“We were able to find a solution that didn’t necessitate the use of force that actually removed the chemical weapons that were known from Syria, in a way that the use of force would never have accomplished. Our aim in contemplating
Hoax-Slayer→ Hoax-Slayer’s Current Top Five Silliest Hoaxes
Some hoaxes might seem reasonably credible, at least at first glance. But, others are just plain silly and it's hard to understand how they can possibly continue to circulate for so long. Here are five ridiculous hoaxes that have crossed the Hoax-Slaye
Hoax-Slayer→ Elephant Encounter Story – Not the Same Elephant
Circulating message tells the tale of a man who, twenty years after he helped a young wild elephant with a sore foot, believes that he has encountered the same elephant, a belief that ends in tragedy.
FactCheck.org→ Video: Trump’s Line on Syria
In this video, CNN’s Jake Tapper looks at President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of President Barack Obama’s response in 2013 to a chemical weapons attack in Syria. In an April 5 press conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Trump wa
Snopes→ Babies Born In-Flight Get Free Air Travel for Life?
Although babies born in-flight are occasionally given free air travel for the rest of their lives by the carrier, it's a rare occurrence and not a standard practice.
Hoax-Slayer→ Facebook Scam — ‘Unsellable’ Roulotte RV Giveaway
According to a Facebook Page that calls itself "Vehicles Fans", you can go in the draw to win one of thirty Roulotte RVs just by liking, sharing, and commenting. "Roulotte" is a French word that means "caravan".
PolitiFact→ Ben Cardin – Did Senate Republicans filibuster Obama court nominees more than all others combined?
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Did Senate Republicans filibuster Obama court nominees more than all others combined? Republicans changed Senate rules to break a Democratic filibuster and confirm Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, and blam
Snopes→ ISIS Claims Responsibility for Two Explosions That Killed at Least 45 Egyptian Christians
The blasts in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria targeted Coptic Christian churches during Palm Sunday celebrations.
Snopes→ Etymology of Sirloin
The cut of steak known as "sirloin" is not so named because an English king once knighted a piece of beef.
Snopes→ ‘Gates of Heaven’ Photograph
A manipulated photograph of the Swan Nebula is being passed around as an image of "The Gates of Heaven" that has supposedly befuddled astronomers.
Washington Post→ Ryan and McConnell flip-flop on use of force in Syria to deter chemical weapons
“This was a strike that was well-planned, well- executed, went right to the heart of the matter, which is using chemical weapons.” — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, April 6, 2017 “I’ve concluded that being credib
Snopes→ A Toaster Dial Sets Minutes, Not ‘Level of Toasty-ness’?
A long-circulating image claims that toaster owners are misinformed about the purpose of a dial that sets minutes, not darkness.
Snopes→ Do Wireless Signals Stunt Plant Growth?
A 2013 school science project that purports to show that wifi wilts cress plants periodically reappears, but its claims remain unproven.
Snopes→ Are Blue Strawberries Real?
Images that purport to show "blue strawberries" were digitally manipulated.
Snopes→ Study: Women with Natural Hair Have Low Self-Esteem?
Reports of research finding that women with natural hair have lower self-esteem than women with treated hair are based on a satirical article.
Snopes→ White House Admits Syria Missile Attack Was a Publicity Stunt to Make Trump Look Good?
Unreliable web sites spread the false claim that senior White House officials "openly admitted that the chemical strike against Syria had no actual purpose."
Snopes→ EPA Reportedly Eliminates Program Helping Cities Deal With Climate Change
An unidentified official said that the issue should not be "controlled from inside Washington, D.C."
FactCheck.org→ April 8: Marijuana, SCOTUS, Fracking Fluids
The post April 8: Marijuana, SCOTUS, Fracking Fluids appeared first on FactCheck.org.
Snopes→ Report: ‘Mowgli Girl’ Found Living with Monkeys in India
According to news sources in India, police rescued a girl believed to have been living in the forest with monkeys for several years.
FactCheck.org→ McConnell Revises History on Syria
Sen. Mitch McConnell revised history when explaining why he supported President Trump’s missile strike on Syria but opposed President Obama’s call for a targeted strike against Syria after a chemical weapons incident in 2013. McConnell, the
Snopes→ Trump: ‘We’re Bringing Back the Draft’?
Reports that Donald Trump said that he plans to reinstate a military draft in the U.S. originated with a fake news site.
PolitiFact→ Trump's Syria airstrikes: constitutional or not?
Some Democrat and Republican lawmakers are criticizing President Donald Trump for carrying out airstrikes in Syria without getting Congress’ approval first. The United States launched nearly 60 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield April 6, reacti
Snopes→ Did Ben Carson Discover $500 Billion in Accounting Errors at HUD?
An audit of Housing and Urban Development's books was carried out by the Office of the Inspector General and found an aggregate of billions in accounting errors.
FactCheck.org→ The Facts on Fracking Chemical Disclosure
Q: Are the chemicals in fracking solution protected from being made public by a law passed while Dick Cheney was vice president? A: Yes. A 2005 law bans the federal government from requiring companies to disclose fracking chemicals. But 28 states do r
Truth or Fiction?→ Ben Carson Audit Reveals $500 Billion in HUD Bookkeeping Errors-Mostly Fiction!
Ben Carson Audit Reveals $500 Billion in HUD Bookkeeping Errors-Truth! & Fiction! Summary of eRumor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson audited HUD and found a half trillion in bookkeeping errors under the Oba
Snopes→ Was Barack Obama Arrested in a Drug Bust in Japan?
Aggregations of fake news from a conspiracy site led to rumors that the former U.S. president was arrested in a huge drug bust in Japan.
Snopes→ Did an Evangelical Leader Say Trump Opposers Might be Punished With a Gay Child?
Reports that Kenneth Copeland threatened Trump opponents with gay children were actually hoax news.
Snopes→ Did President Obama ‘Stiff’ the Wrong Waiter?
A fake news item claimed President Obama failed to tip a prominent Chicago businessman filling in as a waiter at Lawry's.
PolitiFact→ Conspiracy claims that Syrian gas attack was 'false flag' are unproven
In the hours between this week’s chemical weapons attack in Syria and President Donald Trump’s retaliatory missile strike, conspiracy theorists worked to discredit the civilian deaths. They called it a "false flag" operation desig
Truth or Fiction?→ Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal: Claims about Illegal Immigrants in California-
Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal: Claims about Illegal Immigrants in California-Mostly Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A commentary known as “Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal” has been circulating since 2010 and makes claims about the economic impact of
PolitiFact→ 9 things we're reading about Syria, U.S. airstrikes
Here's a list of the stories we're reading to better understand the current situation in Syria and the significance of the U.S. airstrikes. Latest developments Syria Deeply, an independent digital media project, offers nuanced, specific coverag
Snopes→ Google Adds Fact-Check Info to Search Results
The search engine is rolling out a new feature that appends"Fact Check" snippets to news queries.
PolitiFact→ For Trump, no signal yet refugee policy will change after U.S. airstrike in Syria
Two days after a chemical weapons attack in Syria killed more than 80 people, including children, President Donald Trump ordered a military airstrike on the Syrian airfield from where U.S. officials say the chemical attack launched. The intervention by
Snopes→ Republicans Resort to ‘Nuclear Option’ To Confirm Gorsuch. What Does that Mean?
The history and implications of the "nuclear option" in the U.S. Senate.
Snopes→ Stockholm: Truck Drives Into Crowd, Reports of Shots Fired
At least three people are believed dead in what has been described as a "terror attack" in the Swedish capital.
PolitiFact→ In Context: Did Susan Rice lie about unmasking Trump associates?
Critics of former National Security Adviser Susan Rice say she’s caught in a lie about misusing intelligence for political purposes. A few media sources, most prominently Bloomberg columnist Eli Lake, have said Rice repeatedly asked to learn the
Hoax-Slayer→ Watch Out For This Fake ANZ Bank “Account Restricted” Email
If you bank with ANZ, keep an eye out for this fraudulent security notification message, which is currently being distributed via email. The message claims that, during recent security checks, ANZ was unable to verify your account information.
Washington Post→ White House budget director’s claim that Social Security disability is ‘very wasteful’
Host John Dickerson: “Entitlements, that’s where the big money is. The president has said he didn’t want to touch Medicare, but he seems to be revising his thinking on that.” Office of Management and Budget director Mick Mulvaney:
Snopes→ Bananas Injected with HIV-Infected Blood?
Photographs show discolored bananas that have likely fallen prey to a fungus, not to being injected with HIV-infected human blood.
Snopes→ Ground Glass as Poison
Contrary to what mystery and crime dramas might portray, ingesting ground glass isn't inherently fatal.