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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Contrary to Viral Claim, Trump OK’d Aid for California Fires

Contrary to Viral Claim, Trump OK’d Aid for California Fires

Facebook posts claim that President Donald Trump has withheld aid from California to fight wildfires, while offering help to Russia. That’s a rehash of a controversy in 2019, when Trump threatened to withhold aid from California, while offering help to Russia. The Trump administration has provided federal assistance to California for the recent wildfires.

False Attack on Ginsburg Is Reprised After Her Death

False Attack on Ginsburg Is Reprised After Her Death

After Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, social media users reprised a false claim about the late Supreme Court justice — arguing she wanted to “lower the age of consent for sex to 12.” The old falsehood is a distortion of a report she co-authored in the 1970s on sex bias in federal laws.

Ginsburg Was Confirmed Years Before the 1996 Election

Ginsburg Was Confirmed Years Before the 1996 Election

Facebook posts falsely claim that the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was “nominated and confirmed 43 days before an election.” She was nominated and confirmed more than three years before the next presidential election.

Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 Victims Died at Home

Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 Victims Died at Home

Viral social media posts falsely claim that no one has died at home from COVID-19, implying that poor medical care contributed to the deaths or that the disease is a hoax. Nearly 10,000 coronavirus victims have died in their homes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ginsburg Didn’t Tweet About Hillary Clinton

Ginsburg Didn’t Tweet About Hillary Clinton

An image of a bogus tweet supposedly from the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg about Hillary Clinton began circulating after Ginsburg’s death. Ginsburg does not have a personal Twitter account, and did not author the tweet claiming knowledge of “information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton.”

Posts Mislead on Biden’s Role in Social Security Taxes

Posts Mislead on Biden’s Role in Social Security Taxes

Posts on Facebook and Twitter suggest that former Vice President Joe Biden is responsible for taxes on Social Security, but those posts ignore the political history and mislead on the details. The posts also twist Biden’s proposals on retirement contributions.

CBS News Didn’t Misrepresent Trump Gathering as a Biden Event

CBS News Didn’t Misrepresent Trump Gathering as a Biden Event

Social media posts are using an image of a CBS News report to accuse the network of misrepresenting a campaign event for President Donald Trump as one for former Vice President Joe Biden. That’s false. The report’s voiceover was discussing the Trump campaign while the photo was on the screen.

Viral Post Falsely Attributed to Golfer Bubba Watson

Viral Post Falsely Attributed to Golfer Bubba Watson

A viral post falsely attributed to PGA star Bubba Watson criticizes the Black Lives Matter movement and measures taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Watson has said the post “ain’t from me.” 

Vice Presidential Vacancy Isn’t Automatically Filled by House Speaker

Vice Presidential Vacancy Isn’t Automatically Filled by House Speaker

A viral Facebook post wrongly suggests that if Joe Biden were to become president and later step down, Nancy Pelosi would become vice president. The Constitution says the vice president would become president and nominate a replacement; Congress must confirm or deny that pick.