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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Headline Inflates Impeachment Impact on Dems

Headline Inflates Impeachment Impact on Dems

A bogus headline claims that a “second Democrat” has left the party “in 24 hours” because of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. But one of them is a state senator who left the party a month ago and his decision had nothing to do with the impeachment.

Baseless Clinton Conspiracy Theory Still Circulating

Baseless Clinton Conspiracy Theory Still Circulating

A Macedonian website is peddling a baseless Hillary Clinton conspiracy theory that has amassed tens of thousands of shares on Facebook. The story implies that Clinton was involved in the deaths of two Baltimore-area law enforcement officers, and makes the unfounded claim that they were scheduled to testify against her.

Misleading Narrative About a Supposed ‘Ukrainian Arms Dealer’

Misleading Narrative About a Supposed ‘Ukrainian Arms Dealer’

An online story says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff “are both connected to a Ukrainian arms dealer” through a 2013 fundraiser. But the supposed “Ukrainian arms dealer” owns a California company that primarily develops airships, including for the U.S. government. He has donated to both parties — not just the Democrats.

Another Phony Story Targets Malia Obama

Another Phony Story Targets Malia Obama

A website that describes its content as satire posted a story falsely claiming that Malia Obama was arrested at Harvard University. She wasn’t, but that story has been copied by other sites and shared as though it’s true.

Website Distorts MSNBC Clip

Website Distorts MSNBC Clip

An old clip from a cable news show has been misrepresented by a dubious website to make the false claim that the program’s anchor prayed “for every American to suffer just so Trump won’t get re-elected.”

Judge in Civil Epstein Case Died in March

Judge in Civil Epstein Case Died in March

Robert Sweet, a federal judge who was overseeing a civil case against Jeffrey Epstein, was not “killed,” as a headline claims, nor did he die in August, as other recently published stories suggest. Sweet died of natural causes in March at age 96.

Bogus Claim About Border Rape Revived

Bogus Claim About Border Rape Revived

An unsubstantiated claim from last fall about sexual violence at the southern border has been repackaged in a Facebook meme. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has no record of the alleged incident, and the website that first reported it has retracted the story.

Old Decision in Tax Lawsuit Gets New Spin

Old Decision in Tax Lawsuit Gets New Spin

A website known for spreading misinformation writes that a man who cited religious reasons for not paying his income taxes “has won an historic lawsuit against the IRS.” That’s misleading. One charge was dropped, but four others have yet to be determined.