Government isn’t a thrill ride.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Samir El Hydeouchi NOT Identified As The Driver In Magdeburg Christmas Market Attack — Sam Hyde Hoax
Was Samir El Hydeouchi identified as the suspect in the December 20, 2024, vehicular attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany? No, that's not true: At the time this fact check was written, the suspect was taken into custody and
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: House Democrats NOT Only Ones To Vote Against Spending Bill
Did only House Democrats vote against a spending bill on December 19, 2024, that would have kept the government open until March 2025? No, that's not true: While 197 Democrats voted no, so did 38 Republicans. The bill required a two-third
FactCheck.org→ Trump’s Agenda: Taxes
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. In addition to extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one of his signature achievements in his first term, President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a long list of tax cuts, from elim
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows Car-Sized Drone Or Flying Object In Las Vegas
Does a video shared to Instagram authentically show a car-sized drone or flying object flying over the Las Vegas Strip? No, that's not true: The original video was posted to TikTok with a caption stating, "This video was created digitally
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the federal government is not offering a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment
Residents in states across the U.S. are eligible for a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t an authentic video of Reba McEntire, Dr. Mehmet Oz, discussing lung disease treatment
Video shows Dr. Mehmet Oz and singer Reba McEntire promoting treatment for chronic lung diseases.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Elon Musk’s Mother Did NOT Say ‘The Poor Should Have Kids So My Son’s Factories Have Workers’ In December 2024
Did social media posts accurately cite the words of Elon Musk's mother, Maye, on having children? No, that's not true: The viral quote was a review a critic made of Maye Musk's remarks about having children, not a direct quote. Maye Musk
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the NFL didn’t punish three refs after an Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings game
The NFL punished three referees in “the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings.”
The Dispatch→ False Claims About Serial Killers on the Loose Flood Facebook
The posts are false and have been debunked by law enforcement officials.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t an authentic photo of Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair
Image shows Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, the NFL didn’t fire three refs after the 49ers-Rams game
“The NFL has abruptly fired three referees who officiated the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.”
Health Feedback→ More evidence needed to confirm association between Alzheimer’s prevention and supplements like curcumin, green tea, or lion’s mane
A reel shared on Facebook in late November 2024 claimed that three supplements—curcumin, green tea, and lion’s mane—could “stop Alzheimer’s disease before it starts”. At the time of writing, it had received more than 63,000 interactions. Th
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Biden Did NOT Cut Short Christmas Visit To Delaware
Did President Joe Biden cut short an expected Christmas stay in Delaware on December 19, 2024, to return to Washington? No, that's not true: According to an official White House news release dated December 15, 2024, Biden was scheduled to
The Dispatch→ Claims That Iran Seized an Oil Tanker Headed to Israel Lack Evidence
No credible media reports exist, and Iran scholars have seen no evidence of a seizure.
PolitiFact→ Instagram posts – No, this video doesn’t show Vice President Kamala Harris intoxicated
Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris “is plastered again!”
Full Fact→ Picture of Bono and Bob Geldof holding Israeli flags is AI-generated
The image appears to have been first posted by an X account which describes itself as offering "fake news and topical satire".
Full Fact→ No, Amazon is not offering Samsung TVs for £3
The retailer has confirmed that a supposed offer mentioned in a Facebook post is not genuine.
Full Fact→ Image of ‘statue of Roald Dahl’ is a work of satire
The image was created using AI and its resemblance to sex offender Jimmy Savile is intentional.
Full Fact→ No evidence UK government plans to ban TikTok
A post claiming Britain is ‘to ban TikTok’ following concerns about ‘young millionaires’ has been shared on Instagram.
Full Fact→ Video of ‘car-sized drone in Las Vegas’ is digitally created
The original poster says the video is “created digitally” in the caption.
Health Feedback→ Contrary to viral misinformation, cow feed additive Bovaer shows no safety concerns for consumers
REVIEW In early December 2024, posts questioning the safety of a cow feed additive called Bovaer went viral across main social media platforms. Claims related to this product took multiple forms. Many users raised concerns about the safety of certai
Full Fact→ No, Michelle Obama’s former partner has not revealed she is a man
A claim on Facebook that Mrs Obama’s ex-boyfriend said she was previously called Michael Robinson is completely false.
Full Fact→ Clip showing ‘unidentified drone’ in New Jersey is digitally created
A digitally created clip first shared on TikTok has been circulating on other social media platforms as if it’s genuine footage.
The Dispatch→ Georgian Protests Continue in the Face of Government Crackdown
Opposition leaders look to the West for support.
Full Fact→ Facebook post’s ‘Toby Carvery offer’ is not genuine
The chain has confirmed it’s not giving away a “complimentary carvery for two” if you like the post.
The Dispatch→ Can Elon Musk Deliver for Conservatives
Plus: SCOTUS considers TikTok divestment challenge.
Full Fact→ No evidence Michelle Obama asked Congress for vote recount
There is no record of the former First Lady having made this comment, as has been claimed on social media.
The Dispatch→ Mainstreaming Junk Science
Robert F. Kennedy’s views on health may have more popular support than we think.
The Dispatch→ Living Under Ad-Hocracy
On government spending, everybody knows what needs to be done. Nobody will do it.
The Dispatch→ Will Mike Johnson Be a Casualty of Congress’ Spending Fight?
His tenure as speaker takes another turn as a government shutdown looms.
Full Fact→ Video shows ruins in Syria not Gaza
An aerial clip of destroyed buildings is being shared with false claims it depicts Gaza, when it is actually of a town in Damascus.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows AI-Generated ‘UFO UAP Drone’ In Maryland In December 2024
Is a video that shows UFOs or drones in Maryland in December 2024 authentic? No, that's not true: The creator of the video admitted he "made a fake UFO video with AI." The original video is listed on the creator's account on TikTok under
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Reports Indicate George Stephanopoulos Is ‘Expected To Be Fired’ After Trump Settlement With ABC News — In Variety Or Any Other Trusted Outlet
Does reporting by the entertainment weekly "Variety" suggest that ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is "expected to be fired" from the network after its settlement with President-elect Donald Trump? No, that's not true: ABC News told
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Mexico Did NOT Propose Annexing Guatemala To Make It The 33rd Mexican State In 2024
Did Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum propose annexing Guatemala so it would become the "33rd state" in Mexico? No, that's not true: The rumor about Mexico annexing Guatemala was first debunked by Mexican outlets during the previous pre
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: FAKE ‘Over 300 Confirmed Kills’ Quote Was Falsely Attributed To Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Did Rep. Dan Crenshaw share a post on X that included inflammatory language boasting of "over 300 confirmed kills," as an image on the platform suggested? No, that's not true: The quote is known colloquially as the "Navy Seal Copypasta,"
The Dispatch→ Rumors About Juan Soto’s Motives for Leaving the Yankees Are False
A viral quote attributed to Soto’s agent that criticized his former teammates is fabricated.
The Dispatch→ Folie à Deux
President Trump and Speaker Musk.
PolitiFact→ Social Media – Person who called 911, not the tiplines, about the CEO shooting suspect can still get the reward
Tipster in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing is ineligible for reward money "because she called 911 instead of the tip line."
New York Times→ Assessing Elon Musk’s Criticisms of the Government Spending Deal
The world’s richest man posted or amplified inaccurate claims about the bill’s provisions for congressional salaries, a football stadium and biological research.