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Research/Study
These major news outlets amplified JD Vance’s lie about Tim Walz’s military service without rebuttal
The New York Times and other top outlets fall for the right’s newest swiftboating campaign
Published
Several major news organizations have already conclusively debunked an attempt by Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and others on the right to smear Democratic vice presidential pick Tim Walz’s 24-year military career. Contrary to Vance's lie, Walz retired from the National Guard to run for Congress, not because his unit was ordered to Iraq months later. Yet The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, and CBS News all either privileged Vance’s attack or gave credence to them in headlines, stories, or social media posts.
Studies have shown that the majority of news consumers read or process only the headlines or social media posts that they come across — and even if they do follow through in reading the article, the misinformation they encounter first might not be overridden by the facts they later read. During the Trump administration, numerous major news organizations persisted in repeating misinformation via their headlines and social media posts.
With the architect of the original Swift Boat attacks from 20 years ago now helming its latest incarnation against Walz, news organizations have a responsibility to lead with the facts rather than regurgitate the right’s lies and smears.