President Donald Trump is fond of saying that China is paying billions of dollars to the U.S. as a result of the increased tariffs he has imposed on imports of Chinese goods. Not true. The tariffs are taxes paid by U.S. importers in the form of customs
FactCheck.org→ Meme Spreads Bogus Tax Information
Quick Take A meme is circulating online with false information about changes to tax deductions. Student loan interest, medical expenses, property taxes and charitable donations are still deductible. Full Story The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017
Truth or Fiction?→ Florida Plumber Finds Clog, Reticulated Python
A Facebook post featuring a photograph of a purported reticulated python found clogging a drain in Florida began circulating in February 2019: Individual and separate shares of the same image amassed tens of thousands of shares each, and users claime
FactCheck.org→ No Evidence Sen. Harris, Smollett Are Related
Quick Take Viral posts have erroneously claimed that Sen. Kamala Harris is the aunt of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who police have accused of faking a hate crime. Full Story The evolving case of Jussie Smollett — who Chicago pol
FactCheck.org→ Cohen, Trump at Odds
Michael Cohen gave public testimony under oath that contradicted past statements by President Donald Trump on WikiLeaks, Stormy Daniels and a proposed Moscow real estate deal, as well as Trump’s Vietnam War deferrals and his net worth. Here we la
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Fact-checking Donald Trump's tweet saying Democrats 'don’t mind executing' babies after birth
The Truth-o-Meter says: False | Fact-checking Donald Trump's tweet saying Democrats 'don’t mind executing' babies after birth On Feb. 25, the Senate took up a bill backed by anti-abortion advocates called the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Children’s Characters ‘Max and Ruby’ Have a Tragic Backstory?
In 2015, the following content (archived here), an apparent Tumblr screenshot describing the purported backstory for the preschool book series and television show Max & Ruby, started to circulate on social media: Underneath a still from Max &am
PolitiFact→ Bernie Sanders – Bernie Sanders has numbers to show Donald Trump wanted to cut health care for 32 million
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Bernie Sanders has numbers to show Donald Trump wanted to cut health care for 32 million The first question Sen. Bernie Sanders faced in a CNN town hall meeting with voters was what he would do to make sure Presi
PolitiFact→ In context: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questions Michael Cohen during the House Oversight Committee
Now that Democrats control the U.S. House of Representatives, they’re using their power to conduct oversight hearings on President Donald Trump. On Feb. 27, 2019, Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen testified before the committee. In his
Lead Stories→ False Comparison: Consequences NOT So Different For Roseanne Barr And Jussie Smollett
Were the consequences for Roseanne Barr and Jussie Smollett radically different when it came to their respective shows and does this prove "liberal privilege"? A viral meme is making that claim but it is not really true. Even though their situ
Washington Post→ Fact-checking the Michael Cohen hearing
Here's a roundup of claims and statements made during hearing featuring testimony by the former attorney for President Trump
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking Sanders’ CNN Town Hall
In a televised town hall, newly announced presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders repeated several misleading claims that we have written about in the past. Sanders said Trump sought to “throw 32 million people off of the health care they had
FactCheck.org→ Darla Shine’s Measles Misinformation
Over a nearly 18-hour Twitter spree, Darla Shine, the wife of Bill Shine, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff for communications, made a series of false and misleading statements about measles and vaccines. Shine said to “bring back”
Truth or Fiction?→ Did an Arkansas Republican Propose Cutting Free Lunches to Punish Students?
On February 26 2019, the Facebook page “Occupy Democrats” shared the following meme (archived here), alleging that state legislator from Arkansas Alan Clark proposed cuts to school lunch programs for disadvantaged children: Text around a
PolitiFact→ American Civil Liberties Union – No, state laws don't criminalize just any criticism
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | No, state laws don't criminalize just any criticism The American Civil Liberties Union told its followers on social media that criticizing people can not only get them into lawsuits, but even get them arrested
PolitiFact→ Tulsi Gabbard – Fact-checking Tulsi Gabbard on farmers' bankruptcies, median income
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Fact-checking Tulsi Gabbard on farmers' bankruptcies, median income Farmers are declaring bankruptcy in "record numbers" and President Donald Trump is to blame, claimed Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Woman Did NOT Admit She Was Paid to Frame Cosby With Rape
Did an unnamed woman admit she was paid to frame Bill Cosby with rape? No, that's not true: a South African website copied an old conspiracy article from NewsPunch/YourNewsWire but the theory it comes up with does not make sense from a timing
Washington Post→ Did Ivanka Trump create ‘millions’ of jobs?
President Trump bragged that his daughter has created millions of jobs. That's not correct.
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Misdirection on ‘Criminal Aliens’
In declaring a national emergency at the southern border, President Donald Trump spoke of an “invasion” by “all types of criminals and gangs.” He suggested that the media “take a look at our federal prison population” and “see
Truth or Fiction?→ Tommy Robinson Banned from Facebook, Instagram
On February 26 2019, British professional provocateur and far-right activist Tommy Robinson (née Steven Yaxley-Lennon) — perhaps best known for his involvement with disinformation purveyors such as political party (and Brexit architects) UKIP and
Climate Feedback→ Western Journal op-ed deceives readers with completely unsupported claims
SCIENTISTS’ FEEDBACK SUMMARY This op-ed published by The Western Journal, written by two members of think tanks opposed to the conclusions of climate science, makes several different types of claims about global temperatures and global tempera
Truth or Fiction?→ Lady Gaga: ‘I Had a Boyfriend Who Told Me I’d Never Succeed’
After 2019’s annual Academy Awards, a Lady Gaga quote about a boyfriend who purportedly told her she would never succeed began circulating on social media. An iteration of that quote (archived here) published to Facebook one day later was capt
Lead Stories→ Fake News: British Man Did NOT Sleep With Hundreds of Girls by Passing Himself off as Prince Harry
Did 34-year-old Henry Hampshire from Dorset claim he bedded hundreds of credulous girls by pretending to be Prince Harry? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a Canadian entertainment website that makes a living by publishing fictiona
Washington Post→ The CBO’s shifting view on the impact of the Obamacare individual mandate
The Congressional Budget Office dramatically scaled back its estimates about a key part of the Affordable Care Act — estimates that helped derail the push the repeal the law.
Hoax-Slayer→ Facebook Scam Post Promises EVERYONE Free Pizza From Little Caesars
According to a post currently being shared across Facebook, pizza chain Little Caesars is giving EVERYONE 3 free large pizzas to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary. The post Facebook Scam Post Promises EVERYONE Free Pizza From Little Cae
Truth or Fiction?→ Safety Standards in the 1960s Chairlift Photo
On February 20 2019, the Facebook page Pictures in History shared a version of the photograph of a chairlift seen above simply captioned: “Safety standards in the 1960s.” The photograph was not new to the internet, and the meme-style versi
PolitiFact→ Elizabeth Warren – Top reason for having fewer kids? Warren cites child care costs
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Top reason for having fewer kids? Warren cites child care costs As Elizabeth Warren sees it, offering affordable child care and early learning are the trifecta of pro-family policy — good for the kids, easi
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NOT A Photo of a Shantytown in Los Angeles, California in 2019
Is this a picture of a shantytown in Los Angeles, California in 2019? No, that's not true: the picture was taken in a Paris suburb in 2015 and shows a shantytown erected near some railroad tracks by Roma gypsies. The picture recently appeared
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Bit Windy Today’ Wind Turbine Failure Video
On February 22 2019, the Facebook page “What did I just see?” shared a video (linked here) captioned “Bit windy today,” purportedly depicting the failure of a wind turbine during an intense weather event: The clip quickly sp
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Donald Trump wrong that Harry Reid was 'thrown out' of office
The Truth-o-Meter says: Pants on Fire! | Donald Trump wrong that Harry Reid was 'thrown out' of office President Donald Trump famously said, "When someone attacks me, I always attack back … except 100x more." Trump appears to have
Truth or Fiction?→ Meghan Markle’s Royal Portrait?
In February 2019, several Facebook posts appeared that purported to show the royal portrait of Meghan Markle, the actress turned Duchess of Sussex. In one popular version, the sharer lauded the fact that “they” (presumably the Queen) didn&
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Donald Trump leaves out part of the story with New Mexico border barrier
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Donald Trump leaves out part of the story with New Mexico border barrier President Donald Trump’s ongoing quest for border wall funding isn’t stopping him from celebrating projects already in the work
Washington Post→ President Trump’s imaginary numbers on military aid to South Korea
For some reason, the president is throwing out wildly inaccurate numbers on U.S. military aid for South Korea.
Snopes→ Rep. Schiff Warns of Subpoenas, Lawsuit Over Mueller Report
A top House Democrat threatened to call special counsel Robert Mueller to Capitol Hill, subpoena documents and sue the Trump administration if the full report on Mueller's Russia investigation is not made public.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NBC Did NOT Finally Pull The Plug – Saturday Night Live NOT Canceled
Did NBC cancel its "Saturday Night Live" comedy series? No, the popular long-running late night show has not been cancelled -- despite tweets from President Trump that the show is unfunny and unfair. A report published by a website that bills
Truth or Fiction?→ Christmas Tradition of Women Begging Their Husbands for Forgiveness?
On February 24 2019, the Facebook page “Pictures in History” shared the following caption with the photograph seen above: A long forgotten Christmas tradition, women once used to beg their husbands for forgiveness from all of their wrongdoings and
Snopes→ Did N.J. Pass a Law Requiring President Trump to Release His Tax Returns?
State lawmakers could keep President Donald Trump off the ballot in New Jersey in 2020 unless he releases his tax returns.
Snopes→ German Police Say Dead Cow Kicked Slaughterhouse Worker
olice in southern Germany say a slaughterhouse worker suffered serious injuries after being kicked in the face by a dead cow.
Snopes→ Moove On: No More ‘Cow-Tipping’ Shirts at Oklahoma Airport
The mayor of Oklahoma City is celebrating the completion of a personal mission: ridding the city's airport of cow-tipping T-shirts.
Snopes→ R. Kelly Ordered Jailed on $1M Bond at Chicago Hearing
The 52-year-old Grammy winner turned himself in and spent a night in jail before being taken to the courthouse.