Q: Was an “illegal alien” arrested for starting the wildfires that have ravaged northern California?
A: No. The arrest was not related to the wildfires.
No Arrests for California Wildfire
Debunking Viral Claims
FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on the social media network. We provide several resources for readers: a guide on how to flag suspicious stories on Facebook and a list of websites that have carried false or satirical articles, as well as a video and story on how to spot false stories.
San Juan Mayor Wasn’t Impeached
Q: Has Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, been impeached?
A: No. That claim was made by a self-described “satirical publication.”
Seahawks Players Didn’t Burn Flag
Q: Did players for the Seattle Seahawks burn the American flag?
A: No. A widely circulated picture was altered to make it look that way.
Trump Didn’t Change NFL Tax Status
Q: Did President Donald Trump revoke the National Football League’s status as a nonprofit organization?
A: No. The NFL’s league office voluntarily gave up that status in 2015.
Puerto Rican Teamsters Stories are Bogus
Q: Did a Teamsters strike hinder aid efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria?
A: No. Stories claiming so misrepresented an actual quote from an Air Force colonel.
Fake Letterman Story on Vegas Shooting
Q: Did comedian David Letterman respond to the mass shooting in Las Vegas by tweeting, “End white privilege today”?
A: No. A website that claims to be a safe haven from “fake news” posted that bogus information based on a tweet from a parody Twitter account.
Tackling Fake Football Stories
Q: Did the NFL fine players who protested during the national anthem? Was a player fired for it? Are some players asking the league to host a month of anti-police activism? Will Fox Sports stop airing NFL games?
A: No. Three of those stories were made-up, and one is a gross misrepresentation.
No Nationwide Sharia Ban
Q: Has a judge banned Sharia law across the United States?
A: No. The judge pictured with a bogus headline proclaiming a nationwide ban was the host of a daytime court TV show.
Natural Born Bunk
Q: Have Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Keith Olbermann introduced a bill that would do away with the requirement that the U.S. president be a natural born citizen?
A: No. Pelosi’s office confirmed that she has not, and Olbermann is not even a member of Congress.
False Headline on HIV Blood Donation
Q: Will California allow HIV-positive people to donate blood?
A: No. The Legislature has passed a bill that would reduce the penalties for those, including blood donors, who knowingly expose others to the HIV virus.