What does a fact-checking organization do when the facts aren’t clear? And what happens when reputable scientists disagree about a public health policy?
When the Science Is Messy: How SciCheck Handles Scientific Disputes
Month: April 2022
COVID-19 Is Caused by a Virus, Not Snake Venom
The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by a novel coronavirus, first isolated in January 2020. But a viral video has been spreading a conspiracy theory that the pandemic has actually been a plot to poison people with snake venom.
McCormick’s Denouncement of ‘Structural Bigotry’ Not an Endorsement of BLM
A TV ad from a super PAC backing Dr. Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania stretches the facts in an attempt to tie Oz’s chief rival, Dave McCormick, to Black Lives Matter.
McDonald’s Ice Cream Isn’t Toxic for Dogs, Contrary to Viral Posts
The ingredients of McDonald’s restaurant food have been the subject of bogus claims in social media posts in recent years. In April, posts falsely claimed the fast-food chain includes xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, in its ice cream. The company told us xylitol is not used in its food, and the sweetener isn’t listed as an ingredient on McDonald’s website.
Posts Spread Unfounded Claims About Disney Company’s Financial Health
The Disney Company opposed Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education” law, also referred to by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.” Disney’s actions sparked calls from conservatives for a boycott of Disney — and a flurry of unfounded or exaggerated claims on social media that the company was suffering declines in subscribers, visitors and stock value.
COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Hospitalization and Death Rates, Contrary to Social Media Claims
Those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are more prone to serious illness and are dying at higher rates than those who are vaccinated. But partisan social media accounts, including a post by a member of former President Donald Trump’s campaign legal team, continue to misleadingly suggest the vaccines are unnecessary and discourage their use.
Biden’s Numbers (First Quarterly Update)
The most recent statistical measures of how the U.S. has changed since the president took office.
Distorted Graphic in Georgia Governor Race
When it comes to political images, seeing shouldn’t always be believing. Case in point is an image recently tweeted by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that is misleadingly presented to make his polling advantage over Republican rival David Perdue appear larger than it actually is in a hypothetical general election matchup with Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams.
TV Ad Attacking Brian Kemp Makes Unsubstantiated Georgia Election Claim
The Georgia secretary of state’s office is investigating a conservative watchdog group’s claims of illegal “ballot harvesting” in the state during the November 2020 general election and a special election runoff in January 2021. But the pending investigation is not evidence that “widespread illegal ballot harvesting” elected Georgia’s two Democratic U.S. senators, as a conservative super PAC’s TV ad claims.
SciCheck Talks Second COVID-19 Boosters, Philly Mask Mandate on iHeartRadio
FactCheck.org Science Editor Jessica McDonald fielded questions about second COVID-19 booster shots and the possible return of Philadelphia’s mask mandate in a recent interview that aired on several of that city’s iHeartRadio stations.