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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Weak Link in NFL Protest Story

Weak Link in NFL Protest Story

Q: Has George Soros been paying NFL players to protest?

A: No. A story making that claim offers no evidence to support it.

Fox News’ Shepard Smith Hasn’t Been Fired

Fox News’ Shepard Smith Hasn’t Been Fired

Q: Is Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith being fired because of “his hate” for President Trump?

A: No. That debunked claim has been circulating online since last year.

No ‘Treason’ or ‘Bust’ for Obama

No ‘Treason’ or ‘Bust’ for Obama

Q: Have the “feds bust[ed] Barack Obama” on felony charges?

A: No. That claim is based on the false assertion that the former president committed treason in his last few months in office.

Gun-toting Grandma Story Is Made Up

Gun-toting Grandma Story Is Made Up

Q: Did a 79-year-old woman with an AK-47 save two police officers?

A: No. That made-up story was written as satire and dates back to 2015.

Deadly ‘Pot’ Not Approved by The FDA

Deadly ‘Pot’ Not Approved by The FDA

Q: Did an FDA-approved form of “synthetic marijuana” lead to recent deaths in Illinois?

A: No. The drugs that have killed four people in the last two months are unregulated and illegal.

No Evidence Ryan Violated Campaign Finance Laws

No Evidence Ryan Violated Campaign Finance Laws

Q: Did House Speaker Paul Ryan break campaign finance laws in a meeting with donor Sheldon Adelson?

A: He met with Adelson (which is legal), but there’s no evidence he solicited a $30 million donation for a Republican super PAC (which would be illegal).  

John Kerry Not ‘Facing Prison’

John Kerry Not ‘Facing Prison’

Q: Is John Kerry “facing prison after interfering with Iran”?

A: No. Kerry reportedly met with an Iranian official to discuss saving the Iran nuclear agreement, but no charges have been brought and he is not “facing prison.”  

No Release of ‘Private’ Trump Tapes

No Release of ‘Private’ Trump Tapes

Q: Have former White House staffers released a “private tape recording” of President Donald Trump?

A: No. That claim comes from a false headline on an old story.

Michelle Wolf Not Booted From Hulu

Michelle Wolf Not Booted From Hulu

Q: Did Hulu cancel a Michelle Wolf comedy special because of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner?

A: No. That claim originated on a self-described satire website. There’s no evidence Wolf was scheduled to do a special for Hulu.