Government & PolicyDevelopingUpdated 6 days ago

Supreme Court to hear case on public access to DOGE records under FOIA

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 20 outlets across the spectrum.

22 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Image via The HillHow images are chosen Report this image

The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday, October 13, to hear a case on whether the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington can obtain records of the Department of Government Efficiency under the Freedom of Information Act. CREW argues that DOGE was a federal agency subject to the law. The Trump administration argues that DOGE was a presidential advisory body and is exempt, and it has called the demand for internal communications intrusive and a violation of separation of powers. DOGE, the initiative led by Elon Musk early in Trump's second term, has since wound down. The case concerns records sought in ongoing litigation.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

New to Mantle? It shows who is covering each story across the political spectrum, and highlights loaded words. How to read a storyHide the guide

The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear a case on whether CREW can obtain DOGE records under the Freedom of Information Act.
Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left4Center2Right2Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
HuffPost, Truthout
Left
Bloomberg, NBC News, CBS News, TIME
Center
The Hill, PBS NewsHour
Right
The Center Square, Washington Examiner
Far Right
Just the News, The Epoch Times, RedState
CREW argues that DOGE is a federal agency and therefore subject to the Freedom of Information Act, while the Trump administration argues that DOGE is a presidential advisory body and exempt.
Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Left
Truthout
Left
TIME
Center
The Hill
Right
Washington Examiner
Far Right
Just the News, The Epoch Times, RedState
The Trump administration calls the demand that DOGE turn over internal communications in ongoing litigation intrusive and a violation of separation of powers.
Reported byCenter1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Center
The Hill
Far Right
The Epoch Times
DOGE has since wound down, and the lawsuit concerns records of its activities.
Reported byLeft1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Left
TIME
Far Right
RedState
A former USAID administrator has estimated that more than 700,000 deaths could be attributable to DOGE cuts from its beginning through July 2026.
One outletTruthout· Far Left

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

DOGE is a federal agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
CREW argues that DOGE is a federal agency subject to the law. The Trump administration argues that DOGE is a presidential advisory body exempt from it.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports the Supreme Court will hear whether watchdog CREW can get DOGE records under FOIA; the administration says DOGE is exempt. Left headlines stress records kept from the public, center headlines report the court’s action, and right headlines report the dispute plainly.

the left
10 outlets
Left headlines mostly report the court taking up the case, but the far-left Truthout frames it as the administration seeking to keep Musk’s DOGE records secret.
Can the Public See DOGE’s Records? The Supreme Court Takes Up a Key Fight
TIMELeftAll left-leaning headlines
the center
2 outlets
The Hill centers DOGE’s bid to avoid turning over documents, while PBS, carrying an AP report, headlines the court siding with the administration.
Supreme Court to hear DOGE’s bid to avoid turning over internal documents
The HillCenterAll center headlines
the right
8 outlets · 1 opinion
Right headlines mostly report the court taking up a dispute over DOGE records, while the far-right RedState frames DOGE as a waste-fighting body that Washington tries to stop.
Supreme Court to hear request for DOGE’s internal documents
Washington ExaminerRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

Left5
trillionairesweeping purgeSides With Trumpso-called
Center0
No loaded words in its own voice.
Right8
government-cuttingleft-wing watchdogshield DOGE documents from public viewleftist nonprofit

In the outlets’ own words

Loaded modifier
trillionaireMore neutral: Elon Musk’s
Adds a wealth label to Musk that the sentence does not need in order to identify him.
The high court agreed to hear arguments in a lawsuit seeking public records about trillionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Used byHuffPost (Far Left)Al Jazeera English (Left)
Loaded modifier
government-cuttingMore neutral: Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Describes DOGE by a purpose it is credited with, which takes a view of what it did before the court has ruled on anything about it.
Supreme Court agrees to hear lawsuit seeking records about Elon Musk's government-cutting DOGE
Used byJust the News (Far Right)
Sensational language
sweeping purgeMore neutral: mass dismissals
The phrase adds drama to the firings; a plain description of mass dismissals states the same facts.
…the Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led project that drove a sweeping purge at federal agencies in the opening months of Donald Trump’s second presidential…
Used byBloomberg (Left)
Loaded modifier
left-wing watchdogMore neutral: watchdog group
A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.
The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will hear a lawsuit over a left-wing watchdog’s attempt to obtain the Department of Government Efficiency’s internal documents…
Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

Show 9 more phrasesShow fewer

Loaded verb
shield DOGE documents from public viewMore neutral: withhold DOGE documents
Shield implies the purpose is concealment, while the case concerns whether records must be released under the court’s process.
Supreme Court to decide whether Trump can shield DOGE documents from public view
Used byThe Washington Times (Right)
Loaded modifier
leftist nonprofitMore neutral: nonprofit
A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.
…Court agreed on Tuesday to take up a major case that will decide whether a leftist nonprofit can acquire records from President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency…
Used byThe Federalist (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
LeftistMore neutral: watchdog group
A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.
SCOTUS Agrees To Weigh Leftist Group’s Gambit To Acquire DOGE Records
Used byThe Federalist (Far Right)
Sensational language
GambitMore neutral: request
Calls a public records request a scheme, implying hidden motives the article does not document.
SCOTUS Agrees To Weigh Leftist Group’s Gambit To Acquire DOGE Records
Used byThe Federalist (Far Right)
Loaded verb
Sides With TrumpMore neutral: Agrees to Hear Trump Administration Appeal in DOGE Case
The court agreed to hear the case, which does not decide it for either side, so saying it sides with Trump overstates the action.
Supreme Court Sides With Trump and Agrees to Hear DOGE Case
Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)
Delegitimizing label
so-calledMore neutral: Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
The word casts doubt on the name of the agency without evidence, although the agency’s name is used plainly by other outlets.
…a lawsuit that seeks access to records stemming from Elon Musk’s time leading the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).
Used byTruthout (Far Left)
Loaded verb
Keep Musk’s DOGE Records SecretMore neutral: Trump administration’s appeal over DOGE records
The headline presents the administration’s appeal as an effort to conceal records, which adds a judgement to a legal dispute about whether a law applies.
Supreme Court to Hear Trump Arguments to Keep Musk’s DOGE Records Secret
Used byTruthout (Far Left)
Loaded verb
Washington, D.C. hatesMore neutral: Washington officials have often resisted
The phrase attributes a hostile attitude to a city’s institutions as a whole, which is commentary rather than a report of what happened.
And if there is anything that Washington, D.C. hates, it's efficiency.
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
transgender operasMore neutral: an unrelated example
The aside uses a joke about transgender people to mock government spending, a tone of ridicule that the surrounding facts do not support.
Then it can muster its vast resources faster than you can say "transgender operas." Lawsuits.
Used byRedState (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

10 outlets

Leads with

the administration’s attempt to withhold records
Musk’s role in DOGE
public access to government records

See the 10 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

TIMELeft
Can the Public See DOGE’s Records? The Supreme Court Takes Up a Key Fight
The nation’s highest court will decide if a watchdog group can obtain information to help establish if DOGE is subject to federal government public records law.
6 days agoRead at TIME (opens in a new tab)
TruthoutFar Left
Supreme Court to Hear Trump Arguments to Loaded verb“Keep Musk’s DOGE Records Secret”The headline presents the administration’s appeal as an effort to conceal records, which adds a judgement to a legal dispute about whether a law applies.More neutral: Trump administration’s appeal over DOGE recordsDisagree with this highlight?
Elon Musk has spent over $360 million in support of Trump's MAGA allies for this year's midterm elections.
Oct 14, 2026Read at Truthout (opens in a new tab)
Al Jazeera EnglishLeft
US Supreme Court agrees to hear watchdog case on Elon Musk’s DOGE records
The Trump administration argues that DOGE is exempt from freedom of information requirements.
Oct 13, 2026Read at Al Jazeera English (opens in a new tab)
The Washington PostLeft
Supreme Court to review access to U.S. DOGE Service records
The high court’s acceptance of the case means it will probably be argued early next year.
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Washington Post (opens in a new tab)
The New RepublicFar Left
Supreme Court Loaded verb“Sides With Trump”The court agreed to hear the case, which does not decide it for either side, so saying it sides with Trump overstates the action.More neutral: Agrees to Hear Trump Administration Appeal in DOGE CaseDisagree with this highlight? and Agrees to Hear DOGE Case
The Trump administration wants to block discovery documents detailing the Department of Government Efficiency’s mass firings and contract cancellations—led by billionaire Elon Musk—from a watchdog group. The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced it will allow it to explain why. …
Oct 13, 2026Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
The New York TimesLeft
Supreme Court Will Review Dispute Over Records From Elon Musk’s DOGE
A nonprofit watchdog group sued the Department of Government Efficiency, asserting that it should be subject to federal Freedom of Information Act discovery requests.
Oct 13, 2026Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
HuffPostFar LeftAssociated Press report
Supreme Court Sides With Trump Admin In Watchdog's Lawsuit Seeking Records On DOGE
The high court agreed to hear arguments in a lawsuit seeking public records about Loaded modifier“trillionaire”Adds a wealth label to Musk that the sentence does not need in order to identify him.More neutral: Elon Musk’sDisagree with this highlight? Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Oct 13, 2026Read at HuffPost (opens in a new tab)
Also published by PBS NewsHour. It counts once.
CBS NewsLeft
Supreme Court takes up dispute over access to DOGE records
The Supreme Court agreed to take up a dispute involving a government watchdog group's attempt to get information from the Department of Government Efficiency .
Oct 13, 2026Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
NBC NewsLeft
Supreme Court to hear Trump attempt to withhold DOGE documents
The Supreme Court allowed a watchdog group to seek further information about the internal operations of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency that played a key role in firing thousands of federal workers and canceling various streams of government …
Oct 13, 2026Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
BloombergLeft
Supreme Court to Consider Halting Bid for Information About DOGE
The US Supreme Court will consider derailing efforts to get more information about the Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led project that drove a Sensational language“sweeping purge”The phrase adds drama to the firings; a plain description of mass dismissals states the same facts.More neutral: mass dismissalsDisagree with this highlight? at federal agencies in the opening months of Donald Trump’s second presidential term.
Oct 13, 2026Read at Bloomberg (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

the records DOGE must turn over
the administration’s intrusiveness claim
the court siding with the administration

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

The HillCenter
Supreme Court to hear DOGE’s bid to avoid turning over internal documents
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to review a requirement that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) turn over internal communications in ongoing litigation, which the Trump administration calls an “intrusive” demand that violates the separation of powers. …
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report
Supreme Court sides with Trump administration in lawsuit seeking records on Elon Musk's DOGE
PBS NewsHour published a report that is shown in full at HuffPost. The headline is the one PBS NewsHour gave it.
Oct 13, 2026Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

From the right

8 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

the administration’s separation-of-powers objection
DOGE’s stated mission against waste and fraud
the watchdog described as left-wing

See the 9 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

The Western JournalFar Right
Supreme Court Grants Trump Admin Request in Pivotal DOGE Case
The Supreme Court granted a Trump administration request Tuesday to examine lower court rulings regarding record requests related to the Department of Government Efficiency. A watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibilities
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Western Journal (opens in a new tab)
The Daily SignalFar Right
Supreme Court Steps Into Trump’s DOGE Fight a Second Time
The Supreme Court will hear a case on whether the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has to release extensive records of deliberations on cutting government spending. …
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Daily Signal (opens in a new tab)
The FederalistFar Right
SCOTUS Agrees To Weigh Loaded modifier“Leftist”A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.More neutral: watchdog groupDisagree with this highlight? Group’s Sensational language“Gambit”Calls a public records request a scheme, implying hidden motives the article does not document.More neutral: requestDisagree with this highlight? To Acquire DOGE Records
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to take up a major case that will decide whether a Loaded modifier“leftist nonprofit”A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.More neutral: nonprofitDisagree with this highlight? can acquire records from President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The high court revealed in its newest order list that it has added U.S. …
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Federalist (opens in a new tab)
The Washington TimesRight
Supreme Court to decide whether Trump can Loaded verb“shield DOGE documents from public view”Shield implies the purpose is concealment, while the case concerns whether records must be released under the court’s process.More neutral: withhold DOGE documentsDisagree with this highlight?
The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will hear a case involving President Trump's attempt to block a liberal watchdog group from obtaining documents about the internal workings of DOGE, the White House's now-defunct cost-cutting initiative.
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
Washington ExaminerRight
Supreme Court to hear request for DOGE’s internal documents
The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will hear a lawsuit over a Loaded modifier“left-wing watchdog”A partisan label on the requesting group that the question before the court does not depend on.More neutral: watchdog groupDisagree with this highlight?’s attempt to obtain the Department of Government Efficiency’s internal documents through a Freedom of Information Act request, which the Trump administration claims intrudes on …
Oct 13, 2026Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
The Epoch TimesFar Right
Supreme Court to Hear Dispute Over Access to DOGE Records
The Trump admin is challenging a requirement that DOGE produce internal communications in ongoing litigation, calling it ‘intrusive.’
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
The Center SquareRight
Supreme Court agrees to hear DOGE open records case
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to take up a case determining whether a court is able to issue sweeping orders against executive advisory bodies, like the Department of Government Efficiency.
Oct 13, 2026Read at The Center Square (opens in a new tab)
Just the NewsFar Right
Supreme Court agrees to hear lawsuit seeking records about Elon Musk's Loaded modifier“government-cutting”Describes DOGE by a purpose it is credited with, which takes a view of what it did before the court has ruled on anything about it.More neutral: Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)Disagree with this highlight? DOGE
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argues that DOGE is a federal agency, making it subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and the Trump administration argues that, as a presidential advisory body, DOGE is exempt from the law.
Oct 12, 2026Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
1 more from Just the News
- Supreme Court agrees to hear lawsuit seeking records about Elon Musk's government-cutting DOGE
RedStateFar RightOpinion
DOGE Gets Its Day at the Supreme Court As Justices Take Up Trump Administration Appeal
Washington has spent an extraordinary amount of time and energy trying to stop an organization whose stated mission was to find waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government: The Department of Government Efficiency.
6 days agoRead at RedState (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

Left
First to report
Bloomberg, Oct 13, 9:31 AM EDT
Center
3 min later
Its first report, Oct 13, 9:34 AM EDT
Right
1 min later
Its first report, Oct 13, 9:33 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

BloombergLeftOct 13, 9:31 AM EDT
The Center SquareRightOct 13, 9:33 AM EDT
The HillCenterOct 13, 9:34 AM EDT
NBC NewsLeftOct 13, 9:44 AM EDT
CBS NewsLeftOct 13, 9:54 AM EDT
The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 13, 10:01 AM EDT
HuffPostFar LeftOct 13, 10:19 AM EDT
The New York TimesLeftOct 13, 10:48 AM EDT
Washington ExaminerRightOct 13, 11:22 AM EDT
PBS NewsHourCenterOct 13, 11:32 AM EDT
The Washington TimesRightOct 13, 11:52 AM EDT
The FederalistFar RightOct 13, 11:52 AM EDT
The New RepublicFar LeftOct 13, 12:35 PM EDT
The Washington PostLeftOct 13, 12:57 PM EDT
Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 13, 2:21 PM EDT
The Daily SignalFar RightOct 13, 2:35 PM EDT
The Western JournalFar RightOct 13, 4:24 PM EDT
TruthoutFar LeftOct 14, 11:35 AM EDT
TIMELeftOct 15, 8:00 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

Supreme Court to hear case on public access to DOGE records under FOIA

Coverage spectrum

Key points

Where accounts differ

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

Can the Public See DOGE’s Records? The Supreme Court Takes Up a Key Fight

US Supreme Court agrees to hear watchdog case on Elon Musk’s DOGE records

Supreme Court to review access to U.S. DOGE Service records

Supreme Court Will Review Dispute Over Records From Elon Musk’s DOGE

Supreme Court Sides With Trump Admin In Watchdog's Lawsuit Seeking Records On DOGE

Supreme Court takes up dispute over access to DOGE records

Supreme Court to hear Trump attempt to withhold DOGE documents

Supreme Court to Consider Halting Bid for Information About DOGE

From the center

Supreme Court to hear DOGE’s bid to avoid turning over internal documents

Supreme Court sides with Trump administration in lawsuit seeking records on Elon Musk's DOGE

From the right

Supreme Court Grants Trump Admin Request in Pivotal DOGE Case

Supreme Court Steps Into Trump’s DOGE Fight a Second Time

Supreme Court to decide whether Trump can Loaded verb“shield DOGE documents from public view”Shield implies the purpose is concealment, while the case concerns whether records must be released under the court’s process.More neutral: withhold DOGE documentsDisagree with this highlight?

Supreme Court to hear request for DOGE’s internal documents

Supreme Court to Hear Dispute Over Access to DOGE Records

Supreme Court agrees to hear DOGE open records case

DOGE Gets Its Day at the Supreme Court As Justices Take Up Trump Administration Appeal

How the coverage built up

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