All posts by Spencer Overton

“Misinformation floods social media in wake of breakneck news cycle”

July 29, 2024, 7:44 amUncategorizeddisinformationSpencer Overton

The Hill: A weeks-long, breakneck news cycle has set off a parallel explosion of misinformation online, which experts warn could make it harder to parse out what is real versus what is fake as the 2024 election gets underway.

“Sen. Rick Scott sounds a warning on foreign interference in elections”

July 29, 2024, 7:43 amUncategorizeddisinformation, foreign interferenceSpencer Overton

WUSF NPR: Florida’s U.S. senator said the Biden administration isn’t doing enough to combat disinformation and interference from foreign actors in elections. . . . Federal government investigators have found that foreign interference in elections has been rife since… Continue reading

“Here’s What to Know About Venezuela’s Flawed Election”

July 29, 2024, 7:41 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner in a presidential vote on Sunday that was marred by irregularities. Officials at some polling places refused to release paper tallies of the electronic vote count, and there were widespread reports… Continue reading

“Elon Musk Shares Manipulated Harris Video, in Seeming Violation of X’s Policies”

July 28, 2024, 7:47 amUncategorizeddeepfakes, disinformationSpencer Overton

NYT: Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has waded into one of the thorniest issues facing U.S. politics: deepfake videos. On Friday night, Mr. Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media platform X, reposted an edited campaign video… Continue reading

“Trump Tells Christians ‘You Won’t Have to Vote Anymore’ If He’s Elected”

July 28, 2024, 7:45 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: In the closing minutes of his speech to a gathering of religious conservatives on Friday night, former President Donald J. Trump told Christians that if they voted him into office in November, they would never need to vote… Continue reading

“Nevada attorney general appeals to state high court in effort to revive fake electors case”

July 28, 2024, 7:44 amUncategorizedElectoral College, Fake electorsSpencer Overton

Washington Post: LAS VEGAS — The top prosecutor in Nevada is asking the state Supreme Court to uphold the indictments of six Republicans charged with submitting a bogus certificate to Congress that declared Donald Trump the winner of the… Continue reading

“Another High-Priced Presidential Election”

July 28, 2024, 7:43 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: After President Joe Biden bowed out of the presidential election race, his Vice President Kamala Harris broke records raising $81 million in one day (which later topped $100 million a day later). According to Open Secrets… Continue reading

“Pennsylvania presidential election results could again take days to count”

July 27, 2024, 4:53 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Washington Post: When the polls closed on election night in 2020, President Donald Trump appeared to be winning Pennsylvania. But over the next several days, as officials counted mail-in ballots, his lead shrunk and then disappeared. By Saturday, Joe Biden… Continue reading

“Trump ally who denies 2020 election results threatens law enforcement”

July 27, 2024, 4:52 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Washington Post: Patrick Byrne, who has funded efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 election, said in an online forum Thursday that law enforcement would face “a piano wire and a blowtorch” if they did not drop a… Continue reading

“X’s AI chatbot ‘Grok’ spread misinformation about Minnesota’s ballots. Does the tech giant care?”

July 27, 2024, 4:51 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Star Tribune: The office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has traced the recent spread of misinformation about the state’s presidential ballot to a snarky AI chatbot named Grok, which is available to premium users of the social… Continue reading

“Election do-over: Judge rules Cobb County electoral map unconstitutional”

July 27, 2024, 4:49 amUncategorizedredistrictingSpencer Overton

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Cobb County’s electoral map is unconstitutional, the primary elections conducted in May for County Commission Districts 2 and 4 will have to be redone, and the November general election for those seats must be postponed, a judge… Continue reading

“False rumors about Vance, Musk’s X show misinfo cuts both ways”

July 26, 2024, 7:58 amUncategorizedcontent moderation, disinformationSpencer Overton

Washington Post: Billionaire Elon Musk pitches X as both a haven for free speech and a superior alternative to the mainstream media for keeping up with news and politics. Under his ownership, the social media platform formerly known as… Continue reading

“Kamala Harris knows exactly what she will do on Jan. 6, 2025”

July 26, 2024, 7:35 amUncategorizedElectoral CollegeSpencer Overton

CNN: On Jan. 6, 2025, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to preside over Congress and count the electoral votes that will make either her — or Donald Trump — the 47th president of the United States. And like… Continue reading

“CNN survey finds 48 states say Harris can get on ballot instead of Biden, rejecting claim switch breaks state laws”

July 26, 2024, 7:29 amUncategorizedballot accessSpencer Overton

CNN: The election authorities of at least 48 states, both Republicans and Democrats, say there are no obstacles that would prevent Vice President Kamala Harris from getting on election ballots if she becomes the official Democratic presidential nominee, as… Continue reading