The share of GDP allocated for education (primary, secondary and tertiary) saw an increase from 3.29 per cent in 2004-2005 to 3.83 per cent in 2012-13.

Government spending on education has become a priority action globally to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education for all. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, governments in low and middle-income countries had increased education expenditures to approximately 4.45% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in conjunction with an increased share of education expenditures in overall government spending. Using panel data analysis, this chapter investigates the impact of education spending of 78 low and lower-middle income economies and 111 upper-middle and high-income countries on education outcomes at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of schooling. The study finds that despite additional channels of external funding such as Official Development Assistance loans, it is government spending across all levels of educational enrollments, primary, secondary, and tertiary, that has had a greater impact on education outcomes. We find that government spending on education as a share of GDP has contributed the most toward achieving global development goals. [...] A World Bank study [17] on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected on education financing reports that due to larger populations in low- and middle-income countries, the share of GDP spent on education is insufficient to achieve the improved quality of education.


Former President Donald Trump "intends to enact what, in effect, is a national sales tax ... that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year."

CLAIM: Harris said Trump "intends to enact what, in effect, is a national sales tax— call it a Trump tax — that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year." - This figure comes from an estimate by the progressive Center for American Progress Action Fund, which calculated the cost of proposed tariffs on imported goods. The analysis is dense. The CAP Action Fund went through the goods the U.S. Census says we're projected to import in 2025, then calculated what the tariff on them would be and divided that by the number of American households. That figure was then adjusted for government estimates on how much middle-income households spend overall relative to other consumers. The left-leaning group projects this will hit lower- and middle-income households harder, since they spend a larger percentage of their income on goods than high-income households do. [...] "At the end of the day this is all about the will of the people," Trump added. "You must follow your heart or — in many cases — your religion, or your faith. Do what's right for your family. Do what's right for yourself. Do what's right for your children. Do what's right for our country and vote, so important to vote.


Former President Donald Trump is “against mail in voting.”

By — Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press By — Margery A. Beck, Associated Press Margery A. Beck, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-changes-tone-on-mail-in-ballots-and-other-forms-of-early-voting Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump changes tone on mail-in ballots and other forms of early voting Politics May 17, 2024 5:40 PM EDT Marta Moehring voted the way she prefers in Nebraska’s Republican primary Tuesday — in person, at her west Omaha polling place. She didn’t even consider taking advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail-in ballot process. In fact, she would prefer to do away with mail-in voting altogether. She’s convinced fraudulent mailed ballots cost former President Donald Trump a second term in 2020. "I don’t trust it in general," Moehring, 62, said. "I don’t think they’re counted correctly." WATCH: Why Trump’s statements on mail-in ballots, election results are ‘extremely problematic’ But now Republican officials — even, sometimes, Trump — are encouraging voters such as Moehring to cast their ballots by mail.


“Candace Owens vows to have Taylor Swift banned from next NFL season.”

This story originated on a self-described satire page.


“There is a direct connection between discriminatory policies within the USDA and the enormous land loss we have seen among Black farmers over the past century."

"When it comes to farming and agriculture, we know that there is a direct connection between discriminatory practices within the USDA and the enormous land loss we have seen among Black farmers in the past century," said Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, the lead sponsor of the bill. He said the bill "would enact reforms within the USDA to finally end discrimination within that agency, would protect the remaining Black farmers from losing their land, and would provide land grants to create a new generation of Black farmers and begin to restore the land base that has been lost by Black farmers due to outrageous discrimination over past decades." [...] "The Justice for Black Farmers Act is the most ambitious legislative proposal ever developed to address historic and ongoing discrimination against Black farmers," said John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, and Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group, two of the six dozen local and national groups that endorsed the bill. "Black farmers have been systemically denied access to land, subsidies, loans, and other critical tools through government and private discrimination, and the institutional racism that has driven Black land loss is being reinforced through the USDA’s broken policies."


"In the Wisconsin State Assembly this session, more than 75% of GOP bills received a public hearing. Meanwhile, the GOP allowed less than 2% of Democratic bills to have a hearing."

Cindy Axne stated on September 18, 2022 in a tweet "I was named Iowa’s most bipartisan member of Congress by @TheLugarCenter." Francesca Hong stated on May 18, 2022 in a tweet "In the Wisconsin State Assembly this session, more than 75% of GOP bills received a public hearing. Wisconsin Initiative stated on February 23, 2022 in TV ad "Gov. Tony Evers brought Republicans and Democrats together to cut income taxes for the middle class." Jon Erpenbach stated on December 12, 2021 in TV interview The push for high-speed internet for rural areas, from the start, "was a Democratic thing." Joe Biden stated on October 4, 2021 in a speech "Raising the debt limit is usually a bipartisan undertaking." Joni Ernst stated on October 15, 2020 in comments at a debate Says she is ranked "one of the most bipartisan senators in the Senate in the last 25 years." [...] Francesca Hong stated on May 18, 2022 in a tweet "In the Wisconsin State Assembly this session, more than 75% of GOP bills received a public hearing. [...] Sean Duffy stated on November 30, 2017 in an interview Says special counsel Robert Mueller "has brought in Democrat campaign donors at a very high level" on his team of lawyers.


“Caitlin Clark rejects $400 million deal from Nike” saying “not with that Kaepernick clown.’”

In an unexpected move that has sent shockwaves through both the sports and business worlds, Caitlin Clark, one of the brightest stars in women’s basketball, has turned down a $400 million endorsement deal from Nike. The reason for her rejection? Her disapproval of Nike’s ongoing partnership with Colin Kaepernick, whom she referred to as "that Kaepernick clown." This bold decision by Clark has ignited intense debate and highlighted the intersection of sports, politics, and personal values in the realm of athlete endorsements. [...] For Caitlin Clark, rejecting the $400 million deal is a bold statement that could have lasting implications for her career. Financially, the deal would have provided significant resources and security. However, Clark’s decision underscores her commitment to her personal beliefs and public image. [...] Caitlin Clark’s rejection of a $400 million deal from Nike, citing her disapproval of Colin Kaepernick, is a bold and unprecedented move in the world of sports endorsements. It highlights the complex interplay between personal values, professional opportunities, and public perception.


California Assembly Bill 1955 “would allow schools to secretly, socially and perhaps medically transition your child without your knowledge and consent."

1. Understand the Core Provisions of AB 1955 - - Prohibits Parental Notification Policies: Bans school districts from adopting rules that would require informing parents of their child’s gender identity/expression without the child’s consent. [...] - What type of gender transition does AB 1955 cover? The bill focuses on "social transition" like name/pronoun changes, not medical procedures such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery. [...] - Does AB 1955 require active parental consent for social transition? No, just that schools can’t adopt policies that proactively inform parents without the student’s permission.


“Caitlin Clark has officially joined the Canadian women's Olympic team.”

Caitlin Clark’s early play in WNBA will be her tryout for a roster spot on US Olympic women’s team SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Caitlin Clark’s early play in WNBA will serve as her tryout for a spot on the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team. [...] There were reports Clark potentially could’ve been part of the 3x3 team. but Clark has said her focus is playing on the 5-on-5 team.


Cristiano Ronaldo was the only European soccer captain who did not wear a rainbow armband at Euro 2020.

Cristiano Ronaldo is refusing to wear the "One Love" armband, which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, during the 2022 World Cup. The world-renowned soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo, revealed in a press conference that he will not be participating in wearing the "One Love" armband. The armband consists of a heart with a rainbow inside of it and the number one. This "One Love" band is being used to advocate inclusivity, being that the 2022 World Cup is being held in Qatar, a country where same-sex relationships are illegal. [...] Players who wear the armband are threatened with receiving a yellow card, according to FIFA’s regulations. This yellow card can result in a suspension from the games if the player were to receive another yellow card during the game. Obviously, any mention of social issues is discouraged on the field. Due to the consequences, none of the captains from any of the other national teams have worn the armband, but none have faced backlash like Ronaldo has.


The Trump administration “achieved the lowest African American unemployment rate and the lowest African American poverty rate ever recorded.”

Black poverty, unemployment set record lows on Trump’s watch, and on Biden’s, too [...] During a June 15 visit to Detroit, Trump said, "We achieved the lowest African American unemployment rate and the lowest African American poverty rate ever recorded." [...] The Black poverty rate hit a record low during Trump’s presidency in 2019 at 18.8%. The poverty rate has fallen further under Biden’s presidency, hitting 17.1% in 2022, the last year for which data is available.


Crime statistics “no longer include data from 30% of the country including the biggest and most violent cities.”

In 2021, the FBI required police departments to report data using a new system. That year, data for about 65% of the U.S. population was covered in the FBI’s annual report, rather than the typical 95%. However, as is standard FBI policy, the missing data was estimated using comparable jurisdictions. In 2022, the FBI’s data coverage returned to 94% of the population, and the preliminary numbers for 2023 and 2024 signal that that level of police department participation should continue. The FBI data’s trend lines have generally tracked the patterns in data compiled by other groups — groups that were not affected by the FBI’s methodological switch.


The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals “just ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional.”

US appeals court rejects CU’s vaccine mandate, cites ‘religious animus’ by: Heather Willard [...] DENVER (KDVR) — A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled on May 7 that the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine‘s COVID-19 vaccination mandate and refusal to include a religious exemption were unconstitutional under the First Amendment, according to court documents. [...] According to the appeals decision, the court found that the administration "decided that ‘it is ‘morally acceptable’ for Roman Catholics to take vaccines against COVID-19 and that any Roman Catholic objections to the COVID-19 vaccine are ‘personal beliefs,’ not ‘religious beliefs.'"


"Apple is … about to start charging us to use the FaceTime feature.”

The truth is, FaceTime uses your device’s internet connection, so as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or have a sufficient data plan, there’s no extra charge to use FaceTime. However, if you’re using FaceTime over a cellular network, it will use your data allowance, which could result in additional charges depending on your phone plan. In this article, we’ll go over how to use FaceTime and avoid any unexpected costs. [...] - Remember that international FaceTime calls do not incur additional charges beyond regular data usage. [...] In conclusion, using FaceTime on your iPhone doesn’t have to cost you extra. With a bit of planning and awareness of your data usage, you can enjoy seamless video and audio calls with your loved ones at no additional charge. Remember to connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible, monitor your data usage, and check your data plan details to avoid any surprises on your phone bill.


Pittsburgh Steelers coach “directs team to not participate in pride month” calling it "woke crap"

News Today, "Breakiпg: Steelers’ Coach Tomliп Directs Team To Not Participate In Pride Moпth, "It’s Woke Crap," archived June 13, 2024 [...] Esspots, "Breaking: Steelers’ Coach Tomlin Directs Team To Not Participate In Pride Month, "It’s Woke Crap"," archived June 13, 2024 [...] News, "Breaking: Steelers’ Coach Tomlin Directs Team To Not Participate In Pride Month, "It’s Woke Crap"," archived June 13, 2024


"Trump can’t be on the Texas ballot because of our state constitution."

The U.S. Constitution, not any state’s constitution, sets the qualifications to run for president. They are limited to natural-born citizenship, age (35 by Inauguration Day) and residency in the United States (14 years). Having a felony conviction does not bar Trump from running for president.


Fuddruckers isn’t shuttering, the hamburger chain’s CEO said. Other restaurants on a social media list have shut down or will close, however.


"The last administration oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded."

Biden left out important context when he said that the Trump administration "oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded." The increase in the number of murders from 2019 to 2020 was the largest one-year increase since data was systematically recorded in the early 1960s, but this was largely beyond Trump’s control; experts say the spike stemmed from a confluence of the coronavirus pandemic and the societal upheaval after George Floyd’s murder that year.


Kansas City Chiefs said they refuse to participate in Pride Month because ‘it’s extremely woke.’

As of June 10, the Kansas City Chiefs have not released any statements on social media or its website news page about Pride Month in June. The team’s online shop sells Pride-themed merchandise. The website with the article making the claim contains numerous fake headlines. The story originated on a self-described satire site.


HarperCollins “removed 64,575 words from the Bible.”

On 11 July 2015, musician Erica Campbell shared a post on Facebook inferring a conspiracy by Harper Collins regarding the New International Version of the Bible. She claimed that 45 verses and 64,575 words had been removed from the New International Version Bible (NIV). [...] "Holy Ghost" is found 89 times in the KJV New Testament, while the NIV translates this as Holy Spirit. As for the word omnipotent (meaning all-powerful) found once in the KJV in Revelation 19:6, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." The NIV correctly translates this as, "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns." Almighty is a synonym for omnipotent and is more easily understood in 21st century English. So the suggestion that 64,575 words had been removed from the New International Version Bible is simply incorrect.


Says Sen. Lindsey Graham said a newly elected Donald Trump “will round up and deport LEGAL immigrants.”

Juneau County Wisconsin Republicans . stated on June 25, 2024 in Facebook post: "Planes full of unvetted ‘refugees’ are being accepted at the Milw. & Madison airports!" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on June 27, 2024 in an X livestream: Border Patrol agents take migrants "to the Yuma airport, put them on a plane to any destination they want. ... And they pay their ticket. And then they get reimbursement from FEMA." Donald Trump stated on June 6, 2024 in a campaign rally: Joe Biden’s immigration order limiting asylum is "pro-child trafficking." Donald Trump stated on May 31, 2024 in remarks to reporters: "Congo, Africa, just released a lot of people, a lot of people from their prisons and jails and brought them into the United States of America." Marco Rubio stated on May 19, 2024 in an interview: The number of people in the U.S. illegally is "upwards of 20, 25, maybe 30 million." Eric Swalwell stated on June 9, 2024 in a post on X: Says Sen. Lindsey Graham said a newly elected Donald Trump "will round up and deport LEGAL immigrants." [...] Lindsey Graham stated on August 6, 2024 in an X post: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed "legislation giving free college … to illegal immigrants." [...] Eric Swalwell stated on June 9, 2024 in a post on X: Says Sen. Lindsey Graham said a newly elected Donald Trump "will round up and deport LEGAL immigrants."


Audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur leaked.

Audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur has not been released by the Justice Department. One reason the Justice Department cited: fear it would be used to create deepfake. The Justice Department and Hur said the publicly released transcript matches the audio recording, except for minor changes like omitting pauses and duplicated words. A Justice Department spokesperson said the agency is confident a TikTok video that purportedly shows a leaked audio clip of the interview is fake. Three deepfake experts examined the video and told PolitiFact it is a deepfake.


“Wage increases have exceeded” the cost of inflation.

What Biden Said: "Wage increases have exceeded what the cost of inflation…" The Facts: New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows hourly wage growth topping inflation for the past 12 months. In April, nominal hourly earnings were up 3.9% from a year ago; inflation held at 3.4%. But cumulative inflation has outpaced wage growth for most of the Biden presidency.


“James Woods leaves Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s new non-woke film studio.”

On March 31, 2024, the Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub published a post with side-by-side images of Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg and a caption claiming the two actors had started a "non-woke" film production studio. [...] Breaking: Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg Join Hands to Create a Non-Woke Film Production Studio, "Hollywood Is Saved" In a bold move shaking up Hollywood, veteran actors Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg have teamed up to launch a new film production studio dedicated to preserving traditional storytelling and avoiding the pitfalls of woke culture. The announcement comes as a breath of fresh air for many in the industry who have grown weary of the pervasive influence of political correctness and social activism in filmmaking.


Kyle Rittenhouse’s mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, is 49, not 38.


“Elon Musk sues The View and Whoopi Goldberg for $60 million.”

Latest Fact-checksWhoopi Goldberg Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: "Elon Musk sues The View and Whoopi Goldberg for $60 million." Facebook posts stated on August 5, 2023 in a Facebook post: Country singer Jason Aldean sued "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg. Viral image stated on August 26, 2020 in a Facebook post: Photo shows Whoopi Goldberg wearing a shirt insulting Donald Trump. Viral image stated on July 22, 2019 in a Facebook post: Says Whoopi Goldberg kept her job and was applauded by ABC after calling Jeanine Pirro a racist slur. Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: "Elon Musk sues The View and Whoopi Goldberg for $60 million." Facebook posts stated on August 5, 2023 in a Facebook post: Country singer Jason Aldean sued "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg. Viral image stated on August 26, 2020 in a Facebook post: Photo shows Whoopi Goldberg wearing a shirt insulting Donald Trump. Viral image stated on July 22, 2019 in a Facebook post: Says Whoopi Goldberg kept her job and was applauded by ABC after calling Jeanine Pirro a racist slur. Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: "Elon Musk sues The View and Whoopi Goldberg for $60 million."


Joe Biden wants “to quadruple your taxes.”

Trump said Biden "wants to quadruple your taxes." Not even close, according to both Biden himself and independent analyses.


Donald Trump wants to terminate the Affordable Care Act.

Over the weekend, Donald Trump renewed calls to "terminate" the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claiming his administration’s failure to repeal the ACA was "a low point for the Republican party." The news comes as the ACA covers more Americans than ever before, with President Biden and Democrats in Congress lowering costs and making enrollment easier. The Trump-MAGA agenda of repealing the ACA is rejected by the American people, costing Republicans at the ballot box repeatedly, and unpopular among voters of all parties. [...] Semafor: Trump Says He Still Wants To Repeal Obamacare. GOP Senators Say Not So Fast. "Republican Senators are reacting cautiously after Donald Trump said over the weekend that he might try to repeal the Affordable Care Act if he returns to the White House, with some suggesting another push to fully scrap the health law was unlikely… it’s unclear how much appetite exists among Republicans to try and fulfill a campaign promise that animated their party a decade ago. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, a Trump ally in the Senate, said key planks of Obamacare are "broadly popular" with the American public including Republicans, such as rules barring insurers from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions or charging sick people more for healthcare." [Semafor, 11/27/23]


“Walmart has announced starting June 3rd all locations in the U.S. will go back to 24hrs.”

Fact check: Walmart has no plans for immediate return to 24-hour operations [...] "Great news for late night shoplifters. 24 hour Walmart starts back August 14,2022," read an Aug. 9 Facebook post that was shared more than 3,000 times in less than two days. [...] - Charles Crowson, Aug. 11, Email to USA TODAY - Walmart, accessed Aug. 11, COVID-19 FAQs - Walmart, July 29, Tweet - KCEN-TV, Nov. 22, 2021, Walmart, H-E-B may not return to 24-hour service any time soon - USA TODAY, June 1, 2021, Walmart to increase hours Saturday with stores opening at 6 a.m.; senior hours to continue - USA TODAY, Nov. 13, 2020, Walmart extends store hours after cutting them amid COVID-19, weekly senior hour continues - USA TODAY, Aug. 14, 2020, Walmart increases store hours after cutting them in March amid COVID-19; weekly senior hour continues - Walmart, March 18, 2020, Latest Walmart Store Changes to Support Associates and Customers - USA TODAY, March 14, 2020, Walmart cuts hours at 24-hour stores and other locations nationwide starting Sunday due to coronavirus - Walmart, March 10, 2020, The Latest on Walmart's Response to the Coronavirus


When Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Ukraine recently "he announced that they were going to suspend elections in Ukraine."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken related the Biden administration's support for Ukraine during an unannounced visit to the country on Wednesday, his fourth trip to the country since Russia's invasion, the State Department confirmed. [...] "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Ukraine today to meet with senior Ukrainian officials and demonstrate the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy, especially in the face of Russia's aggression," State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said in a statement. [...] Blinken previously visited Ukraine in April 2022, when he traveled to Kyiv with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and in September 2022, when he again stopped in Kyiv for meetings and toured Irpin in the Bucha district.


“Violent crime is near a record 50-year low.”

President Joe Biden credited police officers for the nation’s declining crime rate at a ceremony honoring fallen law enforcement members on May 15. [...] "It’s no accident that violent crime is near a record 50-year low – a 50-year low. It’s because of extraordinary efforts by all of you in your communities, together with historic steps taken to support you – to stop the flow of illegal guns, to hold gun traffickers accountable for crimes. It matters, and it matters a lot," Biden said. According to data released by the FBI in March, violent crime decreased 6% in 2023 from the year before, with murder down 13% and property crime showing a decrease of 4%. It was the second year in a row that the overall crime rate has gone down.


“Elon Musk Fires Entire Cast of “The View ” After Acquiring ABC.”

Musk’s acquisition of ABC leads to shock waves as entire cast of "The View" gets fired.In a move that has stunned the world of television, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has acquired ABC and promptly fired the entire cast of the long-running talk show, "The View."Sources close to Musk say that he was "fed up" with the show’s constant negativity and lack of innovation, and decided to take matters into his own hands.


NFL referees “flex their authority, eject five players” for kneeling during the national anthem.

FACT CHECK: Did NFL Referee Eject Players For Kneeling During National Anthem? A post shared on social media purports that a NFL referee ejected five players for kneeling during the National Anthem. [...] The caption reads, "Anthem Kneeling in the NFL: Referees Flex Their Authority, Eject Five Players. The League Sends a Clear Message! Read More in the Comments."


Bird flu in the U.S. is a "scamdemic" timed to coincide with the 2024 presidential elections “by design.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Highlights in the History of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Timeline – 2020-2024," April 4, 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "H5N1 Bird Flu Detections across the United States (Backyard and Commercial)," April 10, 2024 [...] The Associated Press, "What to know about the latest bird flu outbreak in the US," April 3, 2024


“U.S. Olympic committee says Lia Thomas is welcome to try out for the men’s team.”

Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas Aims for 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas says she hopes to swim in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials despite controversy around her success. "I intend to keep swimming," Thomas said in an interview broadcast Tuesday on Good Morning America. "It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time, and I would love to see that through." Thomas, who won gold in the 500-yard freestyle at the Women’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in March, has been at the heart of a heated public debate about trans athletes in sport, with some (including 16 of her Penn teammates) arguing she should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Thomas competed on Penn’s men’s swim team for four years before taking part in the female NCAA championships in 2022. After graduating from Penn in May, Thomas says she plans to attend law school as well as hopefully swimming in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. "Trans women are not a threat to women's sports," she added.


“Dr. Sebi’s daughter was sentenced to 155 years in prison for revealing top secret health hacks.”

No, Dr. Sebi’s daughter wasn’t sentenced to prison for ‘revealing top secret health hacks’ [...] Other Facebook posts now claim that "Dr. Sebi’s daughter was SENTENCED to 155 years in prison for revealing TOP SECRET health hacks." [...] This post and the post about Sebi’s cousin supposedly being "life in prison" for revealing "gatekept health secrets" seem to follow a formula. Yet another post PolitiFact fact-checked claimed that the cousin of Barbara O’Neill, a former Australian naturopath, was "sentenced to life in prison for revealing … gatekept health secrets."


Tariffs are a “direct, regressive tax on Americans” and President Joe Biden’s new tariffs on Chinese goods will “hit every family.”

"Tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans, and this tax increase will hit every family," Polis wrote as he reshared Biden’s post. Experts say the tariffs could amount to a tax increase on many Americans. But they add that the notion that "every" American family will be hit is likely exaggerated. [...] "The consensus has not changed: Tariffs are regressive, in that the people with lowest means will be paying the most when a tariff is placed on a good," said Ross E. Burkhart, a Boise State University political scientist who specializes in trade policy.


Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called voter ID “racist,” calls NRA a “terrorist organization” and supports affirmative action.

In 2008, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. co-authored a comic book that called voter identification "racially rancid." In a 2008 interview, he said a lot of Americans don’t have a driver’s license, including Black people. But the independent presidential candidate has talked about voter ID differently during his current campaign. After the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Kennedy called the National Rifle Association a "terror group." However in 2023, he said on Fox News "I don’t consider the NRA a terror group." Kennedy made statements supporting affirmative action after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.


Former President Donald Trump “has the worst record of job loss of any president.”

Donald Trump is the first president in almost a century to see employment decline nationally between his first and last days in office. Experts widely agree that the president during the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover, also saw jobs lost on his watch, and earlier presidents who served before standardized employment data was collected likely did, too. Economists say the coronavirus pandemic — the primary reason for the employment decline under Trump — was so unusual that it merits an asterisk to his record.


"Trump bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street."

DAVID WESSEL, The Wall Street Journal: Most Americans think, and with good reason, that Wall Street got bailed out and Main Street didn't. We have very high unemployment. We lost 8.5 million jobs in the recession. People's houses aren't worth what they paid for them. A lot of them don't have jobs. Their kids are graduating from college and are moving back in. [...] And there are whole subdivisions like this, by the way, that are just lost in this great morass. And so it affects Main Street because Wall Street was too greedy. The greed of Wall Street broke Main Street. [...] NEWSCASTER: There's news today of a federal bail-out for a Wall Street investment firm—


Says gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch “worked with Scott Walker to sign five abortion restrictions into law that took away services and threatened doctors with prison time for providing safe and legal abortions.”

Former Gov. Scott Walker signed a number of abortion restrictions while in office that former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, now running for governor, supported. They include a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, limits on medication abortions, prohibiting the procedure from being covered through the health care exchange, requiring providers to have hospital admitting privileges and preventing providers from getting money from state family planning grants. The abortion ban after 20 weeks carried with it a punishment of up to 3.5 years in prison for a provider who performed the procedure after that timeframe. Although Walker, not Kleefisch, pushed these restrictions through, she has long been a pro-life candidate, and pro-life groups gave her credit for some of them.


Your state will send you free infant formula if you call Enfamil and Similac customer service numbers.

The claim: States will send free baby formula to those who call Similac or Enfamil’s customer service [...] "Due to the shortage of formula if you call enfamil or similac they will notify the state you can’t find any for your child and the state will send you a 6 pack of 12 Oz cans to your address ! For free!!" reads a May 16 Facebook post that was shared more than 21,000 times in one day. [...] The phone numbers listed in the post are real, but the claim is not. Calling will give long hold times but no free formula.


Derek Chauvin had his left hand in his pocket while kneeling on George Floyd.

That image is not of the officer who was pinning George Floyd to the ground, killing him slowly and brutally. That image is wretched and causes shivers to run down my spine. But I’ve never killed a person. I am not overtly racist. Insert all the comments here about having black friends, black teammates, black members of the congregation that I pastor who I love deeply and appreciate greatly. I would never find myself in the same position as Derek Chauvin, the officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, hands in his pocket, casually looking at the camera. No, the haunting image I cannot get out of my mind, the one I wept as I watched the video and saw myself in, is that of the second police officer. Standing nearby. Rarely looking at George Floyd and Derek Chauvrin. Scanning back and forth, up and down the street. Telling the onlookers that it isn’t that bad. That George Floyd is fine. As I watched the video, I found myself pleading with that man to run over and push Derek Chauvin off of George Floyd. I was vocally begging him to do something. To go stop what was happening. [...] The time has long since come; action is required. In the same way I longed for that second office to push Derek Chauvin off George Floyd, it will take action to to overturn the systems that have their knee on the neck of those around us. That requires all of us.


"Since the mid-'90s, this country has been governed by revolving continuing resolution and omnibus spending bill(s). … That is the reason we're $33 trillion in debt."

For the better part of three decades, lawmakers have been unable to use 12 "regular order" appropriations bills to enact federal spending. Instead, Congress has lurched regularly from temporary bills to massive "omnibus" measures. In congressional terminology, a "continuing resolution" refers to a short-term spending bill at existing funding levels. An "omnibus spending bill" is one that extends most or all of government funding, rather than being passed in 12 separate bills that each cover a limited range of federal departments. Blaming the nation’s debt on the lack of following standard appropriations procedures is an exaggeration. Only about one-quarter of federal spending is approved through the annual appropriations process; about three-quarters of spending runs on autopilot, including entitlements and interest payments.


Poll watchers in Philadelphia prevented from entering polling places.

A poll watcher was denied access to one polling site in Philadelphia because the person in charge of that particular polling place was not up to date on the law, which allows watchers to enter any site, not just the ward and division site specified on the watcher’s certificate, said a spokesperson for Philadelphia City Commissioners. The spokesperson also said that the same poll watcher went to another site and was allowed to go in, and there is "no evidence that it was a systemic problem."


“For African American families in particular, the homeownership rate remains relatively unchanged since 1968, the year the Fair Housing Act was signed into law.”

Sen. Tim Scott said Black homeownership has been static since 1968 housing law. He’s right. [...] "For African American families in particular, the homeownership rate remains relatively unchanged since 1968, the year the Fair Housing Act was signed into law," the Republican said in an April 11 press release from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. [...] We looked at statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and other government agencies and found they show that Scott is spot-on about Black homeownership rates; they have barely budged since 1968. Scott’s spokesperson said the senator reached his conclusion using the same statistics that we did.


“Private insurance gives … better coverage” than people would get under a Medicaid expansion.

As of summer 2018, 17 states have chosen not to expand Medicaid. However, some are considering placing a portion of or all newly eligible individuals into private insurance. Even some expansion states are considering similar changes, arguing that private plans may produce better quality at a lower cost to the state. Yet, numerous studies comparing the effects of Medicaid versus private coverage have been confounded by selection bias: people who are able to access private insurance differ from those who qualify for Medicaid in observable and unobservable ways. So there remains little evidence on how public and private coverage compare in their effects on low-income adults. [...] It is plausible that private insurance–with broader provider networks, higher reimbursement, and market-based competition–may produce better outcomes than Medicaid. Alternatively, Medicaid may be uniquely designed to provide appropriate health care to low-income adults, who differ in significant ways from the customers typically served by commercial plans. This analysis seeks to shed light on the value of Medicaid versus other coverage types, with important implications for state expansion approaches, as well as the debate over whether to include a public option in the ACA Marketplaces. In an article recently published in JAMA Network Open, Heidi Allen, Sarah H. Gordon, Dennis Lee, Aditi Bhanja and Benjamin D. Sommers use data from Colorado to compare individuals with similar incomes across coverage types, highlighting the key differences between Medicaid and Marketplace insurance.


"Our Supreme Court has never taken away a constitutional right."

Constitutional law scholars say that it’s uncommon, but not entirely unprecedented, for the U.S. Supreme Court to take away a constitutional right. In the 1930s, for example, the court repudiated a 1905 decision to protect "right of contract" under the 14th Amendment’s due process clause, which essentially allowed employers and employees to set their own terms of employment and previously led the court to strike down laws setting minimum wage, maximum hours and working conditions. In 1990, a Supreme Court decision reversed an earlier decision that had acknowledged the right to religious exemptions to "generally applicable" laws under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.


Nikki Haley “says the retirement age at 65 is way too low, it must be much higher.”

"Nikki says the retirement age at 65 is way too low, it must be much higher," Trump said of his former U.N. ambassador. [...] This is missing context. When Haley said the federal retirement age of 65 was "way too low" she wasn’t talking about current Social Security beneficiaries or people who are close to retiring. She would propose raising the retirement age for younger people, in line with longer life expectancy. [...] Bloomberg Television, Haley Says 65 Is 'Way Too Low' for Retirement Age, Aug. 24, 2023


Says Donald Trump said “good” during the final presidential debate in reference to families being separated at the border.

President Donald Trump said "go ahead" to moderator Kristen Welker, who was trying to change the subject.


“Lego donates model MRI kits to hospitals to help children understand the procedure and reduce their anxiety.”

A Lego employee and physicians at a Danish hospital first developed a Lego model of a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, machine, in 2015 to help children understand the procedure and feel comfortable before their exams. [...] An Oct. 8 Instagram post shared a photo of the Lego MRI scanner and said, "Lego donates model MRI kits to hospitals to help children understand the procedure and reduce their anxiety." [...] The Lego Foundation, which owns 25% of the Lego Group, said in 2022 that it would expand the project by donating 600 MRI models to hospitals with existing pediatric MRI scanning facilities. Lego also developed training videos that show physicians how to incorporate the model in their interactions with children and their families.


The Electronic Registration Information Center is “a system that’s funded by George Soros.”

In 2012, seven states formed the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC. The partnership, which now includes 33 states, shares voter registration data in an effort to clear the voter rolls of people who have moved or died. ERIC was launched with start-up money from the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, but is now funded by member states. An organization connected to George Soros gave money to Pew between 2009 and 2011, but it was earmarked for a separate project.


New York state “hospitals reporting thousands of fungus lung infections due to wearing a mask!!”

New York hospitals didn’t report this. There’s no evidence wearing a face mask properly causes fungal lung infections.


“This month alone, more than 16,000 non-citizens have been removed from the voter rolls in 3 states.”

Cases of noncitizens voting are statistically rare. Some noncitizens accidentally end up on voter rolls when applying for driver’s licenses. States and counties have safeguards to check for voter eligibility. [...] In Colorado, ahead of the 2022 midterm election, the secretary of state’s office mistakenly sent postcards to about 30,000 noncitizens who had driver’s licenses encouraging them to register to vote. The office sent a second postcard notifying these noncitizens about the error and worked with county clerks to ensure the ineligible voters did not register. [...] Voting by noncitizens carries high risks that include deportation or incarceration.


Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill “redefining ‘sexual orientation’ to include pedophiles.”

The claim: New Minnesota bill would protect pedophiles as a sexual orientation [...] The bill wouldn't protect pedophiles as a "sexual orientation." Rather, it removed language from the law that linked pedophilia and sexual orientation. An amendment added on April 26 – two days before this post – directly says the physical and sexual attraction to children isn't protected by the bill. [...] "The bill updates outdated language that incorrectly ties pedophilia to a person's sexual orientation," Finke said in an email. "Nothing in the bill changes or weakens any crimes against children, or the state's ability to prosecute those who break the law. Of course, pedophilia is not a sexual orientation – which is why the language never should have been included in the statutory definition in the first place."


Says he is the ‘ranking member’ of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Jan. 6 Committee has requested cooperation from three additional members of the House of Representatives to provide information for the committee’s investigation into the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and its causes. Letters to the three House members: [...] Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) will serve on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. Kinzinger press release accepting Pelosi's invitation to serve on the Committee. TEXT Pelosi Names Members to Select Committee to Investigate January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol:


Waiting periods for gun purchases may not make a difference, because "If somebody's decided that they're gonna take their life, they're gonna take their life."

Experts say suicide deaths can be unpredictable, but are preventable. Research has found that most attempters act on impulse, but once the acute feelings ease, the vast majority do not go on to die by suicide. Recent studies have also shown a link between 48-hour waiting periods to purchase guns and suicide deaths by firearm. Though further research may be needed, many have found that such waiting periods have at least a moderate effect on reducing those deaths.


Republicans are “trying to create a fake unemployment crisis.”

The federal fiscal burden threatens the security, liberty, and independence of our nation. The current Administration's refusal to work with Republicans took our national debt from $10 trillion to nearly $19 trillion today. Left unchecked, it will hit $30 trillion by 2026. At the same time, the Administration's policies systematically crippled economic growth and job creation, driving up government costs and driving down revenues. When Congressional Republicans tried to reverse course, the Administration manufactured fiscal crises — phony government shutdowns — to demand excessive spending. The Administration's demands have focused on significantly expanding government spending and benefits for its preferred groups, paid for through loans that our children and grandchildren will have to pay. This is the path to bankrupting the next generation.


Gaza has “the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by the Integrated Food Security Classification system — anywhere, anytime.”

On 18 March 2024, a UN-backed report sounded the alarm. It stated that the entire population of Gaza was short of food and predicted that famine would arrive in the north sometime between mid-March and May 2024. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: "1.1 million people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger – the highest number of people ever recorded, anywhere, anytime." [...] In 2004, the UN devised a system for monitoring food insecurity in populations. The system is called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC for short. [...] While this process is going on, famine-like conditions may already be afflicting parts of the country. The IPC report on Gaza published in March 2024 estimated that at least 1 in 8 children were acutely malnourished.


Says a 2010 Rockefeller Foundation report shows the COVID-19 pandemic and the international response were “meticulously planned at least 10 years ago.”

Since 2020 The Rockefeller Foundation has championed a comprehensive Covid-19 national response and recovery plan, focusing our efforts on providing evidence-based information and equitable access to life-saving tools. [...] The Rockefeller Foundation and its partners supported schools efforts to reopen safely amid the pandemic by creating peer networks,developing tools and guidance, and gathering and sharing expert advice to help schools stand up and manage Covid-19 testing programs for students, teachers, and staff. -


“Antifa is warning that tonight they're moving out of the cities - and into residential areas to 'take what's ours.'”

Seven things you need to know about Antifa [...] Some Antifa groups date the origins of their movement to fights against European fascists in the 1920s and 1930s. Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, says the modern American Antifa movement began in the 1980s with a group called Anti-Racist Action. Its members confronted neo-Nazi skinheads at punk gigs in the American Midwest and elsewhere. By the early 2000s the Antifa movement was mostly dormant - until the rise of Donald Trump and the alt-right. [...] Like other protest movements dating back to Cold War era West German anarchists, Antifa supporters will often dress all in black, sometimes covering their faces with masks or helmets so they can’t be identified by opposing groups or the police. It's an intimidating tactic – known as a "black bloc" – which also allows them to move together as one anonymous group. There are also offshoots - one Antifa group in Oregon said they also have a "snack bloc" of people who provide food and water for their allies during protests.


Judge Jeff Davis "spent years defending a convicted cop killer" and "tried to get him off the hook."

Davis, the incumbent, represented a Florida man convicted in the murder of a corrections officer for 21 years before the man was executed in 2013. The ad exaggerates the nature of the case and Davis’s goal, however. He was seeking to get the death penalty reduced to life in prison. And the ominous narration in the ad implies there is something nefarious in the act of representing a client, a standard part of the American judicial system.


Says Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “says that all young people want to be socialists.”

Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old self-styled champion of the working class who, as the ad shows, can effortlessly change from flats to high heels on an elevated subway train platform, scored a stunning upset victory that not only shocked America but also might signal a new direction for the Democratic Party. It is clear that the movement started by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in 2016 had found new life in very un-bro-like fashion. "I think so many young people are completely disillusioned with mainstream politics and the two-party system, and democratic socialism is something that seems to speak to their concerns and interests," said Marisol LeBrón, a Latino studies scholar who grew up in Parkchester — the same Bronx area Ocasio-Cortez is from — and identifies as queer and Nuyorican. "The fact that she is a young woman of color helped her connect with young people around the country who identify as progressive or left and are trying to think through party politics in this increasingly repressive moment." [...] To this potent stew, Ocasio-Cortez added a Sanders-like appraisal of what ails the American Dream, offering solutions that hew to the "s"-word strategies of a group with which she openly identifies, the Democratic Socialists of America. That same "socialism" that the center and right often identify with pretentious European thinkers and student-debt-saddled millennials turns out to be a viable approach to the problems of people of color who are segregated out of opportunity for high-quality education, affordable housing and the accumulation of generational wealth.


The coronavirus has seen a “big surge in New Zealand. It's terrible. We don't want that."

New Zealand reported nine new cases on Aug. 17, the day of Trump’s remark. The nation previously went over 100 days without an instance of community spread. The U.S. leads the world in cumulative COVID-19 cases and deaths and has reported more than 50,000 new cases per day for most of August and July.


Bath and Body Works products are not recommended during pregnancy because they are suspected of “damaging fertility or the unborn child.”

Did you know that Bath & Body works products are actually not recommended to use while pregnant? Yeah, neither did I because I never thought to read their safety data sheets. Like oh, if it’s on the shelves it must be OK for the human body, right? No. Not right. Straight from their safety data sheet it reads and I quote, "suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child" and, "may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure." I’m sorry, come again??? The products that have been US glorified FOR YEARS because "they smell good" or, "they have the best candles" have a warning label that use could harm an unborn child, a woman’s hormones AND their organs? And once again I’m reminded that the world doesn’t keep spinning and generate revenue if you and I are healthy. #isaidwhatisaid


Members of the US Women’s National Soccer team turned their backs on the flag as a 98-year-old World War II veteran played the anthem.

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named the 23 players who will represent the United States in France this summer. [...] DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper* (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson* (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn* (NC Courage), Ali Krieger*** (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara*** (Utah Royals FC), Becky Sauerbrunn*** (Utah Royals FC), Emily Sonnett* (Portland Thorns FC) [...] Fans can follow all the upcoming WNT matches on @uswnt (Twitter, Instagram) and U.S. Soccer on Facebook.


“The CBO says (the Build Back Better Act) is $3 trillion of deficit spending.”

Here’s Why Senator Manchin Won’t Support the Build Back Better Act On Sunday, ALEC alumni and US Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced his opposition to the Build Back Better Act. For many taxpayers weary of reckless federal spending, surging inflation and looming tax hikes, this was seen as an early Christmas gift. [...] Earlier this month, at the request of Senator Lindsay Graham and Congressman Jason Smith, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a second score for the Build Back Better Act. This time, the bill was scored over a ten-year period, revealing a major budget deficit increase of $3 trillion. Contrary to some claims, the Build Back Better Act is not fully paid for.


A person’s immune system “tanks” after their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.

The benefits of prime-boosting with COVID-19 vaccines were initially seen in clinical trials. Early studies of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines compared the immune responses in people who received one or two vaccine doses. Results showed that after the second dose, people had higher amounts of antibodies to fight the virus, indicating that taking more than one dose would probably increase vaccine effectiveness. [...] The scientists investigated the antibody responses of 250 people vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against five variants of the coronavirus, including the original "wild type" that spread in early 2020 as well as the alpha and delta variants and several other forms. After the first and second dose, the researchers looked to see whether people had antibodies able to prevent infection – called neutralising antibodies – for these different forms of the virus. [...] Yet after two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the paper suggests protection against symptomatic COVID-19 rises to 93% against the alpha variant and 88% for the delta variant. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine also sees a lift: after a second dose it’s 66% protective against alpha and 60% effective against delta.


Claims about hacked Dominion Voting Systems machines even extended to Myanmar’s election, although those rumours were even more quickly debunked – the country used an entirely paper-based voting system. But in Myanmar too, smarter use of technology in elections could minimise the (already tenuous) grounds on which its military challenged the outcome. Tackling messy voter registration rolls using smart phones would be a valuable improvement to election credibility, and give Myanmar’s electoral commission a stronger basis on which to reject claims of fraud. Over 80% of Myanmar’s population has access to a smartphone (not far behind Australia, at 90%), meaning most households could confirm or update their voting details via an app in advance of election day. This would allow authorities to easily remove duplicate entries and the names of those who have died from the electoral roll before election day.


Senate Republicans' move to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in an election year is "not constitutional."

"Of course," said McConnell, "the American people should have a say in the court's direction. It is a president's constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court justice, and it is the Senate's constitutional right to act as a check on the president and withhold its consent." [...] For his part, McConnell argued that the Democrats had at least contemplated a similar tactic back in 1992, when Obama's vice president, Joe Biden, was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and mused about urging President George H.W. Bush to withhold any nominees to the high court until the end of the "political season." [...] A previous version of this story incorrectly said that before 2016, the last time a Democratic president made a Supreme Court appointment while Republicans held the Senate was in 1885. The last such appointment was in 1895.


Says Amber Alerts are issued for white kids "but not Black kids in Milwaukee."

Fact check: Online post incorrect about Amber Alerts and Black children in Milwaukee [...] "So Amber Alert works for kids in Baraboo but not Black kids in Milwaukee," one Facebook post stated July 6. The text was accompanied by a "thinking" emoji. [...] We rate this claim FALSE based on our research. The data actually shows a disproportionately high number of alerts — based on population — have been issued precisely for Black children in Milwaukee. Nearly half of all alerts involved Black children, even though only about 1 in 15 state residents is Black. And more than one-fourth of all alerts were initiated by Milwaukee police — all for Black children.


"Ron Johnson has voted against funding for law enforcement and recently opposed a plan to recruit and train new officers "

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland [...] Submitted to Michael Pack by Senator Ron Johnson [...] Room SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Ron Johnson, presiding.


“Individuals released from incarceration are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release.”

"In their first two weeks after release from incarceration, ex-convicts are 129 times more likely than the general public to die from a drug overdose. The Medicaid Reentry Act seeks to tackle the epidemics of opioid overdoses and recidivism after release from prison by resuming benefits for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before they are released to avoid a gap in coverage," said Senator Braun. [...] "Addiction doesn’t disappear behind bars, yet evidence-based addiction treatment is still too difficult to access for incarcerated individuals," said Paul H. Earley, MD, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. "During the first two weeks of reentry, people are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose and are at significantly higher risk of suicide, underscoring the need to ensure coordinated care during such a vulnerable time. We commend these bipartisan leaders for introducing the Medicaid Reentry Act and urge Congress to pass this critical legislation quickly in order to reduce the risk of overdose and ultimately save lives."


“We know mask mandates work. There’s enough evidence out there between counties that have done it and counties that haven’t."

Multiple studies have suggested mask mandates can lead to a decline in COVID-19 cases. Researchers caution that factors like compliance and enforcement should be taken into consideration, but masks have ultimately proven to be an effective tool in combating the virus


The American Medical Association rescinded a previous statement and now says "hydroxychloroquine is okay" for COVID-19.

RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis [...] RETRACTED: Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: why might they be hazardous? [...] Retraction—Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis


“The Wisconsin voter roll has over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for over 100 years.”

The claim: Wisconsin's voter rolls have over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for more than 100 years [...] "The Wisconsin voter roll has over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for over 100 years," Ivory Hecker, a former reporter for a Fox affiliate in Houston, said in a Jan. 7 Facebook video. "The margin of victory is 20,000. Yes that’s right: Biden beat Trump by 21,000 votes yet there are over 120,000 people in Wisconsin who are more than 100 years old and they are voters." [...] Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Wisconsin's voter rolls have over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for more than 100 years. There are 120,000 voters with a 1918 registration date, but they haven't been registered that long. That date was assigned as a default value when local voter rolls were merged into a single statewide database, since not all local clerks had tracked voters' birthdates.


Says of Gov. Tony Evers and 2020 violence in Kenosha after the police shooting of Jacob Blake: “It took the loss of lives before help finally came.”

MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Tony Evers on Sunday night condemned the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a man who was shot by a Kenosha officer during a "domestic incident," according to police. "Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin," Evers said in the statement. "Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country." [...] - Fiance Says Jacob Blake Was Shot In Front Of His Children - Protests, Vandalism Erupt in Kenosha After Police Shooting


“Putin has stated: Russian citizens (have) 2 options: Stay home for 15 days or in jail for 5 years.”

Furthermore, events within Russia, including the attack and subsequent imprisonment of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, highlight a trend of deepening authoritarianism in the country. International human rights organizations have noted that Russia’s human rights record has continued to deteriorate in recent years. [...] The Russian government is also using legislative measures to suppress opposition voices. In late December 2020, President Putin signed a large number of bills into law, including restrictions on protests, online information, and on individuals and organizations receiving funds from foreign sources for their activities. Civil society space in Russia has continued to shrink, and legal efforts continue to target human rights defenders, and the media. Aggressive state-driven media campaigns discredit the work of civil society, and attacks on civil society actors, as in previous years, remain frequent. [...] These actions are a continuation and acceleration of the violent steps taken by Russia since early 2014 to undermine Ukrainian security and sovereignty, and have rendered the Minsk Agreements moot.


“Mike Tyson says he’s willing to box Olympic DUDE with all proceeds to go to a battered women’s charity.”

Message re: Mike Tyson says he's willing to box Olympic Troon


“Free health allowance is available at no cost.”

President Joe Biden has not announced a new initiative to give Americans more than $5,000 in cash or credit to cover health care. It’s not safe to turn over personal information to unfamiliar websites.


“One quarter” of today’s $31.4 trillion federal debt “was accumulated in the four years of my predecessor,” Donald Trump.

Joe Biden stated on January 20, 2023 in a speech at the White House: "One quarter" of today’s $31.4 trillion federal debt "was accumulated in the four years of my predecessor," Donald Trump. Joe Biden stated on September 18, 2022 in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes": "This year, it's going to be over $1.5 trillion (that we’ve) reduced the debt." Glenn Grothman stated on May 21, 2022 in Newsletter: "Nearly 60% of all student loan debt is held by the rich and upper-middle class," so forgiveness would give the wealthy a "financial windfall" but not really help low-income people. Joe Biden stated on May 10, 2022 in remarks at the White House: "My Treasury Department is planning to pay down the national debt this quarter, which never happened under my predecessor." Abby Finkenauer stated on December 9, 2021 in a tweet: Chuck Grassley was "voting to slash Medicare" when voting against the debt ceiling bill. Joe Biden stated on October 4, 2021 in a speech: "Raising the debt limit is usually a bipartisan undertaking." Nikki Haley stated on June 28, 2021 in a Facebook post: "The national debt is now bigger than our economy. [...] Joe Biden stated on January 20, 2023 in a speech at the White House: "One quarter" of today’s $31.4 trillion federal debt "was accumulated in the four years of my predecessor," Donald Trump.


“We’ve had more Americans die of fentanyl than the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam Wars, combined.”

"We’ve had more Americans die of fentanyl than the Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam wars, combined," the former South Carolina governor said Dec. 14 at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club. [...] Federal data shows Haley’s math is accurate when measuring national fentanyl deaths against U.S. military deaths. About 127,000 Americans died from drug overdoses involving a synthetic opioid other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) in 2020 and 2021 alone, compared with 65,278 U.S. military personnel who died in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. [...] Her numbers are right. About 127,000 Americans died from drug overdoses involving a synthetic opioid other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) in 2020 and 2021, compared with 65,278 U.S. military personnel who died in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.


“Pelosi’s $1.9 trillion bailout gives EVERY federal employee a $21,000 bonus check… they never lost their job!”

Other "urgent needs" include $50 million for Planned Parenthood, $685 billion that isn’t scheduled to be spent for another two years – about a third of the entire cost of the bill, and an additional $1,400 per week, up to $21,000 total, for federal employees who have kids out of school, but ignores millions of parents outside of D.C. who are also suffering through school closures, a crisis that has already forced one million American moms to leave the workforce. [...] When you add it all up, the price tag of Democrats’ bill is jaw-dropping. At $1.9 trillion, it is the single most expensive bill in history. But don’t call it a rescue or relief bill. Call it a Pelosi Payoff. Because the amount of money that actually goes to funding public health is less than nine percent. This is not a serious attempt to fix the real problems of the American people.


"Tim Walz signed into law driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota."

"Tim Walz signed into law driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota, he wanted health care for illegal immigrants in Minnesota, this guy is incredibly left-wing," Donalds said.


Bernie Sanders has “never taken corporate lobbyist money in his *entire political career.*"

Bernie Sanders Took Money From Big Lobbying Groups, Returned Corporate PAC Donations Bernie Sanders says he’s never taken money from corporate political action committees. An International Business Times review of federal elections records supports that claim — but Sanders has taken PAC money from business-linked groups that lobby Congress. [...] As Hillary Clinton faces scrutiny for the campaign donations and speaking fees she received from Wall Street firms, she has sought to direct attention to Sanders’ ties to a national Democratic Party committee that’s received some of its funding from the financial sector and other big businesses. The Sanders campaign has struck back at that comparison, and declared last week that he "has never accepted corporate PAC money in his life."


“Starbucks just announced that they’re going cashless.”

A sign from a Starbucks cafe in the United Kingdom announcing it was going cashless started rumors that the entire company was eschewing cash. But that’s not right.


“Tim Ryan when he ran for president two years ago … supported banning fracking both on public lands and generally speaking.”

Vance: "He said he supported Ohio’s natural gas industry and he’s always done so, and yet Tim Ryan, when he ran for president, was it two years ago, you supported banning fracking, both on public lands and generally speaking." In a climate forum during his 2020 presidential campaign, Ryan said he would "absolutely" support a fracking ban on federal lands. [...] A Washington Post analysis of the presidential candidates' views on fracking labeled Ryan as someone who supports more regulations as opposed to an all-out ban. Ryan acknowledged the economic benefits of fracking in the newspaper's questionnaire but said the government needs to "ramp up our oversight" to prevent leaks and other problems.


“Bernie Sanders wants free health care for all and was asked how he would pay for it. His answer was raise taxes to 52% on anybody making over $29,000 per year.”

Sanders admits he would raise taxes on the middle class to pay for programs Sen. Bernie Sanders, challenged at Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate on how he would pay for universal health care and his other proposed programs, admitted income taxes on the middle class would have to go up — but maintained that the savings in medical expenses would more than offset the tax hike. Sanders, who took the first question from NBC correspondent Savannah Guthrie, talked about his Medicare for All proposal for his allotted minute. But when Guthrie followed up and pressed him about taxes on the middle class, he conceded, "Yes, they will pay more in taxes."


“In 2021, Minnesotans were roughly five times more likely to move to Florida than vice versa” because they were “fleeing” the state under Democratic Gov. Tim Walz."

"The American people do not want what Tim Walz allowed to happen in Minneapolis coming to their communities," he added [...] Walz has also taken fire for Minnesota’s role as a sanctuary state amid an illegal immigration crisis and his stance on transgender surgeries for youth, which is further left than most of the nation. "In 2021, Minnesotans were roughly five times more likely to move to Florida than vice versa," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "They were fleeing a state that, under Gov. Tim Walz, turned its back on law and order, increased taxes, and imposed unscientific coronavirus restrictions, harming children and destroying businesses. Walz is an unbridled leftist, an Ilhan Omar-style Democrat that puts ideology above all else."


Says Melania Trump is the “first FLOTUS to visit troops in a combat zone since 1969.”

Claudia Taylor Johnson (1963-1969) [...] Thelma Patricia Ryan Nixon (1969-1974) Thelma Patricia Ryan Nixon, or Pat, dedicated herself to social issues including education and volunteering. She became the first president’s wife to visit a combat zone when she went to South Vietnam in 1969. She also sought to make the White House more accessible, opening up the property for tours and creating brochures in languages other than English.


“Joe Biden’s margin of the less than 21,000 votes in Wisconsin was the tightest of any state in 2020.”

Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds Biden's win, rejects Trump lawsuit MADISON - The state Supreme Court upheld Democrat Joe Biden's Wisconsin win Monday, handing President Donald Trump a defeat less than an hour before the Electoral College met. [...] Biden edged out Trump in Wisconsin by 21,000 votes, or 0.6%. It was a winning margin of about the size Trump enjoyed four years ago.


Chief Justice John Roberts visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island.

There’s no evidence Chief Justice John Roberts is in the viral picture. The photo was taken in the Dominican Republic, not on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. There’s no credible evidence that a "John Roberts" listed in Epstein’s flight logs is the chief justice, or that the chief justice had a personal relationship with Epstein.


“Congress has one job here: to count electoral votes that have in fact been cast by any state.”

"Congress has one job here: to count electoral votes that have in fact been cast by any state, as designated by those authorized to do so under state law," U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, said in a Jan. 3, 2020, statement signed by several other members of the House. "To take action otherwise — that is, to unconstitutionally insert Congress into the center of the presidential election process — would amount to stealing power from the people and the states." [...] "There is no authority for Congress to make value judgments in the abstract regarding any state’s election laws or the manner in which they have been implemented," the statement from Gallagher and the others said. "The text of the Constitution is clear. States select electors. Congress does not. Accordingly, our path forward is also clear. We must respect the states’ authority here. Though doing so may frustrate our immediate political objectives, we have sworn an oath to promote the Constitution above our policy goals. We must count the electoral votes submitted by the states." [...] He said this in making the broader point that Congress is not tasked in this case with making "value judgements" about the legitimacy of those votes. That is a power left to the states. The role of Congress, as laid out in the Constitution and federal law, is effectively to observe the electors sent in by the states.


Eric Schmitt “sponsored a bill to spend $480 million of your tax dollars” on cargo hub for airlines "owned by China's Communist Party” and "voted to let China buy up Missouri farmland."

A bill Schmitt sponsored originally called for $480 million in tax credits, not state expenditures, for the Missouri hub. A law Schmitt voted for allows for limited ownership of Missouri agricultural land by foreign businesses.


Says NBC News’ Kristen Welker “gave thousands of dollars to Obama, Clinton and Biden, is registered as a Democrat & her family spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House.”

There is no evidence Welker has donated to Democrats or spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House. While she previously registered as a Democrat, Welker has registered with no party affiliation since 2016, according to the District of Columbia Board of Elections. [...] "Kristen Welker, of NBC, the next debate moderator chosen by the ‘unbiased’ Presidential commission, gave thousands of dollars to Obama, Clinton and Biden, is registered as a Democrat & her family spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House," reads the post. It also features an image of Welker in the White House press briefing room with a fabricated news chyron that reads, "Kristen Walker is not a journalist she’s part of the anti-Trump resistance." [...] The claim that Welker and her family "spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House" appears to stem from a picture Welker shared on Facebook in 2012 that shows her posing with Barack and Michelle Obama in a room with holiday decorations. The photo was taken during a White House holiday press party, an NBC spokesperson told the DCNF in an email.


Says his Jan. 6, 2021, speech on the White House Ellipse drew the “same number of people,” as the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Later Trump would claim that the crowd he drew to the ellipse outside the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, was the largest crowd that ever assembled on the National Mall, including the crowd that attended the March on Washington and heard the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963. [...] "If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours – same real estate, same everything … if you look at the picture of his crowd and my crowd, we actually had more. They said I had 25,000 people and he had a million people. I’m okay with it, because I liked Dr. Martin Luther King." [...] "If you look at Jan. 6, which a lot of people are not talking about very much, I think those people were treated harshly when you compare them to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed," he said. "Nobody was killed on Jan. 6. I think the people of Jan. 6 were treated very unfairly. They were there to complain about an election."


"Antifa was already inside the Capitol with floor plans dressed as Trump supporters" on Jan. 6, 2021, proving the attack “was 100% a setup."

The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was not a "setup" by antifa activists who were "already inside the Capitol with floor plans dressed as Trump supporters." The viral Facebook post making that claim revived a debunked conspiracy theory. A University of Chicago research group that has examined 900 people charged to date has found no evidence of antifa involvement in the day's events. A video captured amid the attack does not show antifa; it shows a group of pro-Trump rioters, including some whose support for former President Donald Trump has been documented in charging documents, discussing the Capitol’s layout after breaching it.


Says Marjorie Taylor Greene said, “Jesus loves the U.S. most and that is why the Bible is written in English.”

In February 2021, as the news cycle focused on genuine comments made by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene about school shootings being hoaxes, some social media users encountered a quote ostensibly uttered by Greene about Jesus and the English language. This meme reads: "'If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us,' stated Marjorie Taylor Greene, explaining why Spanish shouldn't be spoken in a Christian Nation like America. Wow! Chew on that for a moment." [...] While it's certainly possible that someone, somewhere, at sometime uttered the phrase "If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us" in earnest, this quote is most often used to paint politicians for being, perhaps, more ignorant of history and religion than they actually are.


During the 2020 Minnesota riots after George Floyd’s murder, Gov. Tim Walz didn’t call in the National Guard, “so, I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis.”

Investigating timeline of when Tim Walz called in National Guard amid George Floyd unrest Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has faced criticism for his response to the public unrest in his state after George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in 2020. CBS News Confirmed mapped out how long it took Walz to bring in the National Guard during the outrage. CBS News Minnesota reporter Jennifer Mayerle explains the findings.


“Infection rates in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties have consistently been among the lowest in the state.”

If Your Time is short • A look at the data from the end of March to mid-May confirms that the per capita infection rate in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties was typically in the bottom one-third of counties in the state. [...] "While infection rates in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties have consistently been among the lowest in the state throughout the COVID-19 crisis, our linkage with Erie County and its higher infection rates means that we don’t meet the metrics for reopening, and our hurting, rural economies must remain shut down for at least another two weeks," Borrello said in the statement. [...] We found that, as Borrello had said, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties ranked low in infection rates consistently over that period, while Erie and Niagara started higher and continued to rise:


“Anything that you lose on the tariff from the perspective of the consumer, you gain in higher wages, so you're ultimately much better off.”

Additionally, under trade diversion, the importing country loses the tariff revenue it had collected on those imports which now come in duty free from its bloc partner. The consumer in the importing partner does gain, because the imported good no longer has to bear the cost of the tariff; however, the consumer’s gain is necessarily less than or equal to the lost customs revenue, so the nation as a whole is less well off . Thus, trade diversion hurts both the importing country and the rest of the world. These loses are greater than the gains to the bloc member that gains exports due to trade diversion. [...] Yi notes that tariff reductions have a far greater impact on these global supply chains than they do on traditional trade. To take the suit example, assume that China, Bangladesh, and the United States each reduces its tariffs by 1 percent and that imported fabric and buttons account for half the cost of the suit made in China; then the cost of producing the suit in China will be reduced by 0.5 percent. Coupled with the 1 percent U.S. tariff reduction, the cost to the U.S. consumer would be reduced by 1.5 percent. If the suit had been wholly produced in China, the cost to the consumer would have been reduced by just the U.S. tariff reduction, or 1 percent.


President Joe Biden walked “onto an empty airplane for no reason.”

Joe Biden slowly boards Air Force One as calls grow for him to drop out of the election [...] US President Joe Biden was seen slowly ascending the small stairs of Air Force One after testing positive for covid on Wednesday.


The United Nations sent out an email instructing staff not to use the words “invasion” or “war’” when referring to Ukraine.

An email was sent on March 7 instructing some U.N. staff members not to use the words "war" or "invasion" when discussing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The message came from a regional office without clearance and is not considered official U.N. policy, organization officials told PolitiFact. U.N. leaders including Secretary General António Guterres and Rosemary DiCarlo, the organization’s under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, used the words in tweets before and after the email was sent.


Says Gov. Tony Evers "wanted to increase your taxes by $1 billion just for heating your homes Instead, Republicans cut your taxes by more than $2 billion."

Yes, Republicans curbed Evers’ plan to raise taxes by $1 billion and inserted the tax-cut provision [...] Darling claimed that Wisconsin Republicans stopped Evers from raising taxes by $1 billion and instead gave residents the largest tax cut in the state’s history. Evers did plan to raise taxes by $1 billion, although his plan would have included tax cuts for lower-income Wisconsinites. And Republicans did include the largest tax cut in history in their version of the budget that passed in July.


“Since the week ending March 14, Wisconsin actually saw a drop in tourism spending compared to last year of $1.7 billion.”

Decrease in tourism dollars became apparent the week of March 14, with a year-over-year drop of $17 million. Year-over-year decreases continued to mount, with drops of about $200 million per week statewide. A study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association found year-over-year decreases totaled $1.775 billion from March 14 to May 16.


“Michael Jordan rejects $400 million Disney offer, stating, ‘I do not collaborate with companies aligned with woke ideologies.’”

Space Sham: NBA star Michael Jordan didn’t slam Disney’s ‘woke ideologies,’ as some posts claim [...] "Breaking: Michael Jordan Rejects $400 Million Disney Offer, Stating ‘I Do Not Collaborate With Companies Aligned With Woke Ideologies’ In Bold Move," an Aug. 3 Facebook post said. [...] Reuters, Claims Michael Jordan turned down a Disney ad campaign stem from a satirical website, April 13, 2023


The United States spent “2 trillion dollars to train and equip the Afghan military over the past 20 years. They fell in a week.”

The $2 trillion figure is considered credible for the 20-year U.S engagement in Afghanistan, but it includes much more than just training and equipping the military. The fall of the Afghan military and government to fall was fast — nine days from the time Zaranj became the first provincial capital to be seized by the Taliban.


"(Ron) DeSantis' bill would remove: background checks, instruction, training and oversight."

Does HB 543 remove gun background checks, instruction, training and oversight, as Newsom claimed? [...] "If this bill passes as written, there will be no law in Florida requiring government oversight, instruction, training, or a background check to carry a concealed weapon," said Aubrey Jewett, a University of Central Florida political science professor. [...] Newsom said DeSantis' legislation would "remove background checks, instruction, training and oversight."


“Homicides are intraracial. When you look at white-on-white crime, it's 84%. Right? Homicides. White people kill white people.”

Most homicides for which the race of the victim and offender are known are intraracial, meaning they involve people of the same race. A Justice Department report on homicide trends from 1980 to 2008 said 84% of white homicide victims over that 28-year period were killed by other white people, and 93% of Black victims were killed by other Black people. More recent FBI homicide data puts the percentages in the same range.


“24 of every 100 kids in school today speak Spanish.”

"Today, it is no exaggeration to say that the future of the success of this country depends on Hispanics having opportunities and the tools they need to succeed," he said Sept. 15. "I know my team here knows, my new team, that 24 of every 100 kids in school today speak Spanish." In an interview with Telemundo the same day, he made a similar statement about students, that 24 out of 100 "are Latinos, Spanish speaking." [...] Biden said "24 of every 100 kids in school today speaks Spanish."


“We have 85 million Americans who have no health insurance.”

Bernie Sanders said 85 million Americans have no health insurance. That includes underinsured. [...] "We have 85 million Americans who have no health insurance," Sanders said Dec. 11 on CNN’s "State of the Union." [...] Casca referred us to a 2022 survey by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that is a respected source of health care research. The survey found that 43% of working-age adults 19 to 64, or about 85 million Americans, were uninsured or inadequately insured. Specifically:


“Violent crime was up under Donald Trump.”

Murders and aggravated assaults shot up dramatically under Trump, while most other types of crime declined. [...] The rate of aggravated assaults also rose under Trump — by 12.6%. [...] The big jump in the number of murders is entirely due to a 29% rise in Trump’s final year, which also saw millions laid off from jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic; widespread protests against racism and police brutality following a Minneapolis policeman’s murder of a black man, George Floyd; and a surge in production and sales of firearms.


Children ages 5 to 9 “are not affected by” the coronavirus.

Fact-check: Are kids aged 5-9 'not affected by' the coronavirus? [...] Here's why: In a viral video clip, a suburban Atlanta mother who implored her local school board to stop mandating masks for children claimed that kids ages 5 to 9 "are not affected by" the coronavirus. [...] A woman in a video clip stated that children ages 5 to 9 "are not affected by" the coronavirus.


In Pompano Beach, Florida, Somali immigrants illegally in the U.S. were in line to get driver’s licenses and “all you need to vote is a driver's license.”

"BREAKING! 100s of illegal migrants in line to get drivers licenses???" read a screengrab of an X post that overlaid the video on Instagram. "Isn’t that all you need to be able to vote? 1955 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL." [...] Florida doesn’t issue driver’s licenses to immigrants in the U.S. illegally, unlike some states. And people must be U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections. A small number of Democratic-led cities let certain noncitizens vote in municipal elections, but cities in Florida are not among them. Nothing in the video proved that the people in line were Somalis or immigrants illegally in the U.S. [...] A video shared on social media claimed to show Somali immigrants in line to get driver’s licenses in Pompano Beach, Florida, and said, "All you need to vote is a driver's license."


China “had the largest naval fleet in the world. They had 370 ships. They'll have 400 ships in two years. We won't even have 350 ships in two decades."

"China has built up their military at a scary pace," Haley said in Derry, New Hampshire. We won’t even have 350 ships in two decades." [...] Haley’s campaign did not respond to an inquiry for this article. The Pentagon’s 2023 China Military Power Report said China’s navy had about 370 warships. The fleet is expected to grow to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030. [...] Haley said China "had the largest naval fleet in the world. We won’t even have 350 ships in two decades."


"The Postal Service is not losing money because of Amazon. It’s losing money because in 2006, the Republican-led Congress passed a law forcing it to prepay its pensions for 75 years, which no other corporation does ... Without this law, the Postal Service would be turning a profit.”

The Postal Service has experienced years of financial troubles. Last-mile delivery services it provides for Amazon are not the cause of those problems. The 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act required the Postal Service to pre-fund future retiree health benefits, not pensions. The law put a financial strain on the service, which has defaulted on some of the statutorily prescribed payments. The Postal Service has more financial problems than just the requirements of that law.


Tony Evers stated on April 14, 2021 in Twitter: "Regulating and taxing marijuana—much like we do alcohol—would generate more than $165M in revenue starting in 2022" Tony Evers stated on April 21, 2021 in Twitter: A new state agreement with Foxconn "will save Wisconsin taxpayers $2.77 billion." Tony Evers stated on March 30, 2021 in Twitter: "It took the Legislature nearly 300 days to act on a (COVID-19) bill during this pandemic." Tony Evers stated on March 14, 2021 in TV interview: "There’s still (only) a handful of school districts" doing no in-person instruction. Tony Evers stated on January 12, 2021 in Speech: "The Legislature spent the last decade passing laws deliberately making it even harder for people to access these critical supports when they need it most, exacerbating the problems with our already-outdated system." Tony Evers stated on January 12, 2021 in Speech: "We put $330 million in general school aids — the largest in more than a decade." Tony Evers stated on September 15, 2020 in a media briefing: "Wisconsin is one of the nine states with the highest rate of infection per capita." [...] Tony Evers stated on January 12, 2021 in Speech: "We put $330 million in general school aids — the largest in more than a decade."


“Elon Musk backs Caitlin Clark, offers $10 million endorsement.”

Elon Musk’s decision to endorse Caitlin Clark is a significant milestone in her career. The $10 million deal not only provides Clark with substantial financial resources but also significantly boosts her profile globally. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a massive following on social media, and his support for Clark will likely attract even more attention to her career. Musk announced the endorsement via Twitter, where he has over 100 million followers. "I’ve been following Caitlin Clark’s career and am incredibly impressed by her talent and determination. I’m proud to offer her a $10 million endorsement to support her journey. I support you, Caitlin Clark," Musk tweeted. This public declaration has generated a whirlwind of reactions and discussions across various platforms. [...] Elon Musk’s $10 million endorsement of Caitlin Clark is a landmark moment in the world of sports endorsements. It highlights the growing influence of tech entrepreneurs in the sports industry and underscores the importance of supporting and recognizing talent across different fields. For Caitlin Clark, the endorsement is a testament to her hard work, talent, and potential, providing her with the resources and visibility to further her career and make a positive impact on and off the court.


Says President Donald “Trump promised 13,000 new jobs to the people of #Wisconsin. 3 years later, we’re still waiting…”

Microsoft will also develop an AI innovation lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a "Data Center Academy" at Gateway Technical College, where Biden is slated to announce the development, the White House release says. The academy will train 1,000 people in the community for data center and STEM jobs by 2030. The AI lab aims to work with 270 Wisconsin companies by 2030. Microsoft said it is also partnering with United Way to train more than 100,000 people across the state on generative AI. Wisconsinites may be skeptical. In 2017, former President Donald Trump announced that the Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn — which, among other things, manufactures iPhones — was building a massive LCD factory in Mount Pleasant, a small town with high unemployment. The company also promised "innovation centers" in Racine, Eau Claire, and Green Bay. Trump said Foxconn’s $10 billion investment, which would create 13,000 new jobs, would be the "eighth wonder of the world." Most of it never materialized.


Speaking of an HIV outbreak in Indiana during his time as governor, says “we immediately deployed health resources.”

But his response to an HIV outbreak in Indiana while he was governor is getting new attention. A reporter challenged Pence about it in a Feb. 29 press conference, saying Pence did not follow the advice of his public health advisers who pushed for a needle exchange program at the outset. [...] "My health officials came to me. We immediately deployed health resources, but the truth was, is, HIV AIDS was being spread by people sharing needles and intravenous drug use," Pence said. "And the state of Indiana did not allow for providing a needle exchange to citizens. But the CDC came in and made a recommendation, and I declared a public health emergency and made, for 30 days, a needle exchange available in the state of Indiana." [...] Pence said his administration "immediately deployed health resources" in response to an HIV outbreak in an Indiana County.


“When I came into office, Iran had $70 billion in foreign exchange reserves. … By the time I left, they had nothing. They were broke.”

Recent date from the IMF shows why this theory was persuasive. The IMF’s most recent "Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia," reports that Iran’s "Gross Official Reserves" fell from an average of $70 billion in 2000-2017, and $122.5 billion in 2018, to $12.4 billion in 2019 and an amazing $4 billion in 2020. At that level Iran was on a rough par with countries such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Armenia, and Georgia. By contrast, in 2020 Algeria had $46.7 billion in reserves, Iraq had $54.1 billion, Libya $51 billion--and Afghanistan $8.6 billion, twice as much as Iran. What explains the collapse in Iran’s reserves? The "maximum pressure" campaign. And the argument that 'faced with a continuation and even intensification of that campaign, Iran would have had to negotiate' seems entirely reasonable. [...] Whenever we hear that "the maximum pressure campaign failed," we ought to recall that IMF statistic: Iran’s reserves almost disappeared between 2018 and 2020. The Biden policy, which suggests that Iran will concede more while the pressure on it is reduced, is simply illogical. As the old saying goes, hope is not a strategy.


“Wisconsin had over 1,400 opioid overdose deaths in 2022.”

In 2021, the latest full year of final data available, there were 1,427 deaths in Wisconsin related to opioids, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported. Provisional department data show there were 1,358 opioid overdose or poisoning deaths in 2022. [...] Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, cause the vast majority of Wisconsin opioid deaths, according to the health department.


"Samsung drops out of $1 billion advertising campaign with Olympics."

An International Olympic Committee spokesperson told PolitiFact Samsung Electronics Co. has not withdrawn its sponsorship. Samsung has continued to share posts and articles about the 2024 Paris Olympics. This claim was first shared by websites that publish what they describe as "satire."


Baby boomers didn’t have autism, seizures, allergies and other ailments when they were kids.

Autism, allergies and other diseases and disorders afflicted baby boomers, too If Your Time is short - Today’s childhood diseases and ailments also existed when baby boomers were kids, though in some cases, the rates of such illnesses have increased. [...] "Baby boomers had measles, mumps and chicken pox," said a post shared in a group advocating for "vaccine rights." "Today’s kids have SIDs, autism, seizures, allergies, diabetes, cancer, speech delay, colic, ear tubes, HFMD, eczema and RSV. Time to start researching why…"


“Classified documents can never be taken out of a (sensitive compartmented information facility), ever.”

Federal officials do not secure TS/SCI information in this way. First, TS/SCI documents are so sensitive that only officials meeting a very high need-to-know bar are allowed to read them. TS/SCI-cleared officials must also follow standard procedures to conduct their TS/SCI "read." They must do so only in a government-approved sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), which is specially constructed and hardened to prevent unauthorized entry and electronic eavesdropping. For certain highly sensitive information, readers must sign their names on the document they read. They may discuss the TS/SCI content while in the SCIF but not when outside a SCIF. They read the TS/SCI documents in the presence of an intelligence officer, who later collects all TS/SCI documents, returns them to a TS/SCI-designated safe located within a SCIF, and logs in their return. No one may take a TS/SCI document out of the SCIF to their office or their home, even if there is a strong padlock on their office or personal safe. When an official leaves government service, they are "read out" of the TS/SCI program and cut off from further access to TS/SCI material. If an official loses a TS/SCI document, they can lose their TS/SCI clearance—or go to prison if they do something more damaging. These safeguards exist because the sensitivity of TS/SCI information is so grave.