Did Pattie Mallette, who became pregnant with Justin Bieber at 17, say it was a result of rape? No, that's not true: While being a survivor of sexual abuse, she does not categorize the moment she conceived her son as rape in her memoir. T
Publication: Politics
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Rep. Jim Jordan Did NOT Slap Robert Mueller During Testimony
Did Rep. Jim Jordan slap former Special Counsel Robert Mueller during a congressional hearing? No, that's not true: The social media post making the claim provides no proof. More importantly, such an assault on Mueller by Jordan never hap
The Dispatch→ Do Pro-Lifers Have a Plan?
Pro-life supporters gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., ahead of the March for Life on January 20, 2023. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Plus, New York Democrats turn up the heat on congressional redistricting efforts.C
The Dispatch→ Video: Mike Warren Joins the Dispatch
Watch the video of our weekly livestreamed conversation. Continue reading Video: Mike Warren Joins the Dispatch »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Switzerland Did NOT Order ‘Immediate Halt’ To COVID-19 Vaccinations Claiming ‘More Harm Than Good’
Did Switzerland health officials declare in April 2023 that COVID-19 vaccines do "more harm than good" and order an "immediate halt" to immunizations? No, that's not true: In a statement, the Swiss government reported that 98 percent of t
Truth or Fiction?→ Clarence Thomas’ Right-Wing Benefactor Helped Ginni Thomas Become a Lobbyist
The right-wing real estate mogul who reportedly lavished Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with undisclosed vacations also financed Virginia “Ginni” Thomas’ foray into becoming a lobbyist fighting what was described as a “cu
The Dispatch→ How Electable Is Ron DeSantis?
lorida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters on March 10, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)More than Trump?Continue reading How Electable Is Ron DeSantis? »
The Dispatch→ Dispatch Live: Mike Warren Joins the Dispatch
Join our weekly livestreamed conversation.Continue reading Dispatch Live: Mike Warren Joins the Dispatch »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Russian Fighter Jet Intercepting US Navy Aircraft On April 10, 2023
Does this video show a Russian fighter jet intercept a U.S. Navy aircraft and order it to leave on April 10, 2023? No, that's not true: This event shown in the video did not happen on April 10, 2023, but on July 7, 2021. The source of the
The Dispatch→ Democrats vs. the Rule of Law
U.S. President Joe Biden holds a meeting with his science and technology advisers at the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images.)Plus, Joe Biden is a surprisingly strong incumbent.Continue reading Democra
The Dispatch→ No Labels, Big Plans
Voting booths stand ready for use in a U.S. election. (Photo from Getty Images.)Plus: Meet George Santos’ first primary challenger.Continue reading No Labels, Big Plans »
The Dispatch→ Meet the Whigs
Abraham Lincoln. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Republicans should remember that they are a third party.Continue reading Meet the Whigs »
The Dispatch→ DeSantis Stuck in Cruz Control
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a Midland County Republican Party event on April 6, 2023, in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by Chris duMond/Getty Images)Is he headed for the same finish?Continue reading DeSantis Stuck in Cruz Control »
The Dispatch→ Our Best Stuff From the Week Trump Got Arraigned
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his defense team in a Manhattan court during his arraignment on April 4, 2023. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)Plus: the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and Republican shenanigans in Tennessee.Continue r
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Woke’ Did NOT Originally Come From ‘Willingly Overlooking Known Evil’
Did the expression "woke" originate from the phrase "willingly overlooking known evil"? No, that's not true: The term "stay woke" was first used in a 1938 song by blues musician Lead Belly about Black teenagers accused of raping white wom
The Dispatch→ Three and Out
Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville speaks during a vote to expel her from the state Legislature on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)Thoughts on Tennessee.Continue reading Three and Out »
The Dispatch→ The Ties That Blind
Former President Donald Trump arrives at an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club April 4, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)With no other frame of reference, young conservatives are starting to think it’s normal to be jerks.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Claim That Obama Will ‘Relocate To Kenya In June’ Is NOT News Story — It’s April Fool’s Day Joke
Will former President Barack Obama move to Kenya in June 2023 as a Senate-confirmed special envoy for U.S. diplomacy? No, that's not true: The article that makes this claim has a disclaimer that states it's an April Fool's Day story. Some
The Dispatch→ Out of Sorts
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former President Donald Trump April 4, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)Our political homogeneity makes primaries more im
The Dispatch→ Pardon Me?
Former President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys inside the courtroom during his arraignment on April 4, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images)The politics of clemency for Donald J. Trump.Continue reading Pardon Me? »
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Woke Free Tampons’ and ‘Period Poverty’ in the United States
On April 5 2023, a Reddit user shared a link about “woke free tampons” and “period poverty” to the subreddit r/politics: Teens, experts say free period products in schools isn’t ‘woke’ — it’s
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Manhattan DA Arrested — Video Just Shows Alvin Bragg Leaving His Office
Does this video show Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, arrested? No, that's not true: Video used in a claim is from The Associated Press (AP) and in reality the AP caption is, "Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg seen leaving office" on
The Dispatch→ Chicago Has a New Mayor
Brandon Johnson speaks after being projected winner as mayor Tuesday in Chicago. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)Plus: Wisconsin has a new Supreme Court justice.Continue reading Chicago Has a New Mayor »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Joe Biden Stepping On Cat — Squeal Was Digitally Added
Does a video clip on social media contain genuine audio of President Joe Biden stepping on a cat that squeals in response? No, that's not true: According to an official White House transcript, Biden stumbled over a floor wire at a New Yor
The Dispatch→ Crime and Punishment
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his attorneys inside the courtroom for his arraignment proceeding on April 4, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images)Fantasy politics in Manhattan and Wisconsin. Continue reading Cr
The Dispatch→ ’Twas the Darkest and Stormiest Night
Former President Donald Trump arrives for an arraignment hearing on April 4, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)The dangers of Donald Trump’s magical thinking.Continue reading ’Twas the Darkest and Stormiest Night »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Trump ‘Mug Shot’ Is NOT Real — It Was Made Using AI
Is this booking photograph of Donald Trump real? No, that's not true: This is a picture created using artificial intelligence. Media outlets including AP and CBS reported that former President Trump did not have a mug shot taken when he w
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show A ‘Cost Of Living March’ In London On April 1, 2023 — It’s A 2018 Anti-Brexit March
Does a video circulating on social media show crowds protesting the increasing cost of living in London on April 1, 2023? No, that's not true: The footage is from a 2018 anti-Brexit rally. The claim appeared in a video posted on Facebook
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Does NOT Show Russian ‘Retaliation Strike’ On Secret NATO Bunker
Does a social media photo show the aftermath of Russian bombing of a NATO "secret underground bunker," possibly in Ukraine? No, that's not true: The image is a screenshot from a March 2021 video showing the aftermath of explosions at an o
The Dispatch→ What the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Tells Us About 2024
Wisconsin voters cast their ballots on November 8, 2022, in Madison. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)Plus: A progressive wins in Chicago. Continue reading What the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Tells Us About 2024 »
The Dispatch→ Former President Arraigned
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his defense team in a Manhattan court during his arraignment on April 4, 2023. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg faces an uphill climb for a Trump conviction.Continue reading Fo
The Dispatch→ Is the GOP Just Waiting for a Fresh Start?
Former President Donald Trump appears at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on April 4, 2023.(Photo by Andrew Kelly/AFP/Getty Images.)Whatever happens in Manhattan, weightier indictments might prompt Republicans to reject Donald Trump.Continue re
The Dispatch→ Wisconsin: Tomorrow’s Takes Today
Judge Janet Protasiewicz. (Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for WisDems)Pre-spinning the biggest election of the year.Continue reading Wisconsin: Tomorrow’s Takes Today »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Uyghur Women On ‘The Second Day Of Ramadan’ in 2023
Does a video that resurfaced on social media show Uyghur women consuming alcohol against their will on "the second day of Ramadan" in 2023? No, that's not true: The clip was initially published in 2018, but the exact date and circumstance
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Ohio’s Strict New Voter ID Law’ Tweet
On April 4 2023, Imgur u/SugarTeet shared a screenshot of a tweet which warned voters in Ohio that a “new voter ID [identification]” law went into effect “TODAY”: Ohio's strict new voter ID law goes into effect TODAY Here
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Joe Biden Is NOT Being Led By A Blind Man In Video
Does a video show President Joe Biden being led into a room by a blind man? No, that's not true: Biden was escorting a blind man into an event in Kansas City, Missouri, allowing the man to hold his arm as they were ushered to their places
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Morgan Freeman Did NOT Criticize Biden’s Ice Cream Comments — It’s An AI Mask
Did actor Morgan Freeman make a video criticizing President Joe Biden for talking about ice cream? No, that's not true: This is a deepfake of Freeman. Someone has put on a filter that looks like Freeman's face while also trying to speak l
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show ‘Boy Dressed Like A Girl’ On Biden Plane
Was a "little boy" in female clothes videotaped while traveling on the same plane as President Joe Biden? No, that's not true: A video making that claim on social media shows Biden's granddaughter Natalie Biden going down steps from the a
The Dispatch→ Another Great Migration?
A U-Haul truck travels along Interstate 10 in California. The state, along with other blue states, has seen increased rates of people moving away. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)How will post-COVID population trends shape our politics?Continue
Truth or Fiction?→ Tennessee Republicans Move to Expel Democratic Colleagues Following Gun Control Protest
On April 4 2023, a popular post to Reddit’s r/politics described an attempt to expel three Nashville, Tennessee Democrats from the state House over a “gun control protest”: Chants of ‘Fascists!’ Ring Out as Tenn