Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
15%
3 of 20 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
60/100
National Post's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A self-described U.S. polling firm whose data was tracked by political campaigns and mainstream media has admitted that its polls were fabricated, in the second such scandal to stir controversy ahead of the midterm elections.
asserted
polls → describe → elections
The case involving the firm Wedgewood Polls threatens to erode trust in independent pollsters in an already hyperpolarized political climate, particularly as political pundits voice concern that fast-evolving AI tools are making it easier to fabricate results.
asserted
it → involve → results
The case came to light earlier this week after polling aggregator FiftyPlusOne contacted Wedgewood as part of an investigation into the firm’s surveys.
asserted
FiftyPlusOne → come → surveys
Wedgewood responded with a statement on X admitting that “most” of its data had been made up.
asserted
most → respond → data
It said the firm had been experimenting on how easy it could be for “an entirely fabricated polling firm to gain traction” and “be taken seriously.”
uncertain
firm → say → traction
It turns out that Wedgewood, whose X account has since been taken down, was indeed taken seriously.
asserted
account → turn → ?
Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow said after the group’s “poll” in late June showed her support in the single digits, she said “donations dried up,” volunteers were “devastated,” and the media “hounded” her “with calls to drop out.”
asserted
media → say → calls
“It killed us,” McMorrow wrote on X.
The bogus data, which covered high-profile races across several states, were also highlighted by major polling aggregators and news outlets, including The New York Times.
asserted
which → kill → Times
In an editors’ note, The Times said its poll tracker database included 15 surveys released by Wedgewood between June and October, all of which have now been removed.
asserted
all → say → which
Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said there has been “a significant surge in entirely fake polls and suppression polls” designed to interfere with the electoral process.
asserted
Carr → say → process
He urged the media not to amplify such hoaxes and engage in “news distortions.”
asserted
He → urge → distortions
In August, another phony group called Median Strategies admitted to fabricating poll results, saying it was “created as a short term social experiment,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
uncertain
it → call → Times
On Thursday, in a blog titled “more pollster funny business,” FiftyPlusOne said it will no longer collect polling data by another firm called SoCal Strategies, after an investigation that cast doubt on its authenticity.
asserted
that → title → authenticity
The firm could not be reached for comment.
uncertain
firm → reach → comment
SoCal Strategies’s website, X account, and Substack page appeared to have been taken offline.
asserted
website → appear → ?
The revelations comes amid warnings that AI-powered tools were enabling the fakery.
asserted
tools → come → fakery
“It’s getting easier to conduct low-quality polls — or fake them altogether,” FiftyPlusOne said.
asserted
FiftyPlusOne → get → them
Sophisticated AI tools were also making it difficult to identify phony pollsters and made-up data, the American Association for Public Opinion Research said in a statement.
asserted
Association → make → statement
“We are once again experiencing bad actors producing and distributing fabricated data and organizational information that undermines trust in public opinion and election polling,” said the association’s president, Mary Losch.
asserted
president → experience → opinion
“It is important that we don’t conflate fraudulent activity like this with legitimate election polling.”
asserted
we → conflate → polling
The Aporia
