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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Q&A on Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness

Q&A on Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness

The White House announced on Aug. 24 that President Joe Biden will take action this year to cancel thousands of dollars in federal student loan debt for millions of Americans, fulfilling a campaign promise he made during the 2020 election cycle. We answer some of the questions readers may have about the debt relief plan, and address political claims about the impact of the plan.

Widespread Claims Misrepresent Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines

Widespread Claims Misrepresent Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines

As the virus that causes COVID-19 has evolved, the vaccines have become less effective in preventing symptomatic infection while remaining highly effective in preventing severe disease and death. This shift has been misrepresented by anti-vaccine influencers who falsely claim that it means the vaccines don’t work and have been ineffective all along.

Correcting Misinformation About Dr. Fauci

Correcting Misinformation About Dr. Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci has announced that in December he will step down from his positions as chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden and as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and its laboratory of immunoregulation. Here are some of the false and misleading claims about Fauci, his work and his public health guidance that we have written about since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020. 

FactChecking Republican Attacks on Fetterman’s Crime Stance

FactChecking Republican Attacks on Fetterman’s Crime Stance

Political ads and social media attacks by opponents of Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman have sought to portray Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor as dangerously soft on crime, but some of the claims stretch the facts.

Posts Fabricate Claim that Congress Voted to Exempt Members from IRS Audits

Posts Fabricate Claim that Congress Voted to Exempt Members from IRS Audits

After Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes funding to increase staff at the IRS, social media posts falsely claimed members of Congress “voted to exempt themselves from IRS auditing of their personal finances.” An IRS spokesperson told us “there is no such special exemption,” and we found no such vote had been taken.

Images Show IRS Educational Program, Not Training of Agents

Images Show IRS Educational Program, Not Training of Agents

The IRS Criminal Investigation division’s “Adrian Project” educates the public about the IRS through community outreach sessions with high school and college students. Posts on social media are sharing a video from one of the sessions to falsely claim it shows agents in training. The images were posted by a New Jersey university in 2017 and earlier this year.

Poliovirus Found in New York City Wastewater, Not Tap Water

Poliovirus Found in New York City Wastewater, Not Tap Water

Wastewater surveillance is a public health tool that can track the spread of pathogens. The virus that causes polio was detected in New York City sewage as part of such monitoring efforts. Social media posts, however, have incorrectly claimed the virus was found in tap water. Similar claims have been made about the monkeypox virus.