Factually is a newsletter about fact-checking and misinformation from Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network. Sign up here to receive it on your email every Thursday. The bots are back in town Wednesday’s IFCN Talk highlighted the work of th
Full Fact→ Vaccinated people are not warned against flying
We’ve seen several posts on social media claiming that people in Spain and Russia who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 have been advised not to fly. Readers have asked us to look into it as well. This claim is not true. Claims about travel a
Health Feedback→ COVID-19 vaccines don’t affect ovaries or fertility in general; the vaccines are highly effective at preventing illness and death
REVIEW An article published by Steve Kirsch on TrialSite News in late May 2021 claimed that RNA vaccines would affect fertility. Kirsch is the CEO of a digital money platform. According to social media analytics tool CrowdTangle, the article receive
Poynter→ Despite popular misconception, Supreme Court 9-0 rulings aren’t that rare
In one of the final decisions of its current term, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the National Collegiate Athletic Association in a closely watched case, concluding that the NCAA could not prevent certain payments to college athletes, thus
Snopes→ Jim Bakker, His Church Settle Lawsuit Over COVID-19 Claims
Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accuses the TV pastor of falsely claiming a health supplement could cure COVID-19.
Snopes→ Harrison Ford Injures Shoulder on ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Set
Harrison Ford is taking a hiatus from filming “Indiana Jones 5” after sustaining a shoulder injury on set.
Snopes→ Elton John Adds Dates to Final Tour, Including Stadium Shows
Elton John has announced the final dates for his farewell tour, which includes stops at big stadiums in the U.S.
AllSides→ Trump’s Pants on Fire distortion about Georgia’s voter rolls
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jun/23/donald-trump/trumps-pants-fire-distortion-about-georgias-voter-/
Snopes→ Britney Spears Tells Judge: ‘I Want My Life Back’
After 13 years of near silence in the conservatorship that controls her life and money, Britney Spears passionately told a judge that she wants to end the “abusive” case.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Moderna ‘Representative’ Does NOT Make ‘HORRIFIC’ Admission About Vaccine
Did a Moderna "representative" make a "HORRIFIC admission" about the COVID-19 vaccine in a recorded phone call featured on "The Stew Peters Show"? No, that's not true: The relationship with Moderna of the person whose voice was recorded -
Snopes→ Border Patrol Chief Who Supported Trump’s Wall Is Forced out
Rodney Scott, a career official, was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020 and enthusiastically embraced then-President Donald Trump's policies.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: There Is NO Consensus Acceptance Of Untested Assertion The Spike Protein Created By mRNA COVID Vaccine Is ‘Very Dangerous’
Is this video correct in suggesting there's a "we know" consensus that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 cause the body to create "very dangerous" toxic proteins? No, that's not true: There's no peer-reviewed medical study proving this asser
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Leaked’ Airline Documents Do NOT Reveal Horrific Details About Vaccinated Pilots
Do "leaked" airline documents reveal horrific details about vaccinated pilots? No, that's not true: The so-called leaked documents consist entirely of an informational brief from United Master Executive Council, a pilots' union. The memo
Snopes→ New Florida Law Requires Universities To Survey Political Views of Students, Faculty
Critics of the legislation say it will have the opposite effect of its stated intent.
Snopes→ ‘2-Story’ Trailer: Video Shows RV with Staircase to Loft
The concept of a loft in a trailer or RV might not be new, but the video seemed to quickly catch the interest of millions of TikTok users.
Snopes→ Did Trump Suggest Sending COVID-19 Patients to Guantánamo Bay?
“We import goods. We are not going to import a virus," Trump supposedly said in the early days of the outbreak.
FactCheck.org→ Republican Spin on Democrats’ Voting Bill
In the days leading up to the Senate vote on the House-passed elections bill, Republicans offered several misleading talking points about the Democratic bill, and made other statements that required more context. Republicans said the bill would direct
Snopes→ Yes, You Can Order Pre-Stained ‘Wet Pants Denim’
Whether one should is another question entirely.
Truth or Fiction?→ Study Fails to Find Any Tuna DNA Inside Subway Tuna Sandwich
A viral June 22 2021 @Complex tweet contained a startling claim — that a “new study” utilizing DNA testing technology failed to find any tuna whatsoever in what was supposed to be a Subway tuna sandwich: New study fails to find any
Snopes→ Who Is Sonny Tufts?
An old-time legend holds that a celebrity guesting on a radio program announced Sonny Tufts' upcoming appearance with bewildered amazement.
Poynter→ ‘We need more troops’ — automated fact-checking needs more volume to succeed
One of the main hindrances to the success of automated fact-checking is the need for more fact checks and fact-checkers, Duke Reporters’ Lab director Bill Adair said at Wednesday’s IFCN Talk. Adair, along with reporters lab lead technologist Christ
Snopes→ Greta Thunberg Video Manipulated To Downplay Climate Crisis
Unethical life tip: If a person's opinion offends you, just manipulate the video and pretend they said something else.
Snopes→ Harris to Visit US-Mexico Border Area Regarding Migration
She has faced criticism from members of both parties for failing to go there despite her role leading the Biden administration’s response to a steep increase in migration.
Snopes→ McAfee Antivirus Software Creator Dead in Spanish Prison
Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the 75-year-old tycoon's extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.
Snopes→ Michigan Senate GOP Probe: No Systemic Fraud in Election
State Senate Republicans who investigated Michigan's 2020 presidential election for months concluded there was no widespread or systemic fraud.
Snopes→ Software Magnate John McAfee Dies in Prison
The antivirus software entrepreneur has in recent years embarked on a string of eccentric and sometimes shady pursuits.
Truth or Fiction?→ Conspiracists Seize on Study to Attack COVID-19 Mask Mandates
Far-right conspiracy theorists began circling in May 2021 around a study “pre-print” they claimed vindicated their refusal to wear face masks to blunt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, posted in the journal BioRxiv (pronounced
Snopes→ Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg Will Recap the Olympics
In case you need a comedic take on the world’s major sports event.
Snopes→ Can ET See Us? Study Finds Many Stars with Prime Earth View
Feeling like you are being watched? It could be from a lot farther away than you think.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Dr. Anthony Fauci Was NOT Arrested By US Navy SEALs On June 1, 2021
Was Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, arrested by U.S. Navy SEALs on June 1, 2021? No, that's not true: Not only is there no credible information about such an arrest, but Fauci has
Logically→ Children have a 99.99 percent chance of surviving COVID-19.
Currently, there is insufficient scientific data to determine the COVID-19 survival rate in children.
Snopes→ Yes, a Florida Doctor Performed Surgery on the Wrong Testicle
Some sources falsely reported that the procedure involved removing the testicle altogether.
Snopes→ Employee Shows How KFC Mashed Potatoes Are Made
Let us echo the commenter who wrote: "Like ya never ate box instant mash potatoes cuss that's exactly what it is."
Snopes→ What Is a ‘Comptroller,’ and How Do You Pronounce It?
This puzzling English word has been annoying and confusing people since the early 1500s.
Truth or Fiction?→ Big Thunder Mountain Kidney Stones Meme
In June 2021 (and in December 2020), the Facebook page “Did You Know” shared the following meme about Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain ride, and its purported effect on painful kidney stones: Underneath the “did you know? ”
FactCheck.org→ Video: Texas Doctor Spreads False Claims About Moderna, Pfizer Vaccines
In this video, FactCheck.org and Univision Noticias team up to debunk false claims made by a Texas doctor about the two mRNA vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. for COVID-19. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines demonstrated in cli
Snopes→ High Court Limits when Police Can Enter Home Without Warrant
The high court ruled that when officers are pursuing someone suspected of a misdemeanor, they cannot always enter a home without a warrant if a suspect enters.
Snopes→ Is Carl Nassib a Registered Republican Voter?
After Nassib made history as the first openly gay active NFL player in June 2021, attention quickly turned to his political affiliations.
Snopes→ Did a Bear Ride a Ski Lift for 2 Hours?
Well someone definitely got taken for a ride...
Full Fact→ The deadline for opting out of the NHS GP data collection has changed
A Facebook post with over 600 shares claims that the government “has told your GP to hand over your health data, including mental & sexual health, to third parties for payment” and the deadline to opt-out of this is 23 June 2021. This d