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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

FactChecking Ads’ Claims of ‘Anti-White Bigotry’

FactChecking Ads’ Claims of ‘Anti-White Bigotry’

Radio and TV ads from a group headed by a former senior adviser to Donald Trump accuse President Joe Biden and the left of “racism against white people” and “anti-white bigotry.” But in context, some of the claims about the alleged “anti-white” policies and statements don’t hold up.

Conservative Figures Spread Baseless Claims About Attack on Paul Pelosi

Conservative Figures Spread Baseless Claims About Attack on Paul Pelosi

A man armed with a hammer broke into the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and fractured the skull of her husband, Paul. Some conservative figures — including Donald Trump Jr. — have shared social media posts claiming with no evidence and contrary to police reports that the man was a prostitute known to Paul Pelosi. He wasn’t.

Viral Video Spouts Baseless Claim About Early Voting in Arizona

Viral Video Spouts Baseless Claim About Early Voting in Arizona

Millions of Arizona voters requested ballots to vote early in the 2022 election. Early voting results cannot be released until after the election, and ballot security measures prevent widespread voter fraud. Yet a viral video advises Republicans not to vote early, making the baseless claim that it could show Democrats how many votes they need “to fake” to win.

Posts Distort Misleading Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Data

Posts Distort Misleading Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Data

A rigorous vaccine safety monitoring system has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and only rarely have serious side effects. But an article shared on social media falsely says that CDC data show more than 18 million people “were injured so badly” by a Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine “that they had to go to the hospital.”

Social Media Post Misrepresents Connecticut Ballot Question on Early Voting

Social Media Post Misrepresents Connecticut Ballot Question on Early Voting

A ballot question in Connecticut asks voters if they want to enact early voting. But a social media post falsely claims the proposal would also “remove the requirement of a certified seal from certain ballots.” The measure refers to removing a seal on a list of election results and has nothing to do with ballots.

Fabricated Screenshot Misrepresents GOP’s ‘Commitment to America’

Fabricated Screenshot Misrepresents GOP’s ‘Commitment to America’

House Republicans unveiled a list of policy goals called the “Commitment to America” in September. But a fabricated screenshot purporting to show the agenda has been circulating on social media. None of the items included in the image come from the agenda — although some echo proposals made by the conservative Republican Study Committee.

GOP’s Shaky Claims About Cortez Masto’s Net Worth

GOP’s Shaky Claims About Cortez Masto’s Net Worth

A Republican TV ad accuses Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of putting her “own financial interests over yours” and “becoming a multimillionaire while in office.” But the claims rely on financial disclosure reports that provide only broad ranges of assets and liabilities and show no evidence of wrongdoing.