He Said What He Said: Sen. Kennedy Flattens Schumer, Platner As the 'Platner Wing' Tightens Its Grip
Kennedy criticized Platner in Senate-floor remarks and a television interview.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYRedState is an identifiable political publication, but this opinion piece uses openly partisan framing and provides little independent verification of the allegations it repeats. The named author and clear opinion format offer some transparency.
- Source type — Recorded as opinion; the piece is strongly partisan in tone.
- Editorial standards — The page does not demonstrate independent verification of the central allegations.
- Author attribution — A named author is identified.
The column quotes Kennedy and identifies some allegations as allegations, but relies heavily on his account and offers little corroboration or response from Platner. Its insulting language and advocacy-style conclusion limit its evidentiary value.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The column is openly supportive of Kennedy’s criticism and offers no substantive response from Platner or independent examination of the claims. Its language is overtly loaded.
- Counterarguments presented — Platner’s response is relayed briefly through Kennedy’s account, without his own full response.
- Loaded language — The author and quoted material use mocking and condemning language.
- Source diversity — The piece relies principally on Kennedy’s statements.
- Opinion vs reporting — The author explicitly advances a critical view of Platner and the Democratic Party.
The column strongly favors Kennedy and Republicans while using mocking language about Platner and Democrats. Its framing and selection of quoted material are consistently critical of the Democratic candidate.
- Language tone — Uses insults and ridicule, including describing Platner as part of the “loon wing.”
- Framing — Presents Kennedy’s attacks as exposing a dangerous Democratic shift.
- Source selection — Features Kennedy’s allegations and provides little meaningful response or alternative account.
RedState columnist Sister Toldjah praises Sen. John Kennedy’s attacks on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, repeating Kennedy’s claims about Platner’s past and recently reported sexually explicit messages. The piece argues Platner’s candidacy reflects a radical shift in the Democratic Party.
The columnist says Kennedy criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for following what Kennedy called the “Graham Platner wing” of the Democratic Party. It quotes Kennedy’s Senate-floor remarks and Fox News interview, in which he described Platner as extreme and cited past comments and conduct attributed to him.
Kennedy also said Platner had sent sexually explicit messages to other women, as reported through Platner’s wife, and called for the messages to be released. The columnist endorses Kennedy’s criticism and says Maine voters deserve to know more about Platner.
Community verdict
5 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Maine senator whom the columnist says Platner hopes to defeat
Senator described as a supporter of Platner
Senate Minority Leader whom Kennedy says is following Platner’s political wing
Representative used as a comparison in Kennedy’s criticism of Platner
Senator described as a supporter of Platner
Part of a bigger story
3 OUTLETSOutlets agree Sen. John Kennedy criticized Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, focusing on Platner’s past comments and sexually explicit messages. Center outlets focus on Kennedy promoting John Sununu at a New Hampshire forum and predicting a fall government shutdown, rather than his criticism of Platner. Right-leaning outlets present Kennedy’s remarks as a forceful attack; RedState also casts Platner’s candidacy as a sign of a radical shift in the Democratic Party.
- ARTICLES
- 3
- OUTLETS
- 3
- AVG CRED
- 54
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