Median Strategies fabricated polls as a social experiment to examine how polling information enters the political information ecosystem.
Posted by Louder with Crowder, Checked
- Sources
- 6 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 95%
Louder with CrowderAug 19, 2026
Median Strategies admitted its election polls were fabricated and described itself as a 'short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification.' The AP, New York Times, The Hill and Washington Post all report this, so the claim's core assertion and purpose are supported.
What was said
… Let's do this, L.A. Well, now it's been revealed that Median Strategies is a fake pollster that fabricated polls as a social experiment. Check the references. This is what they posted on their website: Median Strategies was created as a short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification. Gotcha. Same poster game. I remember that French check roll job. Oh, wait, wait, wait, was there the CEO, C. Matheson? Yeah, exactly right. Ah, Francesca Hong, right? This polling firm gave her 20 point lead sorry 23 point lead. …
Louder with Crowder · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. The AP reports that Median Strategies admitted the purported results were fake and quotes its statement that it 'was created as a short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification.'[1][5]
Supports. The New York Times reports that Median Strategies withdrew its results, admitting it had fabricated the polls as part of a 'short-term social experiment' meant to expose how quickly false information could spread.[2]
Supports. The Hill reports that Median Strategies said its poll results were not real and were put out as part of a 'social experiment,' and that they should not be cited or treated as legitimate data.[3]
Supports. The Washington Post describes Median Strategies as a fake polling firm that claimed it was a 'social experiment,' and the Los Angeles Times and Washington Examiner report the same admission.[4][6]
Context. The AP notes the company offered no explanation of who was behind the experiment or for what purpose beyond its written statement, and the claim's wording tracks that statement without adding details.[1]
Sources
6 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 tier 2, 1 tier 1, 2 not rated
- 1What to know about the fake election poll numbers shared and retracted by a mysterious companyapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 2Fake Polls in Wisconsin and California Were Part of a ' ...nytimes.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 3‘Shocking’ fake poll firm puts industry under the microscope: ‘Unfortunately not surprising’thehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports
- 4The Pollwatcher - The Washington Postwashingtonpost.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5What to know about the fake election poll numbers shared ... - AP.orgap.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6How fake polling could upend the midterm electionswashingtonexaminer.com · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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