On the Media Place Your Bets!
21 snips
Oct 30, 2026 
Kate Starbird, University of Washington disinformation researcher, unpacks election rumors and conspiracy tactics. Polling researcher Mary Radcliffe exposes fraudulent pollsters and their threat to public trust. Economist Koleman Strumpf traces America’s long history of election betting, exploring market manipulation, fake polls, regulation, and how prediction markets shape beliefs about candidates.
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How Failed Lawsuits Spread Election Lies
- DOJ lawsuits can function as pseudo-events that spread election falsehoods even when courts reject them.
- Lists of suspected noncitizens may include eligible voters, risking disenfranchisement without affecting outcomes.
Why Slow Counts Invite Election Rumors
- California’s lengthy mail-ballot counting creates uncertainty after Election Day.
- That extended window gives rumors time to take root and makes the state especially vulnerable to strategic disinformation.
Badly Calibrated Machines Mimic Vote Theft
- A miscalibrated touchscreen made voters think machines were switching candidates’ votes.
- Kate Starbird says voters should verify printed ballots and report problems, without assuming conspiracy.