A man dressed as the Joker declared that "F-ing COVID is over.” To celebrate, he made it rain.
Snopes→ SCAM ALERT: Walmart Is Not Giving Away Vouchers To Celebrate Going Plastic Bag-Free
Though the retail giant has made a commitment to reduce the use of plastic bags, stores around the world still offer them.
Snopes→ Did Boris Johnson Once Liken Gun Control Measures to Compulsory Vasectomies?
As a newspaper columnist in the 1990s, Johnson railed against a crackdown on handguns after the Dunblane massacre in which 16 young school children and their teacher were shot dead.
The Dispatch→ The World as It Is
This week (so far) we have seen a mass shooting, a crisis at the border, a major walkback from President Trump’s favorite lawyer, Sidney Powell, and more. On today’s Dispatch Podcast, Steve, Sarah, Jonah, and David talk about all
Logically→ The Bharatiya Janata Party took away land rights from Jharkhand’s tribes.
After several protests across Jharkhand, the BJP withdrew a bill that would let Jharkhand's government acquire lands of Adivasis in the state.
FactCheck.org→ Arizona Governor Cherry-Picks Illegal Immigration Data to Exaggerate Rise Under Biden
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey exaggerated the rise in people trying to cross the southern border illegally under President Joe Biden, when he said there has been a “460% spike in illegal apprehensions.” As we recently wrote, border apprehensions
Truth or Fiction?→ Online Conspiracy Theorists Swarm ‘HRC’ Suez Canal Boat Jam
Reports of a container ship creating a traffic jam on the Suez Canal in Egypt quickly became grist for online conspiracy theorists, who spun the story into another smear against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. As the BBC reported, the Ever G
Snopes→ Is Shrimpgate Guy Married to Actor Who Played Topanga on ‘Boy Meets World’?
What is going on?
Snopes→ Boston Turns Historic Page with 1st Black, 1st Female Mayor
Kim Janey marked her historic elevation as the first woman and first Black person to serve as mayor of the city with a ceremonial swearing-in event.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Protocol Does NOT Require Vice President To Salute Military Personnel
Is Vice President Kamala Harris disrespecting military personnel when she doesn't return their salute as she boards Air Force One? No, that's not true: The vice president is not in the military chain of command. As a civilian, she is not,
Snopes→ Did Cargo Ship ‘Draw’ a Penis Before Getting Stuck in Suez Canal?
Some may classify getting stuck in the Suez Canal as a dick move.
Snopes→ Feds: Oath Keeper Coordinated with Proud Boys Before Riot
For the first time, prosecutors have suggested that the members of the two far-right extremist groups were communicating with each other before coming to Washington.
Snopes→ Biden Taps VP Harris to Lead Response to Border Challenges
Biden made the announcement as he and Harris met at the White House with immigration advisers to discuss the increase in migrants, including many unaccompanied minors, arriving at the border in recent weeks.
Snopes→ SCAM ALERT: Aldi 75th Anniversary Facebook Giveaway
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Snopes→ Florida Family Finds Dead Snake Inside Their Clothes Dryer
After their clothes dryer began blowing out a lot of lint, a Florida family called a repair man who discovered a dead snake rather than a jammed motor.
AFP Fact Check→ Biden and Harris did not take same plane to Georgia
Social media posts claim US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have traveled together in contravention of standard security measures, citing a photo from a trip to Georgia as evidence. This is false; journalists who covered the trip s
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Wrong Vaccines’ Did NOT Turn People Into Zombies In ‘I Am Legend’ Film
Did the 2007 fictional movie "I Am Legend" tell the story of a population that gets turned into zombies by "the wrong vaccine" in 2021? No, that's not true: The movie is set in 2012, not 2021, and the characters in the movie are not harme
Truth or Fiction?→ Kaitlin Bennett ‘WAP’ Tweet
In March 2021, screenshots of a tweet attributed to “Kent State gun girl” Kaitlin Bennett began circulating in which Bennett interpreted the song “WAP,” an explicit and sexually provocative song that has become grist for the far
Snopes→ SCAM ALERT: Taco Bell Gift Cards and Coupons
Readers should beware of any Facebook pages that offer free gift cards, coupons, or vouchers simply for liking, commenting, and sharing posts.
AFP Fact Check→ Film portraying a pandemic’s devastation is not set in 2021
A Facebook post claims the years-old movie “I Am Legend,” which depicts the world devastated by a deadly virus after a cancer cure goes wrong, is set in 2021 -- an attempt at linking the sci-fi thriller’s plot with coronavirus and Covid-19 vacc
Snopes→ SCAM ALERT: Tim Hortons 57th Anniversary Giveaway
A copypasta offer appeared too good to be true.
Logically→ Udhay Stalin: The funds supposed to compensate for the shortfall in Tamil Nadu’s GST revenue are being used to make a new parliament building.
Through the final weekly installment, the central government has released the GST compensation shortfall to all the states, including Tamil Nadu.
Snopes→ Did Meghan McCain Once Say She Had ‘No Problem’ With ‘Chinese Virus’ Label for COVID-19?
In March 2021, "The View" co-host apologized for "any past comments" that aided former President Donald Trump's "racist rhetoric." But what exactly did she say?
Truth or Fiction?→ Walmart ‘Going Plastic Bag Free’ Giveaway Posts
On March 23 2021, a purported (and popular) Walmart post circulated on Facebook, promising a “$75 voucher” and pledging Walmart would “go plastic bag free” in 2021. That post was intermittently accessible and formatted as an alb
Snopes→ Was Suspected Boulder Shooter a Syrian Refugee Who Came to US via Obama-Era Asylum Program?
Shooting suspect Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa allegedly shot and killed 10 people at a Colorado supermarket.
Full Fact→ AstraZeneca does not translate to ‘weapon that kills’
A post on Facebook claims that the name of Covid-19 vaccine developer AstraZeneca translates to ‘weapon that kills’. This is not accurate. On the subject of its name, AstraZeneca has previously explained that it was formed in 1999 aft
FactCheck.org→ Three False Claims About the Federal Voting Rights Bill
Quick Take Claims mischaracterizing a federal voting rights bill have been circulating on social media. The proposed law would not “ban” state voter ID laws, bar states from removing ineligible voters from their rolls, or allow minors to vo
Full Fact→ Burnt-out police car in Bristol protests was not fake
A screengrab taken from Instagram of a burnt-out police car has been circulating on Facebook. The photo, originally posted by Best of Bristol, was taken during protests in Bristol on Sunday, 23 March over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Snopes→ Did Kamala Harris ‘Fail’ To Salute Military Officers?
There is no official requirement for the president or the vice president to return military salutes.
Logically→ Tesla vehicles can now be purchased using bitcoins.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced this via a tweet on March 24, 2021, adding that the bitcoin would not be "converted into fiat currency."
Logically→ The Indiana Bell building was made to move 15 inches per hr, all while 600 employees still worked there.
In 1930, the building of Indiana Bell telephone company rotated 90 degrees and moved to build an extended building.
Health Feedback→ Both viruses and bacteria cause disease; pathogenic viruses aren’t naturally created in the body as a response to damage
REVIEW In March 2021, a series of Facebook posts (see examples here, here, and here) discussing what viruses are and if viruses and bacteria can cause diseases were posted by chiropractor Melissa Sell. The posts made a number of inaccurate and misle
Snopes→ Official: Colorado Shooting Suspect Prone to Rage, Delusions
Law enforcement officials and former associates of a 21-year-old accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket described the suspect as someone prone to sudden rage who was suspended from high school for a sudden attack on a classmate.
Snopes→ Popcorn Machine Nixed at North Dakota Capitol After Alarms
Rep. Mary Johnson said she wasn't aware of a policy that bans popcorn poppers, toasters and other food appliances from the building, with the exception of the Capitol Cafe.
AllSides→ The Facts on the Increase in Illegal Immigration
https://www.factcheck.org/2021/03/the-facts-on-the-increase-in-illegal-immigration/ Democrats and Repub
Snopes→ Tight Israeli Vote Means Arab Islamist Could Choose Next PM
Israelis vote for party lists rather than individual candidates, and seats are apportioned out based on the percentage of votes received. No single party has ever won a 61-seat majority.
AFP Fact Check→ This image shows an anti-Brexit demonstration in London in 2019
An aerial image of a large protest has been shared on Facebook and Instagram alongside a claim that it shows an anti-lockdown demonstration in the UK capital of London in March 2021. The claim is false; the photo in fact shows an anti-Brexit protest in
Poynter→ Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wrongly claimed the US border is ‘open to anyone from anywhere’
Fox News host Jeanine Pirro accused President Joe Biden of having “surrendered our southern border,” falsely claiming the new administration is allowing anyone to cross freely into the U.S. “It is now open to anyone from anywhere in t
AFP Fact Check→ This photo was taken during a police exercise in the Netherlands in 2016
A picture has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows an eagle catching an Israeli surveillance drone flying over Gaza. The claim is false: the picture has circulated online in reports about an eagle catchi
AFP Fact Check→ None of these photos were taken in Vatican City
A collection of 25 photos has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Korean online portal Naver alongside a claim they show an underground gallery in Vatican City. The claim is false: none of the photos were taken in Vatican City; they in fact show