Big Education Ape: Oct 31, 2024

LIARS ARE GOING TO LIE

FACT CHECK ELECTION CLAIMS

Ah, the delightful swamp of election lies. It's a place where truth goes to die and misinformation thrives like algae in a stagnant pond. But fear not, dear reader, for I am here to guide you through this treacherous terrain with a healthy dose of wit and a sharp eye for fact-checking.

Let's start with the Republican party, led by the one and only Trump and his merry band of allies. They've been peddling the idea that non-citizens are running amok in US elections, casting votes left, right, and center. The only problem? There's about as much evidence for this claim as there is for the existence of unicorns. In other words, none at all.

And then there's the whole saga of attacks on voting machines and the clamor for hand-counting ballots. It's like a never-ending soap opera, with a plot that gets more far-fetched by the day. Despite the lack of evidence to support these claims, the drama continues to unfold. It's like a bad reality TV show that just won't get canceled.

But wait, there's more! Election deniers are out in full force, trying to overturn results through the certification process. They're like sore losers at a game of Monopoly, refusing to accept that they've landed on Park Place with a hotel on it. The courts, however, have been playing the role of the strict referee, forcing certification in instances where it was refused or delayed. Game over, folks.

And let's not forget the accusations flying around about Democrats trying to cheat by getting overseas US citizens to vote. Shocking, I know. Except, it's actually a legal practice. So much for that plot twist.

Now, onto the uphill battle that voting officials are facing against the proliferation of fake and misleading information. It's like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a paper umbrella. There's even been a recent video falsely depicting the destruction of ballots, adding fuel to the fire of misinformation. It's enough to make you want to throw your hands up in despair.

And then there are the foreign adversaries like Russia, Iran, and China, just waiting in the wings to seize on election fraud claims and generate material to undermine the integrity of the results. It's like a geopolitical game of cat and mouse, with truth and democracy caught in the middle.

But fear not, for the federal government is taking a more aggressive approach in calling out foreign meddling. Local election officials are also stepping up their game, making greater efforts to educate the public and be proactive. It's like watching a team of underdogs rallying together for one last epic showdown.

Of course, no article on election lies would be complete without a mention of the issue of "disinformation" itself becoming a partisan fight. It's like watching two kids squabbling over who gets the last cookie. There's even been a coordinated Republican campaign to cast efforts to mitigate it as "censorship." It's enough to make you roll your eyes so hard they might just get stuck.

And then there's Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), who has become a major vector for baseless election fraud claims. It's like watching a superhero turn to the dark side, further undermining the work of election officials. Who knew that even billionaires could fall victim to spreading misinformation?

As if all that weren't enough, social media platforms have generally stepped back from their more aggressive stance in 2020 to combat misinformation. It's like they've decided to take a nap while the house is on fire, leaving election officials to navigate a challenging landscape on their own.

But fear not, dear reader, for there is hope on the horizon. The articles (see below) suggests creating a credibility score for politicians, managed by an independent board of fact-checkers. It would serve as a warning to voters about a politician's trustworthiness, like a bright neon sign flashing "proceed with caution."

The articles (see below) argues that such a system would provide a quantifiable consequence for lying and incentivize politicians to be more truthful. It's like slapping a big red "Liar Liar Pants on Fire" sticker on their campaign posters.

Of course, there are challenges in implementing a credibility scoring system, such as accounting for sarcasm, hyperbole, and misstatements. But hey, nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, right?

So there you have it, dear reader. A witty romp through the swamp of election lies, complete with twists, turns, and a glimmer of hope for a more truthful future. Remember to fact-check those stories and protect yourself from the deluge of misinformation. And may the truth prevail in the end!

DIY FACT CHECKING ELECTION LIES

This Research Guide is loosely adapted from a guide developed by the Research Center at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

Web Sites for Fact Checking - Misinformation and Disinformation: Thinking Critically about Information Sources - CSI Library at CUNY College of Staten Island Library https://library.csi.cuny.edu/misinformation/fact-checking-websites

PolitiFact
Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Our core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason we publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy.
FactCheck.org
We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
Washington Post Fact Checker
In an award-winning journalism career spanning nearly four decades, Glenn Kessler has covered foreign policy, economic policy, the White House, Congress, politics, airline safety and Wall Street. He was The Washington Post’s chief State Department reporter for nine years, traveling around the world with three different Secretaries of State. Before that, he covered tax and budget policy for The Washington Post and also served as the newspaper’s national business editor. He has been editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker since 2011.
Snopes
When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes.com’s fact checking and original, investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds. Snopes got its start in 1994, investigating urban legends, hoaxes, and folklore. Founder David Mikkelson, later joined by his wife, was publishing online before most people were connected to the internet. As demand for reliable fact checks grew, so did Snopes. Now it’s the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion.
Fact Check from Duke Reporters' Lab
The Reporters’ Lab is a center for journalism research in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Our core projects focus on fact-checking, but we also do occasional research about trust in the news media and other topics.
SciCheck
FactCheck.org’s SciCheck feature focuses exclusively on false and misleading scientific claims that are made by partisans to influence public policy. It was launched in January 2015 with a grant from the Stanton Foundation. The foundation was founded by the late Frank Stanton, president of CBS for 25 years, from 1946 to 1971.
FlackCheck
Headquartered at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, FlackCheck.org is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org. The site provides resources designed to help viewers recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads in particular. Video resources point out deception and incivility in political rhetoric. FlackCheck.org is funded by an endowment provided by the Annenberg Foundation to support the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics.
Media Bias/ Fact Check
Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC), founded in 2015, is an independent online media outlet. MBFC is dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices. MBFC’s aim is to inspire action and a rejection of overtly biased media. We want to return to an era of straight forward news reporting. MBFC follows a strict methodology for determining the biases of sources. Dave Van Zandt is the primary editor for sources. He is assisted by a collective of volunteers who assist in research for many sources listed on these pages. MBFC also provides occasional fact checks, original articles on media bias, and breaking/important news stories, especially as it relates to USA politics. Funding for Media Bias Fact Check comes from donations and third-party advertising. We use third-party advertising to prevent influence and bias as we do not select the ads you see displayed. Ads are generated based on your search history, cookies, and the content of the current web page you are viewing. This sometimes leads to politically biased ads as well as the promotion of pseudoscience products that we do not endorse.
NPR FactCheck
NPR (national public radio) is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global stories personal.