https://www.factcheck.org/2020/07/trumps-numbers-july-2020-update/ This is our 10th quarterly update of
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Numbers July 2020 Update
Editor’s Note: This update is the first to reflect substantial economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many statistics in our April update were collected before much of the economy was shut down to slow the spread of the virus. Summary The COVID-1
Snopes→ Federal Officers Use Gas to Clear Protesters in Portland
Protests have taken place for nearly two months in Portland, since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Snopes→ Alarm Over New Virus Outbreaks as India Cases Pass 1 Million
Local governments are frantically trying to quash outbreaks and keep their economies running as the pandemic spreads in the vast countryside.
AllSides→ Jake Tapper fact-checks his own CNN colleagues pushing misleading quote from Kayleigh McEnany
https://www.foxnews.com/media/jake-tapper-fact-checks-his-own-cnn-colleagues-pushing-misleading-quote-from-kayleigh-mcenany
Poynter→ Fact-checkers take a look back at their work fighting COVID-19
In the midst of fighting misinformation about COVID-19, some fact-checkers have begun the process of analyzing their work to this point. In Europe, fact-checking organizations Maldita.es, Full Fact, Pagella Politica/Facta, Correctiv, and Agence Franc
AFP Fact Check→ No banning order issued ending the use of face masks in Tanzania
An article claiming that Tanzania has banned the wearing of face masks to guard against the new coronavirus because they “caused anxiety among Tanzanians” has re-emerged in South Africa after first circulating online in May 2020. According to the
AFP Fact Check→ No evidence to support these ‘statistics’ about effectiveness of face masks, expert says
A graphic has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Weibo that claim it shows the difference in the COVID-19 transmission rate between individuals who are wearing or not wearing face masks. The claim is m
AFP Fact Check→ Misinformation circulates in Myanmar that dried butterfly pea flowers cause liver cancer
Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Myanmar claim that consuming dried butterfly pea flowers causes liver cancer. The claim is misleading; health experts and government regulators in Myanmar say butterfly pea flowers are not carcinoge
Health Feedback→ Infant deaths did not decrease during the pandemic due to a reduced use of vaccines; vaccines are not associated with sudden infant death syndrome
REVIEW An article published by Health Choice which suggests a link between infant deaths and vaccination has been republished by outlets known for opposing vaccines, such as Children’s Health Defense. The original article has received more than 14
Health Feedback→ Infant deaths did not decrease during the pandemic due to a reduced use of vaccines; vaccines are not associated with sudden infant death syndrome
REVIEW An article published by Health Choice which suggests a link between infant deaths and vaccination has been republished by outlets known for opposing vaccines, such as Children’s Health Defense. The original article has received more than 14
AFP Fact Check→ The audio track in this video about the Philippines’ anti-terror law has been doctored
A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows prominent Philippine personalities voicing support for the country's recently enacted anti-terror law. The claim is false; the audio in the video has b
AFP Fact Check→ The Australian newspaper did not publish an apology over a report linking a Black Lives Matter protest with a COVID-19 outbreak in the country
An image that shows a purported screenshot of an apology on The Australian website over a report about “a link between the Melbourne COVID-19 oubreak and the Black Lives Matter protest” has been shared multiple times on Facebook. The claim is false
AFP Fact Check→ The Australian newspaper did not publish an apology over a report linking a Black Lives Matter protest with a COVID-19 outbreak in the country
An image that shows a purported screenshot of an apology on The Australian website over a report about “a link between the Melbourne COVID-19 oubreak and the Black Lives Matter protest” has been shared multiple times on Facebook. The claim is false
AFP Fact Check→ Misinformation recirculates online in Thailand about ‘cure’ for kidney stones
Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and YouTube claim that drinking coconut water diluted with potassium aluminium sulphate, a chemical compound commonly used in water purification, can "dissolve kidney stones". The claim is misleading;
AFP Fact Check→ The loans were given to a variety of US religious organisations, not just evangelical churches, official data shows
Multiple post shared repeatedly on Facebook claim that US “Evangelical churches got $7.3 billion” in government loans distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is false; the US federal government has distributed US$7.3 billion in loan
Snopes→ No, Joe Biden Didn’t Introduce Man in Blackface at 1985 Fundraiser
A racially charged rumor involved an edited video featuring a Black singer.
FactCheck.org→ Trump Distorts Biden’s Immigration Plans
In remarks in the White House Rose Garden on July 14, President Donald Trump falsely described many of the immigration recommendations drafted by allies of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his vanquished rival Sen. Bernie Sande
Snopes→ Did Trump Promote Goya Foods from the Oval Office?
The president's social media post raised hackles among anti-corruption experts.
Snopes→ Pelosi Urges Trump to ‘Ask for Directions’ on Virus Crisis
The Democratic speaker urged the president to invoke the full power of the Defense Production Act to boost much-needed supplies for coronavirus testing and treatment.
Snopes→ Brazil Tops 2 Million Coronavirus Cases, with 76,000 Dead
Since late May, Brazil has recorded more than 1,000 daily deaths on average in a gruesome plateau that has yet to tilt downward.
Snopes→ Did Starbucks Support Calls To ‘Defund the Police’?
Outraged supporters of law enforcement officers called for a boycott after an evidence-free meme appeared in July 2020.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Mask of the Beast’
A Facebook post attempting to falsely link protection against COVID-19 to Satanism continued to spread on the platform in July 2020 — while also providing a look into how disinformation is laundered across social media platforms. The post by Ana
Snopes→ Did Golfer Bubba Watson Write an Anti-BLM Facebook Post?
The two-time Masters winner is usually quiet on political controversies.
Snopes→ Did the Hudson River Flood the Lincoln Tunnel?
"Pretty sure there's a movie about this and everybody dies," one observer said dryly.
Snopes→ Did Walter ‘Blackie’ Wetzel Design Washington, DC Football Team’s Logo?
The claim circulated online in July 2020 after the NFL team said it was dropping its "Redskins" name and logo.
FactCheck.org→ Trump Misleads on H1N1 Swine Flu Testing
Deflecting attention from the rise in COVID-19 cases, President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the Obama administration “stopped testing” during the H1N1 pandemic. He’s correct that individual reporting was halted after a few months, but some t
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Walmart Can And Does Require All Shoppers To Wear Face Masks; ‘Reference Number’ Will Not Exempt You
Can a shopper at Walmart opt out of wearing a protective face mask by presenting a numbered reference code at the door? No. The nation's largest retailer and its affiliate, Sam's Club, on July 15, 2020, issued a "masks-on" rule for all shopper
Snopes→ Did Missouri Schools Require Parents Sign COVID-19 ‘Death’ Waivers?
Discussions around when and how schools would reopen during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic sparked a few controversies.
AFP Fact Check→ Photo does not show Trump ally Stone celebrating after prison sentence commuted
Social media posts claim a photo shows Donald Trump’s confidant Roger Stone celebrating in a restaurant by making the white power symbol after the president commuted his prison sentence. This is false; the photo is more than two years old and was tak
The Dispatch→ Is It Illegal for Businesses to Refuse to Accept Cash?
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Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dr. Fauci Say “I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You Should Care for Other People”?
In mid-July 2020, various iterations of the quote “I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care about other people” circulated, but all were attributed to Dr. Anthony Fauci: When Fauci said: “I Don't Know How To E
Health Feedback→ U.S. COVID-19-related deaths in July 2020 may not be as low as preliminary data suggest
REVIEW A Facebook post published on 8 July 2020 claimed that the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. was “nearing zero”. Such claims contain a grain of truth, given that we can observe a downward trend in the weekly COVID-19 death counts
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Businesses CANNOT Ignore California Governor’s Shutdown Order Issued By The State Department of Public Health
Can businesses ignore California Gov. Gavin Newsom's shutdown order since it was issued by the state Department of Public Health? No, that's not true. The governor has issued multiple executive orders that people follow the "guidance and direc
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the 2005 Film ‘V for Vendetta’ About a Virus — and Set in 2020?
On June 21 2020, the Facebook page “Cosmic Enlightenment” shared the following meme, which claimed that the 2005 film V for Vendetta was about the use of a virus to control populations — and that it was set in the year 2020: &nbs
FactCheck.org→ As Deaths Rise, Trump Sticks with Old Numbers
During his July 14 press conference from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump made the outdated claim that U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are down “tenfold.” Data from three different sources show that, as of July 14, the total nu
Full Fact→ Independent SAGE’s estimated death rate is too high
"What we are saying is 27,000 excess deaths are likely between now and next April if the expectation by the Chief Medical Officer [is] that he would be surprised and delighted if the UK is in the same place next spring." Sir David King, 5 July 2020 S
AllSides→ Can an accuracy ‘nudge’ help prevent people from sharing misinformation?
https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2020/can-an-accuracy-nudge-help-prevent-people-from-sharing-misinformation/
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Kroger’s ‘Change Shortage’ Fee Being Applied to Credit and Debit Transactions?
On July 14 2020, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot, showing a Kroger receipt, a “change shortage” fee, and a post about how the customer purportedly paid with a credit card or debit card (making the already questionable fee e
Full Fact→ Spending on online slot machines didn’t go up 25% in lockdown
“Shocking figures from regulator the Gambling Commission reveal that betting on online slot machines has increased by 25% during lockdown.” HuffPost, 14 July 2020 An article on the HuffPost website reports on changes in g