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.
Puerto Rican Teamsters Stories are Bogus
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.
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.
A False Headline About Free Tuition
Q: Is Western Kentucky University offering free tuition to black students because of slavery?
A: No. The school does not plan to adopt a resolution passed by the Student Government Association demanding “full and free access” for black students.
Fake Mike Pence Abortion Quote
Q: Did Vice President Mike Pence say, “Allowing rape victims to have abortions will lead to women trying to get raped”?
A: No. That fabricated quote comes from a made-up story published by a “hybrid news/satire” website.
Clinton Foundation Isn’t Charging FEMA
Q: Is the Clinton Foundation charging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey?
A: No. That claim originated on a satirical news site. The Clinton Foundation has not charged FEMA for bottled water or other relief items.
Obama Didn’t Pardon Wendell Callahan
Q: Did former President Barack Obama pardon Wendell Callahan, who was later accused of killing three people after his early release?
A: No. Congress unanimously passed a bill changing drug sentencing laws and Obama signed it. Callahan petitioned for early release under the new law and it was approved by a federal judge.