Could “fake news” have helped determine the outcome of the 2016 presidential election?
Social media users and intensely partisan news broadcasts disseminated a massive number of messages during the campaign. Many of these messages demonized candidates and seriously distorted the facts presented to voters. One recent study of nearly 25,000 election social media messages shared by Michigan voters identified nearly half as “unverified WikiLeaks content and Russian-origin news stories” that fall “under the definition of propaganda based on its use of language and emotional appeals.”
What hasn’t been clear, however, is how much of an impact – if any – these “fake news” items had on the outcome of the election. To our knowledge, there have been no empirical studies that have systematically assessed the extent to which believing fake news stories influenced voting decisions in 2016. So, we set out to do one.
We are scholars associated with the Comparative National Elections Project, which is coordinated at The Ohio State University. In December 2016, we commissioned YouGov to conduct a nationwide post-election survey. Our study concludes that fake news most likely did have a substantial impact on the voting decisions of a strategically important set of voters.
Here’s what we learned.
Another Saturday. Feeling much better ignoring the MSM, so good as a matter of fact, I might just do the laundry, not the fake laundry, the real heap.
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I always ignore the MSM.
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A little Perk up music:
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Messed that up, got the playlist instead of the vid, 😉
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First ST game, Dodgers v Giants, on MLBN @5:00 PM tonight.
The birds are chirpin’, the clouds have rolled back…
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That is quite a bit of snow out there which will require some shoveling. Must be a Republicant plot.
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About 8 cm.
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Snowplow finally did Illinois Street.
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By walking in the streets it took 27 minutes up B Street and thence down Spokane Street to Stadium Way and east along Main Street to the Tokyo Seoul for a salmon teriyaki bento box dinner.
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What a grey day…
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And back the same way. Round trip was 55 minutes.
Day 7: 170+55=225 minutes. Not bad, considering the conditions.
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If FOXNews and Redstate and right-wingers everywhere can turn the people’s minds, the Russia interference helped the brainwashing along. I doubt there is a way to measure that, but to me it’s a no-brainer.
While they say Russia didn’t interfere with our ballots, they still helped sway the election Trump’s way and somebody better try to stop that before the next election! Trump seems uninterested, and so do the clay-brained republicans because the Russian bad guys help their party, and not Democrats. They should all be brought up on treason charges! Country before party, YOU ASSHOLES! We’ve all had enough of you!
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I was going to burn the trash this morning, no wind, no wind reading on our weather station yet when I stepped outside a slight breeze hit my back out of the east. Oh, well.
I cleaned a large pack of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, dipped them in egg, salted and peppered, covered in bread crumbs and fryed them all up. After they cooled, REALLY cooled, I put them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer. Back up meat for when I need it. I used to make that all the time, but for Bob. This time I made it all for me.
Basement is now totally free of cobwebs. Nice to walk into the utility side of the basement. Next, getting rid of things on a metal shelf. Cans and bottle of things that if I haven’t used them in year, out they go or I’ll ask the kids if they want any of it. De-cluttering, Carolizing, getting the house ready for my death. Plus I like the place neat, and decluttering is a bit strong. I’ve always kept a neat house.
No snow, no rain. Lots of birds.
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Remington is bankrupt. Maybe the NRA can join in?
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These companies are only a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start….how can that dreadful Wayne La Pierre look at himself in the mirror? What gene pool does he come from?
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The “Show Me State” shows me that I’ve lived a very sheltered life…
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I keep a VERY VERY NEAT, uncluttered house…I do not like anything on my countertops. Drawers do not overflow with non-essential items. Closets are neat and tidy. Don’t have a true “junk drawer” like many people do…seldom bought “souvenirs” on our travels around the world, except for artwork.
But, with that said…I’n downsizing even more. I love giving stuff away. Since the first of this year, each day I give something away…some things have value. I don’t care. I want to be “free” of stuff. On those days I don’t have a reason to give “this” or “that” to someone I know, I put it in the “goodwill” box to collect until it’s full, before dropping it off.
I’ll be good to go!
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Aw the poor pooty tat fell down, ow!
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