White pages that have been overexposed in a video can be difficult to read.
Publication: 2020 election
FactCheck.org→ Paul Cites Distortion to Argue ‘Two Sides’ in Election Fraud Debate
In calling for a “thorough investigation” into “election fraud,” Republican Sen. Rand Paul distorted the facts about a Wisconsin policy that was introduced by Republicans and put in place before the 2016 general election. In Paul’s tellin
Snopes→ Did Trump Start a New Political Party Called the ‘Patriot Party’?
Trump supporters were selling memorabilia online promoting the supposed alternative to the Democratic and Republican parties.
Snopes→ Did Trump Open an ‘Office of the Former President’ in Palm Beach?
The former president may be looking for something to do with his free time.
Snopes→ RUMOR ALERT: Did the Trumps Fire White House Usher Timothy Harleth?
Reports conflicted about whether the Trumps or the Bidens fired the head White House usher after the Bidens weren't promptly let inside the White House.
Snopes→ Did ‘The Simpsons’ Predict Kamala Harris Would Be VP?
The idea that the TV show has predicted major world events is a common internet trope.
FactCheck.org→ Viral Meme Strips Context from Lawmakers’ Quotes on Protests
Quick Take A viral meme presents quotes from some Democratic lawmakers to misleadingly suggest they were advocating violence. They were supporting protests over various issues. Full Story Days after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters s
Snopes→ Did Trump Write ‘Joe, You Know I Won’ in Letter to Biden?
Social media users had some interesting ideas of what U.S. President Donald Trump might have said to his successor in the traditional presidential hand-off letter.
FactCheck.org→ False Claim of ‘No Flag’ Above White House
Quick Take Before President Joe Biden’s inauguration, social media users shared a false claim that there was no flag flying over the White House — suggesting it was a sign that the military had taken control of the government. In fact, the
Snopes→ Did Military Band Play ‘Hit the Road Jack’ Outside the White House?
Many on social media cheered what appeared to be an epic troll of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Snopes→ Copypasta Falsely Claims Kamala Harris Is ‘Marxist by Association’
Despite vague assertions in a piece of Facebook copypasta about the incoming vice president's associations, Harris isn't a Marxist.
FactCheck.org→ Bogus Claim Swirls Ahead of Biden Inauguration
Quick Take A bogus headline on social media claims that President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration has been cancelled and that major TV networks are set to “lose” their “licenses.” The falsehood relies on a debunked post wro
Snopes→ No, Obama and Former Italian Prime Minister Renzi Didn’t Rig US Election
A viral story going around social media builds on debunked mass voter fraud conspiracy theories.
FactCheck.org→ False Claim of Trump Invoking Insurrection Act
Quick Take A falsehood on social media claims President Donald Trump has “invoked” the Insurrection Act, seized control of the country through the military and will “remain president indefinitely.” A Defense Department spokesma
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a ‘Biden Election Official’ Arrested for Voter Fraud in Texas?
Shortly after the arrest of a Texas woman accused of election tampering, right-wing social media users began trying to spin the case into an attack on U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden’s decisive win over outgoing president Donald Trump. Embattled
FactCheck.org→ Timeline of National Guard Deployment to Capitol
On the day of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, the first National Guard members arrived to assist at about 5:40 p.m. By then, most of the violence had subsided. In the critical minutes before rioters had breached the Capitol building around 2 p.m., the chie
Snopes→ No, AOC Didn’t Tweet About ‘The Purge’
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the frequent target of internet rumors and disinformation.
FactCheck.org→ Road to a Second Impeachment
In the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, the House Democrats on Jan. 11 introduced legislation to impeach President Donald Trump, charging him with “inciting violence against the Government of the United States.” The impeachment resolution,
FactCheck.org→ Viral Tweet Distorts Facts on Consequences of Impeachment
Quick Take A viral tweet that migrated to Facebook distorts the facts on the consequences of a potential, second impeachment of President Donald Trump. Impeachment alone would not strip Trump of his pension or bar him from pursuing office in the future
FactCheck.org→ Fake Letter Attributed to Pelosi Generates Anger Online
Quick Take A digitally manipulated, phony letter referring to a “Democratic Play book” and attributed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been circulating online, contributing to partisan rancor following the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. F
Snopes→ Trump Pressured Georgia to ‘Find the Fraud’ in Earlier Call
It is one of at least three phone calls, held over the course of a month between early December and early January, where Trump sought help from high-level Georgia officials in subverting the election — only to be rebuffed each time.
Snopes→ No Surprise: Trump Left Many Clues He Wouldn’t Go Quietly
The clues spanned a presidency marked by raw, angry rhetoric, puffed-up conspiracy theories, and a kind of fellowship with “patriots” drawn from the seething ranks of right-wing extremists.
Snopes→ Will Biden’s Dog Get an ‘Indoguration’ Party?
Major Biden’s former shelter is celebrating the "first dog" with a virtual party.
FactCheck.org→ False Claims of Fraud in Georgia Runoffs
Quick Take Online posts falsely claim that there was fraud in the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, but the only evidence they offer are clips of election night newscasts that corrected two data-entry errors. Full Story Some of the same false claims
Snopes→ Did Tomi Lahren Say Biden Supporters Would ‘Loot and Riot’ If He Lost Election?
Another tweet that didn't age well in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking the Electoral College Debate
The process of certifying Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, after being disrupted by rioters and delayed by Republicans who repeated false and misleading claims about the election result
FactCheck.org→ Bogus Antifa Claims Follow Capitol Riot
Quick Take Viral social media posts and a Republican House member have amplified claims wrongly identifying some right-wing figures at the U.S. Capitol riot as part of “antifa.” The claims feed into an unfounded conspiracy theory that anti-
Poynter→ Yesterday’s unprecedented attack on the Capitol was a clear consequence of mis/disinformation
Factually is a newsletter about fact-checking and misinformation from Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network. Sign up here. The fact-checking community collaborated again We’re coming to you a little later this Thursday because, like many
Snopes→ Trump Says His Term is Ending, Transition Will Be Orderly
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter.
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Falsehood-Filled ‘Save America’ Rally
Prior to the violence that disrupted Congress’ counting of the electoral votes, President Donald Trump gave an indignant speech filled with falsehoods about the presidential election he lost two months ago to Democrat Joe Biden. “Now it is
Poynter→ Venezuelan and Turkish diplomats mirror their American counterparts in warnings about U.S. democracy
The shoe was on the other foot today as officials in Venezuela and Turkey warned their citizens about the dangerous political situation in the United States. Both countries have faced criticism in the past from American officials who raised alerts that
Poynter→ Venezuelan and Turkish diplomats mirror their American counterparts in warnings about U.S. democracy
The shoe was on the other foot today as officials in Venezuela and Turkey warned their citizens about the dangerous political situation in the United States. Both countries have faced criticism in the past from American officials who raised alerts that
Snopes→ Did Apple Block Directions to US Capitol?
The theory is belied by the fact that Apple Maps provides directions to Washington, D.C.
Snopes→ Did Trump Threaten to Prosecute Anyone Who Damaged Federal Buildings?
Many previous political tweets proved not to have aged well as chaos unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Poynter→ A man wearing a buffalo cap proves how far mis/disinformation can go and how dangerous it can be
Jake Angeli stood bare-chested, wearing his trademark buffalo cap and holding an American flag, among a group of other men who stormed the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday afternoon. The well-known QAnon evangelist’s presence in such a moment was cons
Poynter→ A man wearing a buffalo cap proves how far mis/disinformation can go and how dangerous it can be
Jake Angeli stood bare-chested, wearing his trademark buffalo cap and holding an American flag, among a group of other men who stormed the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday afternoon. The well-known QAnon evangelist’s presence in such a moment was cons
Snopes→ Was US Sen. David Perdue Photographed Making a ‘White Power’ Gesture?
We know the photograph of the Georgia senator is real.
Snopes→ Decision Day in Georgia with Senate Majority at Stake
The results of the runoff will determine control of the Senate for the start of Joe Biden's term as president.
Snopes→ Did DC Mayor Shut Down Amenities To Prevent Electoral College Protesters from Gathering?
The mayor did ask residents to avoid downtown but not for the reasons some asserted on social media.
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking the Georgia Senate Runoffs
Two months after Election Day, control of the U.S. Senate in the 117th Congress comes down to two races in Georgia on Jan. 5. None of the four candidates on the ballot garnered 50% of the vote on Nov. 3, which forced separate runoffs. In one of the con