Sen. Ted Cruz has falsely tried to label “every single” Senate Democrat as “supporting abolishing the police,” based on a misleading interpretation of the words of two of President Joe Biden’s nominees. Both nominees said in confirmation hearings that they do not support defunding the police, though both have made […]
Facts Check
Magnet Videos Refuel Bogus Claim of Vaccine Microchips
SciCheck Digest The ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. are publicly available. Yet a false claim that the vaccines contain microchips is receiving renewed attention through a spate of videos of people claiming that magnets stick to their arms after vaccination. Experts say none of […]
Tucker Carlson Misrepresents Vaccine Safety Reporting Data
SciCheck Digest The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System accepts any reports of adverse side effects following vaccination to help regulators detect potential problems. Anyone can submit a report, whether or not the incident is vaccine-related. Fox News host Tucker Carlson misrepresented the VAERS data to suggest that thousands have died from […]
So Far, Vaccines Remain Effective Against Variants
SciCheck Digest So far, COVID-19 vaccines have been effective against variants of the coronavirus. Scientists are monitoring the situation carefully, with updated or new vaccines a possibility in the future, if need be. Social media claims blaming vaccination for an impending variant “disaster” are hypothetical predictions that ignore life-saving benefits […]
Post Misleads on Japan’s Policy for Donating Blood After COVID-19 Vaccination
SciCheck Digest Japan only recently adopted guidelines for accepting blood donations from those who have received COVID-19 vaccines. The guidelines are intended to give donors time to get over any side effects from the vaccine. Without providing that context, a social media post misleadingly claims Japan is “refusing” blood donations […]
Myth of Ballot Watermarks Flushed Out Again
Quick Take An audit of ballots and a forensic audit of voting equipment earlier this year found no problems in the 2020 elections in Maricopa County, Arizona. But debunked claims about voter fraud revealed by secret “watermarks” are flowing again on social media amid a Republican-led audit. County officials say […]
Both Sides Spinning Jobs Report
The recently released jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provided an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans alike to spin the facts in their favor. In an economic speech, President Joe Biden repeated a talking point: that his administration has outperformed all others in total jobs gained during the […]
No Scientific Basis for Vaccine ‘Shedding’ Claims
SciCheck Digest COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a live virus, so there isn’t a biological path for a vaccinated person to “shed” the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to those around them. Nor is there any evidence the vaccines cause reproductive problems. That means there’s no basis for social media claims that […]
Exploring the Legality of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
Q: Can employers, colleges and universities require COVID-19 vaccinations? A: Generally, they may require immunizations. But there is some uncertainty about the legality of mandating vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FULL QUESTION Does federal law prohibit employers and other institutions from requiring the […]
Two Views of American Families Plan
The White House and Republican National Committee are each touting different economic analyses that reach far different conclusions about the budget and economic impact of President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan. One analysis from Penn Wharton Budget Model – which is being promoted by the RNC – directly contradicts Biden’s […]