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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Posts Make Ominous, Unfounded Claims About April 8 Eclipse Preparations

Posts Make Ominous, Unfounded Claims About April 8 Eclipse Preparations

Local governments are preparing residents for an influx of visitors during the April 8 solar eclipse that will be most visible along a narrow path through the U.S., with one Oklahoma county inviting the National Guard for support. But social media posts baselessly claim the preparations suggest “something catastrophic” will occur during the eclipse.

Post Misrepresents Which Administration Sent Stimulus Checks to Dead People

Post Misrepresents Which Administration Sent Stimulus Checks to Dead People

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, some stimulus checks were sent to people who had died. The issue was explained in government reports and the media when it happened in 2020. But a social media post has resurrected the issue and falsely claimed that it occurred during the Biden administration. It actually happened during the Trump administration.

Trump’s Comments About ‘Cutting’ Entitlements in Context

Trump’s Comments About ‘Cutting’ Entitlements in Context

President Joe Biden said he has caught former President Donald Trump admitting that he wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. The Trump campaign said, in context, Trump was talking about cutting waste and fraud in those programs – not benefits.

Posts Distort Missouri Divorce Law Regarding Pregnancy

Posts Distort Missouri Divorce Law Regarding Pregnancy

There’s no law in Missouri that prevents pregnant women from getting divorced. But social media posts claim Missouri women “cannot divorce their spouse if they are pregnant.” Legal experts told us a judge may wait to finalize a divorce until after a baby is born to determine custody and other arrangements.

The Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

The Humanitarian Parole Program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

Q:  Did the Biden administration secretly fly over 300,000 migrants to the U.S.?

A: As of January, the Department of Homeland Security had admitted about 357,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans it vetted and authorized to fly to the U.S. through a humanitarian parole program. The travelers pay for the flights.

Posts Make Baseless Claim About Net Worth of Ocasio-Cortez

Posts Make Baseless Claim About Net Worth of Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York reported having $60,000 at most in bank accounts and other savings and as much as $50,000 in student loan debt in her 2023 financial disclosure report. But social media posts baselessly claim that since becoming a member of Congress, she is “a verified multi-millionaire.”

Experts Say Proposed Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Rules Not an EPA ‘Ban’ on Gas-Powered Cars

Experts Say Proposed Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Rules Not an EPA ‘Ban’ on Gas-Powered Cars

Pending regulations under review by the Biden administration could greatly increase the number of electric vehicles sold in the U.S. But if implemented, the proposals to reduce tailpipe emissions and raise the fuel efficiency standards of cars and trucks would not “ban” the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles, as a trade group for fuel makers falsely suggests in an ad campaign.

Amy Schumer Has Endometriosis, Not a Vaccine-Related Ailment

Amy Schumer Has Endometriosis, Not a Vaccine-Related Ailment

Comedian Amy Schumer has said she’s having “some medical and hormonal” issues related to endometriosis that have affected her appearance. But some social media users are falsely claiming that Schumer announced she is suffering from a vaccine-related ailment. Schumer has said no such thing.