The economy, immigration and China’s president lead our roundup of Biden’s claims.
FactChecking Biden’s Address to Congress
Editing in Cruz Video Distorts Biden’s Position on Guns
President Joe Biden opposes the sale of assault weapons, and he supports a mandatory federal registry and a voluntary buyback program for all legally purchased assault weapons. But a video shared on Twitter by Sen. Ted Cruz leaves the false impression Biden wants to confiscate all guns.
Artificial Beef About Biden’s Climate Plan
When President Joe Biden announced plans to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the end of the decade, he made no mention of reducing beef consumption. But that hasn’t stopped baseless speculation that he would.
SciCheck and Our Commitment to Transparency
Contrary to Rep. Thomas Massie’s suggestion, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — as is the case with all of our funders — has no control over our editorial content.
Vaccines Benefit Those Who Have Had COVID-19, Contrary to Viral Posts
There is no evidence that vaccines could cause harm to people who already have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or have become ill with the disease COVID-19. On the contrary, recent studies show the vaccine gives an important immunity boost to those previously infected and suggest that one dose might be enough.
Stories Falsely Cite ‘Stanford Study’ to Misinform on Face Masks
Stanford Medicine says it “strongly supports the use of face masks to control the spread of COVID-19.” Yet viral stories falsely claim a “Stanford study” showed that face masks are unsafe and ineffective against COVID-19. The paper is a hypothesis, not a study, from someone with no current affiliation with Stanford. Update: The paper was retracted.
Q&A on the Rare Clotting Events That Caused the J&J Pause
We look at what is known about the rare clotting conditions associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, their frequency and the risks of COVID-19.
Irish Professor Makes Unfounded Claims About Long-Term Effects of mRNA Vaccines
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines authorized for use were found to be safe and effective in clinical trials and real-world conditions. A professor in Ireland baselessly claims in a video circulating on social media that they are not, and that those who get the vaccines will die as a result within several years.
FactCheck.org Back in Contention For the Webbys
FactCheck.org has again been nominated for Webby Awards in the category for Websites and Mobile Sites: News & Politics.
In Her Own Words: Maxine Waters
Republicans have called for Rep. Maxine Waters’ censure or outright removal from Congress — claiming she was inciting violence prior to the verdict in the George Floyd case. Here we provide her full remarks in context.