Alaska judge fast-tracks DOJ lawsuit over Senate election certification

🗞️ Story file #882

Alaska judge fast-tracks DOJ lawsuit over Senate election certification

Oct 23, 12 PM ET to Oct 28, 6 AM ET · 3 outlets not rated for lean

51outlets carried it
🫏24 · 11 · 13🐘left · center · right
4.7 dayson the front pages
46front pages at once, at its peak
212 minof TV captions
29radio newscasts
53people retold it online
2 of 2parts of a saga

👣 How this story traveled: from the front pages that broke it, out through TV, radio and the shows, into what people retold and what fact-checkers examined, and on into the saga it is part of. Everything here is matched to the story by our tools, so a link can be wrong; the trackers' pages say how each is made.

Oct 23, 12 PM ETfirst on a front page: HuffPost
Oct 23, 1 PM ETfirst on the radio: ABC News Update
Oct 23, 8 PM ETfirst on TV: CNN
Oct 24, 3 AM ETpeak: on 46 front pages
Oct 25, 4 AM ETretold online by 53 people

the front pages that ran it, hour by hour

Front pages carrying it at each hourly run, Oct 23, 12 PM to Oct 28, 6 AM ET (peak 46), by the outlets' lean: left · center · right · not rated

Who carried it and when: each outlet in the order it picked the story up, a bar for each headline from when we first saw it on the front page to when we last did, in the outlet's lean color (dashed: not rated); a dot marks a new headline. Beneath, its captions on TV, the radio newscasts that carried it (bigger: the lead) and when people were found retelling it. Hover for details.

📡 wire copy: 4 outlets ran the AP, Reuters headline nearly word for word (Chicago Tribune, HuffPost, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo News)

📌 linked by aggregators: Google News Political Wire Drudge Report

💬 quoted: “Desperate Attempt To Silence Alaskans,” “Spoiler” “Confusion” “Decoy” “Voter Confusion” 2 “I'm the One That Said To Do It” “I'm the one who said do it”

🗣️ only one side says: 🫏 alaska senate 🫏 blanche defends doj

✏️ 23 outlets ran more than one headline on it (reworded, or a follow-up)

ABC News (2 wordings): “DOJ preemptively sues to block Alaska Senate results if Republican narrowly loses” → “Trump told DOJ to sue to block Alaska Senate results if Republican narrowly loses”
AP (2 wordings): “Trump administration sues to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race” → “Trump says he ordered the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s US Senate race”
Axios (2 wordings): “DOJ sues to block Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses” → “DOJ sues to delay Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses”
CNBC (9 wordings): “DOJ sues to block Alaska from certifying Senate race winner if Republican Sen. loses” → “Judge fast-tracks DOJ's Alaska Senate lawsuit as Peltola seeks dismissal before Election Day”
CNN (2 wordings): “Breaking News Trump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses The lawsuit is the latest attempt of the Trump Justice Department to insert itself in the administration of elections” → “Trump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses The lawsuit is the latest attempt of the Trump Justice Department to insert itself in the administration of elections”
HuffPost (7 wordings): “⚡ BREAKING: Trump Admin Sues To Block Certification Of Alaska Senate Race — If Republican Loses…” → “Alaska Senate Candidate Asks Judge To Toss Trump Admin Lawsuit Over Certification”
Just the News (3 wordings): “Trump admin sues Alaska election official, arguing 'voter confusion' with two Sullivans on ballot” → “Peltola seeks dismissal of DOJ's Alaska election suit”
New York Times (2 wordings): “Trump Officials Seek Block on Alaska Senate Race Results if the Republican Dan Sullivan Loses” → “Why Legal Experts See the Justice Dept.’s Alaska Election Challenge as Dubious”
Newsmax (6 wordings): “Trump Sues to Block Possible GOP Loss in Alaska Senate Race” → “Alaska Moves to Dismiss DOJ Senate Election Suit”
Newsweek (5 wordings): “Trump Admin Seeks to Block Alaska Senate Result if Dan Sullivan Loses” → “Judge Fast-Tracks Alaska Election Legal Fight as Officials Defend Ballots”
Reason (2 wordings): “Trump Sues to Block Alaska Senate Election Results Because of Potential Voter "Confusion"” → “Justice Department Targets Alaska Senate Election”
Reuters (4 wordings): “Trump administration sues to block Senate race certification in Alaska if Republican loses” → “Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Peltola asks judge to toss US lawsuit over certification”
Straight Arrow News (3 wordings): “Why the DOJ is trying to block Alaska’s Senate results in advance” → “Blanche defends DOJ lawsuit over Alaska Senate race as Peltola seeks dismissal”
The Epoch Times (2 wordings): “Trump Admin Sues to Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race If GOP Candidate Loses” → “Attorney General Defends Lawsuit Pre-Challenging Alaska Senate Race Results”
The Guardian (3 wordings): “Trump’s justice department sues to block Senate race certification in Alaska if Republican loses” → “Blanche defends DoJ’s pre-emptive suit to block Alaska Senate results certification”
The Hill (4 wordings): “Trump on Alaska election lawsuit: ‘I’m the one who said do it’” → “ACLU, Common Cause file motion against DOJ over Alaska election certification ...”
The Independent (2 wordings): “Trump team files lawsuit to block certification of Alaska Senate race if Republican loses” → “Trump boasts he ordered DOJ to sue Alaska to get election result tossed out if they lose”
The New Republic (2 wordings): “It’s Happening: DOJ Sues to Block Election Results if Republican Loses” → “Trump DOJ Sues to Block Senate Race Results if Republican Loses”
The Washington Post (3 wordings): “Todd Blanche defends DOJ lawsuit over Senate election in Alaska” → “DOJ seeks to block Alaska Senate result if Republican incumbent narrowly loses”
The Washington Times (2 wordings): “Trump: GOP weighing legal action to remove second Dan Sullivan from Alaska ballot” → “Are Alaska voters confused by two Dan Sullivans? DOJ sues to find out, Blanche says”
USA Today (2 wordings): “DOJ sues to stop Alaska from certifying Senate result if GOP loses” → “Alaska suit may signal DOJ willingness to contest election results”
Washington Examiner (3 wordings): “Trump says he ordered DOJ lawsuit intervening in Alaska Senate election” → “Blanche declines to say if Trump ordered him to file Alaska election lawsuit”
Yahoo News (6 wordings): “Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race” → “Democrats ask judge to dismiss Trump administration’s challenge to Alaska Senate race”

Every outlet's first headline (51), left to right by AllSides rating

HuffPost ⚡ BREAKING: Trump Admin Sues To Block Certification Of Alaska Senate Race — If Republican Loses… Oct 23, 12 PM ET
MSNBC Democratic candidate Mary Peltola reacts to Trump’s lawsuit to block her possible win in Alaska Senate race Oct 23, 7 PM ET
Mother Jones DOJ Is Suing to Decertify Alaska’s Senate Results—But Only If Republicans Lose Oct 23, 7 PM ET
Raw Story Trump DOJ moves to torpedo red state Senate result if Republican narrowly loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
The Daily Beast Trump’s DOJ Launches Brazen Legal Bid to Rig Key Senate Race Oct 23, 1 PM ET
The Guardian Trump’s justice department sues to block Senate race certification in Alaska if Republican loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
The New Republic It’s Happening: DOJ Sues to Block Election Results if Republican Loses Oct 23, 1 PM ET
Vox Can Trump block the Alaska Senate election? Oct 23, 7 PM ET
ABC News DOJ preemptively sues to block Alaska Senate results if Republican narrowly loses Oct 23, 1 PM ET
AP Trump administration sues to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race Oct 23, 12 PM ET
Axios DOJ sues to block Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
CBS News DOJ sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Sullivan loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
CNBC DOJ sues to block Alaska from certifying Senate race winner if Republican Sen. loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
CNN Breaking News Trump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses The lawsuit is the latest attempt of the Trump Justice Department to insert itself in the administration of elections Oct 23, 12 PM ET
Los Angeles Times Trump says he ordered the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s U.S. Senate race Oct 23, 4 PM ET
Mediaite Trump Blurts Out He Personally Ordered DOJ To Sue Alaska: ‘I’m the One That Said To Do It’ Oct 23, 7 PM ET
NPR Blanche defends DOJ lawsuit blocking Alaska Senate results if Republican loses Oct 25, 3 PM ET
New York Times Trump Officials Seek Block on Alaska Senate Race Results if the Republican Dan Sullivan Loses Oct 23, 1 PM ET
PBS NewsHour Trump says he ordered suit to block Alaska Senate results if GOP loses Oct 23, 8 PM ET
The Independent Trump team files lawsuit to block certification of Alaska Senate race if Republican loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
The Washington Post Todd Blanche defends DOJ lawsuit over Senate election in Alaska Oct 25, 10 PM ET
Time Trump Thinks Alaskans Could Vote for the Wrong Sullivan. What Can the DOJ Do? Oct 24, 6 PM ET
USA Today DOJ sues to stop Alaska from certifying Senate result if GOP loses Oct 23, 1 PM ET
Yahoo News Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race Oct 23, 11 AM ET
BBC Trump administration sues to block certification of upcoming Alaska election Oct 23, 1 PM ET
Chicago Tribune President Donald Trump says he ordered the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s US Senate race Oct 23, 6 PM ET
Financial Times Trump moves to block certification of Alaska Senate election if Republican loses Oct 23, 5 PM ET
Forbes Trump Already Challenges Midterm Results—Asks Alaska Not To Certify Senate Race If Democrat Peltola Wins Oct 23, 9 PM ET
Fortune With Senate control at stake, attorney general defends Trump’s lawsuit to block certification of Alaska race if the GOP candidate loses Oct 25, 3 PM ET
Newsweek Trump Admin Seeks to Block Alaska Senate Result if Dan Sullivan Loses Oct 23, 5 AM ET
Reason Trump Sues to Block Alaska Senate Election Results Because of Potential Voter "Confusion" Oct 23, 4 PM ET
Reuters Trump administration sues to block Senate race certification in Alaska if Republican loses Oct 23, 12 PM ET
Scripps News America Votes Trump says he ordered the DOJ's lawsuit over Alaska's US Senate race AP via Scripps News Group Oct 23, 3 PM ET
Straight Arrow News Why the DOJ is trying to block Alaska’s Senate results in advance Oct 23, 1 PM ET
The Hill Trump on Alaska election lawsuit: ‘I’m the one who said do it’ Oct 24, 12 AM ET
Just the News Trump admin sues Alaska election official, arguing 'voter confusion' with two Sullivans on ballot Oct 23, 10 AM ET
The Epoch Times Trump Admin Sues to Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race If GOP Candidate Loses Oct 23, 3 PM ET
The Washington Times Trump: GOP weighing legal action to remove second Dan Sullivan from Alaska ballot Oct 22, 1 PM ET
Washington Examiner Trump says he ordered DOJ lawsuit intervening in Alaska Senate election Oct 23, 6 PM ET
Breitbart DOJ Moves to Preemptively Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race Oct 23, 7 PM ET
IJR DOJ Seeks to Block Alaska Senate Certification Oct 24, 3 AM ET
Newsmax Trump Sues to Block Possible GOP Loss in Alaska Senate Race Oct 23, 12 PM ET
PJ Media Trump’s DOJ Takes on the Fake Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s Senate Race Oct 23, 5 PM ET
The Daily Caller Trump DOJ Sues To Block Alaska Senate Results If Dan Sullivan Loses Because Of Another Dan Sullivan Oct 23, 1 PM ET
The Daily Signal DOJ Sues Alaska to Block Senate Election Certification, Citing ‘Voter Confusion’ Oct 23, 1 PM ET
The Daily Wire Trump DOJ Sues Alaska Over ‘Spoiler’ Candidate In Crucial Senate Race Oct 23, 3 PM ET
The Gateway Pundit Trump Weighs in on DOJ Suit to Block Alaska Senate Certification if GOP Senator Dan Sullivan Loses Amid Scheme to Sabotage with ‘Decoy’ Challenger with Same Name (VIDEO) Oct 23, 10 PM ET
The Western Journal Trump DOJ Sues to Block Alaska Senate Certification if GOP Loses Over Ballot Confusion Oct 23, 7 PM ET
Crooks and Liars Trump DOJ Is Trying To Pre-Steal Alaska Senate Election Oct 23, 5 PM ET
Talking Points Memo DOJ Sues to Block Alaska Senate Certification if Republican Loses Oct 23, 1 PM ET
The Washington Sun Trump Administration Lays Out a Path to Challenge Alaska’s Senate Results Oct 23, 12 PM ET

TV, radio, and the shows that talked about it

📺 On TV

CNN162 min

MSNOW33 min

Fox News13 min

BBC News4 min

TRUMP DOJ SUES TO BLOCK ALASKA SENATE RESULTS IF GOP INCUMBENT LOSES CNN, 24 min
TRUMP ORDERS DOJ TO BLOCK KEY SENATE RESULTS IF HIS CANDIDATE LOSES CNN, 17 min
TRUMP SAYS HE ORDERED DOJ LAWSUIT OVER SENATE RACE IN ALASKA CNN, 12 min
PRES. TRUMP ON DOJ SUIT: "I'M THE ONE THAT SAID DO IT" CNN, 12 min
TRUMP DOJ SUES ALASKA TO BLOCK CERTIFICATION IF REPUBLICAN LOSES CNN, 11 min
DOJ SUES IN ALASKA SENATE RACE, TRUMP: "SAID DO IT" CNN, 11 min
TRUMP SAYS HE ORDERED ALASKA ELECTIONS LAWSUIT: "I'M THE ONE" CNN, 10 min
TRUMP DOJ SUES TO BLOCK RESULTS IF ALASKA GOP SENATOR LOSES CNN, 9 min

📻 On the radio

ABC News Update, Oct 26, 5:32 PM ET: the lead
NPR News Now, Oct 26, 11:09 AM ET: story 4 of 7
NPR News Now, Oct 26, 5:10 AM ET: story 3 of 7
NPR News Now, Oct 26, 2:09 AM ET: story 3 of 7
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 10:09 PM ET: story 4 of 6
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 7:09 PM ET: the lead
ABC News Update, Oct 25, 6:32 PM ET: story 3 of 4
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 4:09 PM ET: story 3 of 6
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 2:09 PM ET: story 4 of 7
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 12:09 PM ET: the lead
NPR News Now, Oct 25, 9:09 AM ET: story 2 of 6
NPR News Now, Oct 24, 7:09 PM ET: story 3 of 7

🎙️ Shows, investigators, satire

🎙️ 📺 MeidasTouch 📨 Erick Erickson 🎙️ Reuters World News 📺 The Young Turks 🎙️ CNN 5 Things 🎙️ Bloomberg News Now 🎙️ Bloomberg News Now

what people online made of it

🧩 How it's being told

The stories under this news, from our motif index, and who told each: the shows we follow by their lean, people online, fact-checkers. A story people tell, not a claim that it's true; claims are matched to this story by our tools, so a link can be wrong.

🧩 Contempt for the base 🧶 online
“Stephen Miller is insulting the intelligence of Alaskan voters by claiming they cannot distinguish between candidates on the ballot.”
🧩 Executive overreach 🧶 online
↔️ its answer: Checks and balances
“The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election unless the Republican candidate wins.”
🧩 He admit it! 🧶 online
“The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election unless the Republican candidate wins.”
🧩 Lawfare 🧶 online
↔️ its answer: No one is above the law
“The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election unless the Republican candidate wins.”
🧩 Projecting, much? 🧶 online
“Stephen Miller is insulting the intelligence of Alaskan voters by claiming they cannot distinguish between candidates on the ballot.”
🧩 They think you're stupid 🧶 online
↔️ its answer: Too stupid to understand
“Stephen Miller is insulting the intelligence of Alaskan voters by claiming they cannot distinguish between candidates on the ballot.” and 1 more
🧩 They're going to steal it 🧶 online
“The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election unless the Republican candidate wins.”

🧶 Retold online

Voters are not confused because the ballot clearly marks the Republican incumbent. Oct 26: told by 9 people (same issue)
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election unless the Republican candidate wins. Oct 25: told by 38 people; told before on Oct 27
🦋 Widely seen on Bluesky

🦋 a post on Bluesky · 23 likes, 6 reposts
🦋 a post on Bluesky · 3 likes, 2 reposts
Stephen Miller is insulting the intelligence of Alaskan voters by claiming they cannot distinguish between candidates on the ballot. Oct 25: told by 6 people (same issue)
🦋 Widely seen on Bluesky

🦋 a post on Bluesky · 6 likes, 3 reposts
🦋 a post on Bluesky · 3 likes, 1 reposts

🧩 They think you're stupid

On Folklore: the latest in full, with their motifs and who is telling them.

🗣️ names in it: Donald Trump Justice Department Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski Republican Party Democratic Party

what the fact-checkers looked into

🧐 No fact-checker has taken it on yet.

the running story it belongs to

🧵 Alaska Senate race controversy

Trump criticizes Murkowski over ranked choice voting and election laws
Oct 25, 2 PM ET
Alaska judge fast-tracks DOJ lawsuit over Senate election certification (this story)
Oct 23, 12 PM ET