When she uploaded a TikTok video on Oct. 8, like she does dozens of times per month, self-described “communist” influencer Madeline Pendleton had no idea she was about to become the biggest villain on the internet. In a video that has received more than 1 million views and hundreds of remarkably hateful response videos, Pendleton claimed that “the Democratic Party is paying people thousands and thousands of dollars to make videos talking about how awesome the Democratic Party is.”

For making this accusation, critics have attacked Pendleton and accused her not just of lying but also of the kind of racism that historically got black men lynched — yes, seriously, they actually said that. But Pendleton’s allegations are, with some nuance needed, basically true and correct.