A federal grand jury in Maryland on Oct. 16 returned an indictment against former National Security Adviser John Bolton for mishandling classified national defense information obtained during his tenure in the first Trump administration. He became the
PolitiFact→ US soybean farmers criticize Argentina ‘bailout.’ How are the issues linked?
What does a US-Argentina ‘bailout’ have to do with soybeans?
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Forwarded Message Is A Hoax — NOT An Official Warning From Snapchat Management
Did Snapchat management issue a warning to all users that there had been an update to the terms of use requiring users to forward a warning message to twenty people in two hours or their account would be deleted? No, that's not true: The
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Authentic Image DOES Show Demolition Of Part Of The White House In October 2025
Does a picture widely shared on social media authentically show partial demolition of the East Wing of the White House in October 2025? Yes, it does: The photo was first published by the Washington Post.. The image showed no signs of gene
Full Fact→ The PM hasn’t said state pension will be reduced in April 2026
There’s no evidence that pensioners will only receive 80% of their pension from next April, as has been claimed online.
Full Fact→ No evidence Donald Trump said he might buy ‘all of England’
Quotes circulating on social media claiming Donald Trump said he might buy England and make it a US state are false.
PolitiFact→ ‘How about a little less Trump?’ PolitiFact readers share feedback on our fact-checking
PolitiFact readers’ feedback on Trump, crime stats
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Pete Hegseth NOT Sued For $50 Or $60 Million By Dozens Of Celebrities After On-Air Clash — Copy Pasted Clickbait
Was Pete Hegseth sued for $50 or $60 million along with a television network after an "on-air clash" with Robert Irwin or someone else? No, that's not true: A network of spam pages on Facebook put out dozens and dozens of variations of th
The Dispatch→ A Shaky Ceasefire in the Middle East
The 20 surviving hostages have returned to Israel, but the agreement has shown signs of fraying.
The Dispatch→ Euphemisms, Political Speech, and the First Amendment
Holy forking shirtballs!
The Dispatch→ ‘Visa Revoked’: The State Department’s Very Online Retribution Campaign
At least six foreign nationals have lost their visas for commenting on the death of Charlie Kirk.
The Dispatch→ Videos Claiming to Show National Guard in Portland Are From 2020 Riots
Current ongoing protests in the city have been largely peaceful.
The Dispatch→ When Self-Interest Leads to Economic Ruination
The concept of the tragedy of the commons explains why government intervention in markets is sometimes needed.
The Dispatch→ Why U.S. Biosecurity Needs to Keep Pace With Emerging Tech
Researchers see a limited window for America to prepare for the risks of the next biotechnology revolution.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Civil Guard and Army Did NOT Enter The Congress of Deputies of Spain To Arrest Lawmakers — AI Generated Clip
Did the Civil Guard and Army enter the chambers of the Congress of Deputies of Spain to arrest lawmakers? No, that's not true: This video is AI-generated. Some versions of the video are published with a watermark labeling them as created
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Image Of Fishing Boat With Cocaine Is NOT ‘One Of The Narco Boats Destroyed By U.S. Naval Task Force’ — Photo Is From News Report Of 2024 Spanish Drug Bust
Does a picture show a Columbian fishing boat filled with cocaine before it was destroyed in the Caribbean Sea by the U.S. Naval Task Force in October 2025? No, that's not true: The photo is from a 2024 drug bust by Spanish forces that occ
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Donald Trump Did NOT Post "I’m Not Incompitent!!!!" — That’s A Fake Screenshot Which Circulated In June 2025
Did Donald Trump make an all-caps post on Truth Social which said, "I'M NOT INCOMPITENT!!!!"? No, that's not true: A fake screenshot resurfaced on social media in Oct. 2025. The satirical screenshot had already circulated as early as June
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Post Shows Carlos Santana Telling Netflix To Remove Him From Movie Project Over LGBTQ Content
Did Carlos Santana post on X.com that he asked Netflix to remove his scenes from a movie because he doesn't approve of LGBTQ-themed children's films on Netflix? No, that's not true: At the time of writing, there was no such post on Santan
The Dispatch→ ‘The Silliness Is the Point’
Mixed feelings about ‘No Kings.’
PolitiFact→ Studies on circumcision and autism don’t say what RFK Jr. says they do
Does circumcision lead to autism? No study shows that
PolitiFact→ JD Vance – In blaming left for political violence, JD Vance ignores long-term trends
"Political violence, it's just a statistical fact that it's a bigger problem on the left.”
PolitiFact→ X posts – Video that supposedly shows ‘No Kings’ protest in the United Kingdom isn’t real; it’s AI
Video shows “No Kings” protest in the United Kingdom.
PolitiFact→ Ted Cruz – Ted Cruz said MSNBC footage was from 2017, not a ‘No Kings’ rally in Boston. That’s False
Democrats are “dishonestly sending around a video from 2017” claiming it was an Oct. 18 ‘No Kings’ rally in Boston.
Full Fact→ M&S isn’t selling ‘collection hampers’ to the over-50s for £10
Posts being shared on Facebook claim over-50s can get a Marks & Spencer hamper for filling out a questionnaire, but the retailer confirmed this is not a genuine offer.
Full Fact→ Video of George Freeman MP announcing defection to Reform UK is fake
A clip that appears to show Conservative MP George Freeman saying he is joining Reform UK isn’t real, and was likely made using artificial intelligence.
PolitiFact→ Darren Soto – Florida’s insurance hikes and uninsured rates will be among nation’s largest if ACA credits expire
Florida will be the “hardest hit” state in the country if enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire.
PolitiFact→ RFK Jr.'s 'chemtrails' probe shows the power conspiracy theories have to shape health policy
RFK's HHS probes chemtrails falsehood, weather manipulation
The Dispatch→ The French Are Just Ahead of the Curve
They’ve already learned a stronger presidency cannot solve a nation’s biggest problems.
AllSides→ Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago
Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago jbhicks Mon, 10/20/2025 - 05:30 Donald Trump made crime a centerpiece of his 2024 presidential campaign. But he has surprised even himself, he said at an Oct. 1
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Clip Of Ivanka Trump Calling Jasmine Crockett ‘Ghetto Trash’ — Same Story Recycled With Different Athletes By Foreign Spam Pages
Is there a viral video clip in which Ivanka Trump calls Jasmine Crockett "ghetto trash" and did CeeDee Lamb or another athlete then calm things down with a quote about "tearing other people down"? No, that's not true: The story contained
Full Fact→ Over-50s can’t get a ‘Family Food Box’ for just £10 from Morrisons
Despite posts on Facebook promoting this supposed offer, the supermarket has confirmed it’s not genuine.
The Dispatch→ Bolivia Moves Past Socialism
After two decades of rule by Evo Morales’ party, Bolivians elected a centrist promising economic reforms and U.S. cooperation.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: MSNBC Did NOT Broadcast Old Footage From 2017 — Video Really Shows Boston’s Oct. 2025 No Kings Protest
Did MSNBC air old 2017 footage of a large crowd in Boston Common and misrepresent it as live footage of the Oct.2025 No Kings protest? No, that's not true: The footage shows the October 18, 2025 No Kings protest as it was taking place. Th
The Dispatch→ Vaccines and Visas | Roundtable
A deep dive with Dispatch reporters.
The Dispatch→ The Case For Remembering the Classics
Practical issues, not ‘neocolonialism,’ are the primary barriers to classics education.
The Dispatch→ The Lawsuit That Could Upend Campaign Finance Law
A conservative group is arguing that limits on issue-advocacy organizations are unconstitutional.
The Dispatch→ FDA Move on Abortion Pill Prompts GOP Senators to Raise Safety Concerns
The approval of a generic mifepristone renews skepticism about the Trump administration’s opposition to abortion.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Fake Johnny Depp Quotes About Not Knowing Or Following Charlie Kirk Spread By Facebook Page Managed From Vietnam
Is a viral story about Johnny Depp saying "I don't know who that is" about Charlie Kirk and the reactions to it real? No, that's not true: The article, which also has Depp saying he doesn't follow "men who shout for a living", originated
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Viral ‘Judge Keisha Williams’ Story Contains Fake Details — Accompanied By AI-Generated Video
Is the story of "Judge Keisha Williams" exposing an "officer Martinez" for violently assaulting her and making racist remarks in the courthouse before she turns the tables on him real? No, that's not true: The story promoted by a Facebook
The Dispatch→ How to Question a Pope
Pope Leo XIV’s comments on Sen. Dick Durbin ignited his first major critical firestorm.