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Study claims Apple News and Google News ran no stories on Maine Senate candidate controversies until New York Times report
A Media Research Center analysis said the platforms published zero articles on controversies involving Graham Platner from November 2024 through May 2025. Platner withdrew from the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate in Maine on July 11, 2025.
Jul 13, 7:00 AM·1m read1 source
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Fox News reported that Apple News and Google News published zero stories on controversies involving Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner between November 2024 and May 2025. The Media Research Center study found the platforms also failed to promote at least 112 stories from conservative outlets that examined Platner during the same period.
The blackout began after an October 2024 poll indicated Platner was the strongest Democrat positioned to challenge incumbent Republican Sen.
Susan Collins, the study stated. Coverage resumed after The New York Times published a May 30, 2025 report on a sexting controversy involving Platner. MRC President David Bozell said the platforms had maintained the gap while Platner appeared viable.
He added that the pattern shifted once polls changed. Platner officially withdrew from the race on July 11, 2025, and plans to remove his name from the ballot on July 14.
He had won the Democratic primary the previous month. Two former partners alleged sexual misconduct in interviews with Politico, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Platner has denied all allegations.
A Google spokesperson called the study claims false and said its methodology checked Google News only once daily from a single account, ignoring personalization and frequent updates. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
