His surfer-like demeanor was overshadowed at times by his troubled personal life.
FactCheck.org→ Apprehensions Not ‘On Track’ to Exceed 1 Million
President Donald Trump tweeted that the U.S. is “on track to APPREHEND more than one million people coming across the Southern Border this year.” That’s not the case, based on the number of apprehensions so far this fiscal or calenda
Truth or Fiction?→ Will Michael Jackson’s Body Be Exhumed?
On March 7 2019, pop culture and media sites published a virally popular article (archived here) claiming that pop superstar Michael Jackson’s body may be exhumed: Express.co.uk is reporting that at least 11 new people are accusing Michael Jac
Snopes→ GOP State Lawmakers Approve ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bans
A fetal heartbeat is generally detectable at around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.
Snopes→ Women’s National Soccer Team Players Sue for Equitable Pay
The action comes just three months before the team will defend its title at the Women's World Cup in France.
Truth or Fiction?→ Will Earth Lose Two-Thirds of its Animals by 2020?
In early March 2019, a Facebook user shared a screenshot (archived here) of a tweet sent the same day, which admonished followers of a scandal involving the Kardashian family. That post claimed that while readers were busy on Kardashian gossip, two-t
Snopes→ Is This President Trump’s Report Card from Fordham University?
If we gave report cards for social media hoaxes, this one would probably get an "F."
PolitiFact→ Jay Inslee – Fact-checking presidential candidate Jay Inslee on climate change and 'the worst air in the world'
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly True | Fact-checking presidential candidate Jay Inslee on climate change and 'the worst air in the world' Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, one of the Democrats running for president in 2020, has made climate change the cen
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Trump is wrong that Obama White House refused to turn over documents in congressional probes
The Truth-o-Meter says: Pants on Fire! | Trump is wrong that Obama White House refused to turn over documents in congressional probes President Donald Trump recently offered some inaccurate remarks to reporters about the congressional invest
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Fordham University Transcript Showing Trump 1.28 GPA Is Obvious Forgery
Did President Donald J. Trump's report card or transcript from his days at Fordham University leak and does it show a paltry 1.28 GPA? No, that's not true: the image that went viral in early March 2019 is an obvious forgery. An example of the
Washington Post→ Would ‘every small dollar donated’ be matched 6-to-1 under the House Democratic plan?
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) attacked H.R. 1, the centerpiece of House Democratic efforts to change election funding and practices.
Snopes→ Holocaust Survivor Says Teens in Swastika Photo Apologized
When the students saluted the swastika at the party last weekend, "they didn't realize what it really meant," she said. "They just thought it was a joke."
Snopes→ Ex-Trump Campaign Boss Manafort Sentenced to 47 Months
The sentence caps the only jury trial following indictments stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. It was not related to Manafort's role in Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Snopes→ New Disney Area to Immerse Parkgoers in a Star Wars Story
“You will not think you’re in a theme park. Every cast member will be in character, the food and beverage and language will be in story."
Snopes→ Did a Brave Millennial Sell His Testicles to Raise Money for Bernie’s 2020 Campaign?
"There have been numerous millennials who have sold their organs such as kidneys, liver parts, skin grafts and hundreds of thousands of gallons of blood."
Snopes→ New Disney Star Wars Theme Park Lands Set Opening Dates
The Millennium Falcon is blasting off from Disneyland on May 31 with the opening of the California theme park's massive Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge expansion.
Snopes→ Vermont Town Elects Goat as Honorary Mayor
During its time as mayor, Lincoln will be expected to attend local events, such as marching in the Memorial Day parade wearing a custom-made sash.
Snopes→ Pentagon May Tap Military Pay, Pensions for Border Wall
The Army missed its recruiting goal this year, falling short by about 6,500 soldiers, despite pouring an extra $200 million into bonuses and approving some additional waivers for bad conduct or health issues.
FactCheck.org→ Trump Wrong About Obama Documents
In response to a sweeping document request from a congressional committee looking into potential criminal activity, President Donald Trump wrongly claimed that in the face of similar congressional inquiries, his predecessor, President Obama, “did
Snopes→ Conservative Ethics Group Files Campaign Spending Complaint Against Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Her Chief of Staff
Lawyers for Ocasio-Cortez say she and other Democrat activists "fully complied with the law and the highest ethical standards."
Snopes→ Does This Image Show ‘Negro Skin Shoes’?
Plenty of evidence exists of various personal items made from human skin in the 19th century.
PolitiFact→ America First – Did Beto O'Rourke and Kirsten Gillibrand say they'd tear down border wall if elected president?
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Did Beto O'Rourke and Kirsten Gillibrand say they'd tear down border wall if elected president? While President Donald Trump wants to build a border wall, Democrats Beto O’Rourke and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
FactCheck.org→ Spinning GDP
The White House is claiming the economy grew 3.1 percent last year, while the statisticians at the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis put growth at 2.9 percent. What gives? Answer: The White House is spinning the numbers, focu
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking Clinton’s Voter Suppression Claims
In remarks in Alabama, Hillary Clinton took aim at state laws that she said disenfranchise minority voters. But she went too far in a couple of instances when discussing the impact of Wisconsin and Georgia laws in the 2016 election, when she ran for pr
Snopes→ US Regulators Outline Oversight on Meat Grown in Lab Dishes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said meat from cultured animal cells will have to undergo agency inspection, as with other meat and poultry products.
Truth or Fiction?→ Do New Chicago City ID Cards Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Vote?
On January 19 2019, a Facebook user shared a text-based status update (archived here), claiming that Chicago’s “City ID Cards” enables undocumented immigrants to legally vote in state and federal elections: Chicago now has City ID Ca
Snopes→ Police: Taylor Swift Stalker Arrested Again
Roger Alvarado of Homestead, Florida was arrested after he allegedly climbed a ladder to a second-floor patio and smashed a glass door to get inside.
Snopes→ After DC Rally, Kentucky Could Make ‘Doxing’ Minors a Crime
“There are no brakes on Twitter,” said Todd McMurtry, an attorney for 16-year-old Nick Sandmann, whose interaction with Native American protester Nathan Phillips went viral in January.
Snopes→ Michael Cohen Sought Trump Pardon, Attorney Says
This raises questions about whether Cohen, who is slated to begin a three-year prison sentence in May, lied to Congress last week.
Truth or Fiction?→ If You Have Astigmatism, This Is What Lights Look Like
On February 28 2019, a Facebook user shared the image below (archived here) and commented: “So if u have astigmatism, then this is what lights look like to you. I always thought this was what they looked like for everybody”: The post was
PolitiFact→ James Lankford – Did tax collections rise after GOP law? The case is weak
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Did tax collections rise after GOP law? The case is weak Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., recently took to cable TV to tout the December 2017 tax law, a law he said was fiscally responsible. On March 6, Lankford
Snopes→ Fired Florida Officer Guilty of Slaying Black Motorist
Nouman Raja, 41, now faces a mandatory sentence of at least 25 years, up to life in prison for the death of Corey Jones, 31.
Snopes→ R Kelly Says Ex-Wife Destroyed His Name, Others Stole Money
The 52-year old singer was jailed after he said he couldn't afford to pay $161,000 in back child support.
Snopes→ Out of the Shadows: Loyal Money Man Swept into Trump Probes
Allen Weisselberg started working for the Trump family in Brooklyn in 1973 under Fred Trump, Donald's father, and was there for all the son's big successes and flops.
Lead Stories→ On The Difference Between Fake News and Satire — Why Lead Stories Needed A Satire Policy
Things used to be very simple and clear-cut here at Lead Stories. We used our Trendolizer engine to look for things that were trending online that were not true (but which seemed to be believed by many people anyway). Then we would write an ar
Washington Post→ Pompeo’s complaint about the ‘Boston-DC corridor’ is based on flawed data
Where a person attends a university is not really a good indication of whether they grew up in the heartland.
Snopes→ Report: Government Kept Tabs on Journalists, ‘Instigators’
The U.S. government ran an operation to screen journalists, activists and others while investigating last year's migrant caravan from Mexico, a San Diego TV station reported, citing leaked documents.
Snopes→ Teacher Wins $10K for Reading Fine Print in Insurance Policy
A Florida travel insurance company has awarded a Georgia high school teacher $10,000 for reading the fine print in a policy she recently purchased.
Snopes→ Sinkhole Opens at Kentucky Zoo; No Animals or People Hurt
The nearby Louisville Mega Cavern also said Wednesday it is temporarily closed because of a 3.4 earthquake reported Tuesday in neighboring Tennessee.
Snopes→ Did Oprah Winfrey Promote the ‘Shout Your Abortion’ Campaign?
Conservative and pro-life observers criticized the media mogul in 2018 and 2019, but what did Oprah actually say?