a lot of people is vs a lot of people are

Some examples from the web:

• A lot of people wonder Is this real?
• A lot of people think that is my brother.
• Maybe I'm imagining the fact that we're kind of living in a house that a lot of people think is haunted.
• By the 1950s, we started connecting all the towns together with what a lot of people claim is the eighth wonder of the world, the highway system.
• For a lot of people, love isn't just a slogan.
• Unfortunately, a lot of people's experience is in apathy.
• So it's not a great job, but for a lot of people it really is quite a rational choice.
• For a lot of people, marriage is like sticking your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
• And what a lot of people forget, is there was a second trial, ordered by George Bush, Sr.
• A lot of people think this is just a job that you go to.
• Ustica, as perhaps a lot of people know, is a small island in the South Tyrrhenian Sea.
• See a lot of people think my boy is a hero.
• There's a lot of people who believe he is.
• What a lot of people don't know is that nickel is found in all gold up to 18 karats.
• And what a lot of people don't know Is that I was Jane wyman's first.
• A lot of people say that Kenshiro is weak...
• But what a lot of people don't know is that viruses can also make bacteria sick.
• Now, a lot of people say that Kelly is one in a million.
• I mean, that's more than a lot of people, isn't it?
• I think a lot of people think tennis is a sport.

Some examples from the web:

• Investigations have been started, a lot of people are in hot water.
• A new operating system came out, a lot of people are confused.
• Melanie, a lot of people are scared of the visitors.
• If our girl's actually got something on Federov, a lot of people are interested.
• If anything changes, a lot of people are going to get hurt, starting with you.
• I know a lot of people are very confused.
• Actually, Val, a lot of people are allergic to cats here.
• You made a deal with a sociopath, and now a lot of people are dead.
• At this time a lot of people are thinking about Sabina.
• Audrey, a lot of people are involved in stopping those drones.
• Apparently, a lot of people are getting hurt.
• Matter of fact, a lot of people are wearing white socks.
• So a lot of people are finding love online nowadays.
• Actually, a lot of people are getting sick.
• That a lot of people are getting out of the country.
• It seems like a lot of people are happy here.
• Vegetables, a lot of people are scared of them.
• Problem is, a lot of people are hungry.
• Not a lot of people are doing it.
• Daisy, a lot of people are psychic.