Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin all but delivered a death blow to President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion domestic initiative, throwing his party’s agenda into jeopardy.
Logically→ Rising from bed too quickly at night can result in sudden death.
Rising suddenly from bed at night can cause dizziness or a blackout if you have orthostatic hypotension. However, it is not lethal.
Washington Post→ The most popular fact checks of 2021
Fact checks concerning the coronavirus and former president Donald Trump dominated the list.
Snopes→ Was Address in ‘Home Alone 2’ Where McCallister House Was Filmed?
“Don’t you know a kid always wins against two idiots?”
Snopes→ Are Names on the ‘Elf’ Nice List Actual Film Crew Members?
"There’s room for everyone on the 'nice list.'"
Snopes→ Does Macaulay Culkin’s Real Brother Appear in ‘Home Alone’?
Apparently acting runs in the IRL family.
PolitiFact→ Lee Zeldin – Poll shows support for voter ID across groups, with one exception
“Voter ID is supported by an overwhelming majority of NYers, from all across the state, walks of life, & political parties.”
Health Feedback→ Ivermectin study in the city of Itajaí contains several methodological weaknesses, resulting in questionable conclusions
REVIEW The drug ivermectin has become a breeding ground for conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ivermectin is a derivative of avermectin, a naturally-occurring compound discovered by William Campbell and Satoshi Omura, which won them the Nobel Pr
Snopes→ Has the Sturgeon Fish Been on Earth for 200 Million Years?
This ancient family of fish predates most other fish in the world.
Snopes→ Snopes Tips: How to Spot Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior
People and groups sometimes hide their identities on social media in order to mislead and/or influence people for political or financial ends.
Snopes→ Advocates Shine Spotlight on Spanish-Language Misinfo on Social Media
Watchdogs say safety measures that help keep English-speaking users safe aren't being equally implemented for Spanish speakers.
Lead Stories→ Lead Stories’ Response To BMJ Open Letter Objecting To A Lead Stories Fact Check
The British Medical Journal published an open letter on December 17, 2021 (archived here) taking issue with a Lead Stories fact check. Our response is below: It is ironic to read that BMJ.com objects to the headline on Lead Stories' fact
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: World Leaders Were NOT Photographed Meeting With Aliens
Were several world leaders photographed in meetings with aliens? No, that's not true: This collection of edited photos do not all come from the same source, but all have clear clues that they are fabricated and that none of the scenes are
Truth or Fiction?→ In ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ Disinformation is a Supervillain
Even as it deals with super-powered confrontations, the December 2021 movie Spider-Man: No Way Home introduces a different form of villainy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in depicting the impact of disinformation on its titular hero. This post contai
Snopes→ Did Harrison Ford Really Improvise Han Solo’s ‘I Know’ in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’?
The pivotal line comes right before Han Solo is frozen in carbonite.
Snopes→ Was Fauci the Villain in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’?
A periodic reminder that movies are not real life.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Cabal Leaders’ Did NOT Go To Antarctica To Surrender To Extraterrestrials & Earth Alliance
Did "cabal leaders" go to Antarctica to surrender to extraterrestrials and the Earth Alliance? No, that's not true: The article provides no verifiable evidence to support its story that terms for surrender are being negotiated. The articl
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: The Salvation Army Did NOT Mandate Critical Race Theory Training
Did The Salvation Army, an international Christian service organization, mandate critical race theory (CRT) training? No, that's not true: Although the organization has published resources detailing its stance on racism -- including a "Le
Snopes→ Fake or Real? Snopes Fact-Checked These Images in 2021
One manipulated picture is worth a thousand words.
PolitiFact→ Lee Zeldin – Poll shows support for voter ID across groups, with one exception
“Voter ID is supported by an overwhelming majority of NYers, from all across the state, walks of life, & political parties.”
PolitiFact→ Viral image – Old claim about nurse swapping 5,000 babies at birth has been debunked
“Dying nurse on deathbed claims she swapped more than 5,000 babies for ‘fun.’”
Snopes→ No, That ‘Peppermint Alfredo’ Ragú Sauce Is Not Real
Fake sauce, real horror.
PolitiFact→ Tweets – Video of child giving Biden vial of blood to drink is doctored
“Boy passes Joe Biden a vial of fresh blood to drink on his way back to the White House”
Snopes→ What We Learned This Year, and What’s Next for Snopes
Revisit some unforgettable moments with our recap of 2021, and get caught up on the lawsuits threatening Snopes’ independence.
Snopes→ Three NFL Games Moved Due to COVID-19 Outbreaks
The NFL has moved three games because of COVID-19 outbreaks: Las Vegas at Cleveland from Saturday to Monday; and Seattle at the Los Angeles Rams and Washington at Philadelphia from Sunday to Tuesday.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: The Number Of Registered Voters Is NOT Greater Than The Voting-Age Population In Sells, Arizona
Is the number of registered voters greater than the voting-age population in Sells, Arizona? No, that's not true: The Pima County Recorder's Office told Lead Stories that the total number of registered voters in the district of Sells is 1
FactCheck.org→ Viral Story Takes Fauci COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Comments Out of Context
SciCheck Digest The COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. were found to be safe and effective in clinical trials and real-world conditions. Dr. Anthony Fauci did not admit that “Covid Vaccines May Actually Make People ‘Worse,'” as a
Snopes→ Did a Reddit User Find Treasure in His Grandparents’ Barn?
Avoid the misleading online ads. Here's the real story from 2013.
PolitiFact→ Bloggers – No, German police didn’t arrest Santa for not wearing a mask
“Santa Claus arrested by German police for not wearing a mask.”
PolitiFact→ The vaccine rollout was a success. But events within and beyond Biden’s control stymied progress
The vaccine rollout was a success. But events within and beyond Biden’s control stymied progress
Snopes→ Suspected Arson in Downtown Osaka Building Leaves 24 Dead
Police were searching for a man in his 50s to 60s who witnesses saw carrying a paper bag from which an unidentified liquid was dripping.
FactCheck.org→ Article Makes Unfounded Claims Linking Athletes’ Injuries, Deaths to Vaccines
SciCheck Digest Many U.S. athletes have been vaccinated against COVID-19 without any adverse effects. But a conservative outlet has cited a list of supposedly vaccine-injured athletes to claim “there may be something wrong with the vaccine.” There
Snopes→ 2021 Snopes Fact Checks: Alleged Presidential Faux Pas
Throughout the year, Biden supposedly fell asleep on the job, fumbled quotes, or passed gas on the regular.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, McDonald’s doesn’t put ‘aborted baby fetuses’ in its food
“McDonald’s puts aborted baby fetuses in their food.”
PolitiFact→ Viral image – Old Fauci comments about vaccine safety are being taken out of context
“Dr. Fauci opens up the possibility that the COVID-19 vaccine could be making people more likely to be infected by the virus.”
PolitiFact→ Viral image – No, this isn’t a photo of a fence in a German market
Photo shows “the jabbed and the unjabbed … separated with a fence in a supermarket” in Germany.
Snopes→ Did Pfizer CEO Say COVID-19 Vaccines Contain Microchips?
A 2018 video featuring Albert Bourla had nothing to do with COVID-19 or vaccines.
Logically→ Because NHS resources are being used for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, thousands of cancer cases are going undetected.
The U.K. has seen a cancer specialization workforce shortage since pre-pandemic times. The figures in this post are overstated.
Snopes→ No, Amazon Didn’t Fire Workers Who Didn’t Clock Out After Getting Buried in Rubble
The claim originated on a website known for satirizing current events.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Early Warning’ Cartoon With Pandemic Plot Was NOT Prediction From The Past
Does an animated short film from the 1920s or 1930s foretell a planned introduction of "weaponized influenza" in order to control the world? No, that's not true: This film is a modern creation done in the style of, and in some portions co