A scientific consensus is still evolving, but the leading theory is that infection among humans began at an animal market in Wuhan, probably from an animal that got the virus from a bat.
Search Results (708) for: theory
Snopes→ Trump, Aides Float ‘Chinese Lab’ Theory on Origins of Coronavirus
President Donald Trump and some of his officials are flirting with an outlier theory that the new coronavirus was set loose on the world by a Chinese lab that let it escape.
FactCheck.org→ Conspiracy Theory Misinterprets Goals of Gates Foundation
Quick Take A conspiracy theory falsely claims Bill Gates is plotting to use COVID-19 testing and a future vaccine to track people with microchips. The Gates Foundation has advocated for expanded testing and has funded vaccine research, but neither of t
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NYTimes Did NOT Invent Doctor Fighting Coronavirus In QAnon Conspiracy Theory
Did the New York Times publish a video featuring an ER physician at Elmhurst Hospital who was peddling lies and doesn't even work at the hospital? No, that's not true: Dr. Colleen Smith does work at the Queens, New York, hospital and offered i
Snopes→ The Origins and Scientific Failings of the COVID-19 ‘Bioweapon’ Conspiracy Theory
The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 has deadly adaptations that make it perfect for infecting humans. But this is a testament to natural selection, not bioengineering.
Snopes→ Did the CIA Invent the Term ‘Conspiracy Theory’?
One conspiracy theory claims that the CIA invented the term in 1967 to disqualify those who questioned the official version of John F Kennedy’s assassination.
TruthOrFiction→ ‘He’s 18’: Twitter Trending Topics Amplifies Quaden Bayles Conspiracy Theory
Not long after Quaden Bayles became the virally popular star of an anti-bullying campaign, Twitter’s trending topics boosted a conspiracy theory under “He’s 18,” linked to tweets alleging the nine-year-old boy was a much olde
FactCheck.org→ Viral Posts Spread Iran-‘Deep State’ Conspiracy Theory
Quick Take An online conspiracy theory falsely claims that Democratic leaders coordinated the June attacks on two oil tankers and a U.S. drone and that President Donald Trump caught them in the act. The Trump administration has placed the blame squarel
Snopes→ ‘QAnon’ Conspiracy Theory Creeps Into Mainstream Politics
What started as an online obsession for the far-right fringe has grown beyond its origins in a dark corner of the internet.
FactCheck.org→ Social Media Posts Spread Bogus Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory
Quick Take Multiple social media posts are spreading a bogus conspiracy theory about the deadly Wuhan virus. The posts falsely claim that the virus has been patented and a vaccine is already available. That’s not true; the patents the posts refer to
Snopes→ How a Debunked Ukraine Theory Endures Against All Evidence
The theory took root in vague form well before Donald Trump laid claim to the White House in 2016.
FactCheck.org→ Baseless Clinton Conspiracy Theory Still Circulating
Quick Take A Macedonian website is peddling a baseless Hillary Clinton conspiracy theory that has amassed tens of thousands of shares on Facebook. The story implies that Clinton was involved in the deaths of two Baltimore-area law enforcement officers,
Politifact National→ What we know about the Politico story at the heart of a Ukraine conspiracy theory
Republicans have asserted in recent weeks that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. Their source often traces back to a 2017 investigation in Politico. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., repeated the talking point Dec. 1 on NBC’s "Meet the Press.
TruthOrFiction→ Trump Regurgitates ‘Crowdstrike’ Conspiracy Theory in Call to Fox News
United States President Donald Trump called into a Fox News program on November 22 2019, spending nearly an hour pushing an already-debunked conspiracy theory that was also refuted during the congressional impeachment inquiry against him. During his c
Lead Stories→ Fake News: CNN Does Not Break Down And Admit Entire Russian Collusion Theory Was A Hoax
Did CNN break down and finally admit the entire Russian collusion theory was a hoax? No, that's not true: CNN reported that an FBI agent is "under investigation" for altering a document "related to 2016 surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser
TruthOrFiction→ Disinformation Peddlers Push ‘October 16th’ Conspiracy Theory
A gaggle of specious blogs and social media accounts set about inflaming tensions for their followers in a set of posts reminiscent of other fake controversies. The posts center on vaguely-worded “threats” and wide-ranging military deploym
WaPo Fact Checker→ The GOP theory that Ukraine ‘set up’ Trump
Republicans are pushing three story lines that purport to show that Ukraine targeted Trump in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton. Here's a guide to the claims.
FactCheck.org→ Bogus Conspiracy Theory Claims Epstein is Alive
Quick Take A Facebook post from a user who appears to subscribe to QAnon conspiracies claims that Jeffrey Epstein is not dead. The theory is based solely on a news photo that shows an unresponsive Epstein being wheeled into a hospital on a gurney. Fu
Lead Stories→ Proof Of Life: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Confirms She’s "Very Much Alive," Disproving QAnon Conspiracy Theory
Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg dead and are recordings being faked to hide the U.S. Supreme Court justice's death to prevent President Trump from having another high court appointment? No, that's not true: The 86-year-old Ginsburg appeared on camera o
Politifact National→ Mueller report aims to squash WikiLeaks Seth Rich conspiracy theory
The Mueller report might not end the debate over what President Donald Trump did, but it has scuttled one conspiracy theory involving a murdered Democratic party staffer and WikiLeaks. Well into 2017, Fox News host Sean Hannity championed the hunt for
FactCheck.org→ Notre Dame Fire Fuels Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theory
Quick Take A website cites an erroneous tweet, innuendo and unrelated events to falsely suggest there were “Muslim ties” to the Notre Dame fire. Full Story The devastating fire that ravaged the famed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April
Snopes→ Conspiracy Theory About Holistic Doctor Deaths Resurfaces After Nipsey Hussle Murder
The late hip-hop musician and community activist was making a documentary about holistic healer Dr. Sebi.
FactCheck.org→ Baseless Oklahoma City Bombing Conspiracy Theory
Quick Take A viral meme has revived an old, baseless conspiracy theory claiming that Hillary Clinton is linked to the Oklahoma City bombing. Full Story An old conspiracy theory from the 1990s has gotten a 21st Century update — it’s now spr
WaPo Fact Checker→ A grainy video from Guatemala sparks Trump conspiracy theory
President Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) cherry-picked a video of Honduran migrants to float unfounded conspiracy theories.
WaPo Fact Checker→ Tom Cotton’s fact-free theory on the leaks of Ford’s letter
Did Chuck Schumer and Preet Bharara conspire with a former FBI agent to derail Brett Kavanaugh's nomination? Nope.
Snopes→ Kavanaugh’s ‘Revenge’ Theory Spotlights Past with Clintons
To some, Brett Kavanaugh is clearing his name. To others, he's veering into conspiracy theory.
The ‘Amy Schumer Is Actually Christine Blasey Ford’ Conspiracy Theory
The days following a September 27th, 2018 hearing before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, in which Palo Alto University professor and Stanford research psychologist Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh violently assaulted her during a party more than three decades before, swirled with increasingly bizarre stories about a grand conspiracy. […]
The post The ‘Amy Schumer Is Actually Christine Blasey Ford’ Conspiracy Theory appeared first on What’s True?.
Snopes→ Who Is Q? Behind Conspiracy Theory Erupting at Trump Rallies
The entire, loose movement has been called everything from "a deranged conspiracy cult" to a grassroots movement "about the covert battles being waged between the deep state and President Trump."
Snopes→ Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Passes Yet Another Test
Einstein's theory says the fabric of the universe is not simply space, but a more complex entity called space-time, which is warped by the presence of heavy objects.
Snopes→ Dubious Conspiracy Theory Links Putin’s Daughter to Russia-Trump Collusion
Unusual pre-election communication between a Russian bank and a Trump Organization server may have occurred but has no credible link to Putin’s daughter.
FactCheck.org→ Home Explosion Spawns Clinton Conspiracy Theory
Q: Were the victims of a New Jersey home explosion tied to an investigation into the Clinton Foundation? A: No. A viral conspiracy theory is spreading that claim without any evidence. Investigators told us they “found no evidence of foul play&
Snopes→ Billboards Promoting 4Chan Conspiracy Theory ‘QAnon’ Pop Up Across America
Billboards next to Georgia and Oklahoma highways reference a farcical and ill-defined "Deep State" conspiracy theory — but who’s paying for them?
Snopes→ Potentially Fentanyl-Tainted Flyers Promoting a Conspiracy Theory Found on Texas Police Cars
One officer reportedly became ill after coming into contact with a paper printed with information from a group alleging covert government mind-control operations.
FactCheck.org→ Conspiracy Theory Follows Call For ‘Space Force’
Q: Did President Donald Trump call for the creation of a “space force” to fight off an “alien attack”? A: No. The president did request exploration of a “space force,” but it is unrelated to extraterrestrial activi
Hoax-Slayer→ X-Files Set ‘UFO Crash’ Image Being Used by Conspiracy Theory Websites
Various conspiracy theory websites are using a photograph that supposedly depicts a crashed UFO as evidence that the US government is covering up encounters with alien beings. The post X-Files Set ‘UFO Crash’ Image Being Used by Conspiracy
FactCheck.org→ Another Bogus Parkland Conspiracy Theory
Q: Does searching an obituary website prove that there were no shooting deaths at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14? A: No. A website falsely suggests that there were no deaths because the victims’ obituaries couldn’t be found on one
Politifact Truth-O-Meter→ Donald Trump – No proof of Trump's conspiracy theory that millions voted many times
The Truth-o-Meter says: Pants on Fire! | No proof of Trump's conspiracy theory that millions voted many times In a speech in West Virginia that was billed as being about tax reform, President Donald Trump continued his refrain about widespread vote
WaPo Fact Checker→ No, Kelli Ward doesn’t believe in the ‘chemtrail’ conspiracy theory
“One year ago Arizona Republicans rejected chemtrail Kelli Ward. Remember why? Ward wasted your tax dollars for a town hall on chemtrail conspiracy theories and sponsoring chemtrail legislation. ‘I’m open. I introduce
Snopes→ Did Donald Trump Predict the ‘Pizzagate’ Conspiracy Theory in a 2011 Interview?
Although Trump did mention the word "Pizzagate", he was referring to a non-controversy over a lunch meeting with Sarah Palin, not the pedophile ring conspiracy theory.
Snopes→ The Seth Rich Conspiracy Theory
Russian embassies actively promoted a now-debunked conspiracy theory that the murdered DNC staffer leaked e-mails to WikiLeaks.