Saturday, October 31, 2026Every claim sourced. Every source linked.
The record of what the American press got wrong, and who it helped
By outlet

ABC News

10 files on the record. 10 helped Democrats, 0 helped Republicans, 0 helped neither.

10 helped Democrats (100%)Democrats 100%
Retracted

ABC: Trump Sons' Investments Won 'Billions' in Pentagon Contracts

ABC reported that 1789 Capital, the firm linked to Donald Trump Jr., had taken a major stake in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment. It also said companies backed by Trump's sons had won billions in Pentagon contracts since the election.

Oct 7, 2026 · ABC News
Helped: Democrats
Bad Call

2024 'Coin Flip' Forecasts vs. a Trump Sweep of All Seven Swing States

Final 2024 forecasts called the presidential race essentially a 50-50 toss-up. FiveThirtyEight gave Harris about a 50 percent chance and Trump about 49 percent, and Nate Silver's final model also landed at roughly 50-50 with a slight Harris edge.

Nov 5, 2024 · FiveThirtyEight (ABC News), Silver Bulletin
Helped: Democrats
Debunked

Jussie Smollett's reported hate-crime attack

Actor Jussie Smollett was widely reported, based on his account and initial police statements, to have been the victim of a racist and homophobic assault by two men in Chicago in January 2019. Many commentators and public figures treated the attack as established fact.

Jan 29, 2019 · NPR, ABC News, CBS News
Helped: Democrats
Retracted

ABC Links Aurora Shooter to the Tea Party

During live coverage of the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting, ABC's Brian Ross suggested that a Jim Holmes listed with a Colorado Tea Party group might be the suspect.

Jul 20, 2012 · ABC News
Helped: Democrats
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