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Snopes Digest #103: Our plans for election day, presidential candidate collections — and more

Here's what's happening inside the Snopes newsroom

Author

Izz LaMagdeleine
October 31, 2024

Oct. 31, 2024・Issue #103

1. Behind the Snopes: Our Plans for Election Day

Let's talk about what's going on with Snopes: the newsroom, the products, the people, and everything and anything that makes Snopes, Snopes. This week, our Senior Assignments Editor Jessica Lee summarizes the newsroom's plan for fact-checking claims about voting and election results next week.

The Snopes newsroom is gearing up for an all-hands-on-deck operation to cover the Nov. 5 election.

Come Tuesday, every reporter will pitch in with fact-checking claims related to polls, results, candidates — and more. Our goal will be debunking the election's most dangerous falsehoods, while providing context for other rumors to help you make sense of what's going on.

We'll publish a live feed of fact checks — that is, an evolving page with the moment's hottest rumors — that will carry us through the day and night. In other words, from the time polls open to when results start streaming in, you can visit snopes.com to confirm what's true and what's pure speculation. You can also follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Keep Snopes Debunking

We need your continued support to continue our fact-finding mission.

2. Since We Last Met: Thank You for Supporting Us as We Cover 2024 Election

An 11th-hour change in the Democratic nominee for president. Two assassination attempts. So much political misinformation flying it even surprises us here at Snopes.

The 2024 general election is upon us, including the decision voters will make between former U.S. President Donald Trump or current Vice President Kamala Harris as president.

Poll after poll indicates Americans are worried about ongoing threats to our democracy. This election will be one for the ages. Even as I write this, we're monitoring reports of arsonists torching ballot boxes containing early ballots in parts of the country.

As a working journalist/journalism professor since 1989, I can honestly say I've never seen anything like this. The one bright spot has been you and your steadfast support of Snopes through memberships. I humbly thank you. As we continue to grow our newsroom (soon to be roughly 20 people), we'll tackle such challenges knowing you have our backs.

— Doeren Marchionni, executive editor/managing editor

3. Overheard at Snopes

We look into a lot of weird stuff at Snopes. We imagine it's very interesting to be a fly on the wall, so we wanted to give you a look at some of the things we have to say when fact-checking.

Overheard: I didn't have on my list for today calling businesses in Barnwell, South Carolina, and asking if they could walk across the street to see if a Trump sign actually has a swastika on it, and asking if they have more information about it.

— Senior Reporter Jordan Liles

4. Fact-Checking Promotion: Presidential Candidate Collections

From Web Producer/Production Editor Izz Scott LaMagdeleine:

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, we’re rounding up all our fact checks about the candidates. These collections compile rumors about both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, as well as their running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance. We’re also hard at work compiling claims related to the campaigns' positions on important issues, like immigration. We hope these collections help you keep track of what the candidates have actually said and done during their campaigns, especially with Election Day less than a week away.

Mental Health Break

Snopes investigates some grim and depressing claims, so we know how important it is to your mental health to see something silly, funny, or just plain heartwarming. Here are some links that made us smile.

5. Snopes-worthy Reads

What Snopes is reading across the web.

— Amal Ahmed, Atmos Magazine

— Daniel Wu, The Washington Post

— Steven Lee Myers, The New York Times

Thanks for reading this edition of the Snopes Digest. We send new issues of the newsletter every month, so please add this email address to your white list and keep an eye out for the next issue.

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