Susan Collins can't be trusted on Todd Blanche after 'disastrously bad choices': analysis
Collins said she would oppose Blanche’s nomination, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYRaw Story is an established digital news outlet, but its politically oriented coverage warrants some caution. The article attributes its criticism to a named columnist and cites polling, though it offers limited independent context.
- Source type — Established national digital outlet, with a politically oriented editorial profile.
- Author attribution — The article names its author and identifies the columnist whose analysis it quotes.
- Source diversity — It cites a poll and named commentary but presents little response or independent corroboration.
The article reports Collins’ stated reason for opposing the nomination and attributes the central criticism to a named columnist. It cites polling, but provides few details about the poll and little balance or independent context for the claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Collins’ stated reason for opposing Blanche and polling figures, but most of its framing comes from a columnist’s criticism. It does not include a response from Collins to that criticism or additional perspectives on her record.
- Counterarguments presented — Collins’ stated rationale is included, but the broader criticism receives no direct response.
- Source diversity — A named columnist and a poll are cited, with no other substantive viewpoints.
- Loaded language — Highly critical language appears in quotations attributed to the columnist.
The headline and article foreground a skeptical critique of Collins, and the story relies mainly on a columnist who questions her motives and record. The criticism is attributed rather than stated as the outlet’s own conclusion.
- Source selection — Features a columnist’s critical assessment without a response to that critique from Collins.
- Headline — Frames Collins as untrustworthy on the nomination.
- Language tone — Includes strongly critical phrases, clearly attributed to the columnist.
Susan Collins announced she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence. A columnist questioned her timing and record, while polling cited in the article showed her trailing challenger Troy Jackson.
Collins said Blanche’s actions had further eroded the Justice Department’s independence, pointing to his approval of an arrangement that would shield President Trump, his sons and the family business from IRS audits. MS NOW columnist Max Burns argued that Collins’ objections raised questions about why she had spoken up only then and about her past opposition to Democratic accountability efforts.
The article said Blanche’s confirmation depended on a narrow margin: John Curtis had announced support, Lisa Murkowski had joined Collins in opposition, and Bill Cassidy could be the deciding vote. A University of New Hampshire poll cited in the article showed Collins trailing Democratic challenger Troy Jackson 49-46; the article also said the poll found 95 percent alignment with the Trump administration’s agenda and reported that Trump endorsed Collins last month. Burns wrote that voters should not give Collins credit for criticizing a crisis he said she helped create.
Community verdict
12 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →Maine senator opposing Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general
Attorney general nominee
President who endorsed Collins’ reelection bid
Alaska senator opposing Blanche’s nomination
Louisiana senator described as a potential deciding vote
Utah senator who announced support for Blanche’s nomination
Democratic challenger to Collins
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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