FT News Briefing Swamp Notes: Election denialism is still in style
Oct 19, 2024
Eva Xiao, a data journalist at the Financial Times, and Joe Miller, the U.S. legal correspondent, dive into the ongoing specter of election denialism as the 2024 presidential race looms. They unpack how Trump and his allies are casting doubt on future votes, while exploring the surge in litigation from right-wing groups aimed at electoral integrity. The discussion also highlights the challenges of misinformation in a decentralized election system and examines positive changes in voting practices catalyzed by COVID-19.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Doubt & Legal Challenges
- Trump's 2020 legal challenges began before the election, sowing doubt about the process.
- Post-election, over 60 lawsuits alleging various fraud claims were filed, mostly unsuccessfully.
Proactive Lawsuits
- Right-wing groups are more proactive in filing lawsuits this cycle compared to previous years.
- Filing these lawsuits can raise concerns about voter fraud, even if the claims lack merit.
System Complexity Fuels Doubt
- The US electoral system's complexity, varying by state and county, creates confusion.
- This complexity allows bad actors to exploit doubt and spread misinformation.