Center · Read · October 21, 2026
Oct 21 · Wedgewood Polls admits it fabricated election polls; aggregators pull its data
Newsweek: Nate Silver Forecast Shifts Toward Republicans After Fake Polls Removed
Grade C (70/100). Silver Bulletin removes 15-17 fake polls; Michigan Senate margin narrows
Lehrer score 70/100 (−12 loaded wording: The famed polling analyst; −18 omission: Races that had been included in the polls released by Wedgewood included the Michigan Senate seat). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → C.
The famed polling analyst; Races that had been included in the polls released by Wedgewood included the Michigan Senate seat
Agrees: FiftyPlusOne found irregularities; Wedgewood confessed Tuesday
Splits: Discloses that Newsweek corrected and retracted its own stories
- Broken. Rule: Lehrer #2: Assume the viewer is as smart and caring as I am (no loaded words) (The famed polling analyst)
- Broken. Rule: Lehrer #5: Include the other side (secondary omission) (Races that had been included in the polls released by Wedgewood included the Michigan Senate seat)
Same story: Mediaite, The Washington Times