Russian warships conducted simulated military exercises on their way to Cuba in June. But social media posts share clips from a 2018 Russian video of missile tests in the White Sea to claim the warships fired live missiles “off the coast of Florida” before arriving in Havana. A Department of Defense spokesperson said the claim is “not true.”
Locations: Florida
Trump Plans to Attend Son’s Graduation and GOP Fundraiser, Contrary to Online Claim
While his criminal fraud trial is not in session on May 17, former President Donald Trump plans to attend the high school graduation of his son Barron in Florida as well as a campaign event in Minnesota. A post on Threads misleadingly claims he will “miss his son’s graduation for fundraiser.” The graduation is in the morning and the fundraising dinner in the evening.
Faulty Science Underpins Florida Surgeon General’s Call to Halt mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
Pro-Haley PAC Misattributes Quote to DeSantis
Unpacking Democratic Ad Attacking DeSantis, Florida Abortion Law
An ad from a political action committee tied to California Gov. Gavin Newsom claims that a law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would subject women who get an abortion after six weeks to felony charges. DeSantis’ campaign calls the claim “a lie.” We look at what the law says — and doesn’t say — that has caused some concern and confusion.
Post Distorts Florida School Policy on ‘Romeo and Juliet’
A Florida school district is allowing students to read only excerpts of “Romeo and Juliet” in class — not passages with sexual content. But a Facebook post incorrectly suggests all Florida high schools are removing the “full text” of the play from classrooms. The state’s education commissioner included the play on a recommended reading list for grades nine to 12.
U.S.-Acquired Malaria Cases Spark False Claims of Links to Gates-Funded Research
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports research into fighting malaria, including funding a company that releases genetically modified mosquitoes that are incapable of carrying the disease. But reports of locally acquired cases of malaria in the U.S. have sparked social media posts that baselessly suggest Gates was behind the recent outbreak.
A Florida School Restricted Access to Amanda Gorman’s Poem, But Didn’t ‘Ban’ It
Following a parent’s complaint, one K-8 school in Florida restricted access to a poem by Amanda Gorman that she had read at the 2021 presidential inauguration. The school moved the book in its library to a shelf for upper-grade students only. But social media posts falsely claimed Miami-Dade County had “banned” the book in all its elementary schools.
DeSantis’ Dubious COVID-19 Vaccine Claims
Posts Misrepresent How Florida Arrived at Quick Election Results
Florida law allows election officials to start counting early in-person and mail-in ballots before Election Day. But social media posts falsely claim Florida counted all of its more than 7 million votes in five hours on Election Day and states that took longer committed “voter fraud.” Most states don’t allow vote counting to begin until Election Day or after polls close.