NewsNation: Will Maine women stand by Sen. Susan Collins or vote for change? Women across the state weigh in on abortion rights, the economy and the issues driving their votes. @BrianEntin @EVargasTV
Score:

No problems found.

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The Megyn Kelly Show
The Megyn Kelly Show: Which underdog GOP senate candidate has the BEST chance to win on Tuesday - Susan Collins, Mike Rogers, or Ken Paxton? @MegynKelly and @StuDoesAmerica make their picks.
Score:D

Uses loaded words and mixes in the reporter's opinion.

Watch on X ↗X ↗

The Country Take: Collins and Jackson in the last days of Maine's Senate race · Can Susan Collins hold Maine?

Oct 28 · With Israel's election count still under way, Benjamin Netanyahu alleges fraud in the Arab vote and neither bloc has a clear path to a 61-seat majority

CBS News
CBS News: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "trying to set a trap for Gadi Eisenkot that Gadi Eisenkot should not fall into" by claiming election fraud in Israel's elections, New York Democratic House candidate Brad Lander claims.
Score:F

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

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Breaking Points
Breaking Points: Israel Elections: racism wins, Bibi survives?
Score:D

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.

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The Ben Shapiro Show
The Ben Shapiro Show: Rumors of Benjamin Netanyahu's political death have been greatly exaggerated. We break it all down.
Score:F

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number and uses loaded words.

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The Country Take

Oct 29 · Trump calls Brazil's election "a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil" after Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost the runoff and declared himself the rightful leader, arrives in the U.S.

The Bulwark
The Bulwark: JVL reacts to the Trump Administration smuggling Flavío Bolsonaro into the U.S.
Score:F

Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

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C-SPAN
C-SPAN: President Trump on Brazilian election results: "I thought the election was a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil."
Score:

No problems found.

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NTD News
NTD News: President Trump said on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that Brazilian Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro was treated “very unfairly.”
Score:B

Leaves out key context.

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Oct 28 · Trump says "anything's possible" when asked about new strikes on Iran after the midterms, as the U.S. warns Middle East allies to prepare and the U.N. nuclear watchdog presses Iran for access

Drop Site News
Drop Site News: IAEA says no evidence Iran has rebuilt nuclear facilities damaged in U.S.-Israeli strikes
Score:

No problems found.

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Reuters
Reuters: President Trump said 'anything's possible' when asked whether the US would conduct more strikes against Iran after the midterm elections
Score:B

Leaves out key context.

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Newsmax
Newsmax: "Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on his watch." Former Envoy Morgan Ortagus discussed President Donald Trump's potential next steps against Iran on Thursday's "National Report."
Score:F

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and leaves out key context.

Watch on X ↗X ↗

Oct 29 · Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy calls for a criminal investigation after a New York Times report that Mary Peltola's campaign sought a second Dan Sullivan for the Senate ballot, and Trump calls it voter fraud

Crooked Media
Crooked Media: Hayes: Alaska has ranked choice voting. You can vote for as many Dans as you want.
Score:D

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.

Watch on X ↗X ↗
NewsNation
NewsNation: Alaskan Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola is accused of recruiting candidates who could siphon votes from her opponent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., tells NewsNation the House Oversight Committee is investigating the accusation and believes it is a “crime.”
Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Watch on X ↗X ↗
Daily Wire
Daily Wire: President Trump says Mary Peltola committed voter fraud in conjunction with Chuck Schumer and the Democrat party: “It’s called VOTER FRAUD.”
Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Watch on X ↗X ↗

The Country Take

Oct 28 · A New York Times/Siena poll shows Democrat Annie Andrews tied with Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina as polls tighten in other Republican-held Senate seats

CNN
CNN: Harry Enten shows how much easier it could become for Democrats to flip the Senate as a new poll shows the South Carolina race tied: “This one is an earth-shattering earthquake… if Democrats are able to win.”
Score:

No problems found.

Watch on X ↗X ↗
NewsNation
NewsNation: Several Senate races are shifting in unexpected ways in battleground states, with just six days remaining until the midterm elections.
Score:C

Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

Watch on X ↗X ↗
The Megyn Kelly Show
The Megyn Kelly Show: Is it possible the GOP could lose a SOUTH CAROLINA senate seat? @MegynKelly and @MarkHalperin break down a shock new poll.
Score:D

Mixes in the reporter's opinion and uses loaded words.

Watch on X ↗X ↗

The Country Take

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The Country Take