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Appeals court declines to order California to set aside 20,000 ballots
The two-to-one panel said it lacked jurisdiction until the district judge rules; the Justice Department sued California and Los Angeles County on October fifteenth.
On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on BBN After HoursPublished
From the show
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Appeals Court Declines to Intervene in California Ballot Lawsuit”, with reporting from NBC Los Angeles and The Hill.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 4:02 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance.
- Topics: California.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesAppeals Court Declines to Intervene in California Ballot Lawsuit
- NBC Los AngelesAppeals court rejects Trump bid to block 20K LA County ballots October 26, 2026 · facts used on air
- The HillAppeals court declines to block 20,000 California mail ballots October 26, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA federal appeals court in California this morning, and it's a big one for voters: a three-judge panel voted two to one to deny the Trump administration's request to immediately order the state to set aside twenty thousand mail-in ballots.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe unsigned majority opinion called the government's claimed emergency self-constructed.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe panel also said it lacked jurisdiction because the district judge has not yet ruled, so the Justice Department must wait for the trial court.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd this started on October fifteenth, when the Justice Department sued California and Los Angeles County after they refused to set aside ballots from people on a federal list.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSo the ballots stay counted for now. A lawsuit filed in mid-October, an emergency declared by the filer, and a court calling the emergency homemade.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHomemade! Like a county fair pie.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorChip, a pie at least gets judged on the day it's baked.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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