(And why it matters...)
Snopes→ Did Delta’s CEO Influence the CDC on 5-Day COVID Isolation?
The rumor trended on Twitter.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO Evidence That Vaccines Cause Brain Damage
Do vaccines cause brain damage? No, there's no evidence that's true: Although vaccines are not risk-free, there is an almost universal consensus in the medical community that they are safe and save millions of lives each year. A person is
Snopes→ White House, Jan. 6 Committee Agree to Shield Some Documents
The deferral is in response to concerns by the Biden White House that releasing all the Trump administration documents sought by the committee could compromise national security and executive privilege.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Mafia Assassins Were NOT Sent To Rome To Avenge Pope Francis’ ‘Death’ — He Wasn’t Killed
Were Mafia assassins dispatched to Rome during the Christmas holiday season to avenge the murder of Pope Francis? No, that's not true: The pope was alive on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Additionally, the claim primarily relies on seve
PolitiFact→ Jon Erpenbach – Democrats made early moves to on high-speed internet access, but at local level, it’s not partisan
The push for high-speed internet for rural areas, from the start, “was a Democratic thing.”
Snopes→ ‘Don’t Look Up’ Movie ‘Mistake’: Film Crew Visible in Scene
The star-studded satirical film was released on Netflix on Dec. 24, 2021.
Snopes→ What Will 2022 Bring in the Way of Misinformation on Social Media? Experts Weigh In
Misinformation concerning COVID-19 has cost countless lives all over the world.
Snopes→ Snow Blasts California and Freezes Pacific Northwest
Severe weather sweeping parts of the U.S. brought frigid temperatures to the Pacific Northwest, heavy snow to mountains in Northern California and Nevada and unseasonable warmth to Texas and the Southeast.
Snopes→ US Officials Recommend Shorter COVID Isolation, Quarantine
U.S. health officials cut isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Omicron Variant Is NOT Spreading Faster Than Any Other Virus In History – But It Is Close
Is the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading faster than any virus in history? No, that's not true: The omicron variant is extremely contagious but does not spread as quickly as measles, which is the most infectious virus. Dr. Claudia Hoy
Snopes→ Defense Attorneys Claim Entrapment in Alleged Whitmer Kidnap Plot Case
In a Christmas Day 2021 court filing, the lawyers asked the judge to toss the indictment.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ICC Does NOT Have A ‘Case’ Before It Concerning Crimes Purportedly Related To COVID-19 — It Has A Complaint
Does the International Criminal Court (ICC) have a "case" before it concerning serious crimes related to COVID-19? No, that's not true: Although a complaint was filed alleging crimes committed against people in the United Kingdom related
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: COVID Testing Does NOT Instantly Detect Specific Variant — Further Analysis Is Needed
When a new variant is found to be spreading, does the old variant instantly disappear? Do people test positive for specific COVID-19 variants if they take a rapid antigen or a PCR test? No, neither of these assumptions are true: The initi
Snopes→ Will Hand Sanitizer Dissolve Disposable Gloves?
Concerns over the reuse of medical equipment were prompted as the omicron variant spread across the globe in late 2021.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: It Is NOT ‘Odd’ That COVID-19 Vaccine Was Developed So Quickly
Is it "odd" that the COVID-19 vaccine was developed so quickly? No, that's not true: There are many reasons that explain how the vaccine was developed faster than other vaccines. Among those are that the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, th
Snopes→ Candace Owens’ Trump Interview Now Free After Complaints
The video interview was published on Dec. 21 and originally required a $12 or $20 monthly membership to the Daily Wire to read it.
Snopes→ Omicron, Storms, Disrupt Air Travel for 4th Consecutive Day
Flight delays and cancellations tied to staffing shortages have been a constant this year.
Snopes→ Did Donald Trump Jr. Tell Conservatives Following the Bible Had ‘Gotten Us Nothing’?
The son and adviser of the former president continued to cause controversy in December 2021.
Snopes→ Reddit Post Misleads on ‘Anti-Vaxx Cowboy’ Funeral
Former Oklahoma resident David Leon Johnson died on Dec. 20, 2021, after a battle with COVID-19, according to his obituary.
Snopes→ Again, Crews Find Apparent Time Capsule at Lee Statue Site
Crews wrapping up the removal of a giant pedestal that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond found what appeared to be a second and long-sought-after time capsule.
Snopes→ Edward O. Wilson, Biologist Known As ‘Ant Man,’ Dead at 92
Wilson was “called ‘Darwin’s natural heir,’ and was known affectionately as ‘the ant man’ for his pioneering work as an entomologist.”
Snopes→ Space Telescope Launched on Daring Quest to Behold 1st Stars
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky.
Snopes→ Sweet Repeat: Brothers Regift Same Hard Candy for Decades
Two New Hampshire brothers have gotten their holiday regifting skills down to an art.
Snopes→ COVID Outbreaks at UVa, BC Scuttle Fenway, Military Bowls
The Fenway Bowl and Military Bowl were both canceled due to the pandemic as coronavirus outbreaks at Virginia and Boston College forced them to call off their postseason plans.
Snopes→ ‘Spider-Man’ Surpasses $1B Globally in Second Weekend
Peter Parker’s good fortune continued over the holiday weekend as Hollywood prepares to close the books on a turbulent 2021.
Snopes→ Snopes in 2021: A Collection of Unexpectedly True Rumors
Checks notes — yep, that actually happened.
Snopes→ Really? 15 Rumors That Surprisingly Needed Snopes Fact-Checking in 2021
At no point did we expect that gorilla sex or ivermectin-soaked tampons would make headlines this year.
Snopes→ Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Winner, Dies at 90
South Africans, world leaders and people around the globe mourned the death of the man viewed as the country's moral conscience.
Snopes→ Snopestionary: Misinformation vs. Disinformation
Both words refer to false information, but one type is more insidious than the other.
Snopes→ Alex Jones’ Wife Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge
The right-wing provocateur said the problem stemmed from a "medication imbalance.”
Snopes→ 2021 Rumors That Led Snopes Down Deep Rabbit Holes of Research
Sometimes our work to determine the legitimacy of online content gets complicated as we learn more about a particular claim.
Snopes→ Bruce Lee’s Death and Theories About His Missing Sweat Glands
A Lee biography published in 2018 challenged the official explanation of Lee's death.
Snopes→ 13 Odd Online Ads Snopes Fact-Checked in 2021
Worry not, as you will find no long slideshow articles here. Our entire story is presented on a single page.
Snopes→ Pope Celebrates Christmas Eve Mass As Virus Surges in Italy
Attendance on Friday was limited to about 2,000 people, far more than the 200 allowed in 2020 when Italy was in a full Christmas lockdown.
Snopes→ 3rd Florida-Based Ship Has Outbreak, State Cases Hit Record
It came as the number of coronavirus cases in Florida hit its highest level since the start of the pandemic.
Snopes→ Biden, First Lady Visit Hospitalized Kids on Christmas Eve
It marked the first time that a sitting president had joined the fun, the White House said.
Snopes→ Omicron is Latest Blow to Pandemic-Weary Front-Line Workers
Staff absences for COVID-19 tripled this month in London’s hospitals, and nearly 10% of the city’s firefighters called out sick.
Snopes→ Yes, There is a Santa Claus. And No, COVID-19 Won’t Stop Him
For those worried about Santa’s safety — or their own — the bearded man likely will be wearing a mask at each stop.
Snopes→ US to Lift Omicron-Linked Travel Ban on Southern Africa
The restrictions were meant to blunt the spread of the COVID omicron variant.