As several news stories about music artist Kanye West entered the news cycle on October 26 2022, a viral tweet suggested that West had been “banned” from trading card came Yu-Gi-Oh: kanye west has been suspended from yu-gi-oh! pic.twitter
Publication: Fact Checks
Truth or Fiction?→ A Florida Attorney Opposed to Helmet Laws Died in a Motorcycle Crash
On October 26 2022, a popular Reddit post suggested that a Florida attorney known for opposing helmet laws had died in a motorcycle crash: Attorney who fought Florida helmet laws died in motorcycle crash while not wearing one from Leopa
Truth or Fiction?→ Dr. Oz on Abortion: Between a ‘Woman, Her Doctor, and Local Political Leaders’
On October 26 2022, a post to Reddit’s r/politics suggested that Republican candidate for Senate and television personality Mehmet Oz stated that a decision to have an abortion should be between “a woman, her doctor, and local political lea
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?→ ‘Pornstar Brandon Cummings … Arrested After Beating Up 35 Neo-Nazi’s’
On October 24 2022, an Imgur account shared what looked like a screenshot of an attention-grabbing, somewhat grammatically incorrect headline (“Pornstar Brandon Cummings, From The Famous ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Series Of Male On Male Po
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?→ Why Texas Schools Send Parents DNA Kits for ‘Emergencies’
On October 19 2022, a link about Texas schools sending DNA kits to parents for ease of student identification in an “emergenciwes” was shared to Reddit’s r/nottheonion — a subreddit for “true stories that are so mind-blowi
Truth or Fiction?→ Gov. Ron Desantis ‘Made Voting Easier in Certain Florida Counties Battered by Hurricane Ian – But Only Republican-Leaning Ones’?
On October 18 2022, two posts on Imgur indicated that Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis “made voting easier” for counties reeling from Hurricane Ian — with the caveat that the provisions were granted only to “Republic
Truth or Fiction?→ Alaska Snow Crab Season Canceled
In October 2022, a popular post to Reddit’s r/news indicated that Alaska’s regular snow crab season was canceled, pending investigation into the cause of a major problem: Alaska snow crab season canceled as officials investigate
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘With an Insurance Card You’re Entitled to Four Free Boxes of Two Covid Tests Per Month from CVS or Walgreens’
On October 16 2022, a tweet went viral about eight free COVID-19 tests per month, available to Americans “with an insurance card” through pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens: Did you know that with an insurance card you’re entitled to f
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
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Starbucks Corporate Is Leaving Mobile Orders on When Workers Are on Strike’
On October 11 2022, footage from TikTok was shared to Imgur with a descriptive on-screen top caption — “Starbucks corporate is leaving mobile orders on when workers are on strike”: Starbucks Corporate latest union busting tactics;
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
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Jimmy Carter Unveiling Solar Panels Atop the White House. Ronald Reagan Removed Them 2 Years Later’
On October 6 2022, a submission to r/pics came with the claim that former United States President Jimmy Carter had at one point unveiled solar panels on the White House — only to have his successor uninstall them just two years after the photogr
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
Truth or Fiction?→ I-80 Wyoming, ‘Highway to Heaven’
A September 30 2022 Facebook image of a “highway to heaven” in Wyoming spread virally in late September and early October 2022; the attached image looked like this: No links to additional information or a source for the image appeared alo
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Florida Female Student Athletes Have to Report Their Menstrual History to Play’
On October 3 2022, social media discourse followed claims that Florida’s female student athletes were made to disclose their “menstrual history” in order to participate in athletics: Florida female student athletes are aske
Truth or Fiction?→ Study: ‘Registered Republicans Had Far Higher Excess Death Rates Than Registered Democrats’ in Ohio and Florida
On October 3 2022, journalist James Surowiecki tweeted about a “new study” of post-vaccine pandemic mortality, contrasting deaths in Florida and Ohio with voter registrations: New study of almost 600,000 deaths in Ohio and Florida shows t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Iranian Women in the 60s’
On October 2 2022, the Facebook page “Feminist News” shared a photograph labeled “Iranian women in the 60s”: No context or source for the image was provided, and it was more accurate to say that it pictured an individual woman
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Dennis Prager Wrote a Whole Essay Whining About Men Having to Respect Women’s Sexual Boundaries’
On September 30 2022, a Twitter account shared a screenshot of a purported “essay” by PragerU founder Dennis Prager, featuring — in the tweet’s words — “whining about men having to respect women’s sexual boundaries
Truth or Fiction?→ Russian Consulate in New York City Vandalized?
On September 30 2022, a post to Reddit’s r/ukraine purportedly showed photographs of the New York City Russian consulate after it was vandalized and splattered with red paint: Russian consulate in New York City this morning from u
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Former Turning Point USA Youth Events Coordinator Adam Hageman Sentenced to 66 Months …’
On September 28 2022, an Imgur screenshot of a contemporaneous tweet claimed that a youth coordinator for right-wing campus activist group Turning Point USA, Adam Hageman, was sentenced to 66 months in prison in connection with a “child pornograp
Truth or Fiction?→ Publix Hurricane Cake (Ian Edition)
As Hurricane Ian approached Florida, images of “hurricane cakes” purportedly being sold at Publix began circulating on social media platforms: #HurricaneIan I think we're being warned pic.twitter.com/XLk9by8xTL — Inappropriate
Truth or Fiction?→ Rep. Liz Cheney ‘Message to Trump’ Tweet
On September 26 2022, an Imgur account shared a screenshot of a tweet attributed to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming): Lol Alongside the post, the Imgur submitter included a link to a September 26 2022 set of tweets. Elements like links to tweets are often
Truth or Fiction?→ Fake AOC ‘Electric Cars’ Tweet Resurfaced in Hurricane Ian Discourse
On September 26 2022, as Hurricane Ian entered the news cycle, screenshots of a tweet attributed to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) about gas station lines and electric cars circulated — again: pic.twitter.com/JzsnKOcPWF — MAGA
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Defund the Police’ Digitally Altered Attack Ad
On September 25 2022, a screenshot of a popular tweet apparently showed a dishonest attack advertisement against Rep. Ricky Hurtado (D- North Carolina): Look at this – it’s a comically dishonest political attack in NC. Rep. Ricky Hurtado ha
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Hillary Clinton Praise Italy’s New Fascist Leader?
Remarks from political figure and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton published in Italy in September 2022 received attention and criticism from Americans, thanks to a tweet parsing out two remarks regarding Italy’s incoming far right
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kyrsten Sinema Introducing Donald Trump’ Video
On September 26 2022, Twitter user Paul Lahticks (@PaulLahticks) shared a purported video showing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) with former U.S. President Donald Trump: BREAKING: After teaming up with Mitch McConnell today in Louisville to give a s
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Microbiological Culture of an Eight Year Old’s Handprint After Playing Outside’
On September 14 2022, a Facebook account shared an image labeled “Microbiological culture of an 8-Year old’s handprint after playing outside” to the public group “Weird, Fantastic and Odd Things”: Against a black backdro
Truth or Fiction?→ Trump ‘Peekaboo’ Truth Social Post
On September 21 2022, screenshots of a Truth Social post referencing New York state attorney general Letitia “Peekaboo” James and attributed to former United States President Donald Trump began circulating; it was quickly shared to Reddit&#
Truth or Fiction?→ Russia ‘Traffic Jam at the Finnish Border’ Video
On September 21 2022, “Russia traffic jam” became a trending topic on Twitter, largely due to the virality of a tweet purportedly showing massive gridlock at the border shared by Russia and Finland: #Breaking: just in – The traffic
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘NyQuil Chicken Challenge,’ Explained
On September 20 2022, Twitter’s “trending topics” prominently featured “NyQuil chicken” (purportedly due to a dangerous TikTok trend or “challenge,”) and clicking on the topic directed people to a large warning
Truth or Fiction?→ Georgia ‘Fake Elector’ Had More Access to Voting Equipment Than Previously Reported
On September 20 2022, discussions about a “fake elector” in Georgia appeared on several of Reddit’s subreddits: These fake electors should be in prison by now. from WhitePeopleTwitter A post shared to r/WhiteP
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Judy Garland Raise Money for the Civil Rights Movement?
Actor Judy Garland’s activism drew renewed attention decades after the fact after her work was highlighted by journalist Bobby Rivers. Rivers posted a photograph of Garland and fellow stars, saying: On This Day In History: Judy Garland — wi
Truth or Fiction?→ Puerto Rico Bridge Washed Away During Hurricane Fiona
A day after Hurricane Fiona made landfall on Puerto Rico on September 18 2022, several video clips of storm floods washing a bridge away were shared on Reddit. A post to r/AbruptChaos showed the sudden collapse of a bridge in hurricane floodwaters:
Truth or Fiction?→ The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Not ‘Over’
On September 18 2022, during a 60 Minutes segment, United States President Joe Biden’s remarks included a claim that the COVID-19 pandemic was “over” — leading to quite a lot of pushback: In an interview on “60 Minutes&#
Truth or Fiction?→ South Carolina Republicans ‘Voted to Remove Exceptions for Rape and Incest from Their Proposed Abortion Ban’
On September 15 2022, an Imgur account shared a screenshot of a tweet attributed to Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), which claimed that members of the South Carolina GOP had removed exceptions for rape and incest from their proposed abortion ban:
Truth or Fiction?→ Oklahoma Semitruck Accident Spills Adult Toys
On September 14 2022, a popular post to Reddit’s r/funny suggested that a tractor-trailer had “spilled a load of dildos and lube” in Oklahoma City: Semi Spilled a Load of Dildos and Lube in Oklahoma City from funny