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Court blocks DOJ bid over California mail ballots
The Justice Department had sought to have California set aside ballots from a list of more than twenty thousand voters; the appeals court said no.
On air: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on BBN TonightPublished
From the show
At a glance
- First reported by The Guardian: “Court blocks bid by Trump DoJ to stop California from counting mail-in ballots”, with reporting from CBS News, ABC News, Fortune, Democracy Docket and The Hill.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: DOJ, California, Trump.
- BBN covered this story before: Comey charged a third time; Anthropic sued over Elvis (October 26).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The GuardianCourt blocks bid by Trump DoJ to stop California from counting mail-in ballots
- CBS NewsCourt dismisses DOJ's request to force California to set aside ballots
- ABC NewsFederal appeals court hears arguments in Trump administration's voting lawsuit against California - ABC News October 26, 2026 · facts used on air
- FortuneTwo of three appeals judges appear skeptical of Justice Department push to hold California ballots from 20,000 flagged voters October 26, 2026 · facts used on air
- Democracy DocketAppeals court appears skeptical of DOJ’s emergency bid to block 20,000 ballots in California - Democracy Docket facts used on air
- The HillAppeals court resists DOJ’s bid to immediately segregate 20,000 California ballots facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's seven Eastern, four Pacific, and this is BBN Tonight.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA federal appeals court ruled Monday against the Justice Department, refusing to block California from counting mail ballots from a list of more than twenty thousand voters the government alleges are likely noncitizens.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorLos Angeles officials say a check of two hundred names found nearly forty percent said they were born in the United States.
The story so far
- Eagle's Nest fire suspect arrested; California ballot fight · CBS News
- Trump votes early in Florida; two ex-FBI officials charged · The Daily Caller
- California pushes back on DOJ ballot demand; UCF stuns BYU · ESPN
- DOJ midterm moves, El Clasico talk, Fernandes benched · Axios
- Violent crime down 25 percent in 2025, DOJ report says · New York Post
- Comey charged a third time; Anthropic sued over Elvis · NBC News
- Court blocks DOJ bid over California mail ballots (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 26, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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