A January 8 2023 attempted right-wing coup in Brazil’s capital Brasília followed the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (popularly known as “Lula”) over right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the South American nation’s pres
Publication: disinformation
Truth or Fiction?→ George Santos Hand Gesture
Amid ongoing and fruitless efforts to elect a U.S. House Speaker on January 5 2023, a photograph of embattled freshman Rep.-elect George Santos (R-New York) using the “OK sign,” a hand gesture appropriated for signaling by white supremacist
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Dead Pope Hammer’
After former Pope Benedict XVI died, a January 1 2023 tweet asserted that a “dead pope hammer” existed — purportedly used to “hit dead popes on the head three times” and affirm they decedent is genuinely “dead̶
Truth or Fiction?→ White House COVID-19 Chief Downplays Mask Use in ‘Confusing’ Interview
The head of the White House’s response to COVID-19, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, downplayed the importance of local mask mandates in December 2022 — going into the third year of the global pandemic — even as he claimed it was not an “eith
Truth or Fiction?→ Police Describe Member of Elon Musk’s Security Team as ‘Suspect’ in ‘Stalker’ Incident
On December 21 2022, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of the following tweet, asserting that a member of Elon Musk’s security team had been deemed a “suspect” in an incident Musk tweeted about earlier in December 2022: Overall, the
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘We Took Police At Their Word’: Florida News Outlets Fuel Latest Police ‘Overdose’ Story
A story out of Florida in December 2022 quickly gained traction online and made it to the national spotlight, becoming the latest story to push the claim — contrary to medical expertise — that even brief exposure to fentanyl can induce an o
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Twitter Files’ Round 2: Bari Weiss Edition
Conservative columnist Bari Weiss became the second person to receive “Twitter Files” documents from Twitter’s then-new CEO Elon Musk in December 2022. This generated quite a lot of exceptionally vague controversy, as well as discussi
Truth or Fiction?→ Michigan Republican Leaves State Senate Regurgitating ‘Great Replacement’ Smears
A normally sedate occasion gave outgoing Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey the opportunity to instead peddle highly weaponized conspiracy theories and disinformation campaigns. “I can see things that are about to happen or are going to
Truth or Fiction?→ Charlie Kirk Reads Messages From Georgians Bragging About Not Voting?
On December 8 2022, two Imgur accounts shared screenshots of a popular tweet which claimed that right-wing pundit and disinformation purveyor Charlie Kirk spent the first hour of his online show “reading emails from his listeners who said they d
Truth or Fiction?→ Moore County Substation Attack: What We Know So Far
On the night of December 3 2022, residents of North Carolina’s Moore County lost power; subsequently, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office published a Facebook post indicating that the loss of power was being investigated as a “criminal
Truth or Fiction?→ ’88 Words’
On November 30 2022, tweets about a Republican fundraising email containing the phrase “88 words” appeared: I hate playing “gotcha” — regardless of the side. But I’m striving to understand why — during week of Trump/Kanye/Fuente
Truth or Fiction?→ Twitter No Longer Enforcing COVID Misinformation Policy
On November 29 2022, a post to Reddit’s r/news claimed that Twitter had stopped enforcing its policy on disinformation and misinformation around COVID-19: Twitter is no longer enforcing its Covid misinformation policy from news
Truth or Fiction?→ An Arizona County Won’t Certify Election Results After 2022 Midterms
On November 29 2022, an Imgur account shared a text-based image containing the claim that a county in Arizona is refusing to certify the results of the November 2022 midterm election: The text said: A thing is going on in Arizona. A few counties, wher
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Died Suddenly’ and the ‘Irish Light’
On November 22 2022, posts and tweets suddenly began to reference a new issue of a purported newspaper (the Irish Light), and its ominous-sounding “Died Suddenly” cover: The Died Suddenly edition of the Irish light is out now. pic.twitte
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the Suspected Colorado Shooter the Grandson of a ‘GOP California State Assemblyman’?
On November 21 2022, in the days following a mass shooting attack at the LGBTQ Club Q in Colorado Springs that left at least five people dead, screenshots circulated on Reddit and Imgur (twice) of a tweet claiming that the suspected shooter was the gr
Truth or Fiction?→ How to Fight Disinformation — Part V: Resilience Targeting
This is the last in a series about how communities can fight back and protect themselves against weaponized disinformation campaigns. You can read our previous articles here: Part I: Firehosing Part II: Gaslighting Part III: Distraction Part IV: Sign
Truth or Fiction?→ Tulsa Donut Hole Firebombed After Hosting Drag Event
On November 3 2022, a viral tweet with video indicated that Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Donut Hole was firebombed “after hosting a drag show”: The Donut Hole in Tulsa, Oklahoma was firebombed after it hosted a drag show. This is the inevitabl
Truth or Fiction?→ Ottawa’s Right-Wing ‘Freedom Convoy’ Was Assisted by Canadian Police and Federal Officials
The right-wing trucker “convoy” protesting vaccination mandates in Canada in early 2022 received information from personnel in both local and federal law enforcement, according to their attorney. The Toronto Star reported that the attorney,
Truth or Fiction?→ U.S. President Joe Biden’s Speech on Threats to Democracy
On November 2 2022, United States President Joe Biden gave a speech ahead of the November 8 2022 U.S. midterm elections decrying a spike in political violence and urging voters to participate at the polls. Some Twitter users claimed that Biden’s
Truth or Fiction?→ More Fake Newspapers Distributed Ahead of 2022 Midterms
On November 1 2022, an Imgur account shared photographs of a “fake newspaper,” designed to conceal political talking points as news: Republican Misinformation Disguised as a Local Newspaper Six images were included in the post, but the n
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Victory for the Voters’: Arizona Ballot ‘Watchers’ Ordered to Stay Away from Drop Boxes
The right-wing, conspiracist-minded group that bragged about staking out election drop boxes in Arizona was ordered by a federal judge to stay at least 75 feet away from them, and forbidden from speaking to voters unless spoken to first. Judge Michael
Truth or Fiction?→ A Brief History of Pelosi Attack Conspiracies
In the early morning hours of October 28 2022, a hammer-wielding intruder entered the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, encountering and attacking her husband Paul. Paul Pelosi sustained head injuries, severe enough to warrant emergency surgery. Late
Truth or Fiction?→ Hammer-Wielding Home Invader Attacks Paul Pelosi, Spouse of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Early on the morning of October 28 2022, news appeared that the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was attacked at their residence by an individual with a hammer. A post to Reddit’s r/WhitePeopleTwitter featured a tweet about the incident:
Truth or Fiction?→ Mike Pence ‘Freedom From Religion’ Comments
On October 26 2022, two tweets asserted that former United States Vice President Mike Pence had claimed that Americans do not have “freedom from religion”: BREAKING: Mike Pence claims on Fox News that there is no such thing as “freedom
Truth or Fiction?→ Russia Calling for ‘Desatanization’ of Ukraine
On October 25 2022, Daily Beast columnist and Russian media watcher Julia Davis tweeted that Russia’s security council “called for … the desatanization” of Ukraine: Meanwhile in Russia: since Putin's phony "denazifica
Truth or Fiction?→ As Voter Intimidation Efforts Ramp Up, a 2016 ‘Poll Watcher’ Meme Recirculates
On October 24 2022, a popular Imgur repost addressed voter intimidation, presented in a broader context of “poll watchers” leading up to the U.S. midterm election: Reposting ICYMI: Voting info. ‘Voting is Your Right as a Citizen
Truth or Fiction?→ Arizona Alerts DOJ After Complaints About Right-Wing Ballot ‘Watchers’
As election deniers and conspiracy theorists appeared to set their sights on Arizona (among other states), both state and federal officials have been alerted regarding possible voter intimidation in Phoenix in October 2022. According to KNXV-TV reporte
Truth or Fiction?→ Lara Logan Rant Results in Newsmax Ban, Statement
Former CBS News correspondent Lara Logan was banned from far-right American cable network Newsmax in October 2022 after a bizarre antisemitic rant on October 19 2022 — the latest in a long string of appearances featuring escalating, fully conspi
Truth or Fiction?→ How Local ABC Affiliates Spread the Same Debunked ‘Warning’ About Fentanyl
A story out of Los Angeles, California that hinged on fearmongering from law enforcement regarding “Halloween fentanyl” in October 2022 served as another example of how television news affiliates can amplify disinformation — all witho
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Republicans Are Introducing the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act’
On October 18 2022, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson (R) tweeted an announcement about a piece of proposed legislation with an attention-grabbing title — “The Stop the Sexualization of Children Act”: BREAKING Republicans are introducing
Truth or Fiction?→ Former Michigan House Speaker Under Investigation for ‘Array’ of Suspected Crimes
The former state House Speaker for Michigan is reportedly under investigation after months of allegations of both personal and professional impropriety. The Detroit News reported on October 18 2022 that the state attorney general’s office had ope
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Flooding the Zone’: Trump Allies Push for Election Denier ‘Observers’
The former chief of staff for one-term United States President Donald Trump is at the head of the group funding the efforts of right-wing “election watchers,” who have opted to base their campaign on Trump’s lie that he did not really
Truth or Fiction?→ Texas Republican Tweets, Deletes Fake News Headline
On October 14 2022, a screenshot of a tweet attributed to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) with a headline from The Atlantic circulated on Twitter: The screenshot, a mockup of a headline from The Atlantic, featured an image of people gathered at an event.
Truth or Fiction?→ What Did Alex Jones Do?
On October 12 2022, news that far-right broadcaster Alex Jones was ordered to pay “nearly $1 billion” ($965 million) to eight Sandy Hook families prompted significant discussions about disinformation — alongside a concerted effort to
Poynter→ Brazil’s fact-checkers concerned with their impact ahead of Oct. 30 runoff
Factually is a newsletter about fact-checking and misinformation from Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network. Sign up here to receive it in your email every other Thursday. Journalists and fact-checkers in Brazil are concerned about the [&
Truth or Fiction?→ American States ‘That Wish to Join Russia Will Be Considered,’ Says Duma Member
On October 11 2022, a post with the headline “U.S. States That Wish to Join Russia Will Be Considered, Says Duma Member” appeared on Reddit’s r/worldnews: U.S. States That Wish to Join Russia Will Be Considered, Says Duma M
Truth or Fiction?→ PayPal ‘Misinformation’ Fine Controversy
In October 2022, frenzied posts on Twitter and Reddit alluded to a new PayPal “misinformation fine” of $2,500 — with some urging others to close their PayPal accounts: Just moved all money I had in my PayPal account out of it. And
Poynter→ Greeks don’t trust their media. Fact-checkers are trying to help
ATHENS, Greece — Dubious news and online content is everywhere. Even here, in the birthplace of democracy. The challenges facing media outlets across the globe are many, including widespread public […] The post Greeks don’t trust their media.
Truth or Fiction?→ USA Today Publisher Also Printing Right-Wing ‘Newspaper’ Mailings: Report
The publishing company behind USA Today and other reputable newspapers is also publishing a string of far-right and other disinformation-heavy political publications made up to look like news outlets. According to the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR),
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Fifth Texas National Guardsman [Died by] Suicide After Being Ordered by Greg Abbott to Patrol Migrants’
On October 5 2022, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of a tweet claiming that a “fifth Texas National Guardsman” had died by suicide after being “ordered by [Texas Governor] Greg Abbott to patrol migrants”: BREAKING: A fifth