Publication: Politics
The Dispatch→ The Biden Family’s Legal Woes, Explained
President Joe Biden and son Hunter arrive at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, on February 4, 2023. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)At least nine members of the president’s family have received paym
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Democratic Party Did NOT Confirm Michelle Obama Will Be 2024 Nominee
Did the Democratic Party confirm that Michelle Obama will be its presidential nominee in 2024? No, that's not true: There are no news reports about the purported event, and, as of this writing, the former first lady is not an officially r
The Dispatch→ Still Crazy After All These Years
The flaws and benefits of CNN’s deplorable town hall.Continue reading Still Crazy After All These Years »
Truth or Fiction?→ Can the Texas Governor Now Overturn Election Results?
On May 11 2023, Imgur account u/Lanhdanan shared a meme claiming that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) bas been granted the ability to overturn Texas election results: No link was attached to the post providing context for the claim. However, three of the
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk Did NOT Brag About Firing ‘Crybaby Liberals’ — It’s AI Video
Did Elon Musk brag about firing "crybaby liberals"? No, that's not true: This video was made using AI, or artificial intelligence. The Instagram post where this claim originated seems to be an ad for an app that uses AI to make public fig
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Hillary Clinton Did NOT Say She Sacrificed Chickens To Moloch
Did Hillary Clinton say she sacrificed chickens to Moloch in a 2009 email? No, that's not true: The line in question was not written by her. The content of the exchange shows that the phrase was used as a figurative expression of cautious
The Dispatch→ Trump’s Liability
Former U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks his plane at Aberdeen Airport. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Plus: The schism roiling Russia’s war effort.Continue reading Trump’s Liability »
The Dispatch→ Picking a President: Back to the Future?
Former President Donald Trump. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty Images)Character mattered in the 18th century, just as it matters in 2024. Continue reading Picking a President: Back to the Future? »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: PCR Test Nasal Swabs Do NOT Affect Longevity, Aging — No Widespread Effects Found
Do nasopharyngeal swabs, like those used in PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing for COVID-19, affect your longevity and aging? No, that's not true: Most research about the effectiveness and safety of such swabs suggests that they pose
The Dispatch→ Mostly Peaceful Sexual Abuse
Columnist E. Jean Carroll leaves after her civil trial against former President Donald Trump on May 09, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)Republicans and the E. Jean Carroll verdict.Continue reading Mostly Peaceful Sexual Ab
The Dispatch→ Pro-Choice Groups Take the Abortion Fight to Red States
Pro-life and pro-choice protesters in front of the Kentucky state capitol on October, 2022. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images.)Plus: What to expect in next week’s neck-and-neck Kentucky GOP governor’s primary.Continue reading Pro-Ch
Logically→ Old video of Prakash Raj edited to claim he asked people not to vote for Congress in Karnataka elections
The Dispatch→ A Fruitless Debt Ceiling Summit
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and President Joe Biden meet with other lawmakers in the Oval Office of the White House on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Plus: Checking in on child labor laws.C
The Dispatch→ Our No-Win Scenario
Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden at the first 2020 presidential debate. (Photo by Jim Watson, Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)There’s still time to avoid a Biden-Trump rematch, but it would require party leaders to lead.Continue r
The Dispatch→ Video: Campaign Politics and Title 42
Watch the video of our weekly livestreamed conversation. Continue reading Video: Campaign Politics and Title 42 »
The Dispatch→ Dispatch Live: Campaign Politics and Immigration
Join us for our weekly livestreamed conversation.Continue reading Dispatch Live: Campaign Politics and Immigration »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Chelsea Clinton-Endorsed Vaccine Program ‘The Big Catch-Up’ Does NOT Mandate Vaccines For US Children
Does the Chelsea Clinton-endorsed vaccine program "The Big Catch-up" require U.S. children to receive a COVID-19 mRNA immunization? No, that's not true: The program is a global effort to "catch up" on giving recommended childhood vaccines
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Tucker Carlson Did NOT Turn Down $30 Million Offer From CNN — It’s From Satire Site
Did former Fox News host Tucker Carlson turn down a $30 million offer to host a show on CNN? No, that's not true: This article is satire published by The Dunning-Kruger Times, part of a network of satire sites from America's Last Line of
The Dispatch→ How GOP Donors Really Feel About Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a fundraiser on May 6, 2023, in Rothschild, Wisconsin. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Party financiers have some reservations about the Florida governor, but the narrative of a donor exodus lacks nuance.Continue
The Dispatch→ Desperate Times
(Photo of Joe Biden by Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images. Photo of Donald Trump by Robert Perry/Getty Images.)A grim poll and a paralyzed country.Continue reading Desperate Times »
The Dispatch→ Chris Christie Prepares ‘Direct, Frontal Challenge to Donald Trump’
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)Plus, former GOP Rep. Mark Walker looks poised to enter North Carolina’s gubernatorial race.Continue reading Chris Christie Prepares ‘Direct, Frontal Challenge to Donal
The Dispatch→ Against Strategery
Former President Donald Trump disembarks his plane in Aberdeen, Soctland, on May 1, 2023. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Voters shouldn’t try to outsmart themselves.Continue reading Against Strategery »
Logically→ Old clips of Modi drinking tea in Varanasi falsely linked to his recent Karnataka visit
The Dispatch→ Dems’ Perilous Underestimation of Trump
Donald Trump supporters hold flags near Trump's Mar-a-Lago home on April 1, 2023. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)He repels swing voters, but he isn’t unelectable.Continue reading Dems’ Perilous Underestimation of Trump »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Does NOT Depict First Honduran Migrant ‘Caravan’ Woman To Be Granted Asylum In US
Does a photo on social media depict a Honduran woman named Susana Gonzalez who was the first member of a "caravan" of migrants to be granted asylum in the United States? No, that's not true: This post depicts an old, fake meme that has be
The Dispatch→ The New Trumpism: Culture War Is Overrated
Former Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake greets supporters during an event with former U.S. President Donald Trump on April 4, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)MAGA goes anti-anti-woke.Continue read
The Dispatch→ The Content Trap
Donald Trump appears at an NBC Town Hall at the Today Show on April 21, 2016, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)As long as Donald Trump draws an audience, the media will keep focusing on him.Continue reading The Content Trap »
Logically→ The Labour Party has no plan to defund and close Teesside International Airport in Darlington, England
The Dispatch→ Will Democrats Try to Turn the Tables on Trump’s Age?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on May 2, 2023 in Turnberry, Scotland. (Photo by Robert Perry/Getty Images)Plus: Kari Lake threatens to clear the GOP field in Arizona.Continue reading Will Democrats Try to Turn the Tables on Trump’s Age? »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Border Breach Video Is NOT US-Mexico Border — It Shows Spanish Enclave Melilla In North Africa
Does this video show a large crowd of migrants scaling the fence at the U.S. border with Mexico? No, that's not true: This scene was filmed in North Africa in March 2022 as migrants from sub-Saharan Africa climbed the border fence of the
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Obama Did NOT Remove 500,000 ‘Pedophiles From Government Online Databases’
Did former President Barack Obama remove half a million pedophiles from government online databases? No, that's not true: The claim refers to changes in criminal record-keeping. The Trump administration issued the memo in February 2017 th
The Dispatch→ The Death of Jordan Neely
New York City Mayor Eric Adams. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)Was the tragedy an example of vigilantism—or self-defense? Continue reading The Death of Jordan Neely »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: World Economic Forum Did NOT Order Governments To Start ‘Rationing Water Into Homes’
Did the World Economic Forum "order" governments "to begin rationing water into homes," proclaiming that access to it is not a human right anymore? No, that's not true: As a non-governmental body, The World Economic Forum (WEF) doesn't ha
The Dispatch→ When Will Dianne Feinstein Return?
Sen. Dianne Feinstein on February 16, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Plus: Why Trump’s early polling numbers may be even stronger than they look.Continue reading When Will Dianne Feinstein Return? »
The Dispatch→ Is the GOP Becoming a Dysfunctional Chatroom?
Supporters of former President Donald Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City on April 3, 2023.(Photo by Leonardo Munoz / AFP) (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)Trump worshippers and conspiracy t
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: RESTRICT Act COULD Impose $1M Fine, 20-Year Prison Term For TikTok Access If App Is Banned — But Attorneys Say Prosecution Unlikely
Under the RESTRICT Act, would a person be fined up to $1 million and imprisoned for a minimum of 20 years for accessing content on TikTok if it's banned in the United States in the future? Yes, that's partially true: However, none of the
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Of Trump Wearing Helmet, Military-Style Vest Is NOT Authentic
Was former President Donald Trump photographed wearing a helicopter helmet and a military-style vest? No, that's not true: The image from social media is most likely AI-generated. The claim originated from a tweet (archived here) publishe
The Dispatch→ The Revolution Will Be Televised
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a CNN Debate in 2016. (RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)CNN and Trump, reunited. Continue reading The Revolution Will Be Televised »
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden Did NOT Use A Different Hand To Sign Documents — Image Is Reversed
Does an image showing President Joe Biden using two different hands to sign documents prove that a "body double" is being used for him? No, that's not true: The picture showing him signing with his left hand -- Biden is right-handed and s