Apple and Google spent months failing to surface negative news coverage about former Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner before his campaign collapsed under mounting scandals, according to a new study from the Media Research Center (MRC).
The watchdog group found that Apple News and Google News featured virtually no reporting between November 2025 and May 2026 on controversies surrounding Platner, despite numerous stories from outlets covering issues including his Nazi tattoo, offensive Reddit posts, and other damaging allegations.
According to the MRC, the blackout ended only after The New York Times published a report on May 30 detailing Platner's sexting controversy, which triggered broader media scrutiny and ultimately contributed to his political downfall. The study found Apple News and Google News failed to promote at least 112 negative stories about Platner during the six-month period.
