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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Posts Misrepresent Federal Response, Funding for Hurricane Helene Victims

Posts Misrepresent Federal Response, Funding for Hurricane Helene Victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $210 million in immediate assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Helene, which the Department of Homeland Security secretary has described as the start of “a multibillion-dollar, multiyear recovery.” Social media posts make the false claim that storm victims are getting “only $750,” and misleadingly compare that to foreign aid.

FactChecking Walz’s Interview on Fox News

FactChecking Walz’s Interview on Fox News

In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz repeated some of the same false and misleading talking points that he and his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, have made before, including in recent debates.

Trump’s False Claim of Stolen Disaster Relief Funds

Trump’s False Claim of Stolen Disaster Relief Funds

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that no funds intended for disaster relief have been used to pay for programs that respond to illegal immigration. But former President Donald Trump has falsely claimed that the Biden administration “stole” money for hurricane recovery and spent it on housing for people in the U.S. illegally.

Harris’ Position on Health Care for Transgender Prisoners and Detainees

Harris’ Position on Health Care for Transgender Prisoners and Detainees

Q: Does Kamala Harris support government-paid gender-affirming surgery for prison inmates and immigrant detainees?

A: The government must provide medical care to prisoners and immigrant detainees. Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support in a 2019 questionnaire for “medically necessary” gender-affirming care, including surgical care, for federal prisoners and detainees. She has not detailed her position in the current campaign.

Trump Ad on Taxes Uses Deceptive Political Playbook

Trump Ad on Taxes Uses Deceptive Political Playbook

In a classic example of how political ads mislead viewers by using out-of-context quotes, a TV ad from former President Donald Trump’s campaign cites the New York Times as saying Vice President Kamala Harris “is seeking to significantly raise taxes.” Period, end of sentence. The rest of that sentence in the Times said: “on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations.”

Unfounded Claims Target Springfield Officials, Haitian Immigrants

Unfounded Claims Target Springfield Officials, Haitian Immigrants

Springfield, Ohio, has been the target of misinformation about its Haitian immigrant population. Conservative commentators are now falsely claiming the mayor traveled to Haiti and he and other city officials received “kick-backs” for “importing” immigrants to Springfield. The mayor told us he has never been to Haiti nor has he received any “kickbacks.”

Posts Misrepresent Plan for National Hurricane Center in Project 2025

Posts Misrepresent Plan for National Hurricane Center in Project 2025

Project 2025 proposes dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some social media posts misleadingly claim the project calls for closing the National Hurricane Center, a part of NOAA. A Heritage Foundation spokesperson said Project 2025 “does not call for eliminating the NHC,” though climate experts warned that the project’s proposals would hamper the NHC’s operations.

FactChecking the Vice Presidential Debate

FactChecking the Vice Presidential Debate

Despite a mostly civil debate between Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the two disagreed repeatedly not just on policy, but also on the facts. We referee some of those competing claims, and other factual missteps by the vice presidential candidates.

Walz’s False Project 2025 Pregnancy Monitoring Claims

Walz’s False Project 2025 Pregnancy Monitoring Claims

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz falsely claimed that Project 2025 calls for the tracking of “all pregnancies” and would require people “to register with a new federal agency” upon getting pregnant. The conservative playbook advocates the reporting of all miscarriages and abortions but does not stipulate the monitoring of all pregnancies.

Trump, Vance Wrong About ‘Illegal Immigrant Murderers’

Trump, Vance Wrong About ‘Illegal Immigrant Murderers’

In campaign appearances over the weekend in the swing state of Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris of letting more than 13,000 “illegal immigrant murderers” into the United States.