Two mass shootings in California in the first weeks of 2023, both committed by immigrants in their sixties, have highlighted the issue of disinformation and propaganda targeting American immigrant communities, and how the prods and pulleys of stochasti
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Overdraft Fees Created in 1990?
On February 2 2023, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of a tweet which claimed that overdraft fees were “created in 1990”: In the screenshot, the Twitter handle for American politician Nina Turner (D) was visible. No date appeared on the s
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Trump and Bob Woodward ‘Depends’ Tweet
On January 31 2023, a screenshot purportedly of a tweet by journalist Bob Woodward disclosing information about former United States President Donald Trump’s “Depends” [sic] appeared on Imgur: At the top of the image, the name “
Truth or Fiction?→ Election Denier Kari Lake Facing Investigation as Arizona GOP Further Embraces Conspiracy Theories
Shortly after a state election that saw her party cohorts double down on conspiracy theories, failed right-wing Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake faced a possible investigation for wrongfully sharing voter information. Lake, who lost the Novemb
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘ExxonMobil Reported a Record-Smashing Profit of $55.7 BILLION in 2022 …’
On January 31 2023, Imgur user Mech0T1 shared a screenshot of a tweet, which contained a claim that ExxonMobil had reported $55.7 billion in profit for 2022: BREAKING: ExxonMobil reported a record-smashing profit of $55.7 BILLION in 2022.While taxpay
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Marie Kondo ‘Giving Up’ on Tidying ‘After Three Kids’?
On January 30 2023, an Imgur screenshot of a Reddit post suggested that clearning and organization guru Marie Kondo had “given up” on having a clean house after having three children: Marie Kondo Stops Tidying Up: ‘My Home
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Some One Dreamed the Other Night That He Was Living in the Year 2023 … Eggs Had Gone Up to $10 a Dozen’
In late January 2023, an Imgur account shared an image of a newspaper clipping which contained an apparent lament about the future cost of eggs a century from 1923: The post was titled “Nostradamus, is that you in 1923?” The text shown on
Truth or Fiction?→ 2023 Connecticut Egg Production Plant Fire Rumors
On January 29 2023, right-wing Twitter personality and longtime disinformation purveyor Elijah Schaffer tweeted a video which tied together two popular narratives by purportedly depicting “one of the largest egg production plants” burning d
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Outside Agitators’ Have Always Been a Racist Myth
In January 2023, the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police in Memphis, Tennessee drew widespread outcry in the United States. Ditto for the death in Atlanta, Georgia that same month of protestor and environmental activist Tortuguita — Ma
Truth or Fiction?→ A&W Root Bear ‘Bear Mascot’ Twitter Joke Ends Up on Fox News
As a January 2023 debate over M&Ms’ “spokescandies” moved through the news cycle, a tweet about A&W Restaurants purportedly issuing a similar statement was featured on Fox Business: Why are right wingers obsessed with animat
Truth or Fiction?→ Trump’s Tax Cuts and the National Debt
On January 25 2023, a Reddit account shared a screenshot of a tweet by musician and political blogger Jeff Tiedrich to r/WhitePeopleTwitter, asserting that former United States President Donald Trump’s tax cuts were “responsible for”
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘This is Peak Greed’: Activists Blast Meta for Reinstating Trump to Facebook
The reinstatement of right-wing former United States President Donald Trump to Facebook and Instagram was roundly criticized by activists warning that it could drive “democracy to the brink.” “Meta is moving backwards, returning us to
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Paprika ‘Just Dried Bell Pepper’?
A popular January 24 2023 Facebook post showed a screengrab of a viral tweet claiming that paprika is nothing more than “just dried and crushed red bell peppers,” describing the purported news as “really shocking”: Learning th
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Dishwasher Pods Go in the Door or on the Bottom?
In January 2023, a popular Facebook Reel making the rounds claimed that dishwasher pods (that is to say, detergent) were being universally, incorrectly applied; the video in question was “stitched” with a viral September 2022 TikTok post:
Truth or Fiction?→ Jeff Younger: ‘The Political Power of Single Women, Especially Single Mothers, Must Be Diminished’ Tweet
On January 25 2023, an Imgur account shared a screenshot of two posts from Twitter, one of which was attributed to failed Republican political candidate Jeff Younger (@JeffYoungerTX) on the topic of the “political power” of women and “
Truth or Fiction?→ How Many Mass Shootings (So Far) in 2023?
On January 24 2023, a Reddit user on r/dankmemes shared a post indicating there had been 36 mass shootings in the United States for the year to date: New Year, Same Me from dankmemes Against a meme template from The Simpsons,
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘The Doomsday Clock Was Moved to 90 Seconds to Midnight … The Closest It’s Ever Been’
On January 24 2022, the hashtag #DoomsdayClock trended on Twitter; this seemed to be the result of several organizations and accounts referencing the “Doomsday Clock,” which was “moved to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it’s
Truth or Fiction?→ Pink Floyd’s ‘Woke’ 50th Anniversary Rainbow Controversy
On January 19 2023, popular Twitter account @TravisAkers tweeted the following screenshot, purportedly illustrating backlash aimed at rock band Pink Floyd over a 50th anniversary “rainbow” logo on Facebook: Pink Floyd updated their profil
Truth or Fiction?→ NBC Sports Presenter Takes Up Right-Wing ‘Litter Boxes’ Smear
NBC Sports presenter Tony Dungy promoted — and quickly deleted — the right-wing hoax about students “identifying as cats,” a further sign of how disinformation can be laundered from fringe online circles into legitimate media. D
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Food Stamps (SNAP) Getting Cut?
On January 19 2023, Iowa state representative Sami Scheetz tweeted with a claim that the Republican party had “just proposed new restrictions on the types of food eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits”: The GOP just proposed new restr
Truth or Fiction?→ Amazon Ending Amazon Smile
On January 19 2023, a popular post on r/technology indicated Amazon was ending a service called “Amazon Smile,” its charitable donations program: Amazon discontinues charity donation program amid cost cuts from technology
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Georgia Republican Brags That Voter Suppression Helped Them in 2022’
On January 18 2023, an Imgur account submitted screenshots of an article with the headline, “A Georgia Republican Brags That Voter Suppression Helped Them in 2022”: Saying the quiet part out loud again The post was titled “Saying th
Truth or Fiction?→ Failed GOP Candidate Embraced Disinformation, Violence in Shooting Plot
The history of the 39-year-old alleged “mastermind” behind a plan to attack multiple Democratic Party officials in New Mexico showed an embrace of both violence and conspiracy theories that have driven right-wing political violence in the U
Truth or Fiction?→ Eggs, Chickens, and ‘Windfall Profit Tax’ Tweets
Amid concerns about the lack of availability and rocketing prices of eggs, a popular January 15 2023 post to Reddit’s r/SandersForPresident touched on one of the topics contained in public discussions: We need a windfall profits tax.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Spy Software’ Time Theft Firing
In mid-January 2023, viral posts on social media addressed a worker who was reportedly fired after “spy software” identified “time theft”: Spy software found a worker wasn’t working as much as she said. Now she
Truth or Fiction?→ Tennessee Lawmaker Switches From School ‘Litter Box’ Hoax to ‘Leashes’ Narrative
When asked to admit her claims of “litter boxes” in schools were a hoax, a right-wing Tennessee lawmaker instead shifted to claiming she was told about “leashes” instead. The Tennessee Holler news outlet posted footage of an int
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Pastina Discontinued?
In December 2022, social media posts began to appear with the claim that the small, star-shaped pasta known as “pastina” had been discontinued. A humorous December 30 2022 TikTok post titled “When they find out they discontinued past
Truth or Fiction?→ Before Being Elected, George Santos Pushed His Own ‘Stolen Election’ Hoax
Amid continuing criticism and demands — even from local party members — that he leave office, a video circulating online shows right-wing Rep. George Santos (R-New York) appearing at a January 5 2021 rally and falsely claiming that an elect
Truth or Fiction?→ Joe Biden ‘Classified Documents’ Controversy
On January 9 2023, conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) tweeted that U.S. President Joe Biden “took classified documents from the White House,” claiming that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Archives
Truth or Fiction?→ Keystone Pipeline Kansas Leak
On January 10 2023, Imgur user Mech0T1 shared a screenshot of a tweet, which claimed that the Keystone Pipeline ruptured in Kansas in December 2023: Last month, the Keystone pipeline ruptured for the 23rd time since 2010 and spilled 14,000 bathtubs&#
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Nobody Wants to Work Anymore,’ 1894 to 2022
On January 10 2023, an Imgur account shared a “nobody wants to work anymore” meme, which had a compilation of purported print appearances of the complaint dating all the way back to 1894: “Nobody wants to work anymore!” said pl
Truth or Fiction?→ GOP Installs Election Denier Atop Homeland Security Committee
Days after finally electing a House Speaker, the incoming right-wing majority in the House of Representatives installed election-denying Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee (R) atop the Homeland Security Committee. Green confirmed his election on Twitter whil
Truth or Fiction?→ Brazil Insurrection Had Familiar Faces, Themes
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
Truth or Fiction?→ Robin Williams: ‘Politicians Should Wear Sponsor Jackets’ Like NASCAR Drivers …
In January 2023, a viral tweet from late December 2022 continued to circulate, with a purported quip from late comedian and actor Robin Williams that politicians ought to wear “sponsor jackets” like NASCAR drivers: Robin Williams was righ
Truth or Fiction?→ John Deere and ‘Right to Repair,’ Explained
On January 9 2022, a top post on Reddit’s r/all claimed that farmers in the United States had won the “right to repair” John Deere equipment; the post originally appeared on r/news: US Farmers win right to repair John Deere
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?→ ‘To Catch a Predator’ Texas DA Tweet
On January 5 2023, a Reddit post to r/WhitePeopleTwitter queried whether it was true that the To Catch a Predator series (a sting-based reality show) ended after an entrapped Texas district attorney died by suicide “in front of the camera”
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?→ Who Had the Metal Detectors Removed From the Capitol?
Before the incoming right-wing House of Representatives majority could elect a new Speaker, metal detectors were removed from the Capitol floor on January 3 2023 — but it is unclear who ordered it to happen. The devices were installed outside of
Truth or Fiction?→ Vintage Union Christmas Cartoon
On December 22 2022, an Imgur account shared the following image of what appeared to be a vintage Christmas cartoon illustrating benefits offered by unions to working class Americans: No contextual information was supplied alongside the image, which