An attempt to troll U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) in early October 2019 led to newfound attention for the devotees of failed political candidate, convicted felon, and one-time Marxist-turned-Democratic-presidential-candidate-turned-f
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Lead Stories→ Fake News: Cop Chases Down Teen, Shoots Him Twice In The Head NOT Over Stop For A Bicycle Light — Teen Had A Gun
Did a cop chase down a teen, shoot him twice in the head over a stop for a bicycle light -- and then face no charges? No, that's not true: While Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, Police Sgt. Eric Giese did intially try to stop Tyrese West because his
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘When We See Cancer in Pork, We Just Cut It Out And Still Sell It To Customers’ Claim
A February 2018 post (“An Experienced Butcher Admits: “When We See Cancer In The Pork, We Just Cut It And Still Sell It To Customers””) circulated widely on Facebook in October 2019, inspiring a fresh round of users vowing to never aga
FactCheck.org→ Social Media Skews NYC Anti-Discrimination Law
Quick Take Memes and videos misrepresent a New York City law by suggesting that everyone in the city will be “banned” from using the term “illegal alien,” or face a $250,000 fine. Actually, the city has only clarified that immig
FactCheck.org→ Video: False Whistleblower Rule Claim
In this fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper scrutinizes a false claim — made by President Donald Trump and Rep. Jim Jordan — that rules were recently changed to allow an intelligence community whistleblower to file a complaint alle
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rolex Sales Records Help Solve a Murder?
In September 2019, a Reddit r/todayilearned post claimed that luxury watch manufacturer Rolex maintained such “meticulous” sales records that their data was used to solve an open homicide: TIL of The Rolex Murder. On July 28, 19
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Experienced Butcher Did NOT Admit: ‘When We See Cancer In The Pork, We Just Cut It And Still Sell It To Customers’
Did an experienced butcher admit that "When we see cancer in the pork, we just cut it and still sell it to customers"? No, that's not true: The only sourcing for the claim is a tweet from a self-described vegan that included a meme featuring a
Climate Feedback→ Letter signed by “500 scientists” relies on inaccurate claims about climate science
SCIENTISTS’ FEEDBACK SUMMARY This letter presenting a short list of claims about climate change boasts a list of “500 scientists and professionals” who have co-signed it. The claims contradict or misrepresent the evidence uncovered
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Inaccurate Claims About His ‘Perfect’ Call
President Donald Trump’s request that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, has triggered an impeachment inquiry. Since then, the president has made a series of inaccur
Truth or Fiction?→ Will 154,000,000 Pieces of Plastic from Christmas Crackers in the UK Wind Up in the Ocean in a Single Year?
In late September and early October 2019, a very specific claim involving Christmas crackers (a tradition involving devices called “party poppers” in some countries; they are made from cardboard and gunpowder, generally contain confetti or
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Scientists ‘Covering Up’ Global Warming Data?
Among the conspiracy theories bandied about by “nature”-themed blogs is the idea that scientists have conspired to gin up mass panics over the planet’s climate-warming emergency. One particularly hysterical claim was published by Nat
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Joe Biden Did NOT Call Trump Supporters the ‘Dregs Of Society’
Did Joe Biden call Trump supporters the "dregs of society"? No, that's not true: The former vice president referred to "forces of intolerance" who "remain determined to undermine and roll back the progress" as the "dregs of society" in a speec
Truth or Fiction?→ Spooky Season, Activated Charcoal in Food, and Medication
On September 19 2019, a Facebook user shared a warning (archived here) that urged fans of the “spooky season” to avoid foods colored with activated charcoal due to its purported ability to prevent your body from absorbing medications. Al
FactCheck.org→ Omar Didn’t Propose ‘Nationwide Ban’ on Bacon
Quick Take Rep. Ilhan Omar is not proposing a nationwide ban on “unhealthy and immoral” bacon. A self-described “satire” website published that made-up story, and it has since been shared by other websites that did not label the claim “sa
FactCheck.org→ Impeachment ‘Joke’ Muddies Term Limit Rule
Quick Take A viral social media post suggests that the Constitution would allow President Donald Trump to seek a potential third term in office if he were to be impeached, but not removed. The Constitution does not say that. Full Story The impeachm
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Ulysses S. Grant Say a Second Civil War Could be Waged Over Intelligence Vs. Superstition?
On September 30 2019, pundit Malcolm Nance shared the following quote meme to Facebook, purportedly involving remarks made by former United States President Ulysses S. Grant on the prospect of a second Civil War: One day prior, U.S. Presiden
Truth or Fiction?→ Harry S. Truman ‘You Can’t Get Rich in Politics Unless You’re a Crook’ Meme
A December 2018 “McGroarty for Freedom” Facebook quote meme remained popular in circulation nearly a year later, attributing commentary about politics, wealth, and honesty to former United States President Harry S. Truman: Underneath a
Hoax-Slayer→ Netflix ‘Update Payment Method’ Phishing Scam Email
A favourite scammer tactic is to distribute fake “payment update” emails that look like they were sent by Netflix. Many versions of… The post Netflix ‘Update Payment Method’ Phishing Scam Email appeared first on Hoax-Sla
Hoax-Slayer→ ‘Win a Range Rover’ Facebook Giveaway Scams Continue
For several years scammers have been pretending to give away Range Rovers on Facebook. Alas, no Range Rovers have ever been given away via these Facebook posts. The post ‘Win a Range Rover’ Facebook Giveaway Scams Continue appeared first
Hoax-Slayer→ Don’t Believe That Climate Change is a Problem?
Perhaps you don’t believe that climate change is a problem that we need to worry about? Of course, I completely respect your right to hold these views. But, that said, I’d like to issue you with a little challenge. The post Don’t Believe That Cli
Truth or Fiction?→ Breaking Down States Where a ‘Trans Panic’ Defense Is Not Illegal
A graphic posted on a transgender-oriented website’s Facebook page does, for the most part, illustrate a particular form of transphobic courtroom discrimination. The post by “TransMusePlanet,” which has been shared more than a thousa
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the FBI Say Knives are Used in Five Times More Murders than Rifles?
On October 1 2019 , the website AmericanMilitaryNews.com shared a post headlined, “FBI stats show 5 times more murders by knives than rifles in 2018”: That was shared thousands of times in less than 24 hours. An additional item claim
Lead Stories→ Fake News: 570 Children Taken From Their Parents And Placed Into Foster Care In Los Angeles Were NOT Murdered In 2013
Were 570 children taken from their parents and placed into foster care in Los Angeles murdered in 2013? No, that's not true: The child protection advocate who is quoted in several articles citing the number told Lead Stories her source was a d
Lead Stories→ Fake News: No Proof Trump’s Grandfather Was A Pimp And Tax Evader Or That His father A Member Of The KKK
Was Donald Trump's grandfather a pimp and tax evader, and was his father a member of the Ku Klux Klan? No, there is no proof: Donald's Trump's paternal grandfather Frederick Trump accumulated his initial wealth by owning restaurants and hotels
Truth or Fiction?→ Is it Now Illegal to Say ‘Illegal’ in New York City?
In late September and early October 2019, a number of posts on social media claimed that New York City had made it illegal to call anyone “illegal” or an “illegal alien.” A September 30 2019 video post by Tim Pool was titled &
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Trump Does NOT Want To Make Mocking Jesus Christ A Hate Crime
Does President Trump want to make mocking Jesus Christ a hate crime? No, that's not true: in reality Trump has no plans to introduce such blatantly unconstitutional legislation, the story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to
Truth or Fiction?→ Would Trump Get to ‘Run Two More Times’ If He Is Not Impeached?
While he himself debunked the claim within hours, several readers contacted us asking if a scenario posted by disinformation purveyor and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec on October 1, 2019 was plausible. “These Democrats don’t realize th
Truth or Fiction?→ Comparing William Barr and Chelsea Manning’s Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas
A widely-shared graphic contrasting jailed whistleblower Chelsea Manning with United States Attorney General William Barr misinterprets the circumstances behind Manning’s incarceration. “Now seems a good time to point out the attorney gen
Truth or Fiction?→ Does a Video Show ‘Antifa Protesters’ Screaming at an Elderly Woman Crossing the Street?
In late September 2019, a video clip of masked people shouting at and blocking an elderly woman while she was using a walker to cross a street began to circulate on Twitter: Antifa protesters scream at & block elderly couple outside an event fea
FactCheck.org→ Schiff’s ‘Parody’ and Trump’s Response
In recent days, President Donald Trump has suggested that Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, should be arrested for “treason” and charged with “lying to Congress” for mischaracterizing Trump’s July
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Global Warming Data NOT FAKED By Government To Fit Climate Change Fictions
Was global warming data faked by the U.S. government to fit climate change fictions? No, that's not true: When scientists with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) modernized the way daily temperatures recorded in every nook
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Iranian Censorship’ of Women’s Track and Field Competition Video
On September 30 2019, an Imgur post purportedly showing “Iranian TV censorship of women’s track and field competition” proved popular: Iranian TV censorship of women’s track and field competition The original poster didn̵
FactCheck.org→ No Hearsay Rule Change for Whistleblowers
President Donald Trump and some of his defenders have advanced a bogus theory that whistleblower rules were changed to allow a complaint alleging misconduct by the president to be forwarded to Congress based only on secondhand information. There was no
FactCheck.org→ Doctored Photo Places Thunberg, Soros Together
Quick Take A photo was manipulated to show young climate activist Greta Thunberg with philanthropist George Soros, who is known for funding progressive causes. The original image was of Thunberg and former vice president Al Gore. Full Story Young c
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Flu Vaccine Does NOT Contain 25,000 Times More Mercury Than Legally Allowed In Drinking Water
Do flu vaccines contain 25,000 times more mercury than is legally allowed in drinking water? No, that's not true: Some flu vaccines do contain a trace amount of the organic compound Thimerosal, whch is 50-percent mercury. Thimerosal, used as a
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Two Altar Boys Arrested for Putting Weed in the Censer Burner’ Claim
In September 2019, a number of social media users shared an article claiming two altar boys had been arrested for “putting weed in the censer-burner”: What started as a joke ended with the future of two altar boys from Spain. They were det
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Trump Is Now Trying To Get Mike Pence Impeached’ Claim
On September 25 2019, Politicus USA published an article headlined, “Trump Is Now Trying To Get Mike Pence Impeached,” claiming in part: During a press conference, Trump said that if he is going to be investigated, Vice President Pence’s
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Luisa Neubauer Is NOT Greta Thunberg’s Supervisor
Is Luisa Neubauer the "supervisor" or "handler" of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg? And does Neubauer's relationship with anti-poverty campaign organization One.org prove Thunberg is part of some "elite" plot? No, that's not true: Neub
Lead Stories→ Fake News: ‘Dreamer’ Did NOT Stomp 83-Year-Old Man To Death In Texas
Did an illegal immigrant who had the "Dreamer" status stomp an 83-year-old man to death in Texas? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Silvano Echavarria, a 23-year-old Texas resident, was not either a U.S. citizen or a legal immigra
Lead Stories→ Fake News: NOT George Orwell: ‘The People Will Not Revolt, They Will Not Look Up From Their Screens Long Enough To Notice What’s Happening’
Did George Orwell's "1984" novel include the quote "The people will not revolt. They will not look up from their screens long enough to notice what's happening"? No, that's not true: Orwell's dystopian classic written in 1949 did not include t