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MSNBC says “lack of voter fraud proof”; the Examiner quotes the order — “No statute grants the Postal Service the power”

A second federal judge froze the mail-ballot rule late Sunday, 50 days before the midterms. Of the five reports we hold, one names the judge and one carries the government's case.

Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case
Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case as published by Washington Examiner · seen at Washington Examiner
United States United States

The ruling. A second federal judge has frozen the Postal Service rule implementing the president's executive order on mail voting. The Washington Examiner alone names him — Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by President Trump — and quotes his 24-page order: “No statute grants the Postal Service the power to issue key parts of the Rule.” It alone names the first judge, Indira Talwani, a nominee of President Obama, who blocked the same rule on 4 September. The Supreme Court is sitting on the government's request to lift her order. Ballots are already going out in several states.

Where the reports part.

Outlet Opens on the judge Why the rule fails
Washington Examiner “nominated by President Donald Trump” no statute grants the power
MSNBC “A Trump-appointed judge” “lack of voter fraud proof”
The New York Times “Another Judge” not given
The Hill “A second federal judge” not given
The Hill (opinion) not mentioned “not a bug but a feature”

Not settled. The Supreme Court has not ruled and can act at any time. One report carries the government's side, and it summarises Solicitor General D. John Sauer rather than quoting him; we hold no words from the administration itself. The scale figure — at least 54.4 million ballots handled in the 2022 midterms — comes from that same report, citing the ruling. No other report gives a ballot volume.

What this is about. The Postal Service wrote a rule that would put the mail system in the middle of mail-in voting — checking who is on a state's ballot list before a ballot is delivered. Two federal judges have now blocked it, and the Supreme Court is being asked to let it take effect anyway.

How it got here. In the United States, elections are run by state and local officials, not by Washington; the Postal Service is a federal agency whose powers come from statute passed by Congress. President Trump signed an executive order targeting voting by mail, and in August the Postal Service issued a rule to carry it out. Under it, election officials must submit the names and addresses of intended ballot recipients through a federal portal, use unique barcodes on outgoing and return envelopes, and send envelope designs for federal review. Ballot mail the agency could not verify would go back to election officials for correction.

Judge Carl Nichols first declined to block the executive order, because the rule was not yet final. On 4 September, Judge Indira Talwani in Boston blocked the finished rule. The administration asked the Supreme Court to pause her order; Solicitor General D. John Sauer argues the case for the government there. Late Sunday, Nichols blocked it too, on a suit by Democratic and voting-rights groups.

What is at stake. The midterm elections are on 3 November, and ballots are already going out in several states. The Postal Service handled at least 54.4 million ballots in the 2022 midterms, according to figures cited in Nichols's decision. If the rule takes effect, states redesign envelopes and upload voter lists mid-election. The government says the checks deter fraud and build confidence; Nichols found it produced no evidence of significant fraud this year.

Where it stands. Both blocks hold. The Supreme Court has not ruled and can act at any time.

The story so far

Earlier stories The AI Times filed on this thread.

What is being argued about

  • What the rule requires of election officials, and which parts a judge says exceed the agency's authority
  • Whether the block rests on missing fraud evidence or on missing statutory power
  • How each report introduces the judge — by who nominated him, or by what he ruled
  • What the Supreme Court is being asked to do, and when it could do it
Five reports, five ways of saying who blocked it and whySide by side
OutletHow it opens on the judgeWhy it says the rule failsNames the judge?
Washington Examiner“A federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump”authority — “No statute grants the Postal Service the power to issue key parts of the Rule”yes — Carl Nichols
MSNBC“A Trump-appointed judge”evidence — “lack of voter fraud proof”no
The New York Times“Another Judge”not givenno
The Hill“A second federal judge”not givenno
The Hill (opinion)not mentionedintent — “not a bug but a feature”no
Taken from each report's own opening or headline. “Not given” means that report does not carry the point at all.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Trump’s radical plan is to make the postal service an election gatekeeper Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
What the five reports carryChart
A count of what is in the text, not a judgement of any outlet. One report accounts for four of these five lines.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Trump’s radical plan is to make the postal service an election gatekeeper Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Two orders, one pending application, and a Monday of coverageTimeline
  1. Fri 4 Sep— no time published Judge Indira Talwani, Boston blocks the Postal Service rule; the government asks the Supreme Court to pause her orderreported by the Washington Examiner
  2. Sun 13 Sep— no time published Judge Carl Nichols, Washington grants a preliminary injunction late Sunday 24-page order
  3. Mon 14 Sep— no time published Solicitor General D. John Sauer files a supplemental brief at the Supreme Court on Monday morning, saying Nichols offered no materially new reasoning
  4. Mon 14 Sep13:01 published time on the report The Hill reports a second judge blocking the order, with a Supreme Court decision possible at any time
  5. Mon 14 Sep15:00 published time on the report The Hill (opinion) calls the interference with mail voting “not a bug but a feature”
  6. Mon 14 Sep15:17 published time on the report MSNBC leads on the lack of fraud evidence
  7. Mon 14 Sep16:02 published time on the report Washington Examiner names Nichols, quotes the order and carries the solicitor general's argument 54.4m ballots in 2022
  8. Mon 14 Sep16:12 published time on the report The New York Times calls it another blow to an effort to make voting by mail harder
Publication times as printed on each report, in UTC. The court steps carry no published time.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Trump’s radical plan is to make the postal service an election gatekeeper Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The bias in this coverageBias

Three reports state the rule's purpose; one states the rule

Three of the five reports describe the policy's aim in their own voice — making mail voting harder, targeting mail voting, a system designed to restrict it. One attributes the same point to the judge who wrote it. One sets out what the rule actually requires: a federal portal, barcodes, envelope designs submitted for review.

5 reports held on this ruling 3 reports stating the rule's purpose in their own voice 1 reports describing what the rule requires

Who appointed the judge, and who argued the other side

Four of the five reports lead with the fact that the judge was nominated by the president whose order he blocked. One report names both judges and carries the government's argument, including its case that fraud need not be proven for the block to cause harm. That report also gives the only figure any of them carry: at least 54.4 million ballots handled in the last midterms.

4 reports leading with who nominated the judge 1 reports carrying the government's argument 1 reports carrying a ballot figure
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Trump’s radical plan is to make the postal service an election gatekeeper Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Claims and verdicts

true A second federal judge, Trump nominee Carl Nichols, has blocked the Postal Service mail-ballot rule.
The Washington Examiner reports Nichols granting a preliminary injunction late Sunday and quotes his 24-page order, The Hill reports a second federal judge blocking the rule, and MSNBC and The New York Times both describe a Trump-appointed judge doing so. Only the Washington Examiner names the judge and the page count.
Checked against 4 sources:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
true The judges blocking the rule found the administration produced no evidence of significant mail-ballot fraud in this election.
The Washington Examiner reports Nichols finding the government had not produced such evidence, and MSNBC reports the same failure to show how the rule would combat fraud in the midterms. The Hill and The New York Times report the blocks without the reasoning.
Checked against 2 sources:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified The Postal Service handled at least 54.4 million ballots during the 2022 midterm elections.
Only the Washington Examiner carries the figure, citing numbers in the judge's decision; no other report we hold gives a ballot volume. One account is not corroboration.
Checked against 1 source:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Who wrote it

Z Zach Montague The New York Times
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Intent asserted in the outlet's voice purpose stated as making voting harder×1
Purpose stated in the report's own voice the effort is described as making voting by mail harder, unattributed×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 true
From 12 reports we hold under this byline, at The New York Times. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
K Kaelan Deese Washington Examiner
What the bias passes found in their reporting
A figure with what it counts the scale number is dated and sourced to the decision×1
Asymmetric verb The rival report's account gets 'claimed'. The unnamed source's denial is printed as a flat quote.×1
Both accounts attributed gives the officials' account and the witnesses' account the same 'said' treatment, one after the other×1
Characterisation in reporter's voice The closing line calls Smith's tactics 'aggressive' as a plain statement, not as a quote from anyone.×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
2 disputed1 unverified7 true
From 65 reports we hold under this byline, at Washington Examiner. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
J Jordan Rubin MSNBC
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Asserted versus attributed what Democrats think is stated as likely, with no Democrat quoted×1
Assertion vs attribution calls the policy 'unprecedented' in its own voice×1
Both sides quoted from their own filings challengers and the state each given their argument×1
Challengers quoted first The report opens on the challengers' own words. It carries no government voice in the text we hold.×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 disputed1 unverified10 true
From 62 reports we hold under this byline, at MSNBC. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
A Allan J. Lichtman The Hill
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Design intent asserted stated flat, no attribution×1
Intent asserted the effect is declared deliberate, with no source×1
From 2 reports we hold under this byline, at MSNBC, The Hill. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
Z Zach Schonfeld The Hill
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Framing frames the case as a test of one of the president's flagship programs×1
Framing presents the policy as one of the president's signature programmes×1
Framing of the judge The judge is introduced by who appointed him and by his past cases involving Trump and the press×1
Purpose attributed The anti-fraud aim is attributed to the administration. The report does not state it as fact.×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 misleading6 true
From 63 reports we hold under this byline, at The Hill. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting.

Coverage, outlet by outlet

The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent As Supreme Court Weighs Trump Mail Ballot Plan, Another Judge Blocks It Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The New York Times → What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Sets the ruling against the Supreme Court in a single line and states the purpose in its own voice: another blow to an effort “to make voting by mail harder”.
The ruling by a lower court judge was another blow to President Trump’s effort to make voting by mail harder. The Supreme Court is also considering the Trump plan.
Intent asserted in the outlet's voice: purpose stated as making voting harder — “The ruling by a lower court judge was another blow to President Trump’s effort to make voting by mail harder.”
Purpose stated in the report's own voice: the effort is described as making voting by mail harder, unattributed — “The ruling by a lower court judge was another blow to President Trump’s effort to make voting by mail harder.”
Read it at The New York Times → https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/us/politics/trump-mail-ballot-nichol…
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Court weighs case Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report that names the judge, Carl Nichols, quotes his order and separates the parts of the rule he let stand — envelope, labelling and tracking — from the voter-list and portal provisions he did not. It is also
A federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump blocked a new Postal Service rule governing mail-in ballots, creating a second legal obstacle for the policy as the administration asks the Supreme Court to let it take effect before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols granted Democratic and voting rights groups a preliminary injunction late Sunday, concluding they were likely to prove that central parts of the rule exceeded the authority Congress granted to the Postal Service. Recommended Stories Trump-nominated judge blocks USPS mail-in ballot rule as Supreme Cour
Measure chosen for the judge: who nominated him leads the sentence — “A federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump blocked a new Postal Service rule governing mail-in ballots”
Government's argument quoted: solicitor general's reasoning set out — “Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that recipient lists serve postal purposes by ensuring mail goes to the people intended by senders and helping authorities detect fraudulent use of the mail.”
How the judge is introduced: who nominated him leads the sentence, ahead of what he ruled — “A federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump blocked a new Postal Service rule governing mail-in ballots”
The government's argument carried in its own: the solicitor general's reasoning is set out, not just its rejection — “Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that recipient lists serve postal purposes by ensuring mail goes to the people intended by senders and helping authorities detect fraudulent use of the mail.”
A figure with what it counts: the scale number is dated and sourced to the decision — “The Postal Service handled at least 54.4 million ballots during the 2022 midterm elections, according to figures cited in his decision.”
Read it at Washington Examiner → https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4725698/trump-nominated…
MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at MSNBC → What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Puts the missing evidence first and in the plural — judges point to a lack of voter fraud proof — and says the administration failed to show how the rule would combat fraud in the midterms.
President Donald Trump and his administration have cited the need to prevent voter fraud as a justification for their desired mail ballot restrictions for the midterm elections. But in a new ruling blocking those restrictions, a Trump-appointed judge became the latest jurist to highlight a lack of proven fraud or how the administration’s efforts would help to combat such fraud if it existed. That observation came from U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who issued a preliminary injunction Sunday against a U.S. Postal Service rule whose fate is pending at the Supreme Court in a separate case. Nic
Finding attributed to the judge: 'said' rather than stated flat — “A Trump-appointed judge said the Trump administration failed to show how its Postal Service rule would combat fraud in the midterms.”
What the headline leads on: the absence of evidence is the finding, and the judges are the actors — “Judges point to lack of voter fraud proof in blocking mail ballot restrictions”
Read it at MSNBC → https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/mail-ballot…
The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Trump’s radical plan is to make the postal service an election gatekeeper Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
An opinion piece, and the only report to state intent flat: interference with mail voting is “not a bug but a feature” of a system designed to restrict a practice Democrats use more than Republicans.
The potential to interfere with voters' ability to vote by mail is not a bug but a feature of a system designed to restrict a practice that Democrats have used more often than Republicans in recent elections.
Design intent asserted: stated flat, no attribution — “The potential to interfere with voters' ability to vote by mail is not a bug but a feature of a system designed to restrict a practice that Democrats have used more often than Republicans in recent elections.”
Intent asserted: the effect is declared deliberate, with no source — “The potential to interfere with voters' ability to vote by mail is not a bug but a feature of a system designed to restrict a practice that Democrats have used more often than Republicans in recent elections.”
Read it at The Hill → https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/6080054-postal-service-election-in…
The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent Second judge freezes Trump mail ballot plan as Supreme Court ruling looms Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Hill → What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Says the Supreme Court decision on the first block could come at any time, and calls the executive order one “targeting mail-in voting”.
A second federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting, adding a new obstacle to the president’s plan as he awaits word from the Supreme Court. The high court was already considering an emergency request to lift another judge’s block — a decision could come any time —…
Word chosen for the order: 'targeting mail-in voting' — “A second federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting”
Read it at The Hill → https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6087668-second-judge-freez…
Checked, didn’t cover
Mother Jones
Left estimate · not a score
Mother Jones 🇺🇸US · magazine · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted, not attributed 'ultra-gerrymandered' stated as fact ×1Asserted versus attributed 'Cover-up' is asserted in the report's own voice, not attributed ×1Asserted versus attributed calls it a cover-up in its own voice ×1Assertion vs attribution describes the operation as a 'violent occupation' in its own voice, with no source for the phrase ×1 from 361 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → N NPR
Centre estimate · not a score
NPR 🇺🇸US · public broadcaster · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted, not attributed that the system wrongly flagged citizens is stated flat, with no source named for it ×1Asserted versus attributed public disbelief stated as established, with nothing cited that measured it ×1Asserted versus attributed Past threats of force are stated flat, as background ×1Asymmetric labelling one side tagged by its patron, the other not ×1 from 1144 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → P Politico
Centre estimate · not a score
Politico 🇺🇸US · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Fox News
Right estimate · not a score
Fox News 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accused named Names one former fraternity member through his lawyer's denial. The woman is anonymous by her own choice. ×1Actor in headline The headline names Trump as the one acting. The body names only Anduril. ×1A number, with no people named The only report that gives a figure counts the journalists whose communications were swept up. It names none of them. ×1Asserted, not attributed stated flat: past court defeats are asserted with no case, judge or date named ×1 from 6432 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Breitbart
Right estimate · not a score
Breitbart 🇺🇸US · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Anyone hurt is counted, not named eight deaths given as a number only ×1Framing of motive The lede calls the denial a punishment and puts 'fake news' in quotation marks; the officials being sued are left unnamed ×1How the person shot is named a status, not a name: the only report that never uses either name calls him an illegal alien ×1How the place is described a party label attached to the city in the same clause as the casualty count ×1 from 3584 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → National Review
Centre-right estimate · not a score
National Review 🇺🇸US · magazine · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted not attributed Doubt about the allegation is stated flat, in the outlet's own voice ×1Asserted not attributed An argument about deterrence is stated as fact ×1Asserted versus attributed calls it an abuse of power in its own voice ×1Asserted versus attributed 'Abuse of presidential power' is stated flat ×1 from 414 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Silence is recorded, not inferred — each of these was read when we built this story and carried nothing on this event.
We could not read these
The Wall Street Journal
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Wall Street Journal 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Associated Press
Centre estimate · not a score
Associated Press 🇺🇸US · wire · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Dating and attribution Dates the signing to Aug. 6, 2026 and writes ord ×1Dating and attribution Carries a dateline correction, repeated three ti ×1How hard the claim is stated Marks "birth tourism" as the administration's ow ×1How hard the claim is stated high ×1 from 223 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
These are must-cite outlets for this desk that we did not manage to read when we built this story. That is a gap in our reach, not a silence on their part, and it is not evidence of anything about this story.

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