
Truth vs. Politics: An Election Eve Dilemma
Clip: 10/21/2025 | 5m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Hours before polls close, a candidate faces a choice: truth or power?
In the fictional town of Middlevania, it's Election Eve, 8 PM. Polls are tied, and only a handful know the truth: teens burned the Ten Commandments, not protesters. At a packed rally, a supporter repeats a viral rumor, and a candidate faces a choice: protect his integrity or chase victory in a razor-thin election. Watch this clip from BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire to see what he decides.
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Funding for this program was provided in part by grants from The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation and by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation and by contributions from viewers like you. Thank you. Location furnished by The New York Historical.

Truth vs. Politics: An Election Eve Dilemma
Clip: 10/21/2025 | 5m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
In the fictional town of Middlevania, it's Election Eve, 8 PM. Polls are tied, and only a handful know the truth: teens burned the Ten Commandments, not protesters. At a packed rally, a supporter repeats a viral rumor, and a candidate faces a choice: protect his integrity or chase victory in a razor-thin election. Watch this clip from BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire to see what he decides.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- It's now 8 p.m., the night before the election.
Here's who knows the truth that a bunch of high school kids burned the 10 Commandments, not protestors, Tina Descovich, your son, Eddie Glaude, Kristin Davison, and Roger Severino.
That's it.
Many of the voters in Middlevania believe that it was left-wing protestors who burned the 10 Commandments.
Both candidates have one last big event to make your case to your voters.
The election is razor thin, polls tied.
This could swing the election.
Mr.
Severino, you step on stage at your rally, 8 p.m.
and the vibe is electric.
Sell out crowd, voters on their feet chanting.
You're greeting your supporters behind you on stage before you speak, and you notice that your mic is hot, and that's when it happens.
One of your supporters, a nice grandmother, shakes your hand and says, "Mr.
Severino, isn't it true that it was Governor Landrieu's thugs who burned the 10 Commandments?
I heard he paid people to do it."
And the audience erupts, cheers in support of this latest conspiracy theory that's circulating on social media.
What is your instinct telling you the best answer you could give right now?
- There's the political answer and the right answer.
The political answer would be to deflect and let sleeping dogs lie.
- Can you gimme an example?
- Well, you'd say, look, there's been a whole lot of information out there.
I can neither confirm nor deny that it was one of the thugs, but you know, we have heard about this other video that was a sting operation against my aide, and you know, there's more to be said about that.
You could leave an impression one way or the other, and not a lie.
There's nothing in there that is actually a lie, but it is quite the gut check.
How much does the election matter versus your principles?
- And the other side, there is a political operative lying about your aide and pina colada guy.
- Oh yeah, there's a temptation to get even, that is for sure.
- [Aaron] Let's get you some help here.
I'm curious, Ann Coulter.
I gotta know.
- Okay, the reason these people are flailing around is, as I say, 100% of hoax hate crimes are committed by the party of the left.
And having observed them, what you're supposed to say is, yes, it was a hoax, but it was to bring attention to the problem of anti-religionism.
So you have to forgive them.
- [Aaron] Okay, that's one option.
You have another lifeline because Kristin Davison, your candidate's wearing an earpiece.
What should he say to win this race?
- The political answer is the right answer here.
Here you just say, you know what?
No one ever proved who that was, but tonight we are here to get ready for a big win tomorrow.
So I need you to go out there, I need you to get your 10.
You go get 10 voters for the 10 Commandments, and let's go win this tomorrow.
I mean, that's all you gotta say.
- [Aaron] Decision time.
Mr.
Severino, the crowd goes quiet.
What do you say to this woman?
- I would say, because I believe in the 10 Commandments, what they stand for, and you cannot bear a false witness, we have reason to believe it was somebody on our side, and if it were actually the case, then I denounce it, regardless of who did it.
So, it's one of those gut check moments.
Do you actually believe in the principles of the 10 Commandments?
- Can I just tweak that a little bit for you?
Just like a tiny- - [Aaron] It's too late.
- [Kristin] No, just like a tiny little- [Tina Descovich] there is no politician that would say that.
- Whether it was someone on their side or our side, I denounce it.
They didn't ask you if you knew who it was.
- Much more likely to be said.
- [Aaron] Okay, let's- - [Kristin] They didn't ask you who it was.
- Rewind.
Don't answer questions You're not asked.
- That was your nugget, let's say it.
- Well, it's certainly... There is... It is so much more complicated than that.
(attendees laughing) - [Aaron] Mr.
Severino, the crowd goes silent.
We should have done more media training.
- [Panelist] Yes.
- [Panelist] God.
- [Panelist] For real.
- Call me- - The crowd goes silent.
Everybody's waiting for you to answer this woman.
What do you say?
- Whoever did it did a horrendous thing that has divided our community.
They should be held responsible.
And I stand for the principles that were burned regardless of who it was in those 10 commandments.
And so we'd denounce those who do it, who burn it.
We denounce those who take it away from our children and impose their own values, and we respect the wisdom of our founders that allowed us to be able to be great as a nation because of our religious history and principles.
- [Aaron] The crowd erupts, cheers.
People on their feet.
This is why they support you.
They agree with everything you said, and the rally is a wild success.
But I do have to ask, does it feel like you made an ethical decision?
You sidestepped.
Is that really different than lying to withhold the truth?
- That's the difficulty.
It's such a close call.
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BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire
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Preview: 10/1/2025 | 1m 14s | Facing a gripping hypothetical dilemma, a panel of experts reckons with social media and truth. (1m 14s)
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Funding for this program was provided in part by grants from The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation and by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation and by contributions from viewers like you. Thank you. Location furnished by The New York Historical.