Is water the most powerful blood thinner? No, that's not true: While staying hydrated is important for overall health and can help maintain proper blood viscosity, water does not have the same effect as medications specifically designed t
The Dispatch→ The Post-Filibuster Age
It’s coming—but maybe not as soon as we expect.
PolitiFact→ Katie Porter – Fact-checking Rep. Katie Porter’s claims that billionaires ‘rigged’ California’s Senate primary
Billionaires “rigged” the California Senate primary election through “dishonest means.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Sodium Bicarbonate In Bottled Water Does NOT Cause ‘Severe Side Effects’
Does sodium bicarbonate in bottled water pose significant health risks? No, that's not true: This element is commonly known as baking soda, which is chemically salt. The Food and Drug Administration considers sodium bicarbonate safe to be
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – No, Kamala Harris did not say Democrats are bribing voters with federal work study funds
Video shows Kamala Harris saying Democrats would use taxpayer dollars to bribe voters.
PolitiFact→ Spotlight on 6 of Joe Biden’s campaign promises as he gives the 2024 State of the Union
We’ve tracked 99 of Joe Biden’s campaign promises since he won the presidency. Here’s a closer look at the state of six.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Chemotherapy Drugs Are NOT ‘100% Mustard Gas’
Do chemotherapy drugs consist of "100% mustard gas," as a post on Instagram claimed? No, that's not true: The National Cancer Institute told Lead Stories that its records do not indicate any forms of chemotherapy drugs are known to contai
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Mel Gibson Did NOT Release Video Of Satanic Rituals On Epstein Island
Did Mel Gibson release a video of satanic rituals taking place on "Jeffrey Epstein's island"? No, that's not true: "He has nothing to do with this and has no knowledge of it," Gibson's publicist told Lead Stories about a social media post
The Dispatch→ Dispatch Live: State of the Union Recap
Join us for a bonus edition of our weekly live-streamed conversation.
The Dispatch→ Supreme Court: ‘One Neat Trick’ Can’t Keep Trump Off the Ballot
Plus: A status report on all the Biden investigations.
The Dispatch→ Welcome to Techne
Introducing a new technology-focused newsletter from The Dispatch.
Full Fact→ Government borrowing is not forecast to increase year on year
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed that government borrowing “goes up in every year” of the OBR’s latest forecast published this week.
PolitiFact→ Jonathan Martin – ICE gives some migrants smartphones to track them, not for personal use
“This is the era where people are given smartphones when they cross the border and enter our country.”
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, viral video doesn’t show Oklahoma students sucking adults’ toes
Video shows Oklahoma students “sucking on the toes of adults.”
PolitiFact→ Why Gavin Newsom’s claim about 65,000 births from rape is not as conclusive as he made it sound
Gavin Newsom said there’s been “65,000” births from rape since Roe was overturned. A paper estimated 65,000 rape-related pregnancies, not births, have occurred in 14 states with total abortion bans. The data had limitations.
Full Fact→ Portrait of Prince George and Princess Charlotte is AI creation
There are clues within the picture that it is not a genuine photograph of the royal children.
Full Fact→ Diary of Anne Frank not written by American novelist after WW2
Untrue claims about the authorship and authenticity of Anne Frank’s diary have been circulating online—including that it was written in ballpoint pen after the Second World War.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – The Biden administration is not scheming to register noncitizens to vote
The Biden administration seeks to end voter ID requirements to allow immigrants in the country illegally to vote.
Health Feedback→ DTaP vaccine isn’t associated with sudden infant death syndrome, whooping cough vaccine led to historic decline in cases
REVIEW An Instagram reel posted in March 2024 suggested that the whooping cough vaccine was never needed, since whooping cough deaths had plummeted before the vaccine was available. It also implied that the DTaP vaccine is dangerous and associated w
AllSides→ Hunter Biden’s Testimony in Context
https://www.factcheck.org/2024/03/hunter-bidens-testimony-in-context/ During a lengthy interview with H
Full Fact→ Video does not show fire at Israeli airport after drone strike
The footage actually shows an explosion at a warehouse in Michigan in the United States.
The Dispatch→ The End of the Road for Haley
Plus: Can Haiti pull out of its doom spiral?
Health Feedback→ Vaccines, treatments reduced public health threat posed by COVID-19, explaining different approach in 2024 compared to 2020
REVIEW The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines for protection against respiratory diseases on 1 March 2024. Respiratory diseases include the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and, for the first tim
Health Feedback→ Childhood vaccine ingredients are safe in the amount present in vaccines; cells, animal products, and viruses aren’t part of these ingredients
REVIEW Vaccination helps people live longer and healthier by protecting them against life-threatening diseases that were widespread not long ago. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization against preventable disease
The Dispatch→ The Gene Genie
The longer I live, the wronger I get to be.
The Dispatch→ David Responds to Trolls
Who needs enemies when you got friends like these?
The Dispatch→ Don’t Burn Down Harvard
Conservatives can't ignore the failures of elite universities—nor can they simply destroy them.
Truth or Fiction?→ Tongue Taste Map Myth Debunked
Exploring the human tongue and its role in taste perception reveals a world of complexity far beyond what we might expect. This muscle, equipped with thousands of taste buds, is at the forefront of distinguishing flavors that make our food experience
Truth or Fiction?→ Can Wet Hair Cause Illness?
Many of us have grown up with the warning to not go outside with wet hair in cold weather, fearing we might catch a cold. This piece explores the truth behind this belief and what actually contributes to our winter illnesses. With insights from medic
Truth or Fiction?→ Swimming After Eating: Is It Safe?
When it comes to swimming after eating, there’s a lot of advice out there about what’s best for our bodies. This article aims to shed light on how our meals impact our swimming experience, from the physiological effects that food has on o
Truth or Fiction?→ Does Urine Cure Jellyfish Stings?
Many of us have heard various remedies for treating jellyfish stings, with some methods being more unusual than others. Among these, the use of urine has been a topic of much discussion and debate. This article aims to shed light on the effectiveness
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Blood Really Blue Inside Your Body?
Many people carry misconceptions about the color of human blood, often influenced by illustrations and the appearance of veins through the skin. This article aims to clarify these misunderstandings by exploring the true colors of blood and the role o
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Trump says 82% says Americans think 2020 election was “rigged.” Polls, polling executives disagree
“Eighty-two percent of the country understands that (the 2020 election) was a rigged election.”
Truth or Fiction?→ Debunking Ostrich Myths: Head in the Sand?
Ostriches have long been subjects of myths and misunderstandings, leading to a skewed perspective of their true nature and behavior. This article aims to shed light on the reality of ostrich behavior in the face of threat and the impact myths have on
Truth or Fiction?→ Egg Balancing on Equinox: Fact or Myth?
Have you ever tried to balance an egg on its end? This question might seem simple, but it actually touches on deep principles of physics and the fascinating relationship between force and stability. Through exploring the science of egg balancing, we&
Truth or Fiction?→ Debunking Myths: Are Bats Really Blind?
Bats, often wrapped in myths about their sight, actually showcase a fascinating aspect of the animal kingdom with their vision and echolocation abilities. While many believe these creatures navigate the night blind, research tells us otherwise. This
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Does NOT Show Dragon Head ‘Mud Fossil Remains’
Does a photo show the genuine "mud fossil remains" of the "dragon head cave in Egypt," as a video on TikTok claims? No, that's not true: The theory of "mud fossils" is a pseudoscientific notion, and there is no evidence that dragons were
Truth or Fiction?→ Sugar & Child Hyperactivity: Myth or Fact?
Many believe that sugar is the culprit behind children’s hyperactive behavior, a topic that has sparked much debate and investigation over the years. This article aims to shed light on the origins of this myth and explores what scientific resea
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: U.S. Military Commission Did NOT Sentence Rear Adm. Michael Platt To Death In February 2024
Did a "military commission" sentence Rear Adm. Michael Platt to death for committing treason and sedition? No, that's not true: A Pentagon duty officer told Lead Stories that "the claim is false." This claim appeared in an article on a we
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: California Bill AB-1840 Would NOT Give Interest-Free Home Loans To Undocumented, DOES To Eligible US Citizens
Does California give away interest-free home loans exclusively to "people who came into this country illegally," bypassing U.S. citizens? No, that's not true: California's AB-1840 bill never proposed such a measure. U.S. citizens who meet