FCC · Donald Trump · Federal Reserve (FED) · Ars Technica
FCC chair flags media not to run the "fake polls" Trump keeps complaining about
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr today warned broadcasters about airing “fake polls,” amplifying one of the many complaints that President Trump has regularly made about the news media.
Key facts
- Wedgewood operated as if it were a legitimate polling firm, including collecting money from donors to conduct crowd-funded polls, and sharing raw survey data (which they now have confirmed was fraudulent) with FiftyPlusOne on Oct
- Today’s statement was attributed to former Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat; former Chairman Mark Fowler, a Republican; and seven former high-ranking FCC officials
- In August, Trump demanded that the FCC punish or rebuke an NBC journalist for saying he has “mixed results” in election endorsements, and wrote that the FCC must do something about “THE FAKE POLLS
- The team were given two names, Jack Sims and Andrew Prater
Summary
Carr’s post on X said, “Many journalists and broadcasters have been amplifying or airing these Polls without regard to basic journalistic ethics and without informing the public that those Polls lack a scientific, accurate, or even real basis… Broadcasters are advised to avoid engaging in News Distortions or running Broadcast Hoaxes by airing Polls that would violate their regulatory obligations.” Carr urged broadcasters to “provide their viewers with additional context and information about Polls they have covered.” In fact, one small polling outfit was exposed as a hoax this week, and a similar incident occurred in August. Carr’s post did not mention any specific fake polls or any specific broadcasters that aired them.