Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Biden Exaggerates Science on Burn Pits and Brain Cancer

Biden Exaggerates Science on Burn Pits and Brain Cancer

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden claimed without evidence that “more people are coming home from Iraq with brain cancer” than “any other war,” and blamed burn pits for the purported increase. But existing statistics do not bear that out, and the evidence on the cancer risk of burn pits is inconclusive.

Trump Mocks Global Warming, Lowballs Sea Level Rise

Trump Mocks Global Warming, Lowballs Sea Level Rise

President Donald Trump mocked concerns about global warming, saying that oceans would rise just “[o]ne-eighth of an inch within the next 250 years.” Although he may have been joking, his figure is many times lower than scientific estimates.

Unpacking Sanders’ ‘Climate Refugee’ Statistic

Unpacking Sanders’ ‘Climate Refugee’ Statistic

In the last Democratic debate, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that the United Nations is projecting “hundreds of millions of climate refugees” in the “years to come” as a result of climate change. The U.N., however, doesn’t currently endorse a particular estimate.

FactChecking Biden’s CNN Town Hall

FactChecking Biden’s CNN Town Hall

In a televised town hall, former Vice President Joe Biden made several false or misleading statements while commenting on climate change, veterans and health care.

Trump Again Misunderstands California’s Wildfires

Trump Again Misunderstands California’s Wildfires

For the second year in a row, President Donald Trump inaccurately attributed California’s rash of wildfires to poor forest management. He also falsely said other states don’t have “close to the level of burn” as California.

What Does Science Say About the Need for Nuclear?

What Does Science Say About the Need for Nuclear?

Sen. Bernie Sanders has said “scientists tell us” that it’s possible to go carbon neutral without relying on nuclear power. Fellow Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker, who backs the use of some nuclear energy, has said the data is on his side. Who’s right? Both have a point, but neither is telling the full story.

The Facts on Mental Illness and Mass Shootings

The Facts on Mental Illness and Mass Shootings

Q: Do people with serious mental health disorders pose a greater risk of becoming mass shooters?
A: People with mental illnesses are somewhat more likely to be violent than those without a diagnosis. But a majority are never violent, and very little is known specifically about mass murder.

Instagram Post Falsely Links Flu Vaccine to Polio

Instagram Post Falsely Links Flu Vaccine to Polio

A popular Instagram post falsely claims “over 1,100 people died from reactions to the [flu] shot” in 2018, and suggests that the immunization gave some children polio. The flu vaccine cannot give anyone polio and there is no evidence to support the 1,100 figure.