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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Misleading Attack About Democrats and Criminal Immigrants

Misleading Attack About Democrats and Criminal Immigrants
October 27, 2022

Every Democrat – and some Republicans – increased funding earlier this year for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency charged with deporting those living in the country illegally. The Biden administration has directed ICE to prioritize the deportation of immigrants in the country illegally who have committed serious felonies. Nonetheless, an ad from a conservative group misleadingly claims that “every Senate Democrat voted against deporting criminal illegal immigrants.”

Super PAC Ads Distort New York Congressional Candidate’s ‘Help Not Handcuffs’ Quote

Super PAC Ads Distort New York Congressional Candidate’s ‘Help Not Handcuffs’ Quote
October 25, 2022

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, is running ads on TV and social media that distort Democratic House candidate Josh Riley’s positions on crime. One ad misleadingly claims that the New York Democrat said he “supports help not handcuffs” for criminals, and another misleadingly implies he supports defunding the police. 

What Biden’s Marijuana Pardon Proclamation Does — and Does Not Do

What Biden’s Marijuana Pardon Proclamation Does — and Does Not Do
October 25, 2022

In early October, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation pardoning certain individuals previously charged with or convicted of simple marijuana possession offenses under federal and Washington, D.C., law. But Biden exaggerated the scope when he claimed he was keeping a promise not to incarcerate those convicted of simple possession charges.

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Gaffe

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Gaffe
October 24, 2022

President Joe Biden wrongly said that he got student debt forgiveness “passed by a vote or two.” There was no vote. Biden simply announced that the Department of Education would provide debt relief, and the plan is facing a legal challenge.

Social Media Claims Misrepresent Boston U. Study of What Causes Severity of COVID-19 Strains

Social Media Claims Misrepresent Boston U. Study of What Causes Severity of COVID-19 Strains
October 21, 2022

To study the role of the spike protein in the severity of COVID-19 illnesses, researchers exposed 10 mice prone to develop severe disease to a hybrid version of the virus. Eight mice died. Social media posts say researchers created a dangerous new variant with an “80 PERCENT Kill Rate,” potentially leaving the false impression that this pertains to humans. Also, the hybrid virus used in the study had a lower mortality rate than the original virus had on mice.

States Determine School Immunization Requirements, Not CDC

States Determine School Immunization Requirements, Not CDC
October 21, 2022

Vaccines are added to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization schedule after consultation with an outside advisory group and when the benefits outweigh the risks. Contrary to claims from Tucker Carlson and others, the COVID-19 vaccines will not become mandatory in schools just by being added to the CDC schedule. States and local districts make those determinations.

Johnson Ad Omits Barnes’ Condemnation of Attack on Police

Johnson Ad Omits Barnes’ Condemnation of Attack on Police
October 20, 2022

In the Wisconsin Senate race, an ad from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson selectively pulls comments made by his opponent, Democrat Mandela Barnes, from an interview days after a deadly attack on police in Dallas. The ad claims Barnes “rationalized violence” against police, but it ignores that Barnes said the killings were “not justified in any way” and that he “denounced” the attack.

It’s Not News, Nor ‘Scandalous,’ That Pfizer Trial Didn’t Test Transmission

It’s Not News, Nor ‘Scandalous,’ That Pfizer Trial Didn’t Test Transmission
October 18, 2022

The COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials were designed to study the vaccine’s safety and efficacy in preventing symptomatic disease, not transmission. But online publications now misleadingly present the fact that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was not tested for transmission as a “shocking admission” and proof that the company and the government lied.

Ad from Super PAC Misleadingly Edits Utah Candidate’s Comments About Republican Base

Ad from Super PAC Misleadingly Edits Utah Candidate’s Comments About Republican Base
October 18, 2022

In TV and social media ads, Club for Growth Action misleadingly edited remarks by independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin of Utah to make it appear he said that “the Republican base is racist.” In fact, McMullin said “there is an element of the Republican base that is racist,” and that the party’s leaders won’t stand up to them for fear of losing votes.