A few dozen survivors of Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the site of the Japanese bombing 80 years ago to remember those killed in the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II.
Full Fact→ Why conspiracists are linking the Omicron variant to the Illuminati
A post on Facebook draws apparent links between the Delta and Omicron Covid-19 variants and the Illuminati. It claims that the Greek letter Delta is shaped like a pyramid, and that the equivalent letter for Omicron in the Phoenician alphabet is s
PolitiFact→ Lie of the Year 2021: Readers' Choice Poll
What stands out to you as the most significant falsehood of the past year? Vote for your pick for the 2021 Lie of the Year:
Poynter→ Is it time to change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ to include boosters?
As more indoor venues require proof of vaccination for entrance and with winter — as well as omicron, a new COVID-19 variant — looming, scientists and public health officials are debating […] The post Is it time to change the definition of
Full Fact→ Flucloxacillin capsules contain iron oxide which may make them magnetic
Videos on Facebook and Bitchute claim to show flucloxacillin capsules being dissolved in water and leaving a residue of particles which can be moved with magnets. The Bitchute video demonstrates this after the person in the video first removes the medi
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Pfizer Did NOT Under-Report Deaths In Clinical Trial Of COVID-19 Vaccine — Numbers Change As New Data Accumulate
Did Pfizer under-report the number of deaths in the 40,000-person clinical trial of the company's COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: The claim ignores the fact that, over the course of an ongoing clinical trial for a new vaccine, numb
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Travel Restrictions For Unvaccinated Did NOT Make It Impossible For Omicron Variant To Enter Australia
Did travel restrictions for unvaccinated individuals in Australia make it impossible for the omicron variant to enter the country? No, that's not true: Unvaccinated individuals can enter the country by following the guidelines of the stat
Snopes→ Does Rebecca Black’s ‘Friday’ Have No Dislikes on YouTube?
While plenty of commenters appeared to understand what was happening, it's important to remember that not all users are alike.
Snopes→ Did 3 Men Die After Being Trapped 16 Days in Sunken Pearl Harbor Battleship?
Navy personnel reported hearing tapping sounds apparently coming from the forward hull of the sunken vessel.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Name For Omicron Variant Was NOT Devised To Produce Eye of Providence Symbol
Was the B.1.1.529 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus named "Omicron" so that a glyph in the shape of an eye could be combined with the Greek letter Delta to reveal a secret Illuminati symbol? No, that's not true: Among other reasons, the Gre
Snopes→ No, the ‘Patriot Front’ Far-Right Rally in DC Was Not Faked
Right-wing politicians and commentators sought to play down a "Patriot Front" demonstration on the National Mall, in December 2021.
PolitiFact→ Viral image – That image with a dressed-up Trump is not his official Christmas card
Image shows Donald Trump’s new Christmas card.
Snopes→ Did Dakota’s Steakhouse in Texas Defend an LGBTQ Server?
A woman named Debbie posted a negative review on Facebook. Then the owner responded.
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – La Palma volcano eruption does not pose major tsunami threat to US
A Canary Islands volcano eruption could lead to a mega tsunami in the U.S., with a 160-foot wave and no warnings.
Snopes→ US Religious Group Says Haitian Gang Releases 3 Hostages
A religious group based in Ohio announced that a violent gang in Haiti has released three more hostages, while another 12 remain abducted.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: In Scotland, Fully Vaccinated ARE Nearly 9 In Every 10 COVID-19 Deaths — But Simple Numbers Can Mislead
Do fully vaccinated people account for nine in every 10 COVID-19 deaths in Scotland? Yes, that's a bit exaggerated yet true: But simple ratio analysis based on that statistic doesn't tell the story fully. The figures are found in the COVI
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Blood Clots And Heart Issues ARE Caused By Cold Weather And Stress
Is it false to blame blood clots and heart issues on cold weather and stress? No, that's not true: Heart issues can be caused by both cold weather and stress as reputable doctors and heart organizations have stated. The implication in a s
PolitiFact→ Tweets – No, drinking water isn’t testing positive for COVID-19 in rapid tests
"Tap water is testing positive for COVID!”
Snopes→ O’Neil, Miñoso, Hodges, Kaat, Oliva, Fowler Get Baseball HOF
Buck O'Neil never uttered a single word of bitterness or regret about not being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Texas Gave Up Land For Slavery’
On December 5 2021, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot, which shows a conversation about Texas giving up some of its land to Oklahoma in order to preserve slavery: Depicted was a Tumblr post based on this September 8 2021 tweet (in which
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Vice President Kamala Harris Did NOT Call Unvaccinated Americans ‘Dirty Trump People’
Did Vice President Kamala Harris call unvaccinated Americans "dirty Trump people" on a phone call with members of the Biden-Harris administration? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Harris ever said this. Such a story, if leak
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Arctic Ice Is NOT At New Record Maximum In 2021
Did Arctic ice "just" reach its highest point in 20 years in December of 2021? No, that's not true: The article relied on for the claim was seven years out of date at the time the claim was posted. Up-to-date satellite records from the Na
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Phallic Donald Trump Christmas Card Is NOT Real
Is a Christmas card with Donald Trump wearing a tuxedo that appears to create a phallic image a real one from the former president? No, that's not true: A card making the rounds of social media showing Trump wearing a black tuxedo with wh
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Most Detailed Image of a Human Cell’
On November 27 2021, a Facebook user shared what they described as a photograph of “the most detailed model of a human cell to date”: Alongside the image, text appeared (but no links or citations). It read: This photo is the most detailed
Snopes→ NYC to Impose Vaccine Mandate on Private Sector Employers
The move by Mayor Bill de Blasio comes as cases are climbing again in the U.S.
The Dispatch→ Was Ghislaine Maxwell at Chelsea Clinton’s Wedding?
With Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial currently underway, and a number of famous politicians and celebrities named as having been part of her former employer Jeffrey Epstein’s circle, social media has seen an uptick of pictures of Epstein an
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: New COVID Restrictions in Germany Do NOT Ban People With Disabilities From Society
Snopes→ Did Trump Send This Phallic Christmas Card in 2021?
The card with a picture of former U.S. President Donald Trump read: "Merry Christmas From The Winter White House."
Snopes→ Skiing Santas Back to Shredding Maine Slopes for Charity
Santa is back to “sleighing” it on the ski slope.
Full Fact→ Facebook posts falsely advertise weight loss pills as endorsed by judges on US Dragons’ Den
Clips advertising weight loss pills have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook, claiming endorsement from judges on Shark Tank, the US version of Dragons’ Den. This is false. Weight loss pills have never featured on the US version of
Full Fact→ Boris Johnson did receive his third Covid-19 vaccine
A number of Facebook posts suggest photos of Boris Johnson receiving his third Covid-19 vaccination do not actually show him being vaccinated. Claims include that the injection can’t be seen, while others say the needle was covered with a protect
Snopes→ Stressed? You’re Not Alone. Here Are Some Tips for Holiday Relief
Let's be honest: Not everyone feels "merry" this time of year.
Snopes→ UK Police Contacted over Report of Cocaine Use in Parliament
House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he was contacting police after the Sunday Times reported that illegal drugs were being used inside Parliament buildings.
Logically→ Like COVID-19 vaccines, the Omicron variant causes heart problems.
Rare instances of myocarditis following vaccines are still being investigated. There are no reports of heart issues due to the Omicron variant.
PolitiFact→ When it comes to COVID-19, is it time to change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’?
When it comes to COVID-19, is it time to change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’?
Snopes→ Michigan Parents Found in Building; Bond Set at $500K Apiece
A judge imposed a combined $1 million bond Saturday for the parents of the Michigan teen charged with killing four students at Oxford High School.
Snopes→ Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Gets 4 Years in Trial Seen As Political
Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of Myanmar who was ousted in a de facto coup this year, was convicted of incitement and another charge and sentenced to four years in prison.
Poynter→ COVID-19 vaccines are not gene therapy and a Forbes article doesn’t say they are
After an opinion column was published by Forbes, glee emanated from people who believed it to prove an often-disproven claim: that COVID-19 vaccines are actually gene therapy. “Pretty sure I […] The post COVID-19 vaccines are not gene thera
Logically→ The syringe used to give the booster jab to PM Boris Johnson was covered with a cap.
Videos posted online of Johnson receiving the booster jab clearly show an exposed needle.
Snopes→ CNN Fires Chris Cuomo for Helping Brother Deal with Scandal
The network had suspended its prime-time host days earlier to investigate his conduct.