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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Sandy Hook Hoax Revisited

Sandy Hook Hoax Revisited

Q: Are the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting actually alive?

A: No. That is a claim made by conspiracy theorists who believe the shooting never happened.

Shaking the Bushes for Quote About Trump

Shaking the Bushes for Quote About Trump

Q: Did George W. Bush say he doesn’t approve of the media’s treatment of Donald Trump?

A: No. That statement is based on a misrepresentation of what the former president said a year ago.

NRA Chief’s Bogus Background Check Claims

NRA Chief’s Bogus Background Check Claims

In a speech to conservatives, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre distorted the facts when talking about the federal system for conducting background checks on prospective gun buyers.

No Federal Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children

No Federal Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children

Q: Did a law go into effect Jan. 30 banning “anyone” from smoking in a car “as long as there are children in the vehicle”?

A: No. There is no federal prohibition, although several state and local governments previously had enacted such bans.

Made-up Michelle Obama Quote

Made-up Michelle Obama Quote

Q: Did Michelle Obama say that the school shooting in Florida was President Donald Trump’s fault?

A: No. That claim is circulating on dubious websites. The former first lady hasn’t said anything like that publicly.

Sanders Uses Stale Gun Sales Stat

Sanders Uses Stale Gun Sales Stat

Results of a national survey published in 2017 show that 13 percent of U.S. gun owners who purchased a firearm in the past two years did so without a background check. Sen. Bernie Sanders was wrong when he said recently that the figure was three times as high.

Trump: ‘No Collusion!’

Trump: ‘No Collusion!’

A tweet from President Trump claims the indictment handed down against Russian nationals and organizations indicates there was “no collusion” between Russians and the Trump campaign, and that “the results of the election were not impacted.” But the indictment did not go that far on either count.

Horner Hoax Remix

Horner Hoax Remix

Q: Was a teen sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing a refugee who raped his sister?

A: No. That is a made-up headline on an old internet hoax story.

Video: White House Talking Point on Russia

Video: White House Talking Point on Russia

In this week’s fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper reviews a recent statement made by Vice President Mike Pence about the 2016 presidential campaign.

Philip Morris Not Selling Marijuana Cigarettes

Philip Morris Not Selling Marijuana Cigarettes

Q: Are Philip Morris “Marlboro M” brand marijuana cigarettes now for sale in four U.S. states?

A: No. That claim comes from a 2014 satirical story. It has recently resurfaced without the satire label.