What was the stated purpose of the Median Strategies "social experiment" according to the firm's statement?
According to a statement from Median Strategies, the firm was created as a short-term social experiment to examine how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification.
Q&A ID b6ea2bb2-9860-4e4d-954b-9a640cffafdd
Who uncovered the deception committed by Median Strategies?
The Los Angeles Times uncovered the deception after questioning the firm regarding its polling methodology.
Q&A ID d2f95fb3-3eee-4614-8f8b-2b65b85c89ff
How did the fake polling results involve candidates in the Los Angeles mayoral race?
A fake poll released by Median Strategies suggested that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had a 12-point lead over leftist challenger Nithya Raman. This specific fake poll was shared by Karen Bass in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that has since been deleted.
Q&A ID e7709906-6e3d-465d-8e50-16bbe9c35c63
Which polling and research firm admitted to fabricating polls during the 2026 election season as part of a "social experiment"?
Median Strategies, a self-described "independent polling and research" firm, admitted to fabricating its polls and instructed press outlets to disregard its previously released work. The firm claimed the fabrication was a "social experiment" to examine how unverified polling data spreads through the political information ecosystem.
Q&A ID 6ca927ca-e14b-4483-8af0-3844a1f7fe37