Pollster admits to fabricating data for ‘social experiment’ to expose flaws of industry
After publishing: 1 headline quietly rewritten1 change
- PBS NewsHourseen 24 Oct, 12:29headline rewritten
A company says its polls were fake. Here's what happenedAn alleged national pollster says it faked its data as a 'social experiment.' Here's what to know
The headline, as it mutated - 5 wordings
- 21 Oct, 17:12Pollster admits to fabricating data for ‘social experiment’ to expose flaws of industry1 outlet
- 21 Oct, 18:39Fake polling firm tricked media, claims fabricated surveys were for 'social experiment'2 outlets
- 21 Oct, 19:30Fake Polling Scandal Shakes Democrats Ahead Of 2026 Elections1 outlet
- 22 Oct, 21:39Polling firm disappears amid media questioning surveys, employees4 outlets
- 26 Oct, 13:16Lo scandalo dei sondaggi inventati investe le midterm ad una settimana dal voto1 outlet
- and 9 one-off wordings
What it is about
Who published it, and when
12 reports left out of the cascade - too little in common with the story to place
How it spread - 16 original reports, 4 reprints
Wed, 21 October 2026
5 reports- The Guardian World17:12
Wedgewood Polls said project was designed to highlight lack of scrutiny over polling sector by mainstream media A polling firm has admitted to using fabricated data in surveys that were picked up by national media outlets in the US, claiming the project was a “social experiment” designed to expose the lack of scrutiny over the sector. Wedgewood Polls released a statement on Tuesday on social media, after the polling and election analysis site FiftyPlusOne reached out for comment on an...
- foxbaltimore.com18:39first to report
A fake polling firm tricked several media outlets with fabricated surveys, claiming they were part of a "social experiment," angering Democrats.
1 reprint
- news4sanantonio.com21 Oct, 18:39their copy
- iheart.com19:30
Wedgewood Polls admitted fabricating political surveys, affecting major media, Democratic campaigns, and fundraising.
- iheart.com19:30
Wedgewood Polls admitted fabricating political surveys, affecting major media, Democratic campaigns, and fundraising.
- PBS NewsHour22:50edited after publishing
previously
A company says its polls were fake. Here's what happenedA national polling organization revealed on Tuesday that the vast majority of its data had been fabricated, saying it was an "experimental project to demonstrate the vulnerabilities" of the modern political polling industry.
Thu, 22 October 2026
4 reports- The Hill10:00
The political polling industry is under new fire after a second company on Tuesday acknowledged it had falsified data in a series of polls released over the past year. The admission by Wedgewood Polls comes as Republicans question whether this year's midterm polls are wrong and are undercounting GOP support. Wedgewood's polling had been used by...
- editorandpublisher.com14:20
With numerous reputable polls showing Democrats poised to make big gains in the midterm elections, the Republican chair of the FCC is advising local broadcasters to beware of “fake polls,” without specifying which ones he thinks are bogus.
- 13wham.com21:39
A polling firm has disappeared online amid media outlets questioning some of its surveys and employees.
3 reprints
- wtov9.com22 Oct, 21:39their copy
- nbcmontana.com22 Oct, 21:39their copy
- news4sanantonio.com22 Oct, 21:39their copy
- crooksandliars.com22:13
WTF does this Trump sycophant know about polling in the country?
Fri, 23 October 2026
2 reports- Der Spiegel (Germany)09:38
Sogar die »New York Times« griff auf Umfragen von Wedgewood Polling zurück – aber die Zahlen waren frei erfunden. Warum sie trotzdem in Umlauf kamen, dafür haben die angeblichen Meinungsforscher eine erstaunliche Erklärung.
- Le Figaro (France)21:23
À la suite d’une enquête de l’agrégateur FiftyPlusOne, l’entreprise Wedgewood Polls a reconnu dans un communiqué sur X que «la plupart» de ses données avaient été fabriquées.
Sat, 24 October 2026
2 reports- Der Spiegel (Germany)04:25
Das selbst ernannte US-Meinungsforschungsinstitut »Wedgewood Polls« gibt zu, dass fast alle seine Umfragen erfunden waren. SPIEGEL-Recherchen zeigen: Fake-Daten zugunsten der Republikaner sind kein Einzelfall.
- Der Spiegel (Germany)04:25
Das selbst ernannte US-Meinungsforschungsinstitut »Wedgewood Polls« gibt zu, dass fast alle seine Umfragen erfunden waren. SPIEGEL-Recherchen zeigen: Fake-Daten zugunsten der Republikaner sind kein Einzelfall.
Mon, 26 October 2026
3 reports- The Hill11:00
Faulty midterm polling is bad enough, but it actually gets much worse.
- ANSA (Italy)13:16
Il caso Wedgewood, l''esperimento sociale' che affossa una candidata
- ANSA (Italy)13:16
Il caso Wedgewood, l''esperimento sociale' che affossa una candidata