Almost immediately, the Victims of Crime Engagement hotline was immersed in controversy and confusion.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Alabama Declare Fetuses Are People?
On January 22 2019, New York State’s Reproductive Health Act was signed into law, inflaming people across the United States. Arguments raged on social networks, largely due to misinterpretations of the law and a mistaken belief that it enabled el
Snopes→ Was George Soros Arrested in Switzerland in February 2019?
Conspiracy theorists continued their obsession with the 88-year-old philanthropist, this time accusing him of Satanic child abuse and other "crimes."
Snopes→ Did Tom Brady Kiss Bill Belichick on the Lips?
Tom Brady has kissed a lot of people during his six Super Bowl celebrations, but was head coach Bill Belichick one of them?
Snopes→ Trump Squabbles with Democrats Before Speech on Unity
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York seems to have triggered the latest twitter outburst from President Trump.
Snopes→ Russian Activists Raise Alarm About Captured Whales
Local animal rights activists say cramped conditions and low temperatures threaten the whales' lives.
Snopes→ Asia Welcomes Year of the Pig with Banquets, Temple Visits
"My wishes for new year are a promotion, a raise, and finding a boyfriend," said Cui Di, 28, in Beijing.
Snopes→ Ginsburg Makes First Public Appearance Since Cancer Surgery
James Ginsburg said before the concert that his mother is walking a mile a day and meeting with her personal trainer twice a week.
Snopes→ Worst Paris Fire in 14 Years is Suspected Arson Attack
A 40-year-old female resident of the building, said to have a history of psychiatric problems, was arrested on the street in the hours after the 1 a.m. blaze.
Lead Stories→ Lead Stories Joins Facebook’s Third Party Fact Checking Partnership
COLORADO SPRINGS - Lead Stories is happy to announce we are now part of Facebook's partnership with various fact checking organisations around the world which aims to fight misinformation on the platform. Lead Stories will continue using its
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NO Man Hospitalized After Inserting a Battery Up His Butthole to Boost His Energy
Did a 19-year-old boy get admitted to hospital because he stuck a battery up his rectum hoping to get more energy? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a Spanish satire website and later got translated for their English-language vers
Lead Stories→ Fake News: George Soros NOT Arrested; Obama NOT Charged with Treason
Was billionaire and philantropist George Soros arrested in Saint Margrethenberg, Switzerland at 13:23 GMT on Feb. 3 2019 because of evidence supplied by Barack Obama who has been incarcerated at Gitmo because he was charged with treason? No, a
Washington Post→ President Trump’s 2018 State of the Union proposals: What flopped and what succeeded
Out of 14 key proposals in 2018, Trump had seven wins and seven losses.
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking the State of the Union for 2019
President Donald Trump delivered the 2019 State of the Union address on Feb. 5, 2019, addressing the topics of the economy, immigration, foreign policy and more. Here are some of his comments, fact-checked or with additional explanation or context.&nbs
Snopes→ Federal Prosecutors Subpoena Trump’s Inaugural Committee
Federal prosecutors in New York have issued a subpoena seeking documents from Donald Trump's inaugural committee, furthering a federal inquiry into a fund that has faced mounting scrutiny into how it raised and spent its money.
Snopes→ Was a 7-Year-Old Boy Killed for Not Memorizing Bible Verses?
Reports on a grisly April 2018 death in Wisconsin noted that the victim was being "punished" by his guardian.
Snopes→ Was Miriam Adelson Honored for Donating Money to Help Trump Aides with Legal Expenses?
The honor Adelson received, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is considered the highest civilian award.
Hoax-Slayer→ Circulating Message Claims ‘Newborn Baby Saved By Stray Dog’
Circulating social media message claims that a newborn baby abandoned in a forest was carried across a busy road and through a barbed wire fence to safety by a stray dog. The post Circulating Message Claims ‘Newborn Baby Saved By Stray Dog’
Snopes→ Did Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say it Was ‘Wrong’ for Billionaires to Exist?
A conservative group fashioned a meme out of comments the Democratic Congresswoman made in January 2019. Was it fair and accurate?
Snopes→ Racist History of Blackface Began in the 1830s
Civil rights organizations have publicly condemned blackface for decades, saying it dehumanizes blacks by introducing and reinforcing racial stereotypes.
Snopes→ Trump to Call for Unity, Face Skepticism in State of Union
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said the president would use his address "to call for an end to the politics of resistance, retribution."
Snopes→ Did a Worker Smash His Boss’ Mercedez Benz After Not Being Paid for Several Months?
Everyone loves a good workplace revenge story, true or otherwise.
Truth or Fiction?→ Snow Walls in Austria?
As temperatures in the Midwest plummeted in January 2019, the following photograph appeared on social media with the caption: “You think we got snow, how about Austria?” No context was provided for the images, and no clues about the locat
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Al Sharpton Did NOT File FOIA Request to Release Trump’s Tax Returns
Did Al Sharpton file a FOIA request to release the tax returns of president Donald Trump? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to educate gullible Trump supporters and Republicans about the need t
Hoax-Slayer→ Apple ID ‘Violated Policies’ Phishing Scam
According to this email, which purports to be from the Apple Support Team, your Apple ID is set to be disabled due to some violated policies. The post Apple ID ‘Violated Policies’ Phishing Scam appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Snopes→ Barbara Ehrenreich Tweets about Marie Kondo Widely Condemned
Ehrenreich is a prominent liberal who writes often about the working class, notably in the best-selling "Nickel and Dimed."
FactCheck.org→ Addressing New York’s New Abortion Law
Q: Does the new New York law allow full-term abortions? A: The law permits abortions after 24 weeks if a health care professional determines the health or life of the mother is at risk, or the fetus is not viable. FULL QUESTION Does the new New York
Snopes→ Check Your Compass: The Magnetic North Pole Is On the Move
The constant shift is a problem for compasses in smartphones and some consumer electronics.
Snopes→ What’s on Your Mind? Facebook Says Nude Statues Shouldn’t Be
Facebook does not "allow ads that depict nudity, even if it isn't sexual in nature. This includes the use of nudity for artistic or educational purposes."
Snopes→ Lawsuit: Power Failure at Federal Jail a Humanitarian Crisis
Correctional officers wore scarves and layers of clothing, while inmates had short-sleeve shirts and light cotton pants on, the lawsuit said.
Snopes→ Does This Picture Show a Case of Hyperdontia?
Hyperdontia is a genuine medical condition, but take a close look at these images.
Snopes→ Adam Levine’s Super Bowl Nipple Reveal Prompts Backlash
Maroon 5's Super Bowl halftime performance highlighted for some viewers how male and female nipples are treated differently in life.
Truth or Fiction?→ Are ‘Ankle Scarves’ the New Hot Fashion Trend?
In December 2018, a number of viral news sites began sharing posts about ankle scarves, the purported “hot new trend” in winter footwear. Country Living‘s post admitted it “didn’t know what to say” about ankle scarve
Snopes→ US Prepares to Start Building Portion of Texas Border Wall
Maps released by CBP show construction would cut through a butterfly center, a nearby state park, and a century-old Catholic chapel next to the river.
FactCheck.org→ A Discussion on Harris, Hoyer and Trump
In an interview with Robert Mangino of KDKA in Pittsburgh, FactCheck.org Director Eugene Kiely discusses our recent stories on Sen. Kamala Harris, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Donald Trump. KDKA, a CBS radio affiliate, features FactC
Truth or Fiction?→ Mold in Baby Food Pouches?
On January 31 2019, the Facebook page “Mommin’ Over Everything” shared what appears to be a screenshot of a social media post showing mold purportedly found in Aldi Simply Natural baby food pouches: Another version published on the
Snopes→ Liam Neeson Admits He Wanted to Kill After Friend Was Raped
The actor said he is ashamed to admit he had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning that someone close to him had been raped.
Snopes→ Did Diahann Carroll Praise President Trump, Plead with Democrats to Stop Criticizing Him?
Right-leaning web sites and Facebook pages shared an old meme that attributed a quotation to the veteran Broadway and Hollywood actor.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: California Newborn Did NOT Become First Baby To Be Named An Emoji: 😍😍😍
Was a baby in Berkeley, California named "😍😍😍 Reiner" by her parents? No, that's not true, the story was made up as a joke by a satire site but went massively viral. The story originated from an article published by Pretty Cool Site (
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Man Lose His Penis to Frostbite After Urinating Outside During a Cold Snap?
In early February 2019, the Facebook page Sexy Atheists shared a link to an article titled “Chicago Man Loses His Penis To Frostbite After Peeing Outside,” which appeared to report: The bitter cold in Chicago has kept hospitals busy, with