President Donald Trump has periodically taken shots at the cost of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russia’s impact on the 2016 presidential election. A new document released by the Justice Department details just how much
Lead Stories→ Fake News: American Tourist NOT Arrested in Costa Rica For Having Sex With Endangered Sea Turtles
Was an American tourist named Robert W. Schlong arrested in Costa Rica for sexually molesting an endangered sea turtle? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a Canadian entertainment website that makes a living by publishing fictional
Snopes→ Bomb Threat Empties Sandy Hook School on Attack Anniversary
It wasn't immediately clear if it was related to bomb threats made nationwide Thursday.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Medical Scan of an 80-Year-Old Woman Reveal a Calcified Fetus?
On December 11, 2018, a Facebook user shared the following image and caption purportedly showing a genuine calcified fetus: 80 year old lady [emoji], went to have a cat-scan, and they found a fetus that’s been in her cervix for 30 years The reference
Snopes→ Is Trump’s Face Hidden in These Baboon Feces?
"The editors have become aware of unusual aspects to the ‘Extract fecal DNA’ illustration in figure 1."
Snopes→ Was Waylon Jennings Banned from Country Radio?
Radio shock jocks aren't always the best source of reliable information.
Snopes→ ‘Wild’ Salmon May Be Straight from the Farm, NY Report Finds
A report found that farmed salmon was frequently sold as wild, and fish sold as red snapper or lemon sole were more often different varieties.
FactCheck.org→ Is Mexico Paying for the Wall Through USMCA?
President Donald Trump declared via Twitter that he is keeping perhaps his most famous campaign promise, claiming that “MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!” through a recent trade agreement negotiated with Mexico. Economic and trade experts we i
Washington Post→ First-ever Fact Checker poll: Few Americans believe Trump’s false statements
We quizzed Americans about 11 false Trump claims. Only his most fervent supporters tended to believe them.
FactCheck.org→ Video: FactChecking Oval Office Meeting Claims
In this week’s fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper reviews some of the claims that we wrote about following the contentious Oval Office meeting on Dec. 11 between President Donald Trump and the Democratic congressional leaders, Rep. Nan
Snopes→ Facebook Says Bug May Have Exposed Photos on 7M Users
The bug may have exposed a broader set of photos to app developers than users had granted permission for.
Snopes→ ‘Young Miracle:’ Baby Recovers from Ebola in Congo Outbreak
A baby who was admitted to an Ebola treatment center just six days after birth has now recovered from the virus.
Snopes→ Did Caravan Migrants Demand $50K from the U.S. to Return Home?
A small group of migrants awaiting their fate in Tijuana asked that they either be allowed into the U.S. to process their asylum claims or be paid to go home.
Snopes→ Is Lululemon Recruiting 150 Ambassadors via Instagram?
A viral post promising an ambassadorship with Lululemon in exchange for follows and shares on Instagram is a scam.
Snopes→ Senate Rebukes Trump, Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi, Yemen War
"The current relationship with Saudi Arabia is not working," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
Snopes→ 7-Year-Old Migrant Girl Held at US Border Dies in Custody
She was in custody for about eight hours before she began having seizures, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials said.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Man Did NOT Get Plastic Surgery And Name Change to Date Ex-girlfriend After Restraining Order
Did 40-year-old James Mack from Camden, New Jersey get plastic surgery and a name change in order to keep dating his ex-girlfriend who got a restraining order against him? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a Canadian entertainment
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Chérif Chekatt NOT Killed So He Could Not Reveal He Was Acting on Government Orders
Was Chérif Chekatt, the terrorist who shot and killed several people in Strasbourg earlier this week killed by police to keep him from revealing he was acting on government orders? No, that's not true: the wild conspiracy theory was launched
Washington Post→ The biggest Pinocchios of 2018
Our annual roundup of the most outlandish claims of 2018.
Snopes→ Did This Woman Break Her Neck Twerking?
A clip showing a dancer's dangerous-looking twerk moves reportedly captured her breaking her neck.
Snopes→ Trump Administration Reinterprets Deportation Agreement with Vietnam, Again.
The move would result in the loss of protections that were established since 2008 for Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in America between 1975 and 1995.
Snopes→ Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say ‘Under Capitalism, Man Oppresses Man. Under Socialism, It’s Just the Opposite’?
It seems a little unlikely that a 29-year-old would be the originator of an "old Soviet joke" several decades old.
Snopes→ Were Two Men Found Living Under the Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm?
Living in a theme park may be some people's idea of a fantasy life, but the realities would be rather grim.
Hoax-Slayer→ ‘Annakay Brown’ Make-A-Wish Foundation Charity Hoax
Supposedly, you can help 13-year-old Annakay Brown pay for life-saving medical treatment just by sending on a message about her. The post ‘Annakay Brown’ Make-A-Wish Foundation Charity Hoax appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Snopes→ Scuba Santa Brings Holiday Cheer to Museumgoers
Volunteer diver George Bell donned his Santa suit for a recent feed and fielded visitors' questions from inside the tank.
Snopes→ Court: Trump Can’t Let Companies Deny Birth Control Coverage
The ruling, however, may be short lived because the administration has adopted new rules on contraceptive coverage that will likely prompt renewed legal challenges.
Snopes→ Trump Invokes ‘Advice-of-Counsel’ Defense in Campaign Probe
The advice-of-counsel defense is a real thing. But it can be risky.
Snopes→ Did a Brain-Eating Amoeba Kill a Woman Who Rinsed Her Sinuses with Tap Water?
Balamuthia mandrillaris infections are extremely rare and largely preventable, but the few cases that do occur are usually fatal.
Hoax-Slayer→ Wave of Bomb Threat Extortion Emails Demand Payment in Bitcoin
Individuals and organizations all around the world are receiving emails that claim that an explosive device has been placed in the buildings they work in. The post Wave of Bomb Threat Extortion Emails Demand Payment in Bitcoin appeared first on Hoax-Sl
Truth or Fiction?→ Did ‘Migrants’ Demand $50,000 Each to Leave the United States?
On December 12, 2018, the Federalist Papers Project — a known purveyor of corrosive disinformation — published “Migrants DEMAND $50,000 Each to go Home, Or Else …” (filed under “opinion”), an article littered
Snopes→ Did a Banned Federal Study Show That Refugees Bring in More in Government Revenues Than They Cost?
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study compared the tax revenues generated by refugees to the overall cost of resettlement.
FactCheck.org→ Ruth Bader Ginsburg Taken Way Out of Context
Quick Take In a 2012 interview with an Arabic-language television station, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg suggested that as Egypt prepared to write a new constitution, Egyptians look to more recently written constitutions than the United Sta
Snopes→ Did Sweden Rename ‘Christmas’ to ‘Winter Celebration’ in Order to Avoid Offending Muslims?
The so-called "war on Christmas" seemingly hasn't ended; it just changes location from time to time.
Snopes→ Man Puts Up Sculpture of Middle Finger as a Message to Town
Ted Pelkey says he's been trying for about 10 years to move his truck repair and recycling business but has been unable to get a permit.
Snopes→ Renewed Battle Over Using Fetal Tissue in Medical Research
Republicans said alternatives to fetal tissue are available and should be used instead. Democrats said that view is at odds with science.
Snopes→ Motorists Nab Cash Spilled By Armored Truck, Causing Crashes
"People went a little bit crazy when they saw the money."
Snopes→ MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski Apologizes for Homophobic Comment
She apologized via Twitter, saying it was a "SUPER BAD choice of words."
Snopes→ Customs Finds 70 Finches in Hair Rollers
Officials believe the birds were brought to the U.S. to participate in singing contests.
Snopes→ In Plea Deal, Russian Woman Admits to Being a Secret Agent
The case has offered insight into how Moscow seeks to influence American policy.
Snopes→ French Police Try to Catch Attack Suspect, Operation Ongoing
Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical.