Several Democrats have claimed that the Trump administration’s Jan. 3 military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, was “illegal,” violating both domestic and international law
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – This isn't leaked audio of Donald Trump talking about Epstein and Venezuela. It’s AI
Video shows “leaked Donald Trump audio about the Epstein files and Venezuela."
PolitiFact→ Doctors still recommend flu shot despite sneaky new strain
Doctors still recommend flu shot despite sneaky new strain
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Trump amplifies conspiracy theory that Gov. Tim Walz ordered Minnesota lawmaker’s killing
Gov. Tim Walz had Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman killed.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Mamdani Did NOT Say That ‘Husbands Are Allowed To Beat Their Wives’ Or That City Authorities Should Ignore Domestic Violence Calls
Does a viral post accurately summarize Zohran Mamdani's words from a podcast recorded more than five years before he was sworn in as New York City mayor? No, that's not true: The quote was shortened, and it changed its meaning. A longer,
The Dispatch→ Degradation Day
January 6 and the end of NATO.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Posts About Connecticut Woman Ada Morrison Committed To Asylum For ‘Excessive Reading’ In 1893 Do NOT Tell Real-Life Story
Do viral posts tell a real-life story about a Connecticut woman named "Ada Morrison" who was committed to a psychiatric hospital for "excessive reading and intellectual pretensions unsuitable for woman"? No, that's not true: Lead Stories
Full Fact→ Paper Mills: a new threat to scientific publishing
There's a new problem for publication in research: scientific fraud.
The Dispatch→ What’s Ahead in 2026
From the battle for Congress to Ukraine peace talks, here's what to watch this year.
The Dispatch→ The Legality of U.S. Operations in Venezuela
Plus: Why David French doesn't use AI.
The Dispatch→ Tax Enforcers Are Actually the Good Guys
By cutting resources for prosecuting rich tax cheats, the Trump administration is leaving billions of dollars on the table.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Clickbait Story About Trump Being Told ‘Shame On You’ Live On Air By Depp, Eminem, Cher, McCartney, Others NOT Real – Vietnam Spam
Did Johnny Depp, Eminem, Cher, Paul McCartney or any other celebrity tell Donald Trump "You're tearing families apart ... Shame on you" at a live town hall meeting on immigration? No, that's not true: Nearly identical stories mentioning t
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: This ‘Official Photo’ Of Maduro In U.S. Custody Can NOT Be Traced Back To Official Government Channels
Does a viral image show an "official photo" of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro after he was captured by the U.S.? No, that's not true: Lead Stories didn't find any evidence that the picture originated from government websites or elected offic
PolitiFact→ What are the charges against Venezuela's Maduro? How can the US indict foreign politicians?
What to know about Nicolás Maduro’s indictment
The Dispatch→ The Capture of Nicolás Maduro
Can we trust the Trump administration?
The Dispatch→ The Other ‘America First’
From isolationism to imperialism.
PolitiFact→ Alex Jones – This video doesn't show Venezuelans celebrating after Maduro’s capture
Video shows “millions of Venezuelans flooded the streets of Caracas” to celebrate Nicolás Maduro’s capture.
PolitiFact→ Social Media – After Nicolás Maduro’s capture, AI-generated images and videos go viral on social media
Images and videos show aftermath of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture.
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking Donald Trump on promised U.S. oil company investment in Venezuela
Fact-checking Trump on U.S. oil investment in Venezuela
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Blonde’s Selfie Is AI-Generated Image NOT A Real Photo With Nicolás Maduro Handcuffed In Back Seat Of Car
Did a blonde woman take a selfie showing a handcuffed Nicolás Maduro in the back seat of a car? No, that's not true: This is not a real photo. Google's Gemini detected a SynthID watermark embedded in the image indicating that all or part
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Of U.K. Member Of Parliament Calling For Netanyahu To Be Captured Like Maduro Is NOT Real
Does a video show real footage of a U.K. member of Parliament asking why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been captured the same way the United States captured Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela? No, that's not true: The clip w
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Inconsistent Details in Ventura Village Daycare Child Actors Wanted Craigslist Ad From Minneapolis, Minnesota
Does a viral Craigslist post prove that owners of a Minnesota daycare accused of fraud attempted to hire child actors to imitate legitimate operations? No, that's lacking enough evidence to prove it's true: Anyone could have published an
The Dispatch→ Founders Town Hall: What’s Next For Venezuela?
Tune in to our special livestreamed conversation.
Full Fact→ A video shared with claims about US military strikes on Venezuela actually dates from 2024
An old video showing explosions is being shared alongside claims about the recent US strikes on Venezuela. But the footage is unrelated and was filmed in Israel in October 2024.
The Dispatch→ Revenge Against the Nerds
The unsustainable nature of the Affordable Care Act was all too predictable.
The Dispatch→ The Venezuela Raid
Trump says Washington will temporarily oversee Venezuela while deciding who will govern next.
The Dispatch→ John Adams Was Not an Originalist | Interview: Lindsay Chervinsky
‘What has two thumbs and loves the Federalist Papers?’
The Dispatch→ A Reason to Celebrate, and Causes for Concern
What comes next for Venezuela?
The Dispatch→ The Bonfire of the Implicit
What we lose when we’re scared of subtlety.
The Dispatch→ Why We Toppled Maduro
The administration’s domestic, legal, and foreign policy justifications for capturing the Venezuelan president are in tension.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Image Does NOT Show Real CBS News Report That Gabbard Thwarted A Rep. Jeffries Attempt To Tip Off Maduro — It’s Rage Bait
Does a viral image show a real news report saying that U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' office "tried to tip off" Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro before his capture? No, that's not true: No such report could be found. Neither CBS N
Lead Stories→ Lead Stories’ Top Debunks Of 2025: Charlie Kirk, Jeffrey Epstein, And What Trump Did NOT Say
False claims about the Charlie Kirk assassination, the Jeffrey Epstein files, and purported verbal gaffes by President Trump topped the list of most-read Lead Stories fact checks in 2025. Here are our most read fact checks of the past yea
The Dispatch→ Zohran Mamdani May Be a Socialist, but Islam Is Not
Plus: Ben Sasse’s greatest lesson.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Satirical California ‘Rep. Jack Kimble’ Post About Other Countries Considering Invading U.S. Over Corrupt President Is NOT Real
Did Republican representative Jack Kimble make a post about other countries potentially invading the U.S. "if we ever had" a "highly corrupt leader" as President? No, that's not true: The post was satire from an account on X that pretends
The Dispatch→ Ben Sasse’s Greatest Lesson
In facing death, Sasse points the way to the life to come.
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking Donald Trump following U.S. attacks on Venezuela and capture of Nicolás Maduro
Fact-checking Trump comments on Venezuela attacks, Maduro
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Viral Image of ‘Captured Maduro’ Is NOT Real — Maduro’s Head Was Digitally Attached To Body Of Ukrainian Businessman Known For Ties With Putin
Does a viral image show Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro captured? No, that's not true: An authentic photo was digitally altered to swap Maduro's head onto the body of a captive. The image originally showed Ukrainian-born pro-Russian businessm
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Viral Video Does NOT Show Caracas, Venezuela Under Missile Bombardment — 2025 Israel Footage
Does a viral video show missiles raining down from the clouds on Caracas, Venezuela on January 3, 2026? No, that's not true: A viral video making the rounds does not show the actual attacks that took place on that date. It is an old video
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: California And Colorado Are NOT ‘Top Outbound States’ With People Leaving — Trump Cites Questionable Source
Are California and Colorado at the top of the list of states losing population as more people leave than move there? No, that's not true: The latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that California lost population in 2020 and
The Dispatch→ Bidding Farewell to 2025
A selection of our best longform pieces from a long, long year.