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Bass, Raman to talk homelessness, police at LA mayor race debate

Bass, Raman to talk homelessness, police at LA mayor race debate

The debate comes days after a poll showing Bass in the lead was reportedly revealed to be a sham.

Polling Firm Shuts Down After Admitting Fake Survey Showing LA Mayor Karen Bass Leading Rival Was 'Social Experiment'

Polling Firm Shuts Down After Admitting Fake Survey Showing LA Mayor Karen Bass Leading Rival Was 'Social Experiment'

Median Strategies, a polling firm, has ceased operations after confessing that a survey it released, which purported to show Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass with a significant lead over her election rival, Councilmember Nithya Raman, was fabricated. The company posted a notice on its website stating it had 'concluded its polling project' and that none of its surveys should be cited as 'genuine polling data.' According to the firm, Median Strategies was created as a 'short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification.' The Los Angeles Times reported that Median Strategies admitted the poll was bogus after repeated inquiries. The fake survey, published last week, claimed Bass led Raman by nearly 12 percentage points. Mayor Bass's campaign account initially promoted the poll on social media, but the post was later deleted once the fabrication was revealed. The firm asserted that no one associ...

Fake Poll Impacts Los Angeles Mayoral Race, Raises Election Integrity Concerns

Fake Poll Impacts Los Angeles Mayoral Race, Raises Election Integrity Concerns

A fabricated poll released by Median Strategies falsely indicated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was leading councilmember Nithya Raman by approximately 12 percentage points in the mayoral race. The poll was initially shared by the Bass campaign on social media and reported by some news outlets, suggesting a surge in momentum for the incumbent. However, Median Strategies later admitted to the Los Angeles Times that the results were fake, claiming the poll was a 'social experiment' designed to observe how unverified polling information spreads within the political information ecosystem. The company, which was previously unknown and had only recently created its website, has since shut down its online presence and retracted all its purported polling data. This incident highlights the challenges in vetting polling data, especially when originating from obscure sources with undisclosed methodologies.

Fake L.A. Mayoral Poll Raises Questions of Legality and Election Integrity

Fake L.A. Mayoral Poll Raises Questions of Legality and Election Integrity

A bogus opinion poll, published by a group named Median Strategies, falsely indicated Mayor Karen Bass held a significant lead over City Councilmember Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral race. The results of this fake poll were even promoted by Mayor Bass's account on X. Following inquiries by The Times, Median Strategies admitted the poll was a fabrication, claiming it was a 'social experiment to examine how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem.' This admission has prompted calls for investigation and prosecution from Mayor Bass's campaign spokesperson, who stated that 'bad faith attempts to influence elections should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' The group Median Strategies itself is shrouded in mystery, having only recently purchased its domain name and created a website, with its ownership registered privately.

Fake Polling by Median Strategies Raises Concerns About Election Survey Credibility

Fake Polling by Median Strategies Raises Concerns About Election Survey Credibility

Median Strategies, a previously unknown organization, admitted to fabricating at least three election polls across three U.S. states, including a Los Angeles mayoral race poll that was promoted by Mayor Karen Bass's campaign. The organization stated its purpose was a 'short-term social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem without independent verification.' The fake polls claimed to evaluate support in the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, the gubernatorial race in Nevada, and the mayoral race in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles poll, which falsely showed Mayor Bass leading, was shared on social media by her campaign and covered by a news outlet before its fabrication was revealed. Median Strategies has since shuttered its website, and the Bass campaign has deleted its social media post, defending itself by noting the poll's initial media coverage.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's Campaign Calls for Prosecution After Fake Poll Revealed as 'Social Experiment'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's Campaign Calls for Prosecution After Fake Poll Revealed as 'Social Experiment'

A self-described polling group named Median Strategies published findings indicating that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a nearly 12-point lead in her re-election bid. Mayor Bass subsequently promoted these poll results in a post on X, which has since been deleted. However, Median Strategies later revealed that the poll was fake, describing it as a 'short-term social experiment' designed to examine how unverified polling information spreads through the political information ecosystem. The group's website went dark after this admission. The poll had attributed Bass's lead to voters who had supported reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the June mayoral primary, claiming that 85.23% of them would now back Bass. Pratt, who was endorsed by President Trump, failed to advance to the general election.

Mysterious Company Median Strategies Fabricates Election Polls, Raising Concerns About Unvetted Surveys

Mysterious Company Median Strategies Fabricates Election Polls, Raising Concerns About Unvetted Surveys

Median Strategies, a previously unknown organization, admitted to fabricating election poll results across three U.S. states. The company claimed these polls were part of a 'short-term social experiment' to examine how unverified polling information spreads within the political information ecosystem. The fake polls included a Los Angeles mayoral race survey, which incumbent Democrat Karen Bass's campaign shared on social media, and surveys for the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin and the gubernatorial race in Nevada. Median Strategies has since shuttered its website and withdrawn all previously published polling releases, stating they should not be treated as genuine data. The company offered no explanation for who was behind the 'experiment' or its purpose, and did not respond to inquiries from the Associated Press.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Faces Scrutiny After Challenging Debate Performance Against Nithya Raman

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Faces Scrutiny After Challenging Debate Performance Against Nithya Raman

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's re-election campaign is facing increased scrutiny following her debate performance against challenger Nithya Raman in Sherman Oaks. The debate, which took place on August 19, 2026, saw Raman present concrete answers and effectively counter Bass's criticisms, a departure from their previous encounters. Bass, who had been the clear favorite, struggled to articulate her accomplishments and frequently resorted to personal attacks and nervous laughter. Raman, a City Councilmember, managed to turn the mayor's rhetorical traps against her, notably when Bass questioned Raman's missed council votes, to which Raman responded by highlighting Bass's own appointments of her to various boards. The audience, initially pro-Bass, reportedly began applauding Raman's responses more frequently as the debate progressed. This performance has led to commentary suggesting Raman has transformed from a long-shot challenger into a significant contender for the mayoral seat.

Polling Company Collapses After Fabricating LA Mayoral Race Data and Wisconsin Primary Results

Polling Company Collapses After Fabricating LA Mayoral Race Data and Wisconsin Primary Results

Median Strategies, a polling company, has ceased operations after admitting to publishing fabricated poll data, including a 'bogus' poll showing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass with a nearly 12-point lead over Nithya Raman in the city's mayoral race. Mayor Bass had initially celebrated this poll on social media, a post which has since been deleted. The company also released an inaccurate poll for the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary, which indicated Francesca Hong had a 23-point lead in a race she ultimately lost. Median Strategies claimed its actions were a 'social experiment' designed to expose flaws within the polling industry. The company's website is no longer functional, and details regarding its operations, such as its base of operations or number of employees, remain scarce. This incident highlights significant issues concerning the reliability and verification of political polling data.

Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Continues to Host Key Los Angeles Mayoral Debates, Highlighting Enduring Local Influence

Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Continues to Host Key Los Angeles Mayoral Debates, Highlighting Enduring Local Influence

The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association (SOHA) is once again hosting a significant Los Angeles mayoral debate, marking the second time this year that this single homeowners group from a San Fernando Valley neighborhood has hosted two-thirds of the city's mayoral debates. This event features Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman. SOHA has historically exerted considerable influence in Los Angeles politics, advocating for single-family neighborhoods, local control over land use, and quality of life issues. The organization played a crucial role in the 1978 passage of Proposition 13, which limited property tax increases, and its late leader, Richard Close, led an unsuccessful effort in 2002 for the San Fernando Valley to secede from Los Angeles. Despite a shift in the city's election cycle to even years, which has led to greater turnout and a more diverse electorate, SOHA continues to draw powerful politicians to its well-attended meetings and its newsletter holds sway at City Hall.

Lineage Expands Utility Relief to East Los Angeles Residents Following Warehouse Fire

Lineage Expands Utility Relief to East Los Angeles Residents Following Warehouse Fire

Lineage, the owner of a cold-storage warehouse, has expanded its utility assistance program to include hundreds of households in unincorporated East Los Angeles. This decision follows weeks of pressure from residents and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who advocated for equitable support beyond the initial allocation for Boyle Heights. Previously, Lineage provided $50,000 in utility assistance to 218 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) customers in Boyle Heights. Now, an additional $26,600 has been provided to Southern California Edison (SCE) to cover $200 credits for 133 households in East L.A., specifically within a designated Zone 2. This zone stretches between Indiana Street and Hicks Avenue, and Union Pacific Avenue and the 5 Freeway. The utility assistance aims to help residents cope with higher electricity bills incurred from using air purifiers and air conditioners due to the stench of rotting food and poor air quality after a warehouse fire on June 17.

Fake polling from mysterious company highlights danger of unvetted election surveys

Fake polling from mysterious company highlights danger of unvetted election surveys

A mysterious political firm admitted to fabricating multiple election polls this month