An actual fake polls scandal shows the need for continued skeptical appraisal, not simply ignoring all polling data.
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A man votes at a polling station during the Michigan primary elections, in Detroit, Mich., August 4, 2026.
Rebecca Cook/Reuters
Fake polls are back in the news.
We hear a lot these days about how the polls are fake, and that we should ignore them — especially when polls are delivering bad news for MAGA Republicans. Now, polling is an inexact science; there have always been fair critiques of particular polls and special problems with internal polls released selectively by campaigns, and there are mounting challenges for the polling industry.
About the Author
Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review Online and a fellow at National Review Institute.
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Fake polls are back in the news.
We hear a lot these days about how the polls are fake, and that we should ignore them — especially when polls are delivering bad news for MAGA Republicans. Now, polling is an inexact science; there have always been fair critiques of particular polls and special problems with internal polls released selectively by campaigns, and there are mounting challenges for the polling industry.
About the Author
Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review Online and a fellow at National Review Institute.
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