Or perhaps perception of "empirical reality" is shaped by existing biases, causing them to be denied outright, resulting in an echo chamber that disproportionately affected conservative positions.

Have you ever breached the subject of intelligence/IQ science, evolutionary biology or being pro-GMO with "progressive" "educated" "liberals" before? Systemic blind spots exist on both sides of the political spectrum.

Guess what, conservatives think "liberal news" are contradicted by empirical reality too. Nobody thinks they are in the wrong.

Your 'perhaps' assertion contradicts what the curators actually said.