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Updated
Mark KellyD · AZ · SEN
How outlets cover Kelly · Feb 12 – Feb 13, 2026

Judge Blocks Pentagon Action Against Senator Mark Kelly

A judge temporarily blocked Pentagon action against Kelly over a video about unlawful military orders. Coverage differs on whether the story centers on constitutional protections, the lawsuit’s arguments, or Hegseth’s planned appeal.

Lead article · Reuters · CENTERJudge blocks Pentagon's effort to punish Senator Mark Kelly | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Image · Honolulu Star-Advertiser
ARTICLES
75
OUTLETS
28
AVG CRED
70HIGH
AVG BAL
67SOME TILT

Community verdict

12 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mark Kelly D · AZ · SEN
● OPEN
  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: 60% good look
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
tl;drSUMMARY ACROSS OUTLETS

A federal judge temporarily blocked Pentagon action against Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders. The ruling pauses potential penalties connected to his statements.

Left-leaning outlets emphasize the ruling as a defense of Kelly’s First Amendment rights. Center outlets focus on Kelly’s lawsuit and the legal arguments, including the government’s response. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Hegseth’s stated plan to appeal.

Outlets by lean

21 RATED · 7 UNRATED

Compare by side

THE FRAMEAVG CRED 62
“Protecting Kelly’s constitutional rights”

Left-leaning outlets present the ruling as a defense of Kelly’s First Amendment rights and, in one account, as a rebuke to Hegseth.

4 LEFT ARTICLES
Democracy Now!FEB 13 · 1:45 PM ET
Judge Rules Hegseth "Trampled" Sen. Mark Kelly's First Amendment Rights in Retribution EffortA judge blocked an effort to reduce Kelly’s retirement rank and pay, finding that it threatened his First Amendment freedoms.CRED 74BAL 40 PORTRAYS KELLY: FAVORABLE
TPM – Talking Points MemoFEB 12 · 4:15 PM ET
Judge Rules Against Hegseth, Finding That He 'Trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment Freedoms'Kelly won a preliminary injunction blocking an effort to reduce his military rank and retirement benefits.CRED 74BAL 45 PORTRAYS KELLY: FAVORABLE
Raw StoryFEB 12 · 1:00 PM ET
Pete Hegseth handed loss as GOP-appointed judge blocks move to reduce veteran Dem's rankKelly sued over the Defense Department’s effort to punish him for a video about service members refusing illegal orders.CRED 57BAL 45 PORTRAYS KELLY: FAVORABLE

How outlets portrayed Kelly

Each article counts once, however many sites carried it. Sides are each outlet’s published lean. How portrayal is read

Left: 4 favorable, 0 critical, 0 mixed, 0 neutral. Center: 3 favorable, 0 critical, 0 mixed, 10 neutral. Right: 1 favorable, 1 critical, 1 mixed, 1 neutral.

7 UNRATED ARTICLES NOT SHOWN

When each side covered it

Articles per day by side. FEB 12: Left 2, Center 57, Right 4. FEB 13: Left 2, Center 1, Right 0.

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