Collins' critics foaming at the mouth as Blanche vote hangs 'by a thread'
Collins said she would oppose Blanche’s confirmation, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYAlternet is an established, openly progressive publisher, but this is an opinion piece rather than a report from a neutral wire service or newspaper of record. The article attributes many claims and reactions, but provides limited independent reporting or sourcing beyond quoted statements and social-media posts.
- Source type — Opinion-first publisher with an identifiable political perspective.
- Editorial standards — The piece attributes statements, but relies heavily on social-media reactions rather than original reporting.
- Author attribution — The article names an author.
- Transparency — The page identifies the publisher and author; the article does not provide much detail about its reporting process.
The article gives Collins’s stated rationale and attributes vote-count assessments to named journalists. Its treatment is thin on independent reporting, a response from Blanche or his supporters, and broader context for the claims it repeats.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents Collins’s rationale and several assessments of the vote count, including one suggesting her opposition may not change the outcome. It does not include a response from Blanche or a substantial defense of his record, and much of the article consists of reactions rather than competing evidence.
- Counterarguments presented — A brief counterpoint says Blanche may still be confirmed, but no substantive defense of his actions is presented.
- Source diversity — Several commentators are quoted, but the views largely concern the vote math rather than Blanche’s record.
- Omitted context — The article does not include a response from Blanche or a fuller account of the cited actions.
- Loaded language — The headline uses a mocking phrase to describe critics.
The headline uses a disparaging characterization of Collins’s critics, and the article’s framing emphasizes the significance of her opposition to Trump’s nominee. It does include a contrary assessment that Blanche could still be confirmed.
- Headline — Uses the loaded phrase “foaming at the mouth” to characterize Collins’s critics.
- Framing — Emphasizes the difficulty Collins’s opposition may create for Blanche’s confirmation.
- Source selection — Relies heavily on reactions from political journalists and social-media posts.
- Counterpoint — Includes a report that Blanche could still be confirmed without Collins.
Susan Collins announced she would oppose Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence and Blanche’s actions. The article reports that her vote could complicate confirmation, though outlets differed on how much it changes Blanche’s prospects.
Collins said she would vote against Blanche, whom she described as a capable lawyer, because she believed the Justice Department had become increasingly political. She cited an order shielding President Trump and his family from IRS audits, a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, a promise concerning abortion medication, and the department’s attempted indictments of Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin. Collins also cited opposition to Blanche’s nomination from more than 1,200 former Justice Department employees.
The article gathered reactions and assessments of the Senate vote count. Several commentators said Collins’s opposition left Blanche with little room to lose additional Republican support; CBS News’s Caitlin Huey-Burns wrote that Blanche could still be confirmed without Collins. The article also reported that Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy had not stated how they would vote.
Community verdict
3 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →Senator announcing opposition to Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general
Acting attorney general and nominee for attorney general
Senator cited in Collins’s explanation of her opposition to Blanche
President who selected Blanche as his attorney general nominee
Senator whose absence was factored into estimates of the vote count
Senate majority leader whose schedule was discussed
Senator whose position on Blanche’s confirmation was unreported
Senator reported to support Blanche
Senator whose position on Blanche’s confirmation was unreported
Vice President, whose tie-breaking vote was mentioned
Senator mentioned as a possible Republican with reservations about Blanche
Senator cited in Collins’s explanation of her opposition to Blanche
Senator reported to support Blanche
Part of a bigger story
12 OUTLETSOutlets agree Susan Collins said she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence. Left-leaning outlets pair that rationale with criticism of Blanche and the Trump administration, while some also question Collins’s record or credibility. Center outlets report her stated rationale and place her vote in the broader Senate confirmation picture, including its possible effect on Blanche’s prospects. Right-leaning outlets emphasize that her opposition could complicate confirmation and discuss the votes Blanche may need.
- ARTICLES
- 13
- OUTLETS
- 12
- AVG CRED
- 63
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