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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Gorsuch’s ‘Mainstream’ Measurement

Gorsuch’s ‘Mainstream’ Measurement

Supporters of Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court nomination describe him as a “mainstream judge.” Their evidence: He has voted nearly 99 percent with the majority on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and 97 percent of the court’s rulings were unanimous. But what do those statistics tell us? Not much.

Steve King on ‘Criminal Aliens’

Steve King on ‘Criminal Aliens’

Rep. Steve King wrongly suggested that “28 percent of the inmates in our federal penitentiaries” are immigrants in the country illegally. About 21 percent of federal inmates are non-U.S. citizens, but that includes those who came to the U.S. both legally and illegally.

Trump’s Line on Syria

Trump’s Line on Syria

President Donald Trump said the Obama administration “had a great opportunity to solve” the crisis in Syria when Obama set a “red line” for military intervention. But when Obama didn’t launch such intervention, “I think that set us back a long ways,” Trump said. However, Trump ignores his repeated calls at the time to “not attack Syria.”

Trump Distorts Stimulus

Trump Distorts Stimulus

While calling for new infrastructure investments, President Trump distorted the facts about President Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill. Trump described it as an “infrastructure bill” but “[n]obody ever saw anything being built” and most of the money was used on “social programs.”

Sessions’ Dubious Drug Claims

Sessions’ Dubious Drug Claims

In an address to law enforcement, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made two questionable claims about marijuana and opioids.

Partisan Spin on Gorsuch Vote

Partisan Spin on Gorsuch Vote

As the Senate considers Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court, senators on both sides have engaged in partisan spin over the number of votes required to approve his nomination.

Medicaid’s Doctor Participation Rates

Medicaid’s Doctor Participation Rates

It’s a common criticism of the Medicaid program — that the doctor participation rate is lower than the rate for Medicare or private insurance. The implication is that Medicaid patients cannot access care, and it has gotten worse under the ACA. But experts say that’s misleading.

Pruitt on the Paris Accord

Pruitt on the Paris Accord

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt made two false claims about the Paris Accord, a global agreement aimed at addressing climate change.

Misrepresenting Stone’s Prescience

Misrepresenting Stone’s Prescience

Rep. Adam Schiff laid out a series of “coincidences” to build a circumstantial case that President Trump’s campaign associates may have colluded with the Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign. But one of his “coincidences” is not an established fact.

Trump’s Job Boast

Trump’s Job Boast

President Donald Trump boasted that Charter Communications “has just committed to investing $25 billion” and creating 20,000 jobs in the U.S. But Charter’s plans to add 20,000 jobs have been in the works for nearly two years.