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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

2020 Census Not Tied to Coronavirus Relief Payments

2020 Census Not Tied to Coronavirus Relief Payments

The Trump administration and Congress are still negotiating a coronavirus economic stimulus package that will provide direct payments to some Americans. But this much is clear: eligibility will not depend on whether Americans respond to the 2020 census, as recent social media posts claim.

Article Misquotes Clyburn on Ending Democratic Primary

Article Misquotes Clyburn on Ending Democratic Primary

Rep. James Clyburn has called on the Democratic National Committee to cancel presidential primary debates to avoid damaging attacks on the eventual nominee. Clyburn did not say, as a conservative website falsely claimed, that he wanted to protect Joe Biden “from saying something that he ‘cannot overcome.'”

Death Quote Wrongly Attributed to Trump

Death Quote Wrongly Attributed to Trump

Social media posts are spreading a quote falsely attributed to President Donald Trump about the coronavirus. He didn’t say, “People are dying who have never died before.” But Ernest Hemingway did.

False Claim That Pelosi Withheld Coronavirus Funds Over Abortion

False Claim That Pelosi Withheld Coronavirus Funds Over Abortion

A viral Facebook post falsely claims that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “wouldn’t release 8.5 billion for Coronavirus without abortion funding.” A House bill providing $8.3 billion in relief was already signed into law. The “abortion funding” claim is a distortion of a separate debate over a different bill.

Trump Didn’t Tweet Threat to Withhold Relief from Critics

Trump Didn’t Tweet Threat to Withhold Relief from Critics

Facebook and Instagram users are sharing a fake tweet attributed to President Donald Trump that suggests the president’s critics won’t get direct government payments to ease the financial burden of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prank Posts Mislead on Direct Government Payments for Coronavirus

Prank Posts Mislead on Direct Government Payments for Coronavirus

The Trump administration has proposed providing direct payments to some U.S. citizens, beginning April 6, to blunt the economic impact of the coronavirus. But a prank post circulating on Facebook falsely states that the government is sending out checks every week and claim forms are already available.

Viral Posts Falsely Align Viruses to Election Years

Viral Posts Falsely Align Viruses to Election Years

Viral posts on social media claim COVID-19 is no worse than other outbreaks that have occurred in “every election year,” suggesting that the new coronavirus is being “hyped” to hurt President Donald Trump. But most of the dates cited to defend those conclusions about previous outbreaks are misleading or incorrect.

False Claims of Nationwide Lockdown for COVID-19

False Claims of Nationwide Lockdown for COVID-19

The National Security Council is warning Americans of a “FAKE” rumor circulating on social media that falsely claims President Donald Trump will impose a nationwide “mandatory quarantine.”