Quick Take Officials serving in President Joe Biden’s administration have taken their oaths of office, and most can be seen in videos from their swearing-in ceremonies. But a video circulating on social media falsely suggests that they haven’t been sworn in and are “acting as elected officials without swearing an […]
Facts Check
Trump’s Dubious Promise to End Birthright Citizenship
Former President Donald Trump misleadingly said that “under Biden’s current policies” children born to parents in the country illegally automatically become citizens. That’s not a Biden policy, but rather it has been the standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment going back more than 100 years, including under Trump. In a […]
Ventilators Save Lives, Did Not Cause ‘Nearly All’ COVID-19 Deaths
SciCheck Digest Ventilators can be lifesaving for critically ill COVID-19 patients. A social media claim that a new study shows ventilators killed “nearly all” COVID-19 patients is “quite wrong,” according to the study’s co-author. Ventilator-associated complications can contribute to deaths, but patients are typically put on ventilators when they would […]
Post Misrepresents Legal Power of Arizona Resolution on Electronic Voting Machines
Quick Take The Republican majority leader of the Arizona Senate informed county election officials that a Senate resolution essentially bars electronic voting systems in the state. The state’s Democratic secretary of state and attorney general say the resolution carries no legal weight. Nonetheless, based on the resolution, a Facebook post […]
Database Errors Fuel False Claims about HIV Cases in Military
SciCheck Digest The rate of new HIV infections in the military has been relatively unchanged since 2017. But social media posts falsely claim that the military has recorded a “500% increase in HIV since the COVID vaccine rollout.” A Defense Department spokesperson said errors in a military database sparked the […]
Debt Limit Agreement Breakdown
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden brokered a two-year agreement to suspend the debt ceiling, but it needs quick congressional approval before the federal government runs out of money. The deal would suspend the debt limit until Jan. 1, 2025, at which point the Treasury Department would reset […]
mRNA Vaccines Protect Against COVID-19 Mortality, Contrary to Misleading Posts
SciCheck Digest Numerous studies have shown the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe disease and death from COVID-19. But some social media posts are citing a criticized study that focuses on overall mortality to falsely imply the vaccines are harmful and don’t work. How effective are […]
FactChecking Ron DeSantis’ Presidential Announcement
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made his presidential candidacy official on May 24, first with a glitch-delayed livestream on Twitter Spaces, followed by an interview on Fox News. Making his pitch for the Republican nomination, DeSantis leaned heavily into his record as governor of the Sunshine State, and criticism of President […]
CNN Says Future Town Halls Will Include Live Audiences, Contrary to Online Posts
Quick Take CNN was criticized by some for hosting a town hall with Donald Trump and a live audience that expressed strong support for the former president. Online posts now wrongly claim CNN will have “no more live audiences at town halls.” CNN said the claim is “fabricated” and plans […]
FactChecking Tim Scott’s Presidential Campaign Announcement
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced on May 22 that he will seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024. We reviewed his speech — and an exclusive NBC News interview he did shortly after — and found that he made a few claims that were false, misleading or […]