Multiple fires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area after flames have razed neighborhoods, forced mass evacuations and claimed at least 27 lives over more than a week. Some fires have been contained, but three are still active. That inclu
The Dispatch→ The TikTok Rout
An unserious country.
The Dispatch→ Pulling It Out of Uranus
On the president’s unserious declaration that the Equal Rights Amendment is suddenly law.
PolitiFact→ Dana Loesch – Are North Carolina’s Helene victims still required to pay property taxes? Yes, and here’s why.
Buncombe County “is still demanding property taxes on homes destroyed by Hurricane Helene based on pre-Helene assessments that no longer apply.”
The Dispatch→ TikTok Decision Emergency Pod
The Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban.
PolitiFact→ JD Vance – Fact-check: Have some California reservoirs been closed for 15 or 20 years?
“Some of these (California) reservoirs have been dry for 15, 20 years."
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this video doesn’t show the Los Angeles fires started at the same time (because they didn’t)
“All three California wild fires seem to start at the same time!”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video With FAKE Audio Shows Taylor Swift Supposedly Talking About US Involvement In Gaza
Does an authentic video show Taylor Swift saying that the 2025 Los Angeles fires are divine retribution for American actions in Gaza? No, that's not true: The original footage dates back to a 2021 appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Trump Supporting Georgia Sen. Colton Moore After 2025 Arrest — It’s From 2023
Does a video show President-elect Donald Trump supporting Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore after his arrest on January 16, 2025? No, that's not true: The video where Trump praises Moore was originally posted on Trump's official Facebook ac
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel isn’t ending his show and emigrating because of Trump’s election
“Jimmy Kimmel just announced that his show will end on January 20th … he’s leaving for Canada and says he’s ‘never coming back.’”
FactCheck.org→ Canada and Mexico Are Helping to Fight California Fires, Contrary to Meme
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Quick Take Canada and Mexico have sent firefighting crews to help battle the blazes in the Los Angeles area, and Ukraine also has offered assistance. But social media posts misle
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Evidence Gov. Gavin Newsom Ordered Firefighters Not To Use Starlink Modems
Is there evidence that California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered firefighters not to use Starlink modems while battling wildfires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025? No, that's not true: Newsom denied allegations he had ordered the modems
The Dispatch→ Assessing Claims About Job Growth Under Joe Biden
These claims fail to mention the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on job creation.
The Dispatch→ Will Southern California Wildfire Victims Receive Only $770 From FEMA?
Emergency relief programs are available to disaster victims in addition to the one-time payment.
Full Fact→ Video of Hamas fighters is not recent
The footage is being shared with reference to the Gaza ceasefire deal, but is actually more than 17 years old.
Full Fact→ Footage of 2011 Japan tsunami being shared as recent
Posts on social media suggest the footage was taken following recent tsunami warnings, which have since been lifted.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Tesla Batteries Did NOT Cause Monterey Power Plant Fire
Did Tesla batteries cause the fire at the Monterey, California, power plant on January 16, 2025 or was their presence related to it? No, that's not true: Fire officials said the fire at the Moss Landing facility started inside a building
The Dispatch→ First Batch of Senate Confirmation Hearings Kick Off
Several of Trump’s high-level picks look on track to join the incoming administration.
The Dispatch→ Confirmation Kabuki
How will history treat Joe Biden?
The Dispatch→ People, Places, and Things
The biggest factor in the death tolls and damage costs from natural disasters probably is not climate change but population change.
The Dispatch→ Yanking on the Purse Strings
How Donald Trump could try to use presidential impoundment to cut federal spending.
The Dispatch→ John Bolton’s Advice for the ‘Continuing Turmoil’ of a Trump Administration
It’s been good vibes since Election Day, but the real work will begin on Monday.
The Dispatch→ A Cabinet Pick’s Dilemma: Taking the ‘Right’ Position
In Senate hearings, nominees danced around topics on which Donald Trump’s stances have shifted.
The Dispatch→ It’s the Culture, Stupid
The Democratic Party’s problem with working class voters is bigger than policy.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t a video of Mexican firefighters flying to help battle California’s wildfires
Video shows Mexican firefighters going to help with California fires.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Trump Has NOT Promised $52,000 In Homeowner Relief — Info-Harvesting Ruse
Do homeowners have "only six days left" to claim $52,000 in homeowner relief from a program President-elect Donald Trump initiated in January 2025? No, that's not true: A misleading video touts a nonexistent program to entice people to en
PolitiFact→ Social Media – No, top tech companies didn’t refuse to give to Los Angeles wildfire relief
Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple and Uber haven’t donated anything toward LA fire relief, but Taylor Swift donated $10 million.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘The Simpsons’ Did NOT Predict California Wildfires — Images Are NOT From 2007 Episode
Does a video show real images from a 2007 episode of "The Simpsons" that predicted the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires? No, that's not true: None of the images in the video posted on social media were shown in the episode cited in the video, e
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – This video of LA fires is mostly AI-generated
Video claims to show the Los Angeles fires.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – Conspiracy theory falsely links Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to Los Angeles wildfires
Los Angeles wildfires are part of a Hollywood conspiracy to cover up evidence related to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
FactCheck.org→ Biden’s Familiar Talking Points in Final Remarks
In his farewell address to the nation and in other recent remarks, President Joe Biden has repeated claims that are misleading or need additional context. Biden said, “We’ve created nearly 17 million new jobs, more than any other sing
The Dispatch→ Positions of Honor
On the purging of Rep. Mike Turner.
The Dispatch→ Why Shrubland Makes Southern California’s Wildfires Inevitable
Los Angeles’ chaparral ecosystem plays a key role in the fires’ intensity.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Clip Does NOT Prove Biden’s Farewell Address Was Prerecorded
Does a clip showing open computer files prove President Joe Biden's farewell address was prerecorded? No, that's not true: The recording only showed Biden's photo, not the purportedly prerecorded video file with his speech. Plus, a White
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – Fact-check: Is the federal government treating California and North Carolina disasters differently?
“So (Los Angeles), Hollywood, and California (get) 100% aid for the next 180 days while Western North Carolina got $750.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Helicopters Taking Mexican Firefighters To Help Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Efforts In January 2025
Does a video show helicopters taking Mexican firefighters to help in Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts in January 2025, as a social media post implied? No, that's not true: Spokespeople for the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Califo
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Tracking Donald Trump's complete position change on banning TikTok in the US
On banning TikTok
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – Two clips in a Facebook video don’t show Los Angeles wildfires; they were taken in other countries
Video clips show “wildfires in Los Angeles, California.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show South African Firefighters Dancing At Airport Before Fighting 2025 LA Wildfires
Does a video depict South African firefighters dancing at a Canadian airport on their way to help battle the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires? No, that's not true: A video showing 200 South African firefighters singing and clapping together was
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden Saying ‘End of Quote’ In Farewell Address Was NOT A Mistake
Did President Joe Biden err in saying "end of quote" during his farewell address on January 15, 2025, as some social media posts suggested? No, that's not true: Speakers often say "end of quote" to show they've finished quoting someone el