A Facebook post circulating in Papua New Guinea warns that Covid-19 vaccines are being trialled on people in the country and advises them to “stay away from hospital” if they develop symptoms. The post adds that the disease is “just a seasonal f
Health Feedback→ Messenger RNA is essential for life and a normal component of cells; study by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering is unrelated to RNA vaccines
REVIEW An article published by Natural News on 2 March 2021 claimed that COVID-19 RNA vaccines will cause cancer, as mRNA “can instruct human cells ultimately in the same way as cancer drivers”. The article cited a study published by researchers
Hoax-Slayer→ Scammers Continue to Pose as Powerball Lottery Winner Roy Cockrum
According to this email, Powerball jackpot lottery winner Roy Cockrum has decided to donate part of his winnings to individuals randomly selected via their email addresses. The post Scammers Continue to Pose as Powerball Lottery Winner Roy Cockrum appe
AFP Fact Check→ This video shows an Indonesian prosecutor arrested for corruption in 2016 and is unrelated to the Muslim cleric’s ongoing trial
A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok alongside a claim that it shows an Indonesian prosecutor arrested for taking a bribe in connection to the ongoing court case of a prominent Muslim cleric in Jakarta. Th
Washington Post→ The sometimes-fuzzy $400,000 threshold in Biden’s tax plan
Biden has insisted that nobody making less than $400,000 will face higher taxes, but some officials have suggested that level could apply to families, not individuals.
AFP Fact Check→ AstraZeneca rejects rumours it is planning to sue South Korean media
Facebook posts circulating in March 2021 claim that AstraZeneca is preparing to file a lawsuit against South Korean media outlets for damages. The claim is missing context: the pharmaceutical giant told AFP the claim is groundless and that it has repo
AFP Fact Check→ Hoax Atlanta shooter Facebook post shared online
An image circulating online purports to show a Facebook post urging Americans to “fight back against China” that was allegedly published by a man arrested for a shooting rampage in the US city of Atlanta that left eight people dead, including six w
AFP Fact Check→ These photos show the downing of a Syrian military helicopter in February 2020
Three photos have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that they show a Myanmar military helicopter that was shot down in March 2021 by the Karen National Union and the Kachin Independence Army, two armed ethic groups in Myanmar.
AFP Fact Check→ These photos show unrelated incidents in Afghanistan, Nigeria and a film scene
Three photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that they show a Myanmar military-owned gas pipeline that was set ablaze by anti-coup protesters. The claim is false; the first and second photos circulated
AFP Fact Check→ Facebook posts misleadingly claim Austria halted its vaccination programme and destroyed all vaccines
Multiple Facebook posts have shared a graphic alongside a claim that Austria has halted its Covid-19 vaccination programme and destroyed all vaccines after the death of a 49-year-old nurse. The claim omits important context: Austria temporarily halted
Snopes→ Police: 10 People Killed at Colorado Supermarket
A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people, including a police officer, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said.
Snopes→ Cassette Sales Have Doubled During the Pandemic – Here’s Why
Despite having been superseded in functionality first by the compact disc and then the digital file, the audio cassette retains a special place in the history of audio technology.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Atlanta Spa Shootings Were NOT A ‘False Flag’ To Push Gun Control Through Congress
Were the shootings at massage parlors and spas in or near Atlanta a planned "false flag" event to push gun control through Congress? No, that's not true. The shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, that killed eight people happened when a
Snopes→ Is Biden Spending $86 Million for Hotels To House Migrant Families?
After readers asked, we contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate the claim.
Snopes→ Police Respond to Active Shooter at Colorado Supermarket
Police officers also have escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs.
Snopes→ Colorado Baker Sued for Refusing Gender Transition Cake
A Colorado baker who won a partial victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple went on trial in yet another lawsuit, this one involving a birthday cake for a transgender woman.
Snopes→ Did Costco Discontinue Kirkland Signature Shampoo and Conditioner?
Loyal Costco customers took notice when the company's Kirkland Signature shampoo and conditioner products appeared to become unavailable in late 2020.
Snopes→ Jamie Foxx to Play Mike Tyson in Boxer’s Take on His Life
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Foxx also are among the producers.
Snopes→ Photos of Migrant Detention Highlight Biden’s Border Secrecy
President Joe Biden's administration has tried for weeks to keep the public from seeing images showing immigrant children in U.S. custody at the border sleeping on mats under foil blankets, separated in groups by plastic partitions.
Snopes→ Does a Viral Meme Accurately Describe Police Treatment of White, Black Suspects?
Discrepancies in the way police treat suspects of difference races were the subject of a widely shared meme, in March 2021, after the arrest of Robert Aaron Long.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘The Cost of a Standard Unit of Insulin’
On March 22 2021, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) published a Facebook post and tweet purportedly listing the cost of “a standard unit of insulin” in the United States, and comparing it to the same standard unit in other developed nations:
AllSides→ Claims Compare Hotels for Illegal Migrants to National Guard Troops in Parking Garages
https://factcheck.thedispatch.com/p/fact-check-claims-compare-hotels Viral Facebook posts claim that th
Snopes→ Photos of Migrant Detention Highlight Biden’s Border Secrecy
The new president faces growing criticism for the apparent secrecy at the border, including from fellow Democrats.
Snopes→ Will a COVID-19 Vaccination Get You a Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut?
In case you need another reason to get the vaccine.
Snopes→ Did Norton Send Renewal Offers for Devices Infected With Viruses?
Watch out for this fake email renewal scam that was created to look as if it was official correspondence from Norton Internet Security.
Snopes→ Autopsy Report: Bobby Brown’s Son Died from Drugs, Alcohol
Bobby Brown Jr., the son of singer Bobby Brown, died from the combined effects of alcohol, cocaine and the opioid fentanyl, an autopsy report said.
FactCheck.org→ Posts Misrepresent Columbia’s Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies
Quick Take Columbia University will supplement its regular 2021 graduation ceremony with multicultural ceremonies for members of the Latinx, Asian, Black and other student communities who want to participate. Social media users are misrepresenting thes
Snopes→ Mysterious New System at Border Keeps Migrants Guessing
The criteria to be allowed into the U.S. are a closely held secret.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: The CDC Did NOT Report 1,739 Deaths From The COVID-19 Vaccine
Did the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 1,739 deaths from the COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: There's no public evidence the vaccine caused deaths. As its source, the claim cites the government's rough
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Chuck Todd Host a Panel on Violence Against Asian-Americans Without One Asian-American Guest?
NBC News presenter Chuck Todd came under fire on March 21 2021 for addressing a mass shooting that killed eight people in the state of Georgia earlier in the week — six of whom were of Asian descent — without asking any Asian-Americans for
The Dispatch→ Fact Check: Claims Compare Hotels for Illegal Migrants to National Guard Troops in Parking Garages
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The Dispatch→ Fact Check: Claims Compare Hotels for Illegal Migrants to National Guard Troops in Parking Garages
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Snopes→ Is Greenland Called Greenland Because It’s a Green Land?
Erik the Red's 10th century marketing ploy is still fooling some people.
Snopes→ Elgin Baylor, Silky-Smooth Lakers Hall of Famer, Dies at 86
Elgin Baylor, the Lakers’ 11-time NBA All-Star, has died of natural causes.
AFP Fact Check→ Image shows US march against gun violence, not Montreal rally
Facebook posts claim a photo shows protesters filling several blocks at a 2021 rally in Montreal to oppose Covid-19 restrictions. This is false; the image was taken in the US capital Washington at a 2018 march against gun violence.
Snopes→ New Study Confirms Link Between COVID and Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Vertigo
A rapid systematic review of COVID-19 and hearing difficulties revealed a possible link between COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms (hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo).
The Dispatch→ Did Marvin Hagler Die From the COVID-19 Vaccine?
After former professional boxer Marvin Hagler died on March 13 at age 66, rumors began to spread online suggesting that he died from the COVID-19 vaccine. A widely shared Instagram post claims that “Marvin Hagler was allegedly in ICU fighting aft
The Dispatch→ Did Marvin Hagler Die From the COVID-19 Vaccine?
After former professional boxer Marvin Hagler died on March 13 at age 66, rumors began to spread online suggesting that he died from the COVID-19 vaccine. A widely shared Instagram post claims that “Marvin Hagler was allegedly in ICU fighting aft
Truth or Fiction?→ Yes, Krispy Kreme Is Giving Free Donuts to Vaccinated People in 2021
On March 22 2021, a number of outlets reported that Krispy Kreme was supporting the drive to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19 with an interesting promotion — one free donut per vaccinated person per day in 2021. On that date, a WAGA-TV articl
Snopes→ Did Atlanta Shooting Suspect Purchase Gun Same Day as Massacre?
A viral tweet claimed that the shooting suspect in the Atlanta spa killings purchased a gun on the same day eight people were killed.