A reader sent us a comment regarding the escalating U.S.-China trade dispute. In the FactCheck Mailbag, we feature some of the email we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length. Don’t Ignore th
Snopes→ A Look at the Likely Court Fight Over Abortion Rights
Alabama’s virtual ban on abortion is the latest and most far-reaching state law seemingly designed to prod the Supreme Court to reconsider a constitutional right it announced 46 years ago in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
FactCheck.org→ Social Post Wrong About Obama’s Tax Returns
Quick Take Former President Barack Obama, like many major party presidential nominees before him, released his tax returns — despite a popular social media post that implies otherwise. Full Story As congressional Democrats fight to obtain Presi
Snopes→ Is a Photograph of the So-Called ‘God Turtle’ Real?
While instances of pareidolia may be open to interpretation, the authenticity of this photograph is not.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Ocasio-Cortez Does NOT Want to Take Guns Away From Cops
Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez propose to take all guns away from beat and patrol cops? 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 to ac
Snopes→ Ex-Pastor Who Raped Adopted Daughter Receives Only 12 Years
More than 30 people showed up to support Richards at the sentencing last week.
Snopes→ Police: 5-Year-Old Brings Crack Cocaine to Preschool
Police say the boy told a teacher’s aide at St. Cyprian Children’s Center that the person who handed him the bag told him to hide it.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Joel Osteen Ministries Charging Facebook Commenters for ‘Prayer Requests’?
In May 2019, screenshots of a purported exchange between a prayer-seeking fan and the Joel Osteen Ministries page began circulating on social media: In the screenshot, someone posted: “I am requesting prayer for my marriage.” In respon
Truth or Fiction?→ Could Alabama Women Be Jailed for 99 Years Under a New Abortion Law?
On May 14 2019, the state of Alabama’s legislature passed an extremely restrictive law banning nearly all abortions, and social media posts suggested women faced 99 years in prison for obtaining an abortion under its provisions. The claim appear
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Joel Osteen Ministries Did NOT Reject Prayer Request Until Woman Opens $24.99 A Month Account
Did the Joel Osteen Ministries reject a prayer request from a woman, telling her she must first activate a prayer request account and promise to donate $24.99 each month? No, that's not true: Osteen's spokeswoman said the Facebook post is a "f
PolitiFact→ Trump says 400 miles of wall are coming soon. But most projects replace existing barriers
The U.S.-Mexico border wall is getting built, President Donald Trump often claims. Construction is happening, he says, in spite of reluctance from Congress. And lately, Trump has attached a recurring figure to illustrate how far along he’s come o
Truth or Fiction?→ Does the Alabama Abortion Ban Have a ‘False Rape’ Reporting Clause?
Four days before the Alabama Senate voted to pass a near-total ban on abortion in Alabama, a Facebook screenshot by act.tv of two tweets (archived here) claimed that the legislation included a clause enabling imprisoning those reporting rapes in the
Snopes→ Disguising Hate: How Radical Evangelicals Spread Anti-Islamic Vitriol on Facebook
A small group of radical evangelical Christians is repurposing Facebook pages and PACs to build a coordinated, pro-Trump network that spreads hate and conspiracy theories.
Washington Post→ The misleading narrative in Trump’s tumble of trade tweets
The president likes to tell a story through his tweets, even if the facts are not correct.
Snopes→ Trump’s Defense of Tariffs Based on Dubious Claims
President Trump’s views on tariffs depart from conventional economics in at least three ways.
Snopes→ Texas Officer Shoots and Kills Woman After Stun-Gun struggle
Police Lt. Steve Dorris said that the officer shot at Pamela Turner after she hit him in the groin with the Taser.
Snopes→ NYPD Training Official: Garner Officer Used Banned Chokehold
The practice has been banned since the 1990s because of its potential for lethality.
Snopes→ Alabama Senate Heads Toward Vote on Abortion Ban Measure
Supporters said the bill is intentionally designed to conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Snopes→ Did Joel Osteen Implement ‘Prayer Request Accounts’ for Parishioners?
"God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us."
Snopes→ Trump Faces Backlash Over Plan to Dip into Pell Reserves
Advocates say a Trump administration plan to use federal Pell Grant money to fund space exploration would jeopardize aid for future college students.
FactCheck.org→ Economists: Tariffs Not Boosting GDP
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have a small, negative impact on gross domestic product growth, according to economists, the Congressional Budget Office, the International Monetary Fund and the top White House economic adviser. That contra
FactCheck.org→ Meme Inflates School Shooting Deaths
Quick Take A meme circulating online claims that 7,182 students have been “killed in U.S. schools” since 2012, but that number is inflated. It likely refers to all firearm fatalities involving children, including suicides and shootings off campus.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: The Real Reason Thomas Jefferson Owned A Copy Of The Quran Was NOT To Better Know His Enemy
Did Thomas Jefferson own a copy of the Quran (or Koran) to better know his enemy, as he "led the charge" in a United States' war on Islam? No, that's not true: Jefferson obtained his copy of Islam's Quran as a law student in 1765, which was 20
Snopes→ Coach Pleads to College Admissions Scam, Could Hurt Loughlin
Laura Janke, 36, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and could be called to testify against others, including "Full House" star Loughlin who has pleaded not guilty.
Snopes→ Canceled Interviews Led to Trump Jr. Subpoena
The Senate intelligence committee subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr. after he backed out of two scheduled interviews as part of the panel’s Russia investigation.
Truth or Fiction?→ Are ‘Cow Fart Bags’ Being Used to Fight Climate Change?
On May 14 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (archived here), purporting to show “cow fart bags” advocated as a climate change solution by “fringe leftists”: It was almost as if a post lamenting that “you
Snopes→ Judge Skeptical of Trump Effort to Keep Records from House
The lawsuit before Judge Amit Mehta is the first of what is likely to be many related to President Trump's stonewalling.
Snopes→ Former Manager Charged with Abuse of Marvel’s Stan Lee
Attorney Alex Kessel says 43-year-old Keya Morgan is not guilty, has never abused or taken advantage of Lee in any way, and will be exonerated.
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Facebook Donating $1 for Every Share Towards a Puppy’s Tumor?
On May 10 2019, the Facebook page “Therapy Dogs Give Love” shared the following image and plea (archived here), claiming Facebook was donating $1 for every share of an image of a puppy with a “tumor”: Alongside an image of a
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Bernie Sanders DID Say Whites ‘Don’t Know What It’s Like To Be Poor,’ But 70% Of Americans In Poverty Are NOT White
Did Sen. Bernie Sanders say 'When you're white, you don't know what it's like to be poor' and are 70% of Americans living in poverty white? Yes, the quote is true, but no, the statistics is wrong: Sen. Sanders did say that during a presidentia
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Congress Declare the Bible the ‘Word of God’?
On April 30 2019, the following post appeared (archived here) claiming Congress declared the Bible the “Word of God” via an October 1982 law, and promptly went viral. It shows an image of yellowed paper that appears to be an official de
FactCheck.org→ Kamala Harris Spins Facts on Truancy Law
Sen. Kamala Harris acknowledges that a 2010 state truancy law she sponsored resulted in some parents being jailed. But she misleadingly claims that jailing parents was an “unintended consequence” of the law. In fact, the law added Section 270
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Democrat Leaders Including Both Clintons, Gore, Pelosi, Schumer Were NOT Born 9 Months After UFO Crashed Near Roswell, New Mexico
Were major Democratic Party leaders including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Schumer, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer born nine months after a UFO crashed near Roswell, New M
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Who pays for US tariffs on Chinese goods? You do
The Truth-o-Meter says: False | Who pays for US tariffs on Chinese goods? You do As President Donald Trump has upped the ante in his tariff war with China, he’s consistently argued that consumers shouldn’t be worried. Trump has slapped
Lead Stories→ Old News: Muslim Students At Public School Walk Out When Australian National Anthem Plays
Did muslim schoolchildren walk out when the national anthem was played at a public school? Yes, but it happened in Australia in 2015 and the kids had permission from the principal. However a clickbait site aiming for American outrage and ad do
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Caitlyn Jenner NOT Pissed None of Her Kids Wished Her a Happy Mother’s Day
Was Caitlyn Jenner pissed that none of her kids wished her a happy Mother's Day? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a website that publishes fiction disguised as entertainment news (with a teeny, tiny disclaimer at the bottom saying
Washington Post→ Kamala Harris’s claim that Medicare-for-all ‘doesn’t get rid of all insurance’
Harris (D-Calif.) argues there will still be a role for private insurance in a government-run system. But the bill she co-sponsors says it would be very limited.
Washington Post→ Kamala Harris’s claim that Medicare-for-all ‘doesn’t get rid of all insurance’
Harris (D-Calif.) argues there will still be a role for private insurance in a government-run system. But the bill she co-sponsors says it would be very limited.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Margarine Is NOT One Molecule Away From Plastic And Does NOT Shares 27 Ingredients With Paint
Is margarine one molecule away from plastic and does it share 27 ingredients with paint? No, that's not true: This is a false and meaningless concept that unnecessarily scares consumers who might benefit from the use of margarine in their diet
Snopes→ Was the ‘Media Silent’ About a ‘Democrat Transgender’ Colorado Shooting Suspect?
It's unknown whether the political leanings or purported gender identity of either suspect is relevant to the crime.