The investigation into black actor Jussie Smollett's account of being beaten in a racist, anti-gay attack took another turn when Chicago police said two men arrested in the case are also black.
Snopes→ Kaepernick, Eric Reid Settle Collusion Grievances with NFL
"The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party."
Snopes→ Bombshell Book Alleges a Vatican Gay Subculture, Hypocrisy
A gay French writer has lifted the lid on what he calls one of the world's largest gay communities, the Vatican, estimating that most of its prelates are homosexually inclined.
Snopes→ Trump: Japanese Leader Nominated Me for Nobel Peace Prize
The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the nomination.
PolitiFact→ Trump rests national emergency declaration on border ‘invasion.’ Here are the facts
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in order to move forward with his campaign promise of building a border wall with Mexico. Trump didn’t lay out specifics about the declaration during a news conference at the White House. He sa
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking President Donald Trump’s claims about a national emergency
President Donald Trump repeated several false or misleading claims as he justified the need for a national emergency declaration to secure funding for a border wall. Trump, who had not released the scope of his executive action as of mid-day Feb. 15, r
Snopes→ Did Donald Trump, Jr. Call Teachers ‘Losers’ at His Father’s Rally in Texas?
The president's eldest son aired his grievances with educators during a political rally.
FactCheck.org→ Falsehood About Pelosi’s Brother-in-Law Resurfaces
Quick Take A viral story revives a falsehood about Nancy Pelosi’s brother-in-law and a federal loan guarantee for a Nevada solar plant. Full Story Using the proposed Green New Deal as a hook, Neon Nettle — a website known for peddling fal
Snopes→ In Space, NASA Heard Astronaut’s Immune System Scream
Results from a unique NASA study are raising new questions for doctors as the space agency aims to send people to Mars.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the Red Cross Assisting Migrant Caravans with Tents and Supplies?
In October 2018 a Facebook user shared the following status update, alleging that the Red Cross was providing tents and food to a group of people moving through Mexico to the United States to request asylum at its southern border: Against a red backgr
Snopes→ Trump Declares National Emergency to Build Border Wall
The move is already drawing bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill and expected to face rounds of legal challenges.
FactCheck.org→ The Facts on the ‘Green New Deal’
On Feb. 7, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced her Green New Deal in the House and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts introduced a companion resolution in the Senate. The text of the legislation, which is a nonbinding resolution, lays out
Snopes→ Did a Man Escape a Murder Charge Because of New York’s Reproductive Health Act?
Anthony Hobson, who killed his girlfriend and her unborn child, was originally going to be charged with both unlawful abortion and second degree murder.
Snopes→ Trump Will Sign Border Deal But Will Also Declare Emergency
President Trump is expected to announce that he will be spending roughly $8 billion on border barriers — combining the money approved by Congress with funding he plans to repurpose through executive actions.
Snopes→ Ex-Massachusetts Governor to Challenge Trump for GOP Nod
William Weld, a former governor of Massachusetts, previously ran on the Libertarian party ticket with former Gov. Gary Johnson.
Snopes→ Supreme Court Says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Back at Work
The 85-year-old Ginsburg is attending the justices' Friday closed-door conference at which they're weighing whether to add new cases.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Scientists Have NOT Found That Intelligence Is Passed From Mothers, Not From Fathers
Have scientists found that intelligence is passed from mothers and not from fathers? No, that's not true: a jumbled and messed up article with bits and pieces copy pasted from various sources is the latest in a long line of stories making tha
Snopes→ Chicago Police, Fox Dispute Reports About Smollett Attack
Producers of the television drama 'Empire' disputed media reports that Jussie Smollett's character was being written off the show.
FactCheck.org→ ‘El Chapo’ Trial Used To Spread Viral Deception
Quick Take A viral meme is spreading false information connecting the infamous drug lord El Chapo to three major Democratic politicians. Full Story The notorious Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo was found guilty in U.S. federal court on 10 counts o
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Liberals NOT Protesting By Putting Their Mouths Over Truck Exhausts to Make Green New Deal a Reality
Are liberals taking the "Green New Deal" challenge by putting their mouths over truck exhausts? No, that's not true: the story was put out by a right-wing satire website as a joke but several people seem to have believed it was real after it w
Washington Post→ Trump’s false claim that violent crime hasn’t gone down ‘in a long while’
The violent crime rate and murder rate have been going down fairly steadily since 1991.
Snopes→ Nightmare: Man’s Car Stolen While He’s Asleep in Back Seat
Police initially believed the man asleep in the back of the car to be the thief.
Snopes→ Report: Facebook, FTC Discussing ‘Multibillion Dollar’ Fine
At issue is whether Facebook is in violation of a 2011 agreement with the FTC promising to protect user privacy.
Snopes→ Did a Government Shutdown in Australia Result in All Members of Parliament Getting Fired?
It's difficult to boil down one of the most turbulent periods in Australian's political history into a meme.
Snopes→ Make El Chapo Pay for a Border Wall? Don’t Count on It
Some Americans have floated an idea they see as poetic justice: Why not take some of the Mexican drug lord's billions in ill-gotten gains and make him pay for a border wall?
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Winston Churchill Say Socialism is the Philosophy of Failure?
On February 8 2019, a Facebook user shared the following meme, featuring images of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez above a purported quote from British wartime leader Winston Churchill: Underneath two identical images of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, it fea
Snopes→ Senate OKs Border Deal; Trump Will Sign, Declare Emergency
The Senate resoundingly approved a border security compromise that ignores most of President Donald Trump's demands for building a wall with Mexico but would prevent a new government shutdown.
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking Trump’s El Paso Rally
Summary President Donald Trump made several claims in his Feb. 11 political rally in El Paso that distorted the facts, including: He said “the trade deficit really went down very big this last month,” leaving out the fact that the previous month w
Snopes→ Trump Gains Weight, Now Considered Obese
President Donald Trump has put on some pounds and is now officially considered obese.
Snopes→ Can You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Sitting in a Snowed-In Car?
Be sure to clear the exhaust pipe before running your car after a snowstorm.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Donald Trump exaggerates when describing drop in violent crime
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Donald Trump exaggerates when describing drop in violent crime In remarks to a conference of law enforcement officials, President Donald Trump touted gains on crime during his tenure. "Violent crime is no
Snopes→ McConnell Says Trump to Sign Border Deal, Declare Emergency
The emergency declaration will inject the likelihood of fresh conflict between Congress and Trump over his efforts to build barriers along the boundary with Mexico.
Snopes→ Avenatti Says He Has New Video Evidence Against R. Kelly
Attorney Michael Avenatti says he has new video evidence of singer R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl.
Snopes→ Was Mickey Mouse Modeled After a Racist Caricature Named ‘Jigbaboo?’
Mickey Mouse may have a connection to minstrel shows, but he wasn't based on a racist "Jigaboo" character.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Pope Francis Did NOT Say World Government Must Rule U.S. ‘For Their Own Good’
Did Pope Francis say a world government must rule the U.S. for their own good? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a website that attracts clicks and visitors by taking existing news reports out of context and adding an incendiary he
Snopes→ Did the City of Denver Legalize Public Urination and Defecation?
Joe the Plumber's web site distorted the facts around a set of criminal justice reforms introduced in Denver in 2017.
PolitiFact→ Jerrold Nadler – Does U.S. have more gun deaths in 1 day than other countries in 1 year?
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly True | Does U.S. have more gun deaths in 1 day than other countries in 1 year? A week before the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting anniversary, the House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on
Truth or Fiction?→ Are People of All Ages Allowed to Drink in Wisconsin?
On February 12 2019, the Facebook page “Did You Know” shared the following meme, claiming that people of all ages in the state of Wisconsin — including children — can legally consume alcohol: Against a black background, its text stat
Snopes→ Was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Once Fired from Hot Dog on a Stick?
Many opponents of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have decided to focus on fictitious criticisms.
Snopes→ Amazon Ditches New York Headquarters
Amazon says it will not be building a new headquarters in New York, a stunning reversal after a yearlong search.