Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch
The Republican voted against earmarks while seeking $4.2 million for a water flow improvement project.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch
Photograph: My Mother Lode (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Senator Roger Marshall requested $4.2 million in 2024 for a project to improve water flow to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
- The project involves a pipeline that would run adjacent to Marshall's Rattlesnake Ranch.
- Marshall has publicly opposed earmarks, calling them wasteful, and has voted to eliminate them.
- The funding was ultimately approved through broader legislation that Marshall supported, despite the specific bill not becoming law.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 21 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 3 of the 24 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
68/100
Craft
95/100
Hype
12/100
24 sources · methodology
Thin on the right so far
Only 2 of the 21 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
This story is still being watched, so it is a count and not yet a finding. Coverage keeps arriving for hours after an event, and a side that has published nothing this morning may publish by tonight. If it is still true when we stop checking, we will say so plainly.
Senator Roger Marshall sought $4.2 million in federal earmark funding in 2024 to address a water shortage affecting the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas. The proposed project would involve pumping water from a separate watershed through a pipeline into Rattlesnake Creek, which runs adjacent to Marshall's Rattlesnake Ranch, before flowing into the refuge. This initiative aimed to balance the needs of the refuge, which has faced reduced water flow due to agricultural irrigation, with those of local farmers. The funding was eventually approved through broader spending legislation that Marshall supported, even though the specific bill containing his earmark request did not become law.
Marshall, a Republican, has a history of opposing earmarks, which he has described as wasteful and "not American." He has voted four times to eliminate such funding. The project's proximity to his ranch raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. Marshall's office stated that all water from the project would go to the refuge and that Rattlesnake Ranch would not benefit, adding that the project would help farms and supply water during droughts.
Disagreement on disclosure and benefit
The Associated Press reported that Marshall did not mention his own ranch as a potential beneficiary when requesting the earmark. However, Marshall's spokeswoman, Payton Fuller, stated that Rattlesnake Ranch would not benefit from the project. A water rights expert, Burke Griggs, suggested the project could increase land value near the refuge, while Public Citizen lobbyist Craig Holman noted that Senate rules prohibit earmarks whose principal purpose is personal financial gain, though he did not believe this earmark violated the rule due to benefits to the refuge and farmers.
Omissions
None of the right-rated digests mention that Senator Marshall has voted four times to eliminate earmarks. None of the right-rated digests mention that Marshall called earmarks "not American." None of the right-rated digests mention the specific details of the pipeline route relative to Marshall's property.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 10 times, most recently on 15 Oct 2026, 16:15, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
10 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports highlighted Senator Roger Marshall's request for a $4.2 million earmark for a project near his own ranch, contrasting it with his past opposition to earmarks. These reports noted Marshall's votes to eliminate earmarks and his characterisation of them as wasteful. They also pointed out that the project's pipeline would run adjacent to his Rattlesnake Ranch, a detail not mentioned in his request, and quoted experts who raised concerns about a conflict of interest. The reports mentioned Marshall's spokeswoman stating the ranch would not benefit, but also included expert opinions suggesting increased land value. The political context of Marshall's upcoming election was also noted.
Centre
9 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on Senator Roger Marshall's $4.2 million earmark request for the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and the potential benefit to his adjacent Rattlesnake Ranch. These reports noted Marshall's past opposition to earmarks and his votes to eliminate them. They included statements from Marshall's office asserting the ranch would not benefit and that the project would aid farms and the refuge. The reports also cited experts who discussed the potential for increased land value and conflict of interest concerns, while also noting the project's aim to improve water flow for the refuge and farmers.
Right
2 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports stated that Senator Roger Marshall sought $4.2 million in funding for a water shortage project that could benefit his ranch. These reports mentioned his past opposition to earmarks. The provided digests did not elaborate on the conflict of interest concerns or the specific details of the project's pipeline route relative to his property.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch?
- Of the 21 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 48% are rated left, 42% are rated centre, 10% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 24. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 21 rated outlets on this story, 48% are rated left, 42% are rated centre, 10% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch biased?
- Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch is one event reported by 24 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered Senator Marshall sought earmark for project near his ranch?
- 24 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- How much money did Senator Roger Marshall request for the water project?
- Senator Roger Marshall requested $4.2 million in federal earmark funding in 2024. This funding was intended for improvements to increase water flow to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas.
- What was the stated purpose of the water project?
- The stated purpose of the project was to address a water shortage affecting the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and to balance the needs of the refuge with those of local farmers. The plan involved pumping water into Rattlesnake Creek to benefit the refuge, especially during drought years.
- Did Senator Marshall have any personal interest in the project?
- The project involved a pipeline that would run adjacent to Senator Marshall's Rattlesnake Ranch. While his office stated the ranch would not benefit, experts suggested the project could increase nearby land values, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
- What is Senator Marshall's stance on earmarks?
- Senator Marshall has publicly opposed earmarks, calling them wasteful and "not American." He has voted multiple times to eliminate them. His request for this earmark represented a departure from his stated position.
Read it at the source
24 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
10- Marshall Pushed Bill That Benefits His KS Ranch (opens Joe.My.God. in a new tab)
Joe.My.God. — is Joe.My.God. biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Toronto Star in a new tab)
The Toronto Star — is The Toronto Star biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Goshen News in a new tab)
Goshen News — is Goshen News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- GOP senator who railed against government waste sought $4.2M for project near his own ranch: report (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens NiagaraFallsReview.ca in a new tab)
NiagaraFallsReview.ca — is NiagaraFallsReview.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens St Catharines Standard in a new tab)
St Catharines Standard — is St Catharines Standard biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 2 more
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record — is The Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Hamilton Spectator in a new tab)
The Hamilton Spectator — is The Hamilton Spectator biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
9- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record
- Sen. Roger Marshall requested $4.2 million to help more water flow into a wildlife refuge but did not mention it could also benefit his ranch (opens Fortune in a new tab)
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens My Mother Lode in a new tab)
My Mother Lode — is My Mother Lode biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Newsday in a new tab)
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Daily News-Record in a new tab)
Daily News-Record — is Daily News-Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens The EagleHerald in a new tab)
The EagleHerald — is The EagleHerald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Ottumwa Courier in a new tab)
Ottumwa Courier — is Ottumwa Courier biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch – WTOP News (opens Washington Top News in a new tab)
Washington Top News — is Washington Top News biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
2- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Daily Jefferson County Union in a new tab)
Daily Jefferson County Union — is Daily Jefferson County Union biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens MY Northwest in a new tab)
MY Northwest — is MY Northwest biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
3- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens News Radio KMAN in a new tab)
News Radio KMAN — is News Radio KMAN biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Roger Marshall sought funding for water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens BizToc in a new tab)
- Sen. Roger Marshall sought funding to address a water shortage. The project could benefit his ranch (opens Loonie Politics in a new tab)
Loonie Politics — is Loonie Politics biased? Our profile of this outlet
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