Watchdog Groups Raise Concerns About Disinformation on Spanish-Language Radio

Spanish-language radio stations across the United States are experiencing a troubling surge in election-related falsehoods as the 2026 midterm elections approach, according to media watchdogs monitoring broadcast content.

In recent weeks, Spanish-language broadcasts have promoted numerous unsubstantiated claims ranging from allegations that Charlie Kirk’s assassination is connected to a supposed $1.3 billion J.P. Morgan scandal to the unfounded assertion that 300,000 children have “disappeared” during the Biden administration. Other baseless claims include states allowing 15-year-old girls to receive mastectomies without parental consent.

Perhaps most concerning to democracy advocates is the persistent circulation of thoroughly debunked claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump through ballot fraud. These claims continue to gain traction despite Trump and his allies losing over 60 court challenges, none of which produced evidence of electoral manipulation.

“These narratives are bubbling up,” warned Martina Guzman, creator of VERDAD, a Spanish-language radio monitoring tool launched in November 2024. Guzman, an independent journalist at Wayne State University’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, described the situation as “very problematic for American democracy.”

VERDAD has provided unprecedented insight into false narratives circulating on Spanish-language airwaves. While English-language talk radio also spreads misinformation, critics note that Spanish-language radio often escapes public and regulatory scrutiny, allowing falsehoods to spread more brazenly within tight-knit Latino communities.

One example flagged by VERDAD came from Radio Mundo (WNMA), a popular Miami Springs-based station. During a February broadcast discussing the SAFE Act—legislation requiring proof of citizenship for federal election voter registration—an anchor falsely attributed a quote to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The fabricated quote claimed Schumer admitted that the law would reduce Democrats’ “capacity to cheat in elections.” When contacted by WLRN, Radio Mundo declined to comment.

The same station has also falsely accused Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of adding votes for Biden in the 2020 election, claiming video evidence existed of ballot manipulation. The broadcast incorrectly characterized Supreme Court dismissals of election fraud cases as politically motivated “evasions” rather than legitimate legal decisions based on lack of standing.

“This narrative affects the credibility of institutions,” explained Tamoa Calzadilla, director of Acento Story Tank and a bilingual investigative journalist. “It affects the credibility of electoral workers. And at the end of the day, our democracy.”

The Latino community appears particularly vulnerable to such misinformation due to its heavy reliance on radio for news. Evelyn Perez-Verdia, founder of We Are Más communications firm and a Latino media monitor in South Florida, explained the appeal: “Our communities listen to the radio and read the little local periodicito newspaper in the supermarket. You know what connects all of these? They’re free.”

This accessibility creates strong bonds of trust between Latino listeners and radio hosts. “When you live here in the United States, it’s so nostalgic… Hearing someone with your voice, with your accent—it means everything to you. That person becomes a person of trust. But that person is not telling you oftentimes the truth,” Perez-Verdia said.

Eduardo Gamarra, a professor at Florida International University and board member of the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas, offers a more nuanced view. While acknowledging misinformation’s presence, he argues it primarily reinforces existing voting intentions rather than converting voters.

“What the disinformation campaign serves—and we’re finding this pretty much to be the case—is that it reinforces those who are already committed to vote for a particular candidate,” Gamarra said. “It doesn’t necessarily, or even in any way, convince people to vote for another candidate.”

Recent polling suggests other factors may have greater influence on Latino voters. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll showed Democrats with a significant enthusiasm advantage heading into the midterms, with 79% of registered Democrats certain to vote compared to 65% of Republicans—the party’s widest midterm turnout edge in nearly two decades.

Gamarra’s own research among Venezuelan voters identified immigration as a key issue affecting support for Trump, with 26% saying they would never vote for him again, primarily due to relatives facing immigration challenges.

Despite these complex dynamics, media monitors continue encouraging voters to use tools like VERDAD to verify content ahead of the November 6 elections. As Perez-Verdia emphasized, “Our communities deserve the truth and deserve accurate information. We just want to make sure people are aware of what we’re seeing.”