An MIT study found both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to permit the spreading of misinformation when it articulates a “deeper truth” that captures their grievances. (Getty Images)
Refute tweets. Point out fake photos. Add context. Push back on outright lies.
All in the day of a journalist trying to correct online misinformation. Sometimes it’s so prevalent I could spend an entire day trying to rectify mistakes and not get anything else done.
And I am so, so tired.
I would much rather our team dig into real issues — like resources for poor Hoosiers, why some kids can’t read, property tax growth, education funding and how we are spending state economic development dollars.
The last 10 days have put me over the edge as I have watched misinformation — and its manipulative cousin, disinformation — about the Hurricane Helene aftermath spread like wildfire.
I can’t count the number of people peddling falsehoods, including that those devastated by the storms would receive only $750 and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn’t have enough money because it had spent it on housing immigrants instead.
CNN explained what really happened: Congress appropriated $650 million in the 2024 fiscal year to fund a program that helps state and local governments house migrants — and instructed US Customs and Border Protection to transfer that $650 million to FEMA to administer the program. But this $650 million pot is entirely distinct from FEMA’s disaster relief funds.
And the $750 is just the immediate payment to help people with critical needs such as food, diapers and shelter. Survivors can apply for additional assistance, including for home repair assistance in the tens of thousands. Still, the lie has been promoted by conservative politicians using the disaster to attack the Biden Administration.
But it’s not just about hurricanes. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun released an ad attacking opponent Jennifer McCormick for her liberal policies. Much of the ad was fair game, until his team digitally altered signs held by Hoosiers at a McCormick rally to say, “No gas stoves!”
McCormick has never said she wants to ban gas stoves, and after backlash Braun removed the alteration from the ad.
Democrats also peddle falsehoods. One such example is President Biden repeatedly saying inflation was at 9% when he took over in 2021 from Donald Trump. It was at 1.4%.
Core beliefs
In doing research on the topic of misinformation, I found a study saying both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to permit the spreading of misinformation when it articulates a “deeper truth” that captures their grievances.
“The study illustrates how both Democrats and Republicans shift their standards to suit their interests. It seems that we all do it,” said Zuckerman Sivan, an MIT professor of strategy and entrepreneurship.
For their research, the co-authors recruited American voters to complete six online surveys. Participants were shown statements made by both Republican and Democrat politicians, along with a disclaimer indicating that a third-party fact-checking organization had verified the statement as non-factual.
Voters were then asked whether they thought the statement was based on objective evidence or subjective impressions, whether they thought the overarching statement was true, and whether it was more important for the statement to be based on objective evidence or to send the right message about American priorities.
The researchers produced two key findings:
Voters cared more about “moral truth” when they were evaluating a politician they liked.
Voters relied more on strict factuality when evaluating a politician they didn’t like.
Both of these findings were slightly stronger for Republican voters, though they also applied to Democrats.
So, as these final weeks unfold in the new world of fake photos and misinformation, please read stories from all sides of an issue before coming to an opinion. Look into the sources of data or photos before you share them. Be skeptical and curious.
Journalists often joke that if your mother tells you something you should “trust, but verify” it. And that should apply to all voters as we prepare to cast our ballots.
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