Two shark researchers who came face-to-face with what could be one of the largest great whites ever recorded are using their encounter as an opportunity to push for legislation that would protect sharks in Hawaii.
PolitiFact→ Could Donald Trump declare a national emergency for a border wall? Here's what we know
The United States is in its 28th day of a partial federal government shutdown over the funding of a border wall with Mexico. President Donald Trump is unwilling to sign a spending deal to re-open the government if it doesn’t include billions of d
Hoax-Slayer→ How Artificial Intelligence is Fighting Scammers and Fraudsters
Currently, artificial intelligence is the leading technology used to defend against fraud. AI is being used to analyze customer data and report potential fraud it identifies. The post How Artificial Intelligence is Fighting Scammers and Fraudsters app
Snopes→ Total Lunar Eclipse Meets Supermoon Sunday Night
"This one is particularly good," said Rice University astrophysicist Patrick Hartigan.
Lead Stories→ Macedonian Fake News Network Shuts Down Dozens Of Websites After Joint Investigation By Lead Stories & Nieuwscheckers
Back in November of 2018 fact checking sites Lead Stories and Nieuwscheckers collaborated to map a network of Macedonian fake news websites that had published thousands and thousands of articles since 2016, mostly stolen from other places, man
Lead Stories→ How A Tattoo Led Us To The Macedonian Trucker Delivering Loads of Fake News To The Internet
The joint investigation by Lead Stories and Nieuwscheckers into a network of Macedonian fake news sites reached a dead end last month: we knew most of the sites involved and had a pretty good idea how their posts were being spread via fake Twi
Lead Stories→ The Kumanovo-connection: Macedonian Spam Clans Still Make Money With Fake News About Muslims and Migrants
A Macedonian military man appears to be one of the driving forces behind a network of fake news websites that reached millions of people with articles often inciting hatred against muslims and migrants. Together with friends and family he has
Lead Stories→ Here Are The Tools And Methods We Used To Map A Macedonian Fake News Network And The People Behind It
Sherlock Holmes had his magnifying glass. Hercule Poirot relied on his "little grey cells". But the 21st century internet detective needs more than that to catch the bad guys. In this article we present some of the tools and tricks we used to
Lead Stories→ Decline and Fall Of A Macedonian Fake News Network: Numbers Indicate Facebook’s Measures Forced Desperate Move To Twitter
Although Macedonian fake news merchants still generate thousands of Facebook likes and shares, the platform's recent measures against bad actors have drastically reduced their reach. The next step in the arms race takes the battle to Twitter.
Snopes→ Police Seek Volunteers to Get Drunk for Them; Many Respond
Volunteers were required to have a clean criminal history and have a responsible party to take care of them after the training.
Hoax-Slayer→ Bogus Butlin’s Facebook Page Claims To be Giving Away Resort Holidays
According to a post published on a Facebook Page that calls itself “Butlins Fans”, you can click a “Sign Up” button to get a chance to win a holiday for four people at any Butlins resort. The post Bogus Butlin’s Facebook Page Claims To
Snopes→ Can Federal Government Workers Be Fired After 30 Days of Shutdown?
The law varies depending on the type of shutdown.
Snopes→ Did Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Criticize ‘Pantyhose-Wearing’ Politicians for Gun Restrictions?
A widespread meme attributes some colorful criticisms of pro-gun-control lawmakers to the legendary retired Marine Corps general.
Snopes→ Were Bugs Found in a Can of Chef Boyardee Mini Raviolis?
Millions of people have viewed a video supposedly showing the critters (or unmixed caramel coloring) in the product.
PolitiFact→ Mike Pence – Mike Pence wrong that ISIS has been defeated
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Mike Pence wrong that ISIS has been defeated Vice President Mike Pence took something of a victory lap for the administration on countering ISIS, the terrorist group that set out to establish an Islamic caliph
Snopes→ Did Second Lady Karen Pence Work at a School That Bans LGBT Teachers and Students?
The wife of Vice President Mike Pence resumed her work as an art teacher at the Immanuel Christian School in Northern Virginia in January 2019.
Snopes→ Trump Denies Pelosi Aircraft for Trip Abroad
The nation's two most powerful leaders appeared to be engaged in a game of constitutional one-upmanship.
Snopes→ Opioid Crisis Brings Unwanted Attention to Wealthy Family
As allegations mount, family members who made their fortunes well before OxyContin even went on the market have sought to distance themselves from their relatives.
Snopes→ Border Sheriffs Say Wall Alone Won’t Increase Security
The problem lies in many other areas, like the understaffed ports of entry, said chairman Leon Wilmot, who is the sheriff in Yuma County, Arizona.
Snopes→ Attorney: New Racist Threats at GM Plant Where Nooses Were Found
General Motors says it is taking the matter seriously and has taken several steps to address harassment at the plant and is continuing to investigate.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the United States Authorize $50 Billion for the Secure Fence Act of 2006?
On January 10, 2019, a text-based status update about United States President George W. Bush’s Secure Fence Act of 2006 went viral: President George W. Bush signed the Secure Fence Act of 2006 into law “approved $50 Billion for the wall
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This a Photograph of a Swan Hugging the Veterinarian Who Saved Its Life?
On January 12 2019, a Facebook user added the caption “The Swan embracing the veterinarian, who saved his life” to the photo below: Part of the image’s appeal seemed to be a long-circulating myth that swans are inherently dangerous a
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Marie Kondo Tell People They Could Only Keep Thirty Books at a Time?
After Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo debuted in January 2019, social media lit up with takes lambasting Kondo’s supposedly draconian position on the possession of books: Wait Marie Kondo is telling people to toss their books? THEIR
Snopes→ Were Members of a ‘Midget Crime Gang’ Suspected of 55 Break-Ins?
Once fake news, always fake news.
Snopes→ Government May Have Split Up Thousands More Migrant Families
Moreover, inaccurate and incomplete information in government files may be hampering efforts to identify more recent cases of family separations.
Snopes→ Cohen Acknowledges Rigging Polls for Trump in 2014 and 2015
Michael Cohen, the President's former lawyer, tweeted that "what I did was at the direction of and for the sole benefit of" Trump.
PolitiFact→ Comparing progress on Trump, Obama campaign promises at two-year mark
President Donald Trump is not the only presidential subject of scrutiny at PolitiFact. Just like we have been tracking Trump’s promises since the 2016 campaign, we also tallied eight years’ worth of President Barack Obama’s pledges. A
Snopes→ Giant Rotating Ice Disk Stops Moving
The roughly 100-yard wide disk is lodged against the river's edge, preventing it from moving.
Snopes→ ‘I Never Said There Was No Collusion,’ Trump Lawyer Says
Rudy Giuliani's comments on CNN directly contradict the position of his own client.
Climate Feedback→ Guardian story on climate impacts of diet gets mixed reviews from scientists
SCIENTISTS’ FEEDBACK SUMMARY This article in The Guardian covers a study published in Science[1] that investigated environmental impacts related to the production of different types of foods in a number of regions around the world, finding th
PolitiFact→ Your questions about the government shutdown, answered (part 2)
We recently asked readers what they wanted to know about the government shutdown. In a previous installment, we tackled questions about missed work and pay for government employees. Here, we’ll address the legislative process and how the border w
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Fox News Did NOT Debut Premium Channel For 24-Hour Coverage Of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Did Fox News launch a new premium channel with nothing but 24-coverage of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? No, that's not true: the story was made up by famous satire website The Onion. It did not happen for real. The story originated from an artic
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Kylie Jenner’s Ex Tyga Is NOT The Face Behind the Famous Egg Instagram Account
Is Tyga the person behind the famous egg instagram account that made headlines last week for beating Kylie Jenner's record for the most liked Instagram photo ever? No, that's not true, the story was made up by a "fauxtire" website for entertai
Lead Stories→ Fake News: ‘To Catch a Predator’ Host Chris Hansen NOT Arrested After Meeting Up With 13 Year-Old Girl
Was Chris Hansen (host of "To catch a predador") arrested for illegally meeting up with a 13-year-old girl? No, that's not true: the story was briefly published by a "fauxtire" website but it is not real. The story was probably taken down beca
Washington Post→ Steve King and Donald Trump: mutual fans and echos
President Trump and Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) have often echoed each other in public statements. Here's a guide.
Snopes→ Idaho Woman Has 50-Pound Tumor Removed
Brenda Cridland chalked up her weight gain to aging, but when her health started to quickly decline she decided to see a doctor.
Snopes→ Did the IRS Admit It ‘Encourages Illegals’ to Steal Social Security Numbers for Taxes?
With tax season looming and the federal government in a partial shutdown, an old story gained new popularity.
FactCheck.org→ Pence’s Claim that ISIS ‘Has Been Defeated’
On the same day ISIS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack against U.S. service members in Syria, Vice President Mike Pence declared that ISIS “has been defeated.” It is true that the U.S. and its allies have retaken virtually all of t
Snopes→ Did Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar Co-Sponsor a Bill to Recognize Muslim Holidays as Federal Holidays?
A dubious website said the first two Muslim women elected to Congress wasted no time in trying to rearrange the national holiday schedule.
Snopes→ Does This Photograph Show a Mother Snorting Cocaine with Her Toddler?
Some activities really don't lend themselves to parent-child participation.