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.
Snopes→ As Protectors Abandon Trump, Investigation Draws Closer
Both Michael Cohen and American Media Inc. now say they made hush money payments to a porn star and a Playboy Playmate for the purposes of helping his 2016 White House bid, a campaign finance violation.
FactCheck.org→ Meme Spreads Bogus Pelosi Quote on Border Wall
Quick Take A long-circulating meme spreads a quote falsely attributed to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi about President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. Full Story In the Oval Office this week, a heated (and fact-challenged) exchange unf
PolitiFact→ PolitiFact’s 2018 Lie of the Year coverage
Here are links and summaries of our 2018 Lie of the Year coverage. The 2018 Lie of the Year: Online smear machine tries to take down Parkland students. Read our special report on how attacks after the Florida school shooting were the mos
PolitiFact→ PolitiFact’s 2018 Lie of the Year coverage
Here are links and summaries of our 2018 Lie of the Year coverage. The 2018 Lie of the Year: Online smear machine tries to take down Parkland students. Read our special report on how attacks after the Florida school shooting were the mos
PolitiFact→ Why PolitiFact doesn’t use the word ‘lie’ — except once a year
Editor's note: PolitiFact Editor Angie Drobnic Holan wrote this column for the media news website Poynter.org. You might expect a website that fact-checks American politics to use the word "lie" a lot. But at PolitiFact, we don&rsquo
PolitiFact→ Why PolitiFact doesn’t use the word ‘lie’ — except once a year
Editor's note: PolitiFact Editor Angie Drobnic Holan wrote this column for the media news website Poynter.org. You might expect a website that fact-checks American politics to use the word "lie" a lot. But at PolitiFact, we don&rsquo
Washington Post→ President Trump’s claim that Democrats gave Iran $150 billion
He has repeatedly suggested that President Barack Obama gave $150 billion in taxpayer funds to Iran. That's false.
Hoax-Slayer→ Fake Christmas Giveaway Pages Flooding Facebook
Keep an eye out for fraudulent Christmas themed Facebook Pages promising valuable prizes in exchange for liking, sharing, and commenting. The post Fake Christmas Giveaway Pages Flooding Facebook appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Snopes→ Teen Pleads Guilty to Murder in Death of Father, Boy
A 16-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of murder for fatally shooting his father in their home and a 6-year-old boy at the South Carolina elementary school he once attended.
Snopes→ Crews Rescue Man Stuck in Grease Vent of Empty Restaurant
Officials say he had been trapped there for two days.
Snopes→ There’s A Safer Option for Animals Crossing the Road
Washington state is finishing work on its largest wildlife bridge. At least one animal has already used it.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Oscars Committee Did NOT Announce Jordan Peterson as New Host
Did the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announce Dr. Jordan Peterson will host the 91st Oscars ceremony? No, of course not: the story was put out by a Christian themed satire website, it is not real. It mocks the recent withdrawa
Internet Archive→ President Trump Signs Opportunity & Revitalization Council Order : CSPAN : December 12, 2018 6:18pm-6:40pm EST
President Trump signed an executive order establishing an Opportunity and Revitalization Council with the aim of creating economic opportunity zones in distressed communities. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was set to lead the new c
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Saudi Arabia Is NOT About To Behead 6 School Girls For Acting Indecently With Their Male Friends
Is Saudi Arabia about to behead six schoolgirls for acting indecently with male friends? No, that's not true: the story recently went viral again via the newest site in a network of Macedonian fake news websites that keeps recycling the same
Snopes→ Is a Butterfly Sanctuary in Danger of Being Bulldozed to Build President Trump’s Border Wall?
President Trump's proposed border wall is expected to have a significant impact on the surrounding environment.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Mother Did NOT Force Son to Swallow Semen After Catching Him With Gay Porn
Did a 44-year-old abusive mother from Tuscaloosa, Alabama named Dolly Callahan force her teenage son to drink his own semen after she caught him masturbating to gay porn? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a Canadian entertainment
Snopes→ Did Jon Voight Urge Americans to ‘Fight for Donald Trump’?
The Academy Award-winning actor is a prominent Hollywood conservative and vocal supporter of the 45th president.