The Country: One story, three takes. You decide.

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

Oct 31 · A shooting near Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., after the Magic City Classic football game kills one person and wounds eight others

ABC News

1 dead, 8 injured in Alabama shooting after football game, police say

ABC quotes Birmingham police on the victims, the guns recovered and one person detained.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on ABC News ↗ABC News ↗

Newsweek

1 Dead, 9 Injured in Shooting After Alabama Football Game

Newsweek adds the mayor's statement and other shootings over the Halloween weekend.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on Newsweek ↗Newsweek ↗

Fox News

Shooting after Magic City Classic in Alabama leaves 1 dead, 8 injured

Fox reports the victims' conditions, the two teams and the canceled tailgating.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on Fox News ↗Fox News ↗

Oct 31 · The FBI says North Korean hackers stole more than $6 billion from crypto exchange Binance this week, as Binance says it has covered 90% of the stolen assets

ABC News

FBI blames North Korea for stolen billions from Binance in biggest hack in history

The AP report on ABC covers the FBI statement, Trump's doubts and how the funds may be laundered.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on ABC News ↗ABC News ↗

CNBC

Binance resumes withdrawals following $6.3 billion hack, says 90% of stolen user assets are covered

CNBC reports the resumed withdrawals, the funds Binance tapped and the FBI's finding.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on CNBC ↗CNBC ↗

Fox Business

North Korea responsible for $6 billion Binance cryptocurrency hack, FBI says

Fox Business reports the FBI's attribution, Trump's comments and Binance's 90% figure.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on Fox Business ↗Fox Business ↗

Oct 31 · Gabby Williams scores 30 points as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco for their first WNBA title

NBC News

Golden State Valkyries defeat Atlanta Dream for franchise’s first WNBA title

NBC covers the Game 7 win, Gabby Williams's MVP night and the team's quick rise.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on NBC News ↗NBC News ↗

Newsweek

Gabby Williams Shines in Valkyries WNBA Title Win Over Dream

Newsweek focuses on Williams's 30 points and the Finals records she set.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on Newsweek ↗Newsweek ↗

Fox News

Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream fall short in Game 7 as Golden State Valkyries win first WNBA championship

OutKick's report centers on Angel Reese's Game 7 and the final minutes.

Score:–

Not graded yet.

Read on Fox News ↗Fox News ↗

Oct 31 · Federal Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismisses President Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over the Epstein birthday letter story, this time with prejudice

Mediaite

BREAKING: Judge Throws Out Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Article

Mediaite reports the ruling, the defendants and the Journal's original report on the letter.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on Mediaite ↗Mediaite ↗

CNBC

Trump defamation suit against Murdoch, WSJ over Epstein letter dismissed with prejudice

CNBC reports the ruling, what 'with prejudice' means and the response from Trump's lawyers.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on CNBC ↗CNBC ↗

Just the News

Judge dismisses Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein reporting

Just the News reports the ruling and the actual-malice standard behind it.

Score:C

Leaves out key context and uses loaded words.

Read on Just the News ↗Just the News ↗

Oct 31 · D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones sue in federal court to block President Trump's 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, days before construction could begin

NBC News

Virginia and D.C. sue to stop proposed Trump arch

NBC reports the suit's legal claims, the Nov. 5 start date and the White House statement.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on NBC News ↗NBC News ↗

Newsweek

DC, Virginia Sue to Block Trump’s 250-Foot Arch After Judge Questions Plan

Newsweek details the eight counts, the traffic figures and Friday's hearing before Judge Chutkan.

Score:C

Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

Read on Newsweek ↗Newsweek ↗

Washington Examiner

DC and Virginia sue to block Trump's Triumphal Arch

The Examiner reports the filing, the other suits against the arch and Hegseth's defense argument.

Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Read on Washington Examiner ↗Washington Examiner ↗

Oct 31 · Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky reach Ukrainian-held territory by way of Russia and Belarus under a local ceasefire that first lady Melania Trump helped broker

CNN

Reunited after 1,711 days: Oleshky evacuees return to Ukraine under Melania Trump-brokered ceasefire

CNN follows evacuees and families at the border and the route through Russia and Belarus.

Score:C

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

Read on CNN ↗CNN ↗

Straight Arrow News

Residents return home to Ukraine after humanitarian ceasefire

SAN reports Zelenskyy's statement, the White House account and the ceasefire's timing.

Score:A

No problems found.

Read on Straight Arrow News ↗Straight Arrow News ↗

New York Post

Major rescue operation sees evacuees reunite with family at Ukrainian-Belarusian border

The Post's report covers the border arrivals, the truce and new Russian strikes.

Score:C

Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

Read on New York Post ↗New York Post ↗

Oct 31 · Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei orders an immediate response without geographic limits to any new U.S. or Israeli attack as Qatari mediators move their talks from Tehran to Doha

Axios

Iran's supreme leader orders "maximum" response to any U.S. attack

Axios reports Khamenei's meeting with his top commanders, his order and the Qatari talks.

Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

Read on Axios ↗Axios ↗

CNBC

Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran aimed at restarting direct U.S.-Iran negotiations, source says

CNBC reports the Qatari talks, Khamenei's statement, attacks on shipping and the jump in oil prices.

Score:B

Uses an unnamed source or unsourced number.

Read on CNBC ↗CNBC ↗

Fox News

Iran's IRGC says it is 'closely monitoring America's movements in the region'

Fox's live coverage reports Khamenei's order, the Doha talks and Araghchi's remarks.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on Fox News ↗Fox News ↗

Oct 30 · Federal Judge Trina Thompson in California orders the Justice Department to stop threatening election officials with prosecution over ballots it says belong to noncitizens, days before the midterms

CBS News

Judge orders DOJ to stop trying to "intimidate" and "threaten" California election officials

CBS reports the order, its Nov. 16 end date, the Voting Rights Act finding and the 20,000-ballot dispute.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on CBS News ↗CBS News ↗

Newsweek

Trump DOJ blocked nationwide from threatening election officials

Newsweek reports the order's terms, the plaintiffs' claims and the judge's Voting Rights Act finding.

Score:B

Uses loaded words.

Read on Newsweek ↗Newsweek ↗

Fox News

Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ threats against election workers ahead of 2026 midterms

Fox reports the order, the unions and NAACP behind the suit and the Ninth Circuit's separate ruling.

Score:A

No problems found.

Read on Fox News ↗Fox News ↗

Oct 30 · Rep. Haley Stevens demands that Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologize over remarks on Israel, and his campaign asks her to stay away from its final events before Tuesday's election

CBS News

Abdul El-Sayed campaign asks Haley Stevens not to attend final campaign events for Michigan Senate

CBS reports Stevens' demands, El-Sayed's reply and the request that she skip his final events.

Score:C

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

Read on CBS News ↗CBS News ↗

Newsweek

Haley Stevens Could Be Paving Way for Rogers Endorsement: Ex-Obama Adviser

Newsweek reports the clash, Rogers' praise for Stevens and David Axelrod's view of her motives.

Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Read on Newsweek ↗Newsweek ↗

New York Post

Abdul El-Sayed tells Rep. Haley Stevens to stay away from his campaign — as feud boils over days before midterm

The Post reports the feud, El-Sayed's reply and the stay-away request relayed by Stevens' fiancé.

Score:C

Uses loaded words.

Read on New York Post ↗New York Post ↗

Oct 30 · The State Department approves a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to Ukraine, paid for by Canada, Germany, Norway and EU-backed funds, as Volodymyr Zelensky warns delivery could take years

NBC News

U.S. approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine

NBC reports the State Department notice, the allied funding and Zelensky's earlier charge of Pentagon delays.

Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Read on NBC News ↗NBC News ↗

The Hill

Ukraine gets approval for Patriot missile sale

The Hill reports the State Department approval, the allied funding and Zelensky's charge of Pentagon delays.

Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Read on The Hill ↗The Hill ↗

Just the News

Trump admin approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine

Just the News reports the State Department notice, the allied funding and the spare parts in the package.

Score:B

Leaves out key context.

Read on Just the News ↗Just the News ↗