Name:   johndoe - Subject:   Sans Google Trump likely won the popular vote Date:   8/21/2019 6:40:34 PM (updated 8/21/2019 7:11:00 PM)

The study in question has not only not been published  in a peer-reviewed journal, it is only possible to see a summary of its conclusions on the website. Search results that appear to be politically biased may be caused by factors unrelated to politics. The burden of proof lies with the person making the allegation, and the standard that must be met is high. All variables other than politics must be eliminated.

It is a fact that what people read, see, and hear influences how they think. That's why so much money is spent on advertising. Given these facts, one must also conclude that lies told by politicians and their supporters, in speeches, ads, and tweets, also influence votes. #45 played on the racial anxietites and animosities of a group of people, and doing so - even though the entire message is a lie - garnered him many millions of votes. If Google "hacked" the election, then so did #45. In either case, individuals who voted cast their votes voluntarily.

Of much greater significance are things like the 70,000 votes that went uncounted in Detroit, as many as 160,000 uncounted in Florida, voter suppression through draconian ID laws, closing polling places in predominantly minority districts, etc. #45 won by a total of fewer than 80,000 votes, distributed conveniently - too conveniently - among three states. Uncounted votes in those states alone could have made the difference.