REVIEW A Facebook reel from early December 2024 claimed that the math of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing didn’t “add up”, alleging that it would take decades to produce enough vaccine doses to vaccinate the world population. The reel is a repos
The Dispatch→ Did Hobby Lobby Stop Selling Hanukkah Merchandise?
The claims are true but old. The company cited business reasons for discontinuing some holiday offerings.
Full Fact→ How has the number of immigration returns changed under Labour?
Sir Keir Starmer claimed there’d been 9,400 returns and that is a 30% increase compared to last year, but there doesn’t appear to be published data to back the second part of this claim up.
The Dispatch→ Political Unrest Rocks NATO Ally Romania
A pro-Russian independent candidate, a TikTok campaign, and annulled results.
The Dispatch→ Impeach?
We’ve screwed this up.
Full Fact→ ‘Edward Snowden’ article on HAARP is satire
Claims that Mr Snowden has revealed the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program’s “sinister agenda” stem from a joke article published in 2013.
The Dispatch→ Nippon Purchase of U.S. Steel Could Hinge on Trump
The president-elect opposes the deal, but advocates believe personal engagement could change his mind.
The Dispatch→ Mitch McConnell’s Final Act
Will the longtime Republican leader be a thorn in Trump’s side?
The Dispatch→ Amnesty International Tries to Redefine ‘Genocide’
The conventional definition includes a reference to ‘intent,’ which creates a problem for critics of Israel.
The Dispatch→ The Country Club Radical
Cold-blood Americana shouldn’t surprise us.
The Dispatch→ GOP Senators Seem Comfortable With Tulsi Gabbard’s Syria Ties
Some express support for her nomination as director of national intelligence.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: UnitedHealth Group Did NOT Continue Investor Meeting After Learning UnitedHeathcare CEO Was Killed
Did UnitedHealth Group continue with its annual Investor Conference presentations even after learning a key executive had been shot to death outside the conference hotel? No, that's not true: A Threads post provided no documentary or witn
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Evidence Of Ballot Cheating During Orange County, California, Bomb Threat Livestream Interruption Or Any Other Time In November 2024
Was there ballot cheating during a bomb threat search when the vote-counting livestream went offline in Orange County, California, in November 2024? No, that's not true: The Orange County registrar of voters told Lead Stories that "the ba
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE ‘Manifesto’ Supposedly By Luigi Mangione Posted On Substack — Taken Down For ‘Impersonation’
Was a post on Substack the real letter of explanation by Luigi Mangione, the man who has been arrested in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? No, that's not true: A Substack spokesperson told Lead Stories the post was remov
The Dispatch→ Killing Time
Death, folk heroes, and populism.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Real YouTube Account Of Luigi Mangione Did NOT Schedule ‘The Truth’ Video Before Arrest
Did Luigi Mangione schedule a YouTube video titled "The Truth" to be published in anticipation of his arrest? No, that's not true: The YouTube account that published a video titled "The Truth" was impersonating Luigi Mangione, the man who
PolitiFact→ Social Media – No evidence Luigi Mangione published viral, deleted Substack article
Substack article shows manifesto of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in health care executive's killing.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump is reiterating his promise to overturn birthright citizenship. Can he do it?
President-elect Donald Trump is reiterating his promise to overturn birthright citizenship. Can he do it? Experts say it would take a drawn-out court fight. And even then, Trump’s desired outcome is far from certain.
PolitiFact→ Social Media – No proof UnitedHealthcare CEO was set to testify against Nancy Pelosi for insider trading
“Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was set to testify against Nancy Pelosi for insider trading.”
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, Elon Musk didn’t take over MSNBC or replace Rachel Maddow with Joe Rogan
“Joe Rogan to replace Rachel Maddow as MSNBC’s prime-time host after Elon Musk takeover.”
PolitiFact→ Threads posts – No, this video doesn’t show Fox News host Jeanine Pirro criticizing President-elect Donald Trump
Video shows Fox News host Jeanine Pirro criticizing President-elect Donald Trump.
PolitiFact→ Threads posts – Birthright citizenship didn’t apply to Trump’s children, experts say
President-elect Donald Trump’s “plan to end birthright citizenship would mean (four) of his children wouldn't be considered US citizens.”
PolitiFact→ Threads posts – No, Elon Musk didn’t say he was disgusted about ‘everyone’ glorifying the UnitedHealthcare CEO shoot
Elon Musk criticized the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter on X, saying, “It’s disgusting how everyone is turning this guy into some kind of folk hero.”
PolitiFact→ X posts – How much temporary housing has FEMA provided to NC-based Helene victims?
FEMA delivered “only four” temporary housing units to Helene victims in North Carolina as of Nov. 20.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk Did NOT Publish Post Justifying That Insurance Companies Can Act ‘Ruthlessly’
Did tech billionaire Elon Musk publish a post in defense of insurance companies, saying that those corporations can act "ruthlessly" because of their "duty to shareholders to maximize profits"? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found no r
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, a new $1,000 stimulus check hasn’t been approved as Donald Trump takes office
A “no-strings-attached $1,000 stimulus” check has been approved for “every U.S. resident” ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden CANNOT Pardon Alleged Gunman Luigi Mangione Because Pending Charges Are State Crimes
Does President Joe Biden have the power to pardon Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? No, that's not true: As of this writing, Mangione was jailed on state charges in Pennsylvania and was cha
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Does NOT Show Aftermath Of ‘Horrific’ Traffic Collision That Killed 135 People In 2024
Does a photograph shared on Facebook genuinely show a "horrific accident" in which "at least 135 people died after a truck collided with a bus"? No, that's not true: While the photo is real it was first shared to X on June 14, 2021, follo
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – No, this video doesn’t show New Yorkers dancing because UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson died
Video shows “NYC coming together to dance in the streets over the universal American love” of dead CEOs.
The Dispatch→ Viral Video Does Not Feature UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Internet users have resurfaced an old video of a different chief executive with the same name.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Burger King Did NOT Post ‘We Don’t Snitch’ After Luigi Mangione’s Arrest At A McDonald’s
Did Burger King's X account post "We don't snitch" in response to the alleged killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO being recognized by a McDonald's employee? No, that's not true: Burger King's public relations confirmed to Lead Stories that
The Dispatch→ Did Jared Kushner Take $2 Billion From Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi sovereign wealth fund invested in his private-equity firm, but the money does not belong to Kushner.
PolitiFact→ TikTok posts – No, Luigi Mangione didn’t post YouTube videos with a countdown to 'the truth'
Video shows CEO homicide suspect Luigi Mangione posted YouTube videos teasing his plans
Full Fact→ What happened to living standards under the previous government?
The Prime Minister claimed people were “worse off” at the end of the last government, but it’s unclear what time period or measure of living standards this claim is based on.
Full Fact→ Video shows earthquake in Taiwan not California
A clip circulating on social media is actually from Taipei in April, not the recent magnitude 7 earthquake off the coast of California.
Full Fact→ Video shows Argentinian dancer, not President Zelenskyy, belly dancing
The blurriness of the clip shared on social media makes it difficult to tell the difference between the dancer and Ukrainian president.
The Dispatch→ TikTok Moves to Block Enforcement of Divestment Law
The emergency request comes after a federal court ruled the law was constitutional.
The Dispatch→ Can Tennessee Ban Transgender Care for Minors?
Plus: Will TikTok divest?
The Dispatch→ Pardon Donald Trump
The former and future president has shown no remorse for his offenses, but grace doesn’t rest on merit.
The Dispatch→ Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Food Claims, Explained
The science, or lack thereof, behind some of the HHS secretary nominee’s nutritional views.