Tuesday 20 October 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
1
Average plausibility
72%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
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01PoliticsSouth America

Personal attacks mark debate ahead of Brazil’s run-off

The BBC reports a heated debate days before a run-off between a left-wing incumbent and a right-wing challenger.

Personal attacks featured in debate ahead of Brazil’s run-off vote, according to the BBC. Its summary describes the contest as being between a left-wing incumbent and a right-wing challenger, with voting days away.

What holds up

  • ✓The BBC explicitly reports personal attacks in the debate, although no examples appear in the supplied summary.
  • ✓The summary identifies the opposing candidates’ political positions and says the run-off is approaching.

What doesn't yet

  • ?Only one supplied item covers the contest; it provides neither candidates’ names nor the exact voting date.
  • ?No debate transcript, specific accusations or evidence of an effect on voters is included.

Ask before you share

  • →What precisely did the candidates say, and were their factual allegations checked?
  • →Is there evidence that the debate changed voting intentions?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]BBC News · Published 19 Oct 2026 · bbc.co.uk