In the days before the 2020 U.S. presidential election, myriad posts and tweets made some version of the following statement: For the first time ever in U.S. history, a sitting President seeking re-election will not receive any previous President’s
Publication: TruthOrFiction
Truth or Fiction?→ Pete Buttigieg: ‘I Don’t Have a Problem Standing up to Somebody Who Was Working on Season Seven of Celebrity Apprentice When I Was Packing My Bags for Afghanistan’
On October 15 2020, a meme quoting former South Bend, Indiana mayor and Democratic Party presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg began circulating, in which he purportedly said that he was shipped off to Afghanistan while United States President Donald
Truth or Fiction?→ The Saga of Hunter Biden’s Laptop
On October 14 2020, as increasingly bold or desperate attempts from all corners to sway the November 2020 U.S. elections reached a fever pitch, a story appeared in the New York Post about Hunter Biden, son of Democratic Party presidential candidate Jo
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Spirit Halloween on Gateway’ Trump ‘Devil’ Complaint Goes Viral
On October 12 2020, a Facebook account shared a screenshot of an apparent complaint to Spirit Halloween’s Facebook page, which was purportedly about outrage over the placement of Donald Trump masks in a section labeled “devil”: In
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Post a Photo Mocking Biden and the Elderly?
As his re-election campaign faced a lack of support from senior voters, United States President (and the Republican Party’s 2020 presidential nominee) Donald Trump posted a photograph seemingly mocking seniors, alongside Democratic Party preside
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Kwik Trip Launches Kwik Strip Gentlemen’s Clubs’
An October 12 2020 article headlined “Kwik Trip Launches Kwik Strip Gentlemen’s Clubs” was predictably a hit on social media, purportedly heralding a new gentleman’s club venture from the convenience store chain: Kwik Tr
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Charlie in ‘Willy Wonka’ Originally Black?
A September 24 2020 Facebook screenshot — which claimed that beloved children’s author Roald Dahl conceived the “Charlie” of the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Black — became virally popular, prompting disco
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Say Amy Coney Barrett is ‘Much Better Looking’ Than Other Supreme Court Justices?
As the United States Senate proceeded with the Supreme Court confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on October 13 2020, a fabricated quote recirculated on Facebook repackaged as a graphic. Within hours of being posted, the meme had amassed m
Truth or Fiction?→ Virginia Voter Registration Disrupted on Deadline Day Due to ‘Accidentally’ Cut Cable
“Accidentally” appeared as a trending topic on Twitter on October 13 2020, not long after Washington, DC-area news station @WUSA9 tweeted that the state’s entire voter registration system went offline — on the last day to regis
Truth or Fiction?→ Chris Watts and Ring Footage with a ‘Fetus and a Skull in Oil’ in ‘American Murder’
Netflix’s American Murder documentary was popular enough in October 2020 to generate a storm of conspiracy theories, and among widely-discussed elements was a purported “coincidence” during which Chris Watts is questioned by police &
Truth or Fiction?→ Did California Police Recommend Voting Against a Bill ‘for Racial Equality’?
A photograph of an advocacy group’s voter guide drew widespread attention on Twitter on October 7 2020 for bringing back to light a recurring nuisance for California voters. Scott Zabielski’s post showing the state ballot recommendations f
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Pete Buttigieg With the Only Acceptable Answer Re: Late Term Abortions’
On October 12 2020, actor and social media heavy George Takei shared a purported screenshot of a response by Pete Buttigieg to Fox News anchor Chris Wallace on the subject of third-trimester or “late-term” abortions: Takei’
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Looks Like Crazy Nancy Had a Liquid Lunch’
On October 10 2020, a Facebook user shared the following image of Nancy Pelosi captioned “Looks like Crazy Nancy had a liquid lunch”: Although the post provided no context or source for the image, it racked up thousands of shares. In th
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘My Blood IS the Vaccine’ Tweet
On October 9 2020, as speculation mounted about United States President Donald Trump’s health following his COVID-19 diagnosis, a purported tweet circulated in screenshot form: The alleged tweet, which was dated October 5 2020, said simply,
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Warn Iran not to ‘F-ck Around With Us’?
As speculation continued to mount around the condition of United States President Donald Trump, one moment from an interview he gave to right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh on October 9 2020 drew attention online. Trump phoned into Limbaugh’s sh
Truth or Fiction?→ Ghost in the Watts Family Documentary ‘American Murder’
An October 8 2020 Daily Mail article headlined “Man claims there is a ‘GHOST’ of a little girl in new Netflix documentary about family killer Chris Watts, insisting he can see the spirit in the background of police bodycam footage
Truth or Fiction?→ Ghost in the Watts Family Documentary ‘American Murder’
An October 8 2020 Daily Mail article headlined “Man claims there is a ‘GHOST’ of a little girl in new Netflix documentary about family killer Chris Watts, insisting he can see the spirit in the background of police bodycam footage
Truth or Fiction?→ A Morgue Worker Was Not Arrested for Giving Birth to a Dead Man’s Baby
In October 2020, a purported news article — generally bearing the headline, “Morgue worker arrested after giving birth to a dead man’s baby” — began circulating in Facebook groups and on Twitter: W. T. F. I have so many que
Truth or Fiction?→ A Morgue Worker Was Not Arrested for Giving Birth to a Dead Man’s Baby
In October 2020, a purported news article — generally bearing the headline, “Morgue worker arrested after giving birth to a dead man’s baby” — began circulating in Facebook groups and on Twitter: W. T. F. I have so many que
Truth or Fiction?→ Suspects in Whitmer Kidnapping Plot Used Facebook as a Recruitment Tool
Social media accounts of several people arrested and charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic Party governor Gretchen Whitmer were devoted to supporting or promoting right-wing disinformation, according to investigators and conten
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Kamala Harris’ Debate Anecdote About Abraham Lincoln and the Supreme Court Accurate?
During the October 7 2020 Vice Presidential debate, Sen. Kamala Harris — the Democratic Party candidate for U.S. vice president — addressed the topic of the fate of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s vacant seat during a
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Netflix Indicted by a Texas Grand Jury over ‘Cuties’ Controversy?
On October 7 2020, posts claiming that a Texas grand jury had “indicted Netflix” over its distribution of the film Cuties began circulating on social media: Netflix’s Indictment in the News Readers searching to validate the stor
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Proud Boys Rebrand as the Leather Men Following a Hashtag Offensive?
In early October 2020, the far-right Proud Boys — who already regularly made national news in the United States for their violent rhetoric, hostility toward human rights protesters, and open support of President Donald Trump — were whippe
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘BLM Destroys Hispanic Child’s Birthday Party’
On October 5 2020, the aptly named Facebook page “Infodemik” shared a video captioned “BLM destroy Hispanic child’s birthday party Houston, TX”: Variations and Iterations Infodemik also shared the clip with a similar
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Rudy Giuliani Filmed with Discoloration on his Hands?
As news spread of a rash of coronavirus infections hitting United States President Donald Trump as well as his wife and other Republican allies, online users raised their own questions in October 2020 about the health of Trump’s attorney Rudy Gi
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Happy Banned Books Week, Here Are the Ten Most Banned Books in US Libraries and Schools’
On September 28 2020, Facebook user Morgan Meeker shared the following post, which referenced “Banned Books Week” and apparently depicted the ten most banned books in American schools and public libraries: Under a photograph of a stack
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Real Ben Shapiro Tweet About Trayvon Martin Resurface After He Predicted a Lack of Sympathy for Donald Trump’s COVID-19?
News that United States President Donald Trump had fallen ill with COVID-19 broke shortly after 1:00 AM Eastern time October 2 2020. Right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro wasted no time, immediately chiding Twitter’s “blue checkmarks” (
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dr. Luke Die from COVID-19?
A pair of people on social media managed to create some online confusion around music producer Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, a.k.a. “Dr. Luke,” on October 4 2020 —Â apparently independently of one another. The posts both claimed, falsel
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘There’s More Cases of Covid in the White House Than in All of New Zealand’
After news broke of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump testing positive for COVID-19, a viral tweet contrasted the spate of positive tests in the White House outstripped the rate of positive tests in all of New Zealand: Thereâ€
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Trump Campaign Use His COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Fundraising Message?
As speculation circulated online following United States President Donald Trump’s announcement late on October 1 2020 (or early on October 2 2020, depending on your time zone) that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for CO
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Trump Campaign Use His COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Fundraising Message?
As speculation circulated online following United States President Donald Trump’s announcement late on October 1 2020 (or early on October 2 2020, depending on your time zone) that both he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for CO
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Twitter User Tweet That Trump’s October Surprise Will be the Announcement of ‘His Infection’?
Just after midnight Eastern time on October 2 2020, news broke that United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for novel coronavirus; a screenshot of a September 18 2020 tweet began circulating shortly thereafter
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Twitter User Tweet That Trump’s October Surprise Will be the Announcement of ‘His Infection’?
Just after midnight Eastern time on October 2 2020, news broke that United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for novel coronavirus; a screenshot of a September 18 2020 tweet began circulating shortly thereafter
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Trump’s Head’ Photograph
On September 29 2020, during the first round of presidential debates ahead of the November 3 2020 U.S. election, a popular tweet purportedly showed a patch or implant on President Donald Trump’s head: First presidential debate question from Ch
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Debat’ Trends After Rudy Giuliani Tweets, Deletes a Cryptic Comment
On the morning of October 1 2020, “Debat” was a Twitter trending topic — largely populated with memes and references to New York City’s former mayor Rudy Giuliani. Ever on top of internet trends, a social media account for the
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Portland Sheriff’ Refutes Trump’s Debate Claim About Endorsement
During the September 29 2020 presidential debate, United States President and Republican nominee Donald Trump asserted that the “Portland Sheriff” endorsed him on that day. Trump’s claim arose at the tail end of the first 30 minutes
Truth or Fiction?→ Joe Biden’s Wrist ‘Wire’
During the September 29 2020 presidential debate, a purported “wire” seen on Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden’s wrist as he coughed into his sleeve predictably became a hot topic on social media, with increasingly conspiratorial an
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Couple Dies of Corona Virus in Meth Lab Explosion’
A meme crudely making light of the COVID-19 pandemic by imitating a news report cycled through at least three different iterations as it recirculated online again and again through social media. The graphic shows a damaged building alongside a mocked-
Truth or Fiction?→ Social Media Amplifies Conspiracies Targeting Biden Before First 2020 Debate
Hours before the first presidential debate on September 29 2020, right-wing operatives and blogs spewed several conspiracy theories that were only amplified, as per usual, on social media platforms that otherwise claim to fight disinformation. “
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘2 Years, 10 Months, 23 Days. The Length of Time Amy Coney Barrett Has Been a Judge.’
On September 27 2020, a number of Facebook posts claiming that Amy Coney Barrett had been a judge for “2 years 10 months [and] 23 days” began circulating: All three of the posts above read: 2 years, 10 months, 23 days. The