Dubious web sites generously provided the Internet with textbook examples of both cherry-picked data and the shameless conflation of weather with climate.
Publication: Fact Check
Snopes→ Is ‘Baron Trump’s Marvelous Underground Journey’ a Real Book from the 1890s?
Two books from the 1890s contain seemingly eerie connections to modern-day politics.
Snopes→ Marine Stabbed by Shoplifter?
The tale of a shoplifter who stabbed a toy-collecting Marine and was then whomped by other Marines has been embellished for humorous effect.
Snopes→ Were King Cobras Shipped to Los Angeles in Snack Containers?
A man was arrested on suspicion of smuggling cobras and other reptiles into the United States via Los Angeles International Airport.
Snopes→ Did Somali Muslims Take Over a Small Tennessee Town?
A hyperpartisan web site offered up a patchwork of half-truths and hyperbole to sow fear and hatred of refugees.
Snopes→ Is Former ‘Price is Right’ Host Bob Barker Dead at Age 94?
The former game show host suffered a head injury in June 2017, but he did not die.
Snopes→ Is This a Russian Pilot Flying Under a Bridge in 1965?
An image purportedly showing a Russian pilot flying under a bridge in 1965 is actually a composite of two or more images.
Snopes→ Scaramucci Posts Nude Photos of His Wife as Revenge for Divorce?
A satire site used news of disarray at the White House to push a false story about the new communications director.
Snopes→ Steven Furtick Signs Six Year, $110 Million Contract with Lakewood Church?
Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtick took to Twitter to dispel a satire site's claim about him.
Snopes→ Live Panda Flown from China to U.S. in Business Class?
A viral image purportedly showing a live panda cub seated next to a human being on a China Airlines jet was staged, probably for public relations purposes.
Snopes→ 31-Year-Old British Woman Died of “Cannabis Poisoning”?
Although this claim is based on official testimony from a pathologist during an inquiry into a mysterious death, scientific evidence makes such an explanation problematic, if not completely untenable.
Snopes→ German Tank Shot Down UFOs?
A photograph purportedly showing kill markings that indicate flying saucers on a WWII-era anti-aircraft gun has been digitally manipulated.
Snopes→ Was a Musician Deported for Attacking a Los Angeles Street Vendor?
A dubious web site exaggerated the outcome of musician Carlos Hakas' encounter with elote seller Benjamín Ramírez.
Snopes→ Rat Meat Sold as Chicken Wings?
Reports that a large quantity of rat meat was sold as chicken wings in the U.S. originated as fake news.
Snopes→ ‘Advancement of Islamic Agenda for America’ Sign
A photograph of a sign bearing an ominous threat from the group 'Advancement of Islamic Agenda for America' is a digital fabrication.
Snopes→ Li Ching-Yuen: 256-Year-Old Man?
Claims that a Chinese man named Li Ching-Yuen lived to be 256 years old are poorly documented and highly improbable.
Snopes→ Was Kirk Cameron Diagnosed With a Rare Form of Leprosy?
A shocking report about the former child actor was just another hoax from a well-known purveyor of satire.
Snopes→ Lion Snuggles With Cat?
A photograph purportedly showing a house cat cuddling with a lion was digitally altered for an advertising campaign.
Snopes→ Does Cuba Have A Cancer Vaccine That Has Already Cured Thousands?
While a treatment for lung cancer developed in Cuba has entered clinical trials in the United States, it is not a preventative tool, nor has it “cured” thousands of people — at least yet.
Snopes→ ‘Popcorn Carnival’ WhatsApp Hoax
Another WhatsApp malware hoax is circulating, this time warning that a "Carnaval de las palomitas" or "Popcorn Carnival" video could "hack" your phone.
Snopes→ What Football Coach Said ‘Act Like You’ve Been There Before’?
An old football quote about touchdown celebrations has been attributed to a number of coaches, including Joe Paterno, Paul Brown, and Vince Lombardi.
Snopes→ Is this a Kayaker Paddling Through a Pod of Orca Whales?
A painting by a Canadian artist is often mistaken for a photograph.
Snopes→ John Lennon Played Guitar with Che Guevara?
A photograph purportedly showing the American musician and the Cuban revolutionary playing music together was digitally altered.
Snopes→ The Kayak and the Whale
A photograph showing a kayaker crossing the gaping jaws of a humpback whale is a digital fabrication.
Snopes→ Is Snapchat Building a Facial Recognition Database for the Feds?
Online conspiracy theorists claim Snapchat's image filter feature called "Lenses" is covertly amassing a database of users' faces to share with law enforcement agencies.
Snopes→ Did The Federal Bureau of Investigation Seize Smashed Hard Drives From Rep. Wasserman-Schultz’s Home?
A dubious web site contradicted its own source on an alleged seizure concerning the lawmaker's former aide.
Snopes→ Is This ‘Walking’ Protein What Happiness Really Looks Like?
A computer-generated visualization of a kinesin protein has been circulating on the internet for years affixed with descriptions that convey varying levels of inaccuracy.
Snopes→ Walmart JAJKET Stock Keeping Unit Code
Are shoppers falling prey to Walmart's "phantom charge" of $10, which has been appearing on random receipts for a decade?
Snopes→ Tom Hanks Wears Political T-Shirt?
A July 2017 Facebook post is the latest to digitally add political slogans to a photograph of the actor.
Snopes→ Did CNN Bury the Justine Damond Story Because She Was a White Woman Killed By a ‘Black Islamic Immigrant From Somalia’?
CNN, along with many other major media outlets all across the world, has covered the Damond shooting in great detail.
Snopes→ Can Veterans Shop Online at Military Exchange Stores?
Thousands of veterans have applied to make use of the program prior to its November 2017 launch.
Snopes→ Did Wendy’s Replace Workers With Machines?
A meme made the demonstrably false claim that Wendy's had replaced workers with machines at thousands of its restaurants, thanks to a minimum wage increase.
Snopes→ Was Usher Successfully Sued for Giving a Woman Herpes?
A series of articles about the singer are high on sensationalism, but low on verifiable details.
Snopes→ Did Muslim Federal Judge ‘Mahal al Alallaha-Smith’ Rule that Two Items of Sharia Law Are Now Legal?
An article reporting that a federal judge had implemented "sharia law" in the United States is fake news that was originally posted on a satire site.
Snopes→ Did Anthony Scaramucci Post a Sexually Explicit Tweet in 2009?
An image purportedly showing a missive from White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci was digitally manipulated.
Snopes→ Is a Wisconsin Company Offering to Microchip its Employees?
River Falls-based Three Square Market is giving its workers the option of voluntarily having a microchip implanted in their hands.
Snopes→ Creflo Dollar Debuts New Pulpit Made Entirely of Hundred Dollar Bills?
A satirical article claimed that the controversial televangelist had a new pulpit made of money.
Snopes→ Did a Middle School Student Break Both Arms Jumping Off a Water Tower for a Science Project?
A doctored photograph appears to show a student who researched the question "jumping off buildings -- how high is too high?"
Snopes→ Burundanga/Scopolamine Warning
Criminals in the U.S. are not using burundanga-soaked business cards to incapacitate their victims.
Snopes→ Was a Holistic Doctor Killed by Police for Working Against ‘Big Pharma’?
There's no evidence that Justine Damond was targeted for her healing practices.