“The Pentagon has confirmed that the mysterious drones appearing across the globe are NOT of earthly origin.”
PolitiFact→ Threads posts – No, pride flags aren’t banned from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
“Pride flags permanently prohibited at FIFA Club World Cup 2025.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Pentagon Did NOT Say Drones ‘Not Of Earthly Origin’ In December 11, 2024 Briefing
Did the Pentagon say in early December 2024 that drones reportedly flying over a New Jersey military installation were "not of earthly origin," as was implied by a post on Instagram? No, that's not true: A Pentagon spokesperson told Lead
The Dispatch→ Viral Claims Distort Findings of the DOJ’s January 6 Report
The report found that the FBI had confidential sources but no agents at the Capitol riot.
FactCheck.org→ Gun Charges Against Hunter Biden Didn’t Come from 1994 Crime Bill
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Quick Take President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden from serving time for gun- and tax-related crimes. But contrary to claims on social media, Hunter Biden’s gun c
PolitiFact→ 1% or 85%: Two numbers before SCOTUS purport to show trans youth ‘regret’ rates. Which is it?
During Supreme Court arguments over gender-affirming care bans, Justice Sonia Sotomayor cited two contrasting statistics about how many trans youth “regret” treatment — 85% or 1%? Here are the facts behind those two numbers.
Full Fact→ MPs don’t get £56 a day breakfast allowance
People in the clip incorrectly claim MPs receive a daily breakfast allowance of £56 and that the taxpayer subsidises a House of Commons cafeteria by £4 million each year.
The Dispatch→ The Politics of Political Violence
It’s always a time for choosing.
The Dispatch→ What Antitrust Enforcement Will Look Like Under Trump
More mergers are expected, but heightened scrutiny of Big Tech will likely continue.
The Dispatch→ A New Syria?
And what the fall of Assad’s regime could mean for Ukraine and Taiwan.
The Dispatch→ The Bro Podcast Strategy
Why young men felt heard by the Trumpian manosphere.
The Dispatch→ Congressional Progressives’ New Leader Thinks Time’s on His Side
Rep. Greg Casar is willing to be patient on policy and wait for voters to grow dissatisfied with the GOP.
The Dispatch→ Christianity’s Imprint Remains in a Secularizing Europe
Plus: Mitt Romney’s American theology and Kevin Williamson reviews Kendrick Lamar’s new album.
The Dispatch→ The Middle Way: Gentle Enough for Feelings, Tough Enough for Tantrums
The trouble with fad parenting styles.
The Dispatch→ An All-American Heretic
On the apotheosis of Kendrick Lamar
The Dispatch→ Mitt Romney’s American Theology
His farewell address—and entire political outlook—are steeped in teachings of his faith.
The Dispatch→ Our Best Coverage of the Reaction to a CEO’s Murder
Plus, the Assad regime falls in Syria.
The Dispatch→ The Manchin-Sinema Effect
How will Republicans treat senators who don’t walk the party line?
The Dispatch→ From Mussolini to Mangione
Murder is still wrong!
The Dispatch→ An Immigrant’s Son
‘The Godfather Part II’ still captures the paradoxes of America 50 years later.
The Dispatch→ From Cruise Partners to Great Power Competitors
David Sanger’s new book explores the fraught relationship among the U.S., China, and Russia.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden Deported Chinese Student Convicted Of Child Porn Crimes As Part Of Prisoner Swap — Court Documents Don’t Identify Him As Chinese Spy
Did President Joe Biden unilaterally release a Chinese spy convicted of possessing child pornography? No, that's not true: A White House spokesperson told Lead Stories a Chinese doctoral student sentenced to 8 years in federal prison in 2
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Social Security Is NOT ‘Gone’ Due To Lack of Money For Those Eligible To Begin Collecting June 1, 2025 — Funding Available As Of Late 2024
Is Social Security out of money for payouts to be made starting June 1, 2025? No, that's not true: This was implied by a post on Threads that did not cite any official document, did not link to expert analysis or provided no financial rec
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Article Excerpt Says Baseball Player Juan Soto Joined Mets Due To Pro-Trump Views Of Yankees Teammates
Does a genuine news article accurately report that baseball player Juan Soto joined the New York Mets partly due to the pro-Trump views of his former Yankees teammates? No, that's not true: Soto's agent, Scott Boras, told Lead Stories suc
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: New York Times Did NOT Publish Opinion Column With Headline ‘The Glorification Of Luigi Mangione Is Inherently Anti-Israeli’
Did The New York Times publish an opinion article titled, "The Glorification of Luigi Mangione Is Inherently Anti-Israeli"? No, that's not true: A representative of The New York Times told Lead Stories that the organization "did not publi
FactCheck.org→ Posts Wrongly Conflate U.S.-China Prisoner Swap with Biden’s Recent Pardons
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Quick Take President Joe Biden granted pardons and commutations to more than 1,500 individuals on Dec. 12. Social media posts wrongly claim those pardoned included a Chinese nati
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Brian Thompson From UK Did NOT Die In Ambulance ‘Held Up By Anti Tax Activists’– He Never Existed
Did a man named Brian Thompson from Romford, U.K., die in an ambulance after "anti tax activists" blocked the roads with "Lamborghini tractors"? No, that's not true: The image of the supposedly deceased man on social media was AI generate
PolitiFact→ Biden’s big clemency move and a prisoner swap with China: Here are the facts
After President Joe Biden announced dozens of pardons and commutations Dec. 12, critics pointed to clemency given to a Chinese man convicted in a child pornography case. That move was part of an earlier deal with China to free U.S. prisoners.
The Dispatch→ The Two Populisms
Jacobins, law and order, and murder.
The Dispatch→ When Crazy Begets Crazy
We need both the Republican and Democratic parties to get right again.
PolitiFact→ Threads posts – These photos don’t show the mysterious, unidentified drones reported in New Jersey since November
Photos show mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in November and December 2024.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – Edited video shows Mitch McConnell with bandaged head
Video shows Mitch McConnell appearing in a press conference with a bandage around his head.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – Fakers gonna fake: No, Taylor Swift and Elon Musk aren’t promoting energy-saving devices together
Images show Taylor Swift with Elon Musk promoting a household energy consumption reduction device.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – Social media post mischaracterizes Sen. John Thune’s comments about potential Social Security cuts
“After meeting with Elon Musk, Republican leader Sen. John Thune announces plans to cut Social Security.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Talking About Nancy Pelosi
Does a video show UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson talking about working with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi? No, that's not true: The Brian Thompson in the video is a different person. The Thompson in the video is an entrepreneur;
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Videos Do NOT Show Armed Drones In New Jersey Firing Weapons In December 2024 — It’s A Marine Helicopter, Military Confirms
Do videos in a social media post show drones firing weapons in New Jersey in December 2024? No, that's not true: A military spokesperson at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst told Lead Stories that both videos show a "U.S. Marine helicopter
The Dispatch→ Was Trump Impeached for Investigating Hunter Biden?
Viral claims are missing context and do not accurately describe the first Trump impeachment.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, 600 bodies weren’t discovered in North Carolina because of Hurricane Helene
Six hundred body bags were “filled the first day” of Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No evidence ex-Syrian President Bashar Assad is opening an eye clinic in Russia
“Dr. Assad will return to ophthalmology after being deposed as president of Syria and plans to set up an eye clinic in Russia.”
Full Fact→ Clip from Kentucky shooting range misleadingly shared as scenes in Syria
The clip has been shared on social media with claims it shows Syrian government forces firing at the rebel group HTS in the city of Hama.