On March 18 2019 the Facebook page “Ascend (Podcast)” shared the following video (archived here), purportedly showing the shores of the Dominican Republic two days earlier: The status update read: ‘DEAD” Sea……&#
PolitiFact→ Andrew Yang – Overdoses, suicide driving drop in U.S. life expectancy, presidential candidate Andrew Yang says
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly True | Overdoses, suicide driving drop in U.S. life expectancy, presidential candidate Andrew Yang says Presidential candidate Andrew Yang is getting attention for what he says would be his first priority in the White
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rod Serling’s ‘Twilight Zone’ Use Sci-Fi to Push Politics Past Network Censors?
The beginning of April 2019 also marked the premiere of the third television iteration of The Twilight Zone. This time, Rod Serling’s mid-century television classic series was rebooted with producer Jordan Peele at the helm. On the day the firs
Snopes→ ‘Severe’ Problems in Alabama Prisons, US Finds
The department gave Alabama 49 days to correct the violations, or possibly face another federal lawsuit.
Snopes→ Sanders Rakes in $18M to Take Early Lead in 2020 Fundraising
Bernie Sanders joins former Vice President Joe Biden atop many polls of prospective Democratic primary voters.
Snopes→ US Investigates Seizure Risk with Electronic Cigarettes
It's not the first time the FDA has flagged a potential health hazard with vaping devices.
Snopes→ ‘Obamacare’ Repeal Off the Table for GOP Until After 2020
The president stunned Republicans when he announced he wanted to try again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, insisting the GOP could become the "party of health care."
PolitiFact→ Explaining the numbers behind the rise in reported hate crimes
Many people were concerned about President Donald Trump's response to the New Zealand mosque shooting in March, when he seemed to downplay the seriousness of white nationalism. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in an interview with CNN’s Jak
Washington Post→ Fact-checking President Trump’s latest tweetstorm
The president's itchy Twitter fingers strike again, with fishy claims on Puerto Rico, Obamacare, the Census and more.
Snopes→ US Aid Cuts Will Spur Central America Migration, Experts Say
President Donald Trump threatened to cut off nearly $500 million in aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in response to what he calls an immigration crisis.
Snopes→ Police: Suspected Killer of Rapper Nipsey Hussle Arrested
Eric Holder, 29, was captured about 20 miles southeast of Nipsey Hussle's clothing store, where the musician was shot.
Snopes→ McConnell Shuts the Door on Trump Health Care Push
It was a rare public disclosure of private counsel from the Republican leader.
Snopes→ Did Congress Pass the 22nd Amendment in Order to ‘Make Sure FDR Did Not Get Re-Elected’?
Critics seized upon remarks made by Democrat U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during an appearance on MSNBC in March 2019.
FactCheck.org→ Trump Misleads on Aid to Puerto Rico
President Donald Trump claims that “Puerto Rico got 91 Billion Dollars for the hurricane” and that it received “more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before.” Neither of those statements is true. According to the
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Economics Degree NOT Recalled
Was the economics degree of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recalled? No, that's not true: the story was put out by a satire website but was believed by several people and at least one website copied it without indicating it came from a humor website
Snopes→ News Industry Leaders Fighting Back Against Claims by Trump
In tweets over the past week, Trump repeated his contention that the mainstream media is the enemy of the people, and said the Times' and Post's Pulitzers should be stripped.
Snopes→ Trump Waiting on Possible Border Closure
A spokesman said the White House is now considering a number of options short of a full border closure, such as shutting down certain entry ports or parts of all of them.
Snopes→ Police Chief: Hussle Slaying Involved Personal Dispute
Police Chief Michel Moore identified the gunman as 29-year-old Eric Holder. During a live broadcast the chief said, "I ask you to surrender."
FactCheck.org→ The Preexisting Conditions Debate Isn’t Over
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said that all of the congressional Republican health care plans had “covered preexisting conditions,” while Sen. Bernie Sanders said President Donald Trump’s idea for health care is R
Snopes→ Is this a Photograph of a Large Storm Over Sydney?
Beware of composite, violent weather phenomena.
Truth or Fiction?→ Frida Kahlo: ‘Leaving is Not Enough’
A popular and lengthy social media quote attributed to Frida Kahlo (containing the lines “leaving is not enough” and “take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic”) was shared once again in early April 2019 on Faceboo
Snopes→ Does This Photograph Depict an Actual ‘Abortion Barbie’ Doll?
The image prompted a social media outcry against an alleged plan 'to teach your daughters about abortion as early as possible.'
Snopes→ North Carolina GOP Chair, Major Donor Charged with Bribery
The chairman of North Carolina’s Republican Party and a secretive big-money donor are facing federal bribery and wire fraud charges accusing them of trying to sway regulatory decisions in favor of the donor’s insurance companies.
Snopes→ US Resorts to Expanded ‘Catch and Release’ as Migrants Surge
The surge of migrants arriving at the southern border has led the Trump administration to dramatically expand a practice it has long mocked as “catch and release.”
Truth or Fiction?→ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: ‘Socialism for the Rich, Rugged Individualism for the Poor’?
On April 2 2019, Facebook page “The Other 98%” shared a meme (archived here) with an apparent quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on “socialism for the rich” and “rugged individualism for the poor”: To the rig
Snopes→ Is This Amazon Drone-Releasing Blimp Real?
We may see an Amazon blimp releasing delivery drones some day ... but that day isn't today.
Snopes→ Has Barack Obama Been the ‘Most Admired Man’ in the World for 11 Years?
It's unusual for the current president of the United States not to head Gallup's "Most Admired Man" poll.
Snopes→ Parents Could Face Tax Charges, Big Fines in Admissions Scam
And a slew of others are also sure to face IRS scrutiny.
Snopes→ US Officials Worry Paralyzing Illness May Grow More Common
Joey Wilcox was one of 228 confirmed victims in the U.S. last year of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, a rare, mysterious and sometimes deadly paralyzing illness.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: L.A Rapper YG NOT Shot 4 Times In Drive By Shooting
Was L.A. rapper YG shot four times in a drive by shooting? No, that's not true: the story was uploaded by someone to a prank website where it went viral and the news kept spreading even after the article was taken down by the site. The story o
Snopes→ Lithuanian Man Flies Alone on Huge Plane to Italy
The only others onboard were two pilots and five crew members.
FactCheck.org→ Ocasio-Cortez Gets FDR History Lesson Wrong
At a town hall meeting on the Green New Deal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got her history wrong when she was asked what lessons she learned from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The freshman Democrat, who sponsored the Green New Dea
Snopes→ Pelosi Says Biden Should Stop Being Touchy-Feely with Women
Allegations could leave 76-year-old Joe Biden, long known for his affectionate mannerisms, appearing out of touch with the party.
Snopes→ Trump Suggests Deferring GOP Health Plan Push to After 2020
There's no indication that GOP senators want another fight over repealing "Obamacare," particularly not those up for re-election next year.
PolitiFact→ PolitiFact announces health news fact-checking partnership with Kaiser Health News
PolitiFact and Kaiser Health News (KHN) have joined forces on health care coverage in an exclusive new fact-checking partnership. Under this initial two-year partnership, both organizations will produce and publish health-related fact-checks on a new c
Lead Stories→ Press Release: Happy Fact-Checking Day! #factcheckingday
Lead Stories is happy to support Fact-Checking Day 2019! ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 2, 2019) - In most of the world, April 1 is a day for fools. April 2is a day for facts. Today is International Fact-Checking Day, and the Poynter Institute'sI
PolitiFact→ Happy International Fact-Checking Day!
International Fact-checking Day isn’t just for the fact-checkers. It’s for you, too. On April 2, the Poynter Institute -- the nonprofit that owns PolitiFact -- is celebrating facts and equipping citizens, journalists, profess
Washington Post→ Mick Mulvaney’s nonsensical math on Obamacare
The acting White House chief of staff claimed that more people paid an Obamacare penalty than gained under the law. That's false.
Snopes→ Mourning for Nipsey Hussle Goes Well Beyond His Music
Political and community leaders were as quick and effusive in their praise as his fellow hip-hop artists.
Snopes→ Game of Thrones Takes Over Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas
"I had chills for the entire show."