Episode — 2026-10-21: A number is only as good as the person who had nothing to gain by making it: a fabricated polling firm that ended a Senate campaign and was caught by three researchers reading metadata; a $25B fine built out of a violation count the state assembled itself; a 238-page university self-audit that reached no conclusion; and a free-speech group that canceled a panel on free speech. [4:00 PM]

Oct 21, 2026 57:25

Audio file

A number is only as good as the person who had nothing to gain by making it: a fabricated polling firm that ended a Senate campaign and was caught by three researchers reading metadata; a $25B fine built out of a violation count the state assembled itself; a 238-page university self-audit that reached no conclusion; and a free-speech group that canceled a panel on free speech. (4:00 PM render)…