Our article about the first Republican debate of the 2024 election was the basis for this fact-checking video segment produced by Hearst Television — one of our media partners.
Video: Hearst on the First GOP Debate
Locations: National
Number of Counties Won in Presidential Election Doesn’t Determine Outcome
Democrats tend to win in densely populated counties, while Republicans win more sparse, rural counties. In 2020, the counties won by President Joe Biden had 67 million more residents than counties won by former President Donald Trump. Yet a social media post falsely asserts that because Biden won with fewer counties than Trump, “something isn’t adding up.”
Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claim About Fani Willis
There is no evidence that Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, had “an affair” with a “gang member” she was investigating, as former President Donald Trump claimed in a campaign speech.
Pfizer Facility Damaged in Tornado Didn’t Produce COVID-19 Vaccines
No COVID-19 vaccines were affected by the tornado that damaged Pfizer’s North Carolina warehouse, which doesn’t produce the vaccines. But some misinformation spreaders are claiming vaccines were destroyed.
False Claim About Cause of Autism Highlighted on Pennsylvania Senate Panel
Studies have found the rate of autism is the same in vaccinated and unvaccinated children. But the false claim that vaccines are associated with the disorder persists. A prominent spreader of COVID-19 misinformation wrongly told legislators in Pennsylvania that autism is virtually nonexistent among the unvaccinated, citing the Amish population.
Thermography Is No Substitute for Mammograms, Contrary to Facebook Post’s Advice
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers mammograms “the most effective primary breast cancer screening test” and says there is no evidence to indicate that thermography can replace mammograms. But an article shared on Facebook tells people to “stop getting mammograms” and try thermography instead.
FactChecking Haley’s Claim on China, U.S. Farmland and Military Installations
Nikki Haley said China bought 400,000 acres of U.S. farmland “near our military installations.” Chinese investors own a total of 383,935 acres, or about 1% of foreign-held agricultural land in the U.S. It’s not the amount near U.S. military installations.
Social Media Posts Fabricate a Political Endorsement by Altering Lady Gaga Photo
Lady Gaga campaigned for Joe Biden during the 2020 election and performed at his inauguration. But viral social media posts use an altered photo to falsely make it appear she has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024. The performer, who has been highly critical of Trump, has not made a public endorsement in the 2024 race.
Posts Misleadingly Equate Gun Case Against Hunter Biden With Rapper Kodak Black
Hunter Biden, who has no prior criminal history, has reached a plea deal that would avoid jail time for a gun-related charge. Some conservative commentators claim the president’s son is getting special treatment, misleadingly equating his case with one involving a rapper who had a criminal record before getting a 46-month sentence for two gun-related charges.
FactChecking Trump’s Remarks at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference
In June 24 remarks, former President Donald Trump made misleading claims about the reach of the National Archives and Records Administration and the federal charges he is facing for allegedly retaining classified documents after he was no longer in office. Trump also made an unsubstantiated claim about President Joe Biden.