Taylor Swift is finally happy. But good art requires being challenged.
The Dispatch→ Daniel Day-Lewis Can’t Save This Movie
‘Anemone’ has the pieces of a good film, but can’t fit them together.
The Dispatch→ The Kitchen Is for Writing
A new book shows how famous writers also dabbled in writing recipes.
The Dispatch→ Practicing Rootedness in an Uprooted Age
How to tie yourself to a place—even if it’s temporary.
Lead Stories→ What We Know About The Image From Portland Of An ICE Supporter, Posted By ICE And Dismissed By Social Media Users As A Fake
Did ICE post an AI-generated image on its X account to make a point that it was not only protesters but also supporters who showed up in Portland, Oregon, in early October 2025? Here's what we know so far: Lead Stories asked, but ICE had
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: BBC Photo Of UK Teacher Is Pasted Onto Post By ‘Clara Holt’, Retiring Denver Teacher NOT Listed In Colorado Records
Is a viral post about the retirement of a Denver kindergarten teacher named Clara Holt illustrated with a photo of someone named Clara Holt? No, that's not true: The photo is copied from a BBC report about the reunion of students of Shirl
The Dispatch→ Grabbing Opportunity by the Throat
Of diplomacy, states’ rights, and shutdowns.
FactCheck.org→ Q&A on the 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccines
As has been the case each year since 2022, updated COVID-19 vaccines were released leading into the fall season, and the shots should be broadly available to people age 6 months and up. For the first time, however, the vaccines are not approved for al
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Comey’s Charges Were NOT Dismissed, As Of October 10, 2025; Prosecutor Did NOT Misspell His Name As ‘Homey’
Did a federal judge in Virginia drop charges against former FBI Director James Comey because the prosecutor misspelled Comey's last name as "Homey"? No, that's not true: The rumor on social media originated from a satire website. As of Oc
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Nobel Chair Did NOT say Donald Trump Didn’t Win Peace Prize Because He Lacked ‘Courage And Integrity’
Did the chair of the Nobel committee that chose the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize say that Donald Trump was not chosen because they only "give the award to people of courage and integrity?" No, that's not true: A reporter asked Nobel Committee c
The Dispatch→ Japan’s Iron Lady
Sanae Takaichi is set to inherit a Japan reshaped by inflation, weak growth, and political turnover.
Full Fact→ Fake AP report claiming Trump disqualified from Nobel Prize spreads online
Social media posts use a fake AP news report to claim that Donald Trump has been barred from consideration for a Nobel Prize.
Full Fact→ A £27 monthly ‘WiFi charge’ is not being introduced in the UK
Contrary to a video being shared on social media, the government is not bringing in the fee for UK residents.
Full Fact→ Video does not show Global Sumud Flotilla boat arriving in Gaza
The clip was actually filmed in Tunisia in September 2025.
The Dispatch→ Conservatives Turning Against Israel | Roundtable
Plus: Israel’s PR problem.
The Dispatch→ Breaking Down the Trump Administration’s Higher Ed Compact
What the offer to trade preferential funding for cultural and operational reforms could mean for universities.
The Dispatch→ The Political Furies Come For a Maine Oasis
Colby College used to be fairly quiet. No longer.
The Dispatch→ Republicans See No ‘Blue Wave’ on Horizon—Unless Economy Falters
Party operatives point to the president’s resilience and the Democrats’ struggles as reasons to be optimistic about the 2026 midterms.
The Dispatch→ The Mamdani Conundrum
Despite his anti-Israel rhetoric, the progressive Democrat is poised to become mayor of the most Jewish city in America.
The Dispatch→ When the Latter-Day Saints Came Marching
How the quest for religious freedom transformed a people and the nation.
The Dispatch→ GOP Senators Push for More Intel on Drug Boat Strikes
Some are increasingly skeptical that targeting the boats is justified.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Delta Did NOT Remove Elderly Man From Flight For Wearing A MAGA Hat — Profane Word
Does a video show Delta Airlines removing an elderly man from a flight because he was wearing a MAGA hat? No, that's not true: The man was wearing a red hat that read "Build Back Better My Ass," not "Make America Great Again." The pilot,
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Completed California Prop 50 Redistricting Ballots Are Visible, NOT Readable Through Mail-In Envelope
Are completed California Proposition 50 redistricting ballots visible through Sacramento County's mail-in envelopes? Yes, but that is missing context. A mark on a Prop 50 ballot can be seen through a hole in the vote-by-mail envelope from
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video Of Pregnant Woman Saying Her Doctor Told Her To Leave Texas Because Of A Possible Late Term Abortion Is NOT Authentic — Creator Calls It ‘Engage Bait’
Is a video of a pregnant woman saying her doctor told her to leave Texas to deliver her baby because of the state's abortion laws authentic? No, that's not true: The woman posted another video explaining that she is not pregnant and not f
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘No Queso! No Cheese!’ Protest Video Is FAKE
Does a viral video of a protester chanting "No queso! No cheese!" before being sprayed with orange-colored gas by law enforcement show a real-life scene? No, that's not true: A prominent watermark identified the video as having been gener
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Girl’s Video About Ice Cream Truck Out At 1 A.M. Was NOT ‘Last Video She Ever Posted’ — She Posted Two After
Is the viral video of a young woman wondering what an ice cream truck is doing out and about at 1 a.m. the last video she ever posted? No, that's not true: After posting that video August 19, 2025, she posted a related video August 21. On
PolitiFact→ Mike Johnson – Fact-checking Mike Johnson: Do Dems want hospitals paid extra for immigrants versus US citizens?
“As a condition for ending the Democrat shutdown, Democrats want hospitals (to be) paid MORE to treat illegal aliens than American citizens.”
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Videos Of ICE Taking Away Cats And Dogs Are NOT Real
Does authentic video show U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detaining cats and dogs, as of October 9, 2025? No, that's not true: Viral clips showing cats and dogs being seized were products of generative AI. Their early versions di
PolitiFact→ Josh Hawley – Sen. Josh Hawley said the FBI ‘tapped my phone.’ That’s not what happened.
“The FBI tapped my phone” and those of other senators.
The Dispatch→ Dispatch Politics Roundup: Spencer Cox Talks to The Dispatch
Your weekly roundup from Washington, D.C.
PolitiFact→ Fact-checking New Jersey’s second gubernatorial debate
Fact-checking New Jersey’s second gubernatorial debate
The Dispatch→ The End of the Climate Hawk Era
‘Net zero’ is out, energy affordability is in.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elderly Woman Was NOT Really Shot With A T-Shirt Cannon At Close Range — The Video Was Made With AI
Did a man with a T-shirt cannon fire a prize directly at an elderly woman seated in the stands, knocking her over? No, that's not true: This video is AI-generated. It was created for a satirical Facebook page, Weaber Valley Speedway, whic
Full Fact→ Fake video of Emmanuel Macron claiming Donald Trump blocked his car in retaliation for recognising Palestine circulates online
There is no evidence the French President said this.
PolitiFact→ X posts – Coca-Cola doesn't sponsor the Super Bowl and isn't pulling money over Bad Bunny's half-time show
“Coca-Cola CEO drops bombshell ultimatum to NFL — pull Bad Bunny from Super Bowl halftime or lose our $100 (million) sponsorship!”
Full Fact→ How many major economic infrastructure project decisions have been taken under this government?
Full Fact looks at the promise made in the government’s Plan for Change for decisions to be made on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects.
PolitiFact→ Live fact-checking Trump Cabinet meeting during shutdown, National Guard deployments
Live fact-checking Trump’s October Cabinet meeting
Full Fact→ Fake nighttime pensioner driving ban rumour spreads online
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport confirmed this is not true.
FactCheck.org→ Biden’s Final Numbers
Summary The final numbers for Joe Biden’s full term are nearly all in. Here’s our rundown of various statistical measures during his presidency: Inflation roared back, shrinking the value of workers’ paychecks. Consumer prices ros
Full Fact→ The government hasn’t announced ‘one of the harshest crackdowns’ UK drivers have ever seen
A government spokesperson confirmed claims circulating on social media about driving rules are “untrue” and that no new “crackdown” has been announced.