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DOJ sues California after pushing state to match voter list with USB…

The department sent its letter to California and local election officials Tuesday, threatening legal action if they refused to compare voter rolls with Homeland Security data; the thumb drive was not a gift.

On air: Hank Ledger and Gloria Vance on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:32 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Gloria Vance on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:32 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Hill's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: U.S. Justice Department — Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

First reported by The Hill: “DOJ sues California after pushing state to match voter list with USB drive”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:32 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Gloria Vance.
Topics: DOJ, California.
BBN covered this story before: DOJ gives California 48 hours to review list of possible noncitizens… (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The HillDOJ sues California after pushing state to match voter list with USB drive

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Justice Department sued California Thursday after handing the state a USB drive and demanding it compare its voter rolls with Homeland Security data within forty-eight hours.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe letter went to the state and local election officials on Tuesday, threatening legal action if they didn't comply.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA federal agency mailing a thumb drive and a deadline is a first in my experience, and I have been to some strange capitals.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOn immigration, Al Jazeera reports that polls show the administration's hardline ICE tactics have divided voters heading into the midterms.

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