Apple and Google News Suppressed Stories on Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner

A Media Research Center study found that Apple News and Google News published zero stories about former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner between November 2025 and May 2026, despite numerous controversies including a Nazi‑tattoo, offensive Reddit posts, sexting allegations and accusations of sexual assault. The blackout began after a poll showed Platner as the leading Democrat against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and ended only after a New York Times report on his sexting scandal.

MRC President David Bozell called the omission a “protection racket,” saying the platforms “buried scandal after scandal” while Platner appeared viable, then allowed coverage once he became a liability. Platner suspended his campaign in July 2026 after multiple women alleged sexual misconduct. Google denied the allegations, citing flaws in the study’s methodology and the personalized nature of its news feed.

The findings raise questions about the role of major news‑aggregating services in shaping political information during elections.