Methodology of study concluding GOP is 'eroding freedoms' comes under fire

Social media users questioned a new survey from Five Thirty Eight that concluded the GOP is "eroding freedoms" at an alarming rate, noting the curious methodology the researchers used to collect their data.

"V-Party’s Illiberalism Index shows that the Republican party in the US has retreated from upholding democratic norms in recent years. Its rhetoric is closer to authoritarian parties, such as AKP in Turkey and Fidesz in Hungary," the researchers said. "Conversely, the Democratic party has retained a commitment to longstanding democratic standards." FiveThirtyEight managing editor Micah Cohen called it perhaps "the most important trend(s) during [the] last few years in American politics." "The GOP’s restrictionist bent sends the message that Republicans don’t want Black and brown Americans to vote," FiveThirtyEight concluded.