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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Abortion Is Sometimes Medically Necessary, Contrary to Facebook Posts

Abortion Is Sometimes Medically Necessary, Contrary to Facebook Posts

There are life-threatening complications in which abortion is medically necessary, and social media posts claiming otherwise are incorrect, physicians said. “In some situations, abortion is the only medical intervention that can preserve a patient’s health,” the president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists told us.

Gasoline Prices Up Due to Global Supply-Demand Issues, Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Gasoline Prices Up Due to Global Supply-Demand Issues, Russian Invasion of Ukraine

U.S. presidents have little control over the price that consumers pay for gasoline. It depends mostly on the price of crude oil, which is set on the global market, based largely on worldwide supply and demand. Yet Republican campaign ads have falsely claimed or suggested that President Joe Biden and Democrats are solely to blame for the prices that motorists are paying at the pump.

COVID-19 Vaccines Don’t Contain Fetal Tissue

COVID-19 Vaccines Don’t Contain Fetal Tissue

Despite persistent claims to the contrary, none of the three authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines contains fetal tissue. We take a look at the facts in light of Justice Clarence Thomas’ dissent.

Planned Parenthood Centers Remain Open Following the Ruling on Roe v. Wade

Planned Parenthood Centers Remain Open Following the Ruling on Roe v. Wade

Planned Parenthood has not closed any of its health centers after the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the organization told us. But social media posts falsely claim that Planned Parenthood clinics have been closing “all over the country” since the ruling. Some clinics have ceased performing abortions but are still providing health services.

Stimulus Spending a Factor, But Far From Whole Story on Inflation

Stimulus Spending a Factor, But Far From Whole Story on Inflation

Economists cite several reasons for high inflation in the United States, starting with the unprecedented circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. But TV ads in midterm races across the country blame one culprit: stimulus spending by President Joe Biden’s administration.

Satirical Amendment Cited in False Claims About Kentucky Abortion Law

Satirical Amendment Cited in False Claims About Kentucky Abortion Law

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, allowing laws banning abortion in several states, including Kentucky, to take effect. But social media posts falsely claim Kentucky is considering a law requiring all women of childbearing age to undergo monthly pregnancy testing. The claim stemmed from a lawmaker’s satirical amendment.

Stacey Abrams on Violent Crime, Defunding the Police

Stacey Abrams on Violent Crime, Defunding the Police

Stacey Abrams, who faces Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in a rematch this fall, correctly accused Kemp’s TV ad makers of “conveniently” editing her comments about defunding the police, but she falsely claimed that the state’s violent crimes went up 55% in 2020. The actual increase was 5%.

Post Misleadingly Equates 2016 Democratic Effort to Trump’s 2020 ‘Alternate Electors’

Post Misleadingly Equates 2016 Democratic Effort to Trump’s 2020 ‘Alternate Electors’

After the 2016 presidential election, some progressive Democrats tried to convince electors for Donald Trump to switch their Electoral College votes to Hillary Clinton. But a conservative commentator misleadingly claimed in a social media post that the Democrats were “calling for alternate electors” — as Trump did after losing the 2020 election.