On January 16 2021, a claim about Amazon selling a “Kill All Republicans” shirt went viral as part of backlash over Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) decision to discontinue hosting controversial social media platform Parler. In a tweet, ri
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘BLM Activist’ John Sullivan/JaydenX, Explained
On January 15 2021 Breitbart published an item titled “Leftist Activist Among Those Arrested in Capitol Riot,” asserting “Utah-based left-wing activist” John Sullivan (also known as JaydenX) had been arrested in connection with
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Florida Teacher Fired for Blaming the Capitol Riot on ‘Antifa’?
A Florida woman was dismissed from working as a substitute teacher for a Florida charter school system after she was caught on video attempting to justify the seditious January 6 2021 attack on the United States Capitol building. The unidentified woma
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Louisiana Floods Destroy Home of Christian Leader Who Says God Sends Natural Disasters to Punish Gay People’
On January 14 2021, an Imgur user shared the following screenshot of a headline (“Louisiana Floods Destroy Home of Christian Leader Who Says God Sends Natural Disasters to Punish Gay People”), in a post titled “Such dramatic way of c
Truth or Fiction?→ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s ‘Impeachment Dress’ Makes Second Appearance
A January 13 2021 post to Reddit’s r/pics was one of several observing that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dress appeared to be identical to the one she wore for outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s first impeachment on December 19 2
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a ‘Biden Election Official’ Arrested for Voter Fraud in Texas?
Shortly after the arrest of a Texas woman accused of election tampering, right-wing social media users began trying to spin the case into an attack on U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden’s decisive win over outgoing president Donald Trump. Embattled
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Twitter Lose $5 Billion in Value After ‘Banning’ Donald Trump?
Twitter’s permanent removal of outgoing United States President Donald Trump on January 8 2021 created extensive discourse and discussions about the limit of speech in the country; among sub-threads was a claim that his favorite social media pl
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Photograph Show a Tour Group the Day Before the Capitol Insurrection?
As the United States continued to grapple with a destructive and deadly right-wing riot at the Capitol building on January 6 2021, disturbing stories from Democratic Party lawmakers began to trickle out indicating that some participants may have plann
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘We Need 100 Percent of People Indoors’
Online flailing in support of outgoing United States President Donald Trump was accompanied by yet another go-round for a meme proclaiming — falsely — that Trump would be fulfilling the mission of the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory known a
Truth or Fiction?→ Capitol Police Officer Not Identified in Shooting of Ashli Babbitt
On January 12 2021, the right-wing disinformation site Redpilled.ca spread unverified claims that a Capitol law enforcement officer named David Bailey fired the shot which killed rioter Ashli Babbitt in an incident about which disinformation began c
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Barbie Have a Girlfriend?
In January 2021 tweet, as the United States reeled from attacks and disinformation campaigns, another rumor gained traction: Claims that the popular Mattel doll barbie “has a girlfriend” went viral, spreading in screenshots across social p
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Donald J. Trump’s Term Ended on 2021-01-11 19:49:00’
As Democrats attempted to push for the impeachment of outgoing United States President Donald Trump on January 11 2021, the U.S. State Department’s website drew attention online for apparently listing that day as the end of both his term and tha
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘WH Office of Pardon Attorney’ Parler Post Prompts Justice Department to Issue Statement
Around January 9 2021, in the days after a pro-Trump riot at the United States Capitol building, screenshots of a purported Parler post attributed to @WHPardonAttny (White House Office of Pardon) appeared, soliciting names, locations, and “wha
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Trump Have an OnlyFans Account?
As outgoing United States President Donald Trump and his supporters were locked out of some digital platforms, social media users asked — sometimes derisively — if Trump would open an account on the subscription-based service OnlyFans. Two
Truth or Fiction?→ TeamTrumpNews Parler Post: ‘I Have Invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807’
Around January 10 2020, a screenshot of a post purportedly published by outgoing United States President Donald Trump using @TeamTrumpNews to Parler began to make the rounds across social media platforms: Saw this on FB. It was posted 3 hou
Truth or Fiction?→ Twitter Finally Shuts Down Donald Trump’s Account
Two days after he incited an attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol and just over two months after he decisively lost the 2020 election to Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden, outgoing United States President Donald Trump was ousted again ̵
Truth or Fiction?→ Zip Ties and the Capitol Riots
On January 8 2021, “zip ties” became a topic of discourse around the January 6 2021 Capitol riots as the public began to unpack and come to terms with the events of that chaotic day: Many are wondering about this USA TODAY photo –
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Texas Newspaper Claim “Members of Antifa’ Were Attacking the Capitol?
As the United States continued to reel from the January 6 2021 Capitol riots, an east Texas newspaper became the center of a related side story after it was caught repeating a debunked right-wing conspiracy theory surrounding the attack on the U.S. C
Truth or Fiction?→ Who Saved the Electoral Ballots During the Capitol Riots?
The question of “who saved the electoral ballots” was one of many sub-threads of discourse about the Capitol riots of January 6 2021, and one widely shared January 7 2021 tweet credited two young Senate aides as the saviors of democracy (
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Dangerous Threat’: Simon and Schuster Dumps Right-Wing Lawmaker’s Book
Publishers Simon & Schuster canceled plans on January 7 2021 to release a book by Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley (R) after it was spotted on the company’s website. The company had been promoting a book in which Hawley was regurgitating the false
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Chuck E Cheese Issue a Statement on the Capitol Riots?
On January 7 2021 a statement on the Capitol riots, attributed to the family-themed restaurant chain Chuck E Cheese, began circulating on Twitter: Thank you, Chuck E Cheese. pic.twitter.com/ZaOAk47n4b — Queen LaDeefa (@It_Aint__ME) January 7,
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Antifa Infiltrated Trump Supporters’ Claim During Capitol Riots by Washington Times Apparently Deleted
On the night of the January 6 2021 Capitol riots, Rep. Matt Gaetz shared a Washington Times article on Twitter along with the headline, “XRVision firm claims Antifa infiltrated protesters who stormed Capitol”: "Facial recognition fi
Truth or Fiction?→ A Woman Was Shot in Capitol Riots; ‘Roberta Paulson’ Meme Follows
During riots at the United States Capitol on January 6 2021, a woman was shot on livestreams, an incident followed by memes claiming her name was “Roberta Paulson”: Roberta Paulsen, protester shot in the neck in DC, has reportedly died.
Truth or Fiction?→ Amid Fascist Coup Attempt, Twitter Cowers From Banning Donald Trump
Even as he incited a far right, explicitly fascist coup attempt against the American government, Twitter refused to say whether it would remove outgoing United States President Donald Trump’s account on the platform: A company spokesperson told
Truth or Fiction?→ Has Vice President Mike Pence Unfollowed President Donald Trump on Twitter?
As far-right rioters invaded the United States Capitol on January 6 2021, one viral rumor after another popped up in quick succession — among them a claim that the account belonging to Vice President Mike Pence had unfollowed President Donald Tr
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a ‘Biblical’ Crowd of Trump Supporters in Washington D.C.?
As a crowd of loyalists for outgoing President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, D.C. at least one account wasted little time recycling a common disinformation tactic in order to make attendance seem much higher than it actually was. The user,
Truth or Fiction?→ 4th Precinct ‘Homeless Quilt,’ ‘Panhandler Patrol’ Post Resurfaces on Imgur
On January 5 2021, an Imgur user shared a screenshot of a Facebook post attributed to an unspecified “4th precinct,” alongside an image of two uniformed police officers and a “homeless quilt” of signs confiscated by a “pa
Truth or Fiction?→ Citing Conspiracy Theories, Pennsylvania Republicans Refuse to Seat Democratic Party Senator
As Pennsylvania’s legislature convened on January 5 2021 to commence its new two-year session, its Republican majority is blocking Sen. Jim Brewster (a Democrat) of Allegheny County from taking the oath of office: At the heart of the dispute is
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Georgia Runoff Voters Being Told Voting Machines Are ‘Malfunctioning’?
Georgia’s long-anticipated runoff elections were slated for January 5 2020; that day, the disreputable site TrendingPolitics.com published an item headlined, “BREAKING: Georgia Voters Sound the Alarm, Claim They’re Being Told Votin
Truth or Fiction?→ Right-Wing Senator’s Claim of ‘Antifa’ Attack Debunked by Protesters’ Video
A right-wing U.S. lawmaker’s attempt to claim that “Antifa” threatened his family was immediately debunked by video showing a peaceful protest outside his home. The activist group ShutdownDC streamed video of its demonstration on Jan
Truth or Fiction?→ Georgia Republican’s Photograph Brings Back Concern Over ‘White Power’ Gesture
Heading into one of two Senate runoff elections in Georgia, a photograph of right-wing incumbent Sen. David Perdue — and the purported intent behind it — received newfound attention in January 2021, including a side debate over whether it
Truth or Fiction?→ Why a Wisconsin Pharmacist Allegedly Destroyed COVID-19 Vaccines
Wisconsin pharmacist Steven Brandenburg was arrested on December 31 2020 after he reportedly destroyed 57 vials (or more than 500 doses) of coronavirus vaccine, possibly intentionally. On January 4 2020, Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol add
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. Emanuel Cleaver Say ‘Amen and Awomen’ During a Congressional Prayer?
On January 3 2021, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver led a Daily Congressional Prayer, drawing intense scrutiny from certain circles for purportedly concluding with “amen and awomen” (or “awoman”) in lieu of the standard “amen”
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Mad Max is Set in 2021’
In late 2020 a set of memes began spreading, all of which contained wording to the effect of, “I don’t want to be [a pessimist,] but Mad Max was set in 2021″: It wasn’t clear where the combination of image and phrasing above a
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Trump Got 74 Million Votes With 133 Million Registered Voters in the USA … There’s Only 59 Million Votes Left for Biden, How Did He Get 81 Million?’
On December 19 2020, the following screenshot was shared by someone going by the name Thor Arne to Facebook, questioning the math of the 2020 presidential election, which delivered Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden a resounding victory over Republi
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘George Soros With the Owner of Smartmatic’
As conspiracy theorists continued trying to convince themselves that Donald Trump did not definitively lose the November 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, they also found another way to recycle — yet again — a reliable boogeyman in
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘How Election Was Stolen,’ ‘Funny How the Rest of the World Gets Different News Than Us’
In late December 2020, a screenshot of a newspaper headline reading “How Election Was Stolen” was belched forth from the bowels of the internet and began to circulate, bearing additional commentary, “Funny how the rest of the world g
Truth or Fiction?→ Twisted Tea Circle K Fight Video Spreads Virally
On December 24 2020, “Twisted Tea” became a popular trending term in the wake of footage showing an altercation at an Ohio Circle-K. Footage of the incident, which involved racial slurs and a can of Twisted Tea, was shared to r/PublicFrea
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Deleted Scene From ‘Love Actually’?
Since it takes place around Christmas, the film Love Actually becomes an online conversation topic every holiday season. In December 2020, however, still more people became aware of a scene that didn’t make it into the movie’s final cut. I
Truth or Fiction?→ Were Illinois Police Filmed Arresting Another Law Enforcement Officer?
Footage of police officers seemingly arresting one of their own drew attention — and some cheers — online in December 2020, but authorities have not elaborated on the incident. As the Daily Dot reported, the incident was captured in Harvey