The year in pictures—and award-winning cutlines.
The Dispatch→ Joe Biden’s Roadside Library
Jonah’s intellectual wish list.
The Dispatch→ Commercial Possibilities
Is the culture turning rightward?
The Dispatch→ America’s Dueling Christmas Narratives
What ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Black Christmas’ can teach us today.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show New Jersey Drone ‘Spraying’ — It’s Jetliner Contrail
Does a video captured by a New Jersey resident show a drone spraying something in the sky? No, that's not true: The video showed a commercial Boeing 777 jetliner gradually descending as it nears the end of a transatlantic flight from Lond
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Weapon Fired At NJ Drone — FAKE Gunfire Added To Original Clip
Does an authentic video show a weapon being fired at a drone in New Jersey in mid-December 2024? No, that's not true: The earliest version of the video shared on social media doesn't include gunfire or video effects. Robert Earl White, wh
The Dispatch→ Revenge of the Nerds
How seriously should we take the floor revolt by House fiscal hawks?
The Dispatch→ Get Us Off This Roller Coaster
Government isn’t a thrill ride.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Samir El Hydeouchi NOT Identified As The Driver In Magdeburg Christmas Market Attack — Sam Hyde Hoax
Was Samir El Hydeouchi identified as the suspect in the December 20, 2024, vehicular attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany? No, that's not true: At the time this fact check was written, the suspect was taken into custody and
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: House Democrats NOT Only Ones To Vote Against Spending Bill
Did only House Democrats vote against a spending bill on December 19, 2024, that would have kept the government open until March 2025? No, that's not true: While 197 Democrats voted no, so did 38 Republicans. The bill required a two-third
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Agenda: Taxes
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. In addition to extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one of his signature achievements in his first term, President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a long list of tax cuts, from elim
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows Car-Sized Drone Or Flying Object In Las Vegas
Does a video shared to Instagram authentically show a car-sized drone or flying object flying over the Las Vegas Strip? No, that's not true: The original video was posted to TikTok with a caption stating, "This video was created digitally
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the federal government is not offering a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment
Residents in states across the U.S. are eligible for a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t an authentic video of Reba McEntire, Dr. Mehmet Oz, discussing lung disease treatment
Video shows Dr. Mehmet Oz and singer Reba McEntire promoting treatment for chronic lung diseases.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk’s Mother Did NOT Say ‘The Poor Should Have Kids So My Son’s Factories Have Workers’ In December 2024
Did social media posts accurately cite the words of Elon Musk's mother, Maye, on having children? No, that's not true: The viral quote was a review a critic made of Maye Musk's remarks about having children, not a direct quote. Maye Musk
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the NFL didn’t punish three refs after an Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings game
The NFL punished three referees in “the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings.”
The Dispatch→ False Claims About Serial Killers on the Loose Flood Facebook
The posts are false and have been debunked by law enforcement officials.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t an authentic photo of Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair
Image shows Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the NFL didn’t fire three refs after the 49ers-Rams game
“The NFL has abruptly fired three referees who officiated the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.”
Health Feedback→ More evidence needed to confirm association between Alzheimer’s prevention and supplements like curcumin, green tea, or lion’s mane
A reel shared on Facebook in late November 2024 claimed that three supplements—curcumin, green tea, and lion’s mane—could “stop Alzheimer’s disease before it starts”. At the time of writing, it had received more than 63,000 interactions. Th
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden Did NOT Cut Short Christmas Visit To Delaware
Did President Joe Biden cut short an expected Christmas stay in Delaware on December 19, 2024, to return to Washington? No, that's not true: According to an official White House news release dated December 15, 2024, Biden was scheduled to
The Dispatch→ Claims That Iran Seized an Oil Tanker Headed to Israel Lack Evidence
No credible media reports exist, and Iran scholars have seen no evidence of a seizure.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – No, this video doesn’t show Vice President Kamala Harris intoxicated
Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris “is plastered again!”
Full Fact→ Picture of Bono and Bob Geldof holding Israeli flags is AI-generated
The image appears to have been first posted by an X account which describes itself as offering "fake news and topical satire".
Full Fact→ No, Amazon is not offering Samsung TVs for £3
The retailer has confirmed that a supposed offer mentioned in a Facebook post is not genuine.
Full Fact→ Image of ‘statue of Roald Dahl’ is a work of satire
The image was created using AI and its resemblance to sex offender Jimmy Savile is intentional.
Full Fact→ No evidence UK government plans to ban TikTok
A post claiming Britain is ‘to ban TikTok’ following concerns about ‘young millionaires’ has been shared on Instagram.
Full Fact→ Video of ‘car-sized drone in Las Vegas’ is digitally created
The original poster says the video is “created digitally” in the caption.
Health Feedback→ Contrary to viral misinformation, cow feed additive Bovaer shows no safety concerns for consumers
REVIEW In early December 2024, posts questioning the safety of a cow feed additive called Bovaer went viral across main social media platforms. Claims related to this product took multiple forms. Many users raised concerns about the safety of certai
Full Fact→ No, Michelle Obama’s former partner has not revealed she is a man
A claim on Facebook that Mrs Obama’s ex-boyfriend said she was previously called Michael Robinson is completely false.
Full Fact→ Clip showing ‘unidentified drone’ in New Jersey is digitally created
A digitally created clip first shared on TikTok has been circulating on other social media platforms as if it’s genuine footage.
The Dispatch→ Georgian Protests Continue in the Face of Government Crackdown
Opposition leaders look to the West for support.
Full Fact→ Facebook post’s ‘Toby Carvery offer’ is not genuine
The chain has confirmed it’s not giving away a “complimentary carvery for two” if you like the post.
The Dispatch→ Can Elon Musk Deliver for Conservatives
Plus: SCOTUS considers TikTok divestment challenge.
Full Fact→ No evidence Michelle Obama asked Congress for vote recount
There is no record of the former First Lady having made this comment, as has been claimed on social media.
The Dispatch→ Mainstreaming Junk Science
Robert F. Kennedy’s views on health may have more popular support than we think.
The Dispatch→ Living Under Ad-Hocracy
On government spending, everybody knows what needs to be done. Nobody will do it.
The Dispatch→ Will Mike Johnson Be a Casualty of Congress’ Spending Fight?
His tenure as speaker takes another turn as a government shutdown looms.
Full Fact→ Video shows ruins in Syria not Gaza
An aerial clip of destroyed buildings is being shared with false claims it depicts Gaza, when it is actually of a town in Damascus.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows AI-Generated ‘UFO UAP Drone’ In Maryland In December 2024
Is a video that shows UFOs or drones in Maryland in December 2024 authentic? No, that's not true: The creator of the video admitted he "made a fake UFO video with AI." The original video is listed on the creator's account on TikTok under