A media analysis of the Texas U.S. Senate race examines why political disinformation can persist long after it has been debunked. International Business and Marketing Associate Professor Randy Stein explains how smear campaigns can exploit existing voter biases by weaving small elements of truth into misleading narratives. “The most effective political disinformation isn't about true versus false, exactly,” he says. “It's about demonstrating the strength of the audience's allies — and portraying opponents as weak.”

This article was originally published by Straight Arrow News on October 14, 2026.