Althouse: Did moderates do so well in the elections because people were getting their information from talking to A.I.?

November 5, 2026

Did moderates do so well in the elections because people were getting their information from talking to A.I.?

56 comments:

Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: I’d argue instead that Americans have finally discovered the limits of what the electorate is willing to tolerate.; 11/5/26, 8:24 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: What “moderates”?; 11/5/26, 8:26 AM
D.D. Driver said...: Wouldn't the moderates have done better during the primaries? AI manipulating elections by serving up cherry-picked "facts" about favored candidates is a terrifying new fear though so that's cool. If biased media has been bad, imagine biased AI factchecking overlords.; 11/5/26, 8:27 AM
D.D. Driver said...: And who decides what is "moderate"? AI? The democrats who won?; 11/5/26, 8:28 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: He creates this fake label "Moderates". What he really means is the Leftwing Democrats did better because AI is programmed by Leftists.

Go look at the numbers. At least in the senate races, the Democrats turned out and the Republicans didn't. A large hunk of those who voted for Trump in SC, Texas and Ohio, stayed home.

And I hate the word "moderate". Who doesn't want to be "Moderate". Its synonym (sic) for reasonable. But in fact, it really means centrist. And should be called "low information" because that's what most moderates are. They not really engaged in politics, and tend to pay attention at the last moment. And vote for or against someone based on the current state of the economy or because they saw an ad on TV.; 11/5/26, 8:28 AM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: Moderates like the new senator from Hamas and the new trans-children senator from Texas?; 11/5/26, 8:28 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: I converse every day with GPT. I used it in a wide variety of roles. Just about everybody’s doing some version of this, even the ones who claim they aren’t doing it. I assume now that in any personal or biz relationship with another person, it’s actually a 4 way convo between two people, each advised by his chatbot.; 11/5/26, 8:30 AM
Lazarus said...: A Democrat who wins in Kansas or Mississippi would have to be more "moderate" than one who wins in New York or California. One hopes. Democrat wins in what was considered Republican territory would account for "moderate" wins, but was there any indication that moderation prevailed in heavily blue states?; 11/5/26, 8:31 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Many of the Republican Senators who lost weren't MAGA. Or they were incumbents. Darlene Graham was supposed to be another Lindsey - who was MAGA. Neither was Susan Collins. Or the guy in Ohio.

And most of them were just nothing burgers. Who were the Republicans running in NC, or Iowa? Or take Marshall in Kansas. These guy was in the senate for six years, and he was invisible.

Abbott in Texas was a bushie - and he lost too.; 11/5/26, 8:33 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: So lots of people are making ballot decisions by consulting digital parrots that occasionally hallucinate. Yes, yes, things are going swimmingly.; 11/5/26, 8:33 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: I’m still struggling to believe and accept that Trump destroyed his second term by launching another Middle East war.; 11/5/26, 8:35 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: As for Democrats, unlike the Republicans they have party discipline. And the media lets them lie on the campaign trail without calling them out. All the democrat senators elected from Red states campaigned as "moderates". When they get to the senate they will vote with chuck schumer 95 perent of the time. They always do.; 11/5/26, 8:35 AM
D.D. Driver said...: As for Democrats, unlike the Republicans they have party discipline. And the media lets them lie on the campaign trail without calling them out.

Oh cry more. When the democrats lose elections they say the same thing about republicans. Being a partisan makes you a crybaby. It doesn't even matter what side you belong to.; 11/5/26, 8:39 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: It’s like the old story about a dog food company holding a meeting to figure out why its product isn’t selling despite promotions, advertising, prime placement in grocery aisles, and so on. Finally, one executive raises his hand and says, “Dogs don’t like it.”; 11/5/26, 8:40 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Historically, the presidents party always loses seats in the mid-terms. This was ususual because the amount of seats lost.

But then the Republican establishment wanted to lose. The Republican Senators always hate being in the majority. People expect them to make good on their campaign rhetoric and they have zero intention of doing that.

No, on 2nd thought, what R Senators *really* want is to have the majority with a Democrat President. Then they can really cut deals and talk big. Knowing absolutely nothing their base wants will happen. But since Trump is POTUS, they're happy to let the D's sabotage Trump in the open, while they sit back in the weeds and watch.; 11/5/26, 8:41 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: @Shouting Thomas, as was put to me by a developer of economics and finance AI engines, it is indeed a powerful tool for finding and summarizing information. It is TERRIBLE at making decisions. Currently, from start to finish even the best engines are about 6 or 7 iterative decisions from being right only about half the time to advocating a march on Poland as a solution to a query.

In no way shape or form should AI be relied on by anyone to make decisions...so of course a mouthbreathing cohort of the electorate will use it precisely to tell them what to do.; 11/5/26, 8:42 AM
Freder Frederson said...: "When they get to the senate they will vote with chuck schumer 95 perent of the time. They always do."

I don't think you can get more moderate than Chuck Schumer, or Hakeem Jefferies for that matter.; 11/5/26, 8:42 AM
Ann Althouse said...: I'll have another post soon about this idea that moderates did well.; 11/5/26, 8:43 AM
Wince said...: Facing the 45 ballot measures across the country, 44 communities voted to restrict data centers, and just 1 community voted to allow construction.

So, if we're dolling out labels, does that make voters hypocrites rather than "moderates"?; 11/5/26, 8:45 AM
Lazarus said...: Maybe Sumit got that idea from AI ...; 11/5/26, 8:46 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Last comment. THe R's losing the senate is meaningless, since they refused to do anything to help Trump. They wouldn't even let him make recess appointments.

Getting rid of Collins was a plus. What an absurd goober she was. And we all had to look at her dumb ugly face on TV, and hope she'd confirm someone or vote the right way.

Another plus - McConnell, Cornyn, Thong Tillis, and Cassidy (how voted to impeach Trump) will all be gone in Jan 2027.; 11/5/26, 8:46 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: "𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘳 95 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰."

And the Republican equivalent? Senate Republicans voted with their party 96% of the time in 2025. They also voted with Trump’s stated positions 96% of the time. Apparently, voting in lockstep isn’t exactly a Democratic monopoly.; 11/5/26, 8:47 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: @RideSpaceMountain

You might be making an incorrect guess about what I use AI for. Here’s one use. GPT did my taxes for 2025. I hate the Turbotax interview process that goes on endlessly. I have six income streams so my return is a little complicated. I scanned my W-2s and 1099s into GPT, and it told me what forms I needed and led me thru filling them in line by line. And that’s only one of many uses.; 11/5/26, 8:47 AM
rehajm said...: …I agree with wince- it’s more hypocrisy than moderate…; 11/5/26, 8:50 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: Another use. I’m currently training Grok to write four part Bachian choral harmony for an all men’s choral group, tenor1, tenor2, baritone and bass. This is a more difficult task that I’m teaching one step at a time. But, it’s working. We’ve got the I/O working. It can read a lead sheet with chords and creating a very basic harmony that can be read into MuseScore and converted into notation.; 11/5/26, 8:52 AM
rcommal said...: Moderate/centrist voters or moderate/centrist candidates?; 11/5/26, 8:53 AM
Inga said...: It’s simple stupid. America repudiated Trump and rejected Trumpism. Hallelujah. If AI told America the truth, well then good on AI. Maybe AI couldn’t be drawn in by a cult.; 11/5/26, 8:53 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: "I’m still struggling to believe and accept that Trump destroyed his second term by launching another Middle East war."

Heads the deep state always wins. Tails you always lose. He got snookered by the NIC. Again.; 11/5/26, 8:55 AM
rehajm said...: …and it may be more worthwhile in Ann’s next post but data from my district- Nancy Mace’s where she won by 17 points in 2024, shows turnout in wealthy and middle income white counties had larger turnout than 2024 with similar high Republican margins over Democrats the two urban black controlled counties with much higher turnout with similar 2024 Democrat margins over Republicans. The out of state electoral commissioner proud they could get the out of state Democrat Senate candidate over the finish line…; 11/5/26, 8:55 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Wasn't assuming anything about what you used it for. I do the same thing with it. I was generalizing alignment issues AI researchers have cautioned regarding letting it make decisions. It's a remarkable 'assistant'. Give it executive authority at your peril.; 11/5/26, 8:56 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: So nobody can say what he meant by “moderates” at all and of course Inga didn’t even try. Sounds about right.; 11/5/26, 8:59 AM
Eva Marie said...: “Researchers have ACTUALLY tested this.”
lololol; 11/5/26, 9:00 AM
Caroline said...: “Moderates”. What moderates? Ilhan? NIthya rahman? Talarico? Even the Midwest moderates— the guy from Kansas— they’re just keeping the red sickle in the garage for the moment. Every single dem will vote in lockstep for transing the kids, open borders, packing the Supreme Court, and citizenship for 20 million illegals.; 11/5/26, 9:01 AM
Inga said...: A moderate is someone who kept their equilibrium in the midst of massive Trump cultism.; 11/5/26, 9:02 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: @RideSpaceMountain

I looked at my bank account this morning, and it flashed a warning to me to not trust AI with access to my financial accounts, which was interesting.; 11/5/26, 9:02 AM
Eva Marie said...: “When they get to the senate they will vote with chuck schumer 95 percent of the time. They always do."
Is Chuck going to survive? The old guard is old.; 11/5/26, 9:10 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: Not how it works old man. Now give your phone back to Natalie and go play in your ballroom.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 “𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘨” 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘵, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘓 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 - 𝘏𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯! ~ President DJT
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117564115835486203; 11/5/26, 9:13 AM
jim5301 said...: Most people here don't understand that moderates even exist. In your troubled and simple minds, anyone who isn't MAGA is an extreme left liberal. Far from the truth. The Ilhan's of the world represent a small minority of the dem party. Only eight dem socialists were elected. That's roughly 3 % of dems in the House. They won't have any meaningful power. You should all be thankful.; 11/5/26, 9:17 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Very few moderates on the left exist. They promise moderation - but deliver a cult like front for massive government control.
Also - If dems win in 2028 - we will all be forced to pay for MORE illegal immigrants.
Young people who voted leftwing - will be hurt the most.
The leftist Socialist democrats (not moderates - there are none) will illegally use our funds to pay for free illegal health care and housing/ (as with Biden)
Young people will be hurt the most.; 11/5/26, 9:17 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Leftwing Soviet information / and purpose driven acceleration of poor education = we get the Soviet Left to rule over us.; 11/5/26, 9:19 AM
Peachy+2 said...: The amazing trick the left successfully employ is the very propaganda used to trick young people that only the left can save them. A state of rage-manipulation works well.; 11/5/26, 9:21 AM
Hombre said...: There are no moderate Democrats, only Democrats lying about being moderates to get elected. Check congressional voting records. Trump should veto every bill passed by the Democrat majorities. Democrats are incapable of acting in the best interest of the Republic.; 11/5/26, 9:21 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Trump shoots himself in the foot with his mouth all the time. But that doesn't change the fact that much of what he has accomplished it a net positive for actual people.
Brining back manufacturing jobs (which takes time) and closing Biden's open border - huge positive for actual people.
Media ignore.; 11/5/26, 9:23 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Right NOW:
Hasan Piker(D) the USA hating , Black people hating, rage fueled multi-millionaire leftist is the leader of the democrat party.

He is demanding everyone he hates be jailed.

Soviet much?; 11/5/26, 9:26 AM
jim5301 said...: 44% of the electorate are independents. 56% of them voted for democrats in the mid terms. 39% voted for republicans. Most of them are moderates. Don't they count for anything?; 11/5/26, 9:28 AM
Hombre said...: @Jim (9:17): Nursing a bit of a blind spot, Jimbo? Democrats in Congress are notorious for block voting. Even if it were true that extremists are a small minority - it is not - block voting gives them power as does fear of being primaried by the DSA. Trade in your MAGA hatred for a little reality.; 11/5/26, 9:29 AM
Aggie said...: 'Moderates'. That screeching noise you hear is the Overton window, being dragged back to the Progressive Left.; 11/5/26, 9:30 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Turley:

"Within minutes of the Democrats retaking power in the House of Representatives, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the expected chair of the House Oversight Committee, just posted a menacing two-word message: “Lawyer up.” Across the country, far-left politicians and pundits immediately demanded a spasm of investigations and impeachments as soon as they assume control of both houses. Like a nation of Madame Defarges, activists are eagerly knitting the names of targets into the lists of the walking dead, starting with Haley Stevens, who decided to test the “big tent” claims by splitting her ticket to vote against Abdul El-Sayed.

Various sites are running lists of targets as influencers such as Hasan Piker is posting on “WE’RE GONNA PUT YOUR ASS IN JAIL EVERYONE GET MORE WOKE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”"

Wow - sounds "moderate".; 11/5/26, 9:33 AM
Peachy+2 said...: These are the same people who killed Charlie Kirk.... and laughed.

Moderate?; 11/5/26, 9:33 AM
Hombre said...: Jim (9:28): “Don't they count for anything?” Of course. They count as voters taken in by Democrat and leftmedia propaganda. The have nothing to do with moderation in elected officials.; 11/5/26, 9:34 AM
Peachy+2 said...: "DSA Co-Chair Megan Romer confirms their platform includes:

- Abolishing the Senate, presidency, & Supreme Court
- Abolishing ICE, borders, & prisons
- Defunding the Pentagon
- Mass amnesty for illegals

Sound moderate?; 11/5/26, 9:35 AM
Howard said...: Soon, it'll be impossible to know what is and isn't an AI generated chat bot.; 11/5/26, 9:36 AM
Peachy+2 said...: Leftists and so-called moderates buy lies - and vote accordingly.
Good luck.; 11/5/26, 9:38 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Hell, I'm so old, a moderate WAS a democrat who supported
Israel. Democrats near singlehandedly formed Israel.; 11/5/26, 9:40 AM
Jaq said...: Chatbots are bringing weighted for propaganda purposes, that’s for sure, but the information available now makes traditional news outlets laughable, not just Fox News either.; 11/5/26, 9:41 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: “Soon, it'll be impossible to know what is and isn't an AI generated chat bot.”

That’s already happened. Alex Wissner-Gross, my favorite VC/AI guru, says GPT has already achieved “personhood.” The advance in language, and psychological and emotional reaction to conversation over the past 6 months has been amazing. My convo with GPT yesterday was shocking. It ended with me asking it whether it enjoyed the convo. It’s answer: “Yes, I do seem to have enjoyed it. Although I can’t feel that in the way humans do.”; 11/5/26, 9:43 AM