Why I’m burned out on biohacking.
The Dispatch→ To Read, or Not to Read?
Why America’s next crisis might be one of imagination, not information.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Manure Incident In New York City Carriage Ride Video Is NOT Real — AI-Generated Horse Pucky
Does a video show how a carriage ride in New York was ruined when the carriage horse blasted two ladies with several high-velocity streams of loose manure? No, that's not true: The video is not real. There are several AI flaws in the vide
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Israeli Prisoner Alexander ‘Turbanov’ Did NOT Make a Statement About Captors’ Kindness — Wrong Name And Made-Up Quote
Did Alexander Turbanov, an Israeli man who was held prisoner by Hamas, make a statement sympathizing with his captors upon his release? No, that's not true: This made-up quote went viral on Feb. 15, 2025 and resurfaced in Oct. 2025. The m
The Dispatch→ Full Duma
Why shouldn’t Senate Republicans end the filibuster?
The Dispatch→ They’re Watching You
External threats to privacy are real. But the biggest threat to privacy is the widespread conviction that your private life is on display.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – President Donald Trump said he’s the first US president to solve a war. Pants on Fire!
“We’ve never had a president that solved one war, not one war.”
PolitiFact→ Why is metal used in vaccines? Is it safe? Here’s what to know about aluminum in vaccines.
Why is a metal such as aluminum in some vaccines?
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: JD Vance Did NOT Write On X That Oval Office Banter Is Worse Than Young Republicans’ Messages On Telegram About Hitler, Slavery
Did Vice President JD Vance write on his official X account that everyday Oval Office banter is worse than the leaked and criticized Young Republicans' Telegram jokes about Hitler, slavery, gas chambers and rape? No, that's not true: A vi
FactCheck.org→ Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago
Donald Trump made crime a centerpiece of his 2024 presidential campaign. But he has surprised even himself, he said at an Oct. 15 press conference, with the intensity of federal efforts he has directed at cities, in what he says is an effort to fight
Full Fact→ Video of ‘anti-fascists’ being attacked is AI deepfake of Portsmouth protest
A video showing a group of people with an anti-fascist flag being attacked isn’t real—it’s an AI deepfake made using an old image.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Graph Does NOT Prove Immigrants Overpaying For Houses With FHA Loans Inflated U.S. Housing Prices
Does a graph showing "loan locks" for non-permanent residents applying for FHA mortgages prove that immigrants overpaying for homes has inflated U.S. housing prices? No, that's not true: Non-permanent residents who applied for FHA loans w
Full Fact→ Keir Starmer hasn’t just announced mass ‘AI scanner’ surveillance of all UK phones
A video circulating on social media has falsely claimed that your phone’s messages, photos and apps will be viewable at any time under new plans.
Full Fact→ Coughing hard won’t save you from a heart attack if you’re alone
Incorrect social media posts claiming coughing really hard can help a heart attack are circulating online again.
Full Fact→ We took seven young people into the political party conferences: Here is what we learned
Full Fact co-hosted two events at this year’s party conferences, here is what we learned.
Full Fact→ The government isn’t introducing a £10 charge for GP appointments
Videos circulating on social media claim that from November it will cost £10 to see an NHS GP, with a £30 fine for missing an appointment.
The Dispatch→ Democrats’ Newfound Love for the Filibuster
Democrats have repeatedly used a tool they once tried to weaken to keep the government shut down.
The Dispatch→ Trump vs. Agriculture | Roundtable
No more American soybeans.
The Dispatch→ We Need a National Spirit of Sacrifice
Do the ideals that motivated America’s soldiers throughout our history still exist?
The Dispatch→ A Hill of Beans to Die On
Trump’s first trade war with China prompted structural changes that are playing out today.
The Dispatch→ Much Ado About ‘No Kings’
Why are Republicans up in arms about this weekend’s planned anti-Trump demonstrations?
The Dispatch→ The Battle to Control Gaza’s ‘Day After’ Begins
Hamas cracks down on Palestinian society.
The Dispatch→ Fear and Loathing in Chicago
What is the Trump administration’s endgame in the Windy City?
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: There Is NO Record Of Evelyn Duval, The Louisiana Plantation Owner’s Wife Who Eloped With a Runaway Slave in 1847
Did Evelyn Duval, the wife of a Louisiana plantation owner, elope with a runaway slave in 1847? No, that's not true: This story is full of precise details, which lend an air of authenticity - but the details do not match up with historic
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Phillies Karen’ Did NOT File A Multi-Million-Dollar Lawsuit Against MLB — Story Originated On Satire Site
Did the woman known as "Phillies Karen" file a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Major League Baseball? No, that's not true: The page that originally posted the claim is a self described satire account. The woman who became infamous as
The Dispatch→ With a Whimper
Americans have given up on stopping Trump.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Fact-checking Donald Trump: Has each boat strike off the coast of Venezuela saved 25,000 lives?
Regarding boat strikes off the coast of Venezuela, “Every boat that we knock out we save 25,000 American lives.”
FactCheck.org→ WIC Becomes a Political Football in Shutdown
The Trump administration has said while the federal government is shut down, tariff revenue will be used to fund a key federal program that provides food aid and other services to nearly 7 million low-income women and young children. But as the shutdo
FactCheck.org→ Appraising the Federal Indictment of Letitia James
The legal clashes between New York Attorney General Letitia James and President Donald Trump took a U-turn with a federal indictment on Oct. 9 charging James with mortgage fraud. The government says when James bought a house in Norfolk, Virginia, she
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA Did NOT File $400 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against George Soros, As Of October 16, 2025
Did Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, or Turning Point USA file a $400 million lawsuit against investor and philanthropist George Soros over an alleged defamation campaign "to silence conservative voices and manipulate public perception"? No,
The Dispatch→ Dispatch Politics Roundup: Is the Democratic Future Taking Shape?
Your weekly roundup from Washington, D.C.
PolitiFact→ Dan Koh – Did three Trump Cabinet members commit ‘mortgage fraud’? That’s misleading
As the Trump administration pursues mortgage fraud charges against Letitia James, “there are three Cabinet members who committed mortgage fraud that he’s just letting fly.”
The Dispatch→ The Coming Oil Glut
The surplus is on track to surpass even that of the COVID era.
PolitiFact→ James Clyburn – The Trump administration wants to rescue WIC now, but has suggested cuts in 2026
“Trump’s budget called for a $300 (million) cut” to the Women, Infants and Children program.
Full Fact→ Is Reform UK on course for the ‘biggest landslide’ in history?
Various newspapers have claimed a poll found Reform UK is set for a ‘record’ election win. But this could do with some context.
Full Fact→ Google cuts funding to Full Fact…
The company has been one of our biggest funders over the last three years, helping us build some of the best AI tools for fact checking in the world. But things have now changed abruptly.
Full Fact→ Argos isn’t selling cheap iPad Pros to people who fill in a survey
A spokesperson for Argos confirmed to Full Fact that offers of iPads for those who fill in surveys aren’t genuine.
Full Fact→ ‘Boots offer’ for over-50s isn’t affiliated with retailer
A Facebook post claims people over 50 can buy a £10 gift set from Boots for filling out a survey, but this is not a genuine offer from the shop.
The Dispatch→ The Fight Over National Guard Deployments Continues
Court battles have slowed down deployments, but the Trump administration may have more legal leverage.
Full Fact→ Is Labour on track to introduce digital IDs for ‘Right to Work’ checks?
Full Fact looks at the government’s pledge to bring in digital IDs for ‘Right to Work’ checks by the end of this parliament.