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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

The Fake Podesta Email That’s Still Circulating

The Fake Podesta Email That’s Still Circulating

Q: Did WikiLeaks release an email showing that Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign bribed prominent Republicans to oppose Donald Trump during the 2016 election?

A: No. That email was fabricated by a self-described satirical website. It was later amplified by Sean Hannity and published by other websites.

‘Muslim Spy’ Falsehood Circulates Again

‘Muslim Spy’ Falsehood Circulates Again

Q: Did President Trump find a “Muslim spy” in the White House?

A: No. That falsehood about a career State Department employee has circulated since 2017.

Kaepernick Arrest Story is False

Kaepernick Arrest Story is False

Q: Was Colin Kaepernick arrested during an NFL game on Sept. 9?

A: No. That story was originally published on a self-described satirical website.

Girl in Trump Rally Video Not Related to Pelosi

Girl in Trump Rally Video Not Related to Pelosi

Q: Was Nancy Pelosi’s granddaughter seen wiping her nose with the American flag?

A: No. The young woman in a video from one of President Trump’s rallies is not Pelosi’s grandchild.

Partisan Site Revives Old Pence Controversy

Partisan Site Revives Old Pence Controversy

Q: Was “VP Mike Pence Busted Stealing Campaign Funds To Pay His Mortgage”?

A: He used campaign funds for personal expenses during his run for Congress in 1990, but the Federal Election Commission could not agree on whether he violated campaign finance laws.

False Claim About Kaepernick’s Nike Deal

False Claim About Kaepernick’s Nike Deal

Q: Did Nike end its new deal with Colin Kaepernick because he made “anti-white” remarks?

A: No. That made-up story was first published by a website that says its work is satire.

Old Spin on Health Care Fraud Bust Returns

Old Spin on Health Care Fraud Bust Returns

Q: Were “412 Michigan Muslims arrested in fed’s ‘largest bust in U.S. history’”?

A: No. Only about 30 of those arrests were made in Michigan, and there is no evidence all of the individuals arrested were Muslim.

Anti-Trump Comment Falsely Linked to Florida Shooter

Anti-Trump Comment Falsely Linked to Florida Shooter

Q: Did Reddit postings show the shooter in Jacksonville, Florida, was part of the “anti-Trump resistance”? 

A: No. The Reddit account in question did not belong to the shooter, David Katz, despite what viral stories said.