ABC Omits Alaska Controversy From Midterm Reports, Promotes Kansas Dem Instead
Nicholas Spinnato
On Friday, all of the evening broadcast networks previewed the upcoming midterm election by fretting over changes to President Trump's rally schedule as election day neared. While CBS and NBC continued to put focus on the backlash controversy of the Decoy Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race, ABC avoided the topic and instead pushed Democratic hopes for candidate Adam Hamilton to win Kansas's Senate election.
WATCH: Trump to a reporter:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 29, 2026
You are sick. You are a sick guy. Reuters is terrible.
Look at this guy. He is out of shape.
You are disgusting! Put yourself in shape. You look like hell. pic.twitter.com/IzQjHh0Ssz
Karl turned the rally-scheduled talk into a promotion of Hamilton in the Kansas race:
Friday’s ABC World News Tonight’s election preview featured Jonathan Karl wondering about Trump midterm rallies in Iowa and Kansas “suddenly” being rescheduled, while he favorably portrayed Kansas’s Democratic nominee for Senate, Adam Hamilton, and his chances of winning. pic.twitter.com/QjU4b4DxZA
— Nick (@nspin310) October 30, 2026
Kansas hasn't elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century, but Senator Marshall is struggling this week, drawing attention by praising the economy even as record diesel prices have hit the state's farmers.
Karl then showed an interview with Hamilton we did earlier this month, while positively portraying him as "the pastor of the largest Methodist church in the United States," and "A Democrat making real headway in this deep red state."
Karl closed his report with some Republican doom talk:
It's unclear why President Trump suddenly canceled those rallies in Kansas and Iowa or why he suddenly rescheduled them. But this much is clear in these tight Senate races. The Republicans are defending ground in what has been some of the most solidly Republican states in the country.
Also on ABC's newscast, a report on Christa Pike, the convicted murderer in Tennessee whose execution was botched, about the race for Tennessee governor, essentially insinuated a Democrat would not allow Pike to face the death penalty compared to a Republican:
Somehow, ABC made the botched execution of convicted murderer Christa Pike about the Tennessee governor’s race, essentially acting as if the Democratic candidate would save her from the death penalty:
— Nick (@nspin310) October 31, 2026
“Christa Pike's future is now tied to next week's election for Tennessee… https://t.co/W0JEHUVIvr pic.twitter.com/R1C69TornK
Christa Pike's future is now tied to next week's election for Tennessee governor. The two women running disagree on the death penalty and on what should happen next in this case."
While ABC would relate a midterm race to Pike, they could not bear to mention the Alaska "Decoy Dan" scandal.
Friday’s CBS Evening News ticked the midterm report boxes by fretting over the schedule of Trump rallies, while also focusing on the Alaska Senate Ballot controversy and previewing a '60 Minutes' report on the Michigan Senate Race. pic.twitter.com/HrkM9XUoJw
— Nick (@nspin310) October 31, 2026
President Trump lashed out at a reporter Thursday after being asked about his health amid a busy schedule of campaign events ahead of the midterm elections.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 29, 2026
“I feel perfect. You are disgusting,” Trump told the reporter. “Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.” pic.twitter.com/11xmvXnLvq
Jiang then detailed the Alaska controversy:
In Alaska, where Trump visited earlier this month, the top federal prosecutor confirmed a criminal investigation related to an alleged plan to confuse voters by putting a Senate candidate on the ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan, after The New York Times reported Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign appeared to be involved.
She then turned to talk about voter concern for corruption in government, and previewed a 60 Minutes piece by Ross Douthat on the Michigan Senate Race where Douthat asked Rogers, "Do you think the Trump administration has a corruption problem?
NBC Nightly News even led off its Friday show with reporting on the Alaska 'Double Dan Sullivans' controversy and detailed the growing criminal investigation into Democratic recruiting of the decoy candidate. https://t.co/unsqIvHV48 pic.twitter.com/CUrCQOY6GR
— Nick (@nspin310) October 31, 2026
On NBC, a premier focus was given to the Double Dan Sullivan in Alaska, with the topic given the lead story on the newscast. Tom Lllams led off the show with a strong introduction:
We want to begin with the criminal investigation into Alaska's Senate race now expanding tonight, as federal prosecutors say they're surging FBI agents on this case.
The FBI now interviewing those allegedly involved in a secret democratic scheme to recruit a candidate with the same name as the Republican senator in the race, you see it here, to cause confusion for voters. The Justice Department holding a news conference late today announcing more federal agents will be heading to the frontier state. At stake: Control of the Senate, which could come down to Alaska.
A report from Steve Patterson detailed the growing criminal investigation into the recruiting of the Democrat deputy Dan Sullivan:
Federal prosecutors say they've surged FBI agents to figure out if laws were broken in an alleged scheme to trick Alaska voters.
For such a growing scandal that seemed poised to impact the midterm elections, ABC interestingly made the decision to avoid it.
The transcripts from all of the broadcast networks are below. Click "expand":
ABC World News Tonight
October 30, 2026
6:34:43 PM Eastern
(...)
DAVID MUIR: We turn now to the high-stakes midterm elections just four days away tonight, after President Trump abruptly canceled rallies in Kansas and Iowa and then being asked about it. Those rallies suddenly back on tonight, with both of those Senate races in normally red states now a dead heat tonight. Here's Jonathan Karl.
[Story begins]
JONATHAN KARL: After holding 25 campaign rallies across the country this month, President Trump abruptly canceled planned weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa. Bristling when a reporter asked him why.
REPORTER: You not going to Kansas has nothing to do with you being sick of traveling?
PRESIDENT: Oh, you're sick to ask that question. You are sick. He comes to me, 'Sir, you're not going to go to Kansas.' I'm not going to Kansas because he's doing very well.
KARL: But in Kansas, a state Trump won three times. Republican senator Roger Marshall is now locked in a neck-and-neck race with Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Marshall seemed surprised when he learned that the president's weekend rally had been called off.
REPORTER: Senator, any reaction to the president canceling the in-person rally this weekend?
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL (R-KS): I'm not sure yet. Thye might think that I'm doing so well in the polls that he's got probably got better places to spend his time. Not sure.
KARL: Today, Trump suddenly reversed course, announcing his weekend rallies were back on.
TRUMP: I got a call from both states, Kansas and Iowa, and they said, if you could go, it would be better than a tele-rally.
KARL: Kansas hasn't elected a Democratic senator in nearly a century, but Senator Marshall is struggling this week, drawing attention by praising the economy even as record diesel prices have hit the state's farmers.
MARSHALL: This is one of the best economies I've ever seen in my lifetime. Yes, gas prices are too high, but the economy itself.
KARL: I spoke to Marshall's Democrat opponent, Adam Hamilton, who is the pastor of the largest Methodist church in the United States. A Democrat making real headway in this deep red state.
[To Hamilton] Why do you think they may vote for a Democrat this time around?
REV. ADAM HAMILTON (D-KS): Again and again and again, people who have been strong supporters of Trump are paying the price for decisions made in Washington, D.C. That are harming them. And I think they feel like, where's the champion for us? You know, we might have voted for Trump, but we need a senator who's going to say, Mr. President, you know, this is not good for my people.
[Cuts back to live]
KARL: It's unclear why President Trump suddenly canceled those rallies in Kansas and Iowa or why he suddenly rescheduled them. But this much is clear in these tight Senate races. The Republicans are defending ground in what has been some of the most solidly Republican states in the country. David?
(...)
6:38:34 PM Eastern
STEVE OSUNSAMI: Pike says she woke up alone in the hospital, confused and in pain, and has been in pain ever since. My body hurts. My arms hurt, my hands hurt. Her lawyer says the state should now give her a life sentence.
STEPHEN FERRELL:I think that a life sentence in this case is definitely a fair outcome for everything that has taken place.
OSUNSAMI: But Tennessee's governor disagrees.
GOV. BILL LEE (R-TN): She is still incarcerated under the laws off the state of Tennessee, and I expect her sentence will be the same as it was before, unless determined otherwise by the courts.
OSUNSAMI: Christa Pike's future is now tied to next week's election for Tennessee governor. The two women running disagree on the death penalty and on what should happen next in this case, David?
(...)
CBS Evening News
October 30, 2026
6:31:58 PM Eastern
WEIJIA JIANG: Tonight, President Trump is holding his 27th rally in 30 days. A sign of how competitive key congressional races have become.
TRUMP: You know, the people want them. You see the people there, it's amazing, the crowds have been unbelievable.
JIANG: On Thursday, he canceled two weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas, prompting questions and sharp answers about his stamina.
TRUMP: I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.
JIANG: Republican officials said Trump would reach more people with phone rallies, but by this moment, both in-person events were back on.
TRUMP: We want to make sure we win Kansas. We want to make sure we win Iowa. We should do that.
JIANG: In Alaska, where Trump visited earlier this month, the top federal prosecutor confirmed a criminal investigation related to an alleged plan to confuse voters by putting a Senate candidate on the ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan. After The New York Times reported, Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign appeared to be involved.
US ATTORNEY FOR ALASKA MICHAEL HEYMAN: Anyone who tries to illegally deceive voters and interfere with the election will answer for it.
JIANG: A recent CBS News poll found voters in both parties see government corruption as a factor in their votes. The issue came up when 60 Minutes correspondent Ross Douthat sat down with Michigan G.O.P. Senate candidate, Mike Rogers.
ROSS DOUTHAT: Do you think the Trump administration has a corruption problem?
MIKE ROGERS (R-MI): Well, I can tell you this. I'm an FBI agent by training.
DOUTHAT: What did you work on as an FBI agent?
ROGERS: Organized crime and public corruption.
DOUTHAT: Public corruption. Yes, Yes.
ROGERS: So, I'm going to act as a United States senator with the best interests of Michigan. I can tell you that right now.
JIANG: Michigan is one of several states reporting a surge in early voting. Nationwide, more than 48 million people have already voted, including Pope Leo, the first pontiff to ever vote in a U.S. Election, mailing in his Illinois ballot from the Vatican. Tony?
(...)
NBC Nightly News
October 30, 2026
6:32:08 PM Eastern
TOM LLAMAS: Friday night. We want to begin with the criminal investigation into Alaska's Senate race now expanding tonight, as federal prosecutors say they're surging FBI agents on this case.
The FBI now interviewing those allegedly involved in a secret democratic scheme to recruit a candidate with the same name as the Republican senator in the race, you see it here, to cause confusion for voters. The Justice Department holding a news conference late today announcing more federal agents will be heading to the frontier state. At stake: control of the Senate, which could come down to Alaska.
And that investigation comes as we saw President Trump shaking up his campaign just four days out from election day. The president had promised an all-out campaign blitz in the final days. But then last night suddenly canceled major rallies in Kansas and Iowa scheduled for this weekend. But then, in a surprise move, he added them back in.
Our Gabe Gutierrez is traveling with the president in Florida, but we want to start with Steve Patterson on the ground there in Alaska.
[Story begins]
STEVE PATTERSON: Tonight. The growing criminal investigation into Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola's Senate campaign.
US ATTORNEY FOR ALASKA: What we've learned recently has been deeply troubling.
PATTERSON: Federal prosecutors say they've surged FBI agents to figure out if laws were broken in an alleged scheme to trick Alaska voters.
US ATTORNEY FOR ALASKA: Anyone who tries to illegally deceive voters and interfere with the election will answer for it.
PATTERSON: After that bombshell report in the New York Times about a secret democratic plot to sabotage the campaign of Republican senator Dan Sullivan by placing another candidate with the same name on the ballot to confuse voters. The Times reporting Peltola campaign worked with national Democrats, eventually finding a man named Dan J. Sullivan to run.
Tonight, we spoke to people in Anchorage. [To Voter 1] Are you disappointed in the in the Democrats in this.
VOTER 1: I mean, if the basis is true, then yes, of course, it's very disappointing. Iit's less than honest, you know.
PATTERSON At least 60,000 alaskans have already voted. [TO VOTER 2) Any confusion filling out the ballot?
VOTER 2: No confusion. It's clear that he is the incumbent.
PATTERSON: [To VOTER 3] Were you confused about which Dan Sullivan it was?
VOTER 3: I wasn't, but I'm sure there's other people that will be.
PATTERSON: Overnight, Peltola denied any involvement, and so has the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
MARY PELTOLA (D-AK): I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent.
PATTERSON: With Senator Sullivan slamming Peltola for the alleged scheme.
SEN. DAN SULLIVAN (R-AK): One thing Alaskans don't like is to be treated with contempt and disdain, and that's what she's done.
[Story ends]
LLAMAS: All right. Steve joins us now live from Alaska. Steve, you mentioned that New York Times report. And I know we have reporting now that the FBI is already starting to interview people that were mentioned in that article.
PATTERSON: Tom, we confirmed the FBI contacted an insurance manager quoted in that article who says he was recruited to run for Senate as well. He told us, quote, "At the time, it felt gross." Tom?
LLAMAS: Steve Patterson leading us off tonight from the campaign trail there.
(...)
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