Though not a washout as compared to last year, the winter session of parliament (Nov 22-Dec 29) proved to be an embarrassment for the United Progressive Alliance government in more ways than one.
Starting with the fiasco over decision to allow foreign equity in multi-brand retail, stalled by ally Trinamool Congress, the charge of \"running away\" in parliament Dec 29 from vote on the contentious Lokpal bill, coupled with the failure to get constitutional status for the anti-graft ombudsman in the Lok Sabha Dec 27, the session had many moments of discomfiture for the government.
The idea of constitutional status to Lokpal was floated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. When a bill to amend the constitution for that purpose was put to vote in the Lok Sabha, around a dozen Congress members were not present in the house.
Earlier, the FDI decision, pulled out of their hats by the UPA managers, did deflect the opposition's attention from demanding voting on debates over black money and price rise issues, but it united the house against the Congress.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Congress Party is celebrating after China blocked India\u2019s bid to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in the UN Security Council.", "evidence": "United Nations: In a major jolt to peace and counter-terrorism operations in the Indian sub-continent, China on Wednesday blocked India's bid to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed terror chief Masood Azhar as a 'global terrorist' for the fourth time. China put a technical hold on a proposal in the UN Security Council to ban him just before the close of the deadline, news agency PTI reported. [...] The Congress party pounced on the opportunity and took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for \"failing at diplomatic levels\". \"A sad day in the global fight against terrorism. China blocking Masood Azhar's designation as global terrorist reaffirms Chinese position of being an inseparable ally of terrorism\u2019s breeding ground-Pakistan. Sadly, Modiji's foreign policy has been a series of diplomatic disasters,\" Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said. [...] China blocks India's bid to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar as a 'global terrorist' for the fourth time at the UNSC.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "JANSIO Threanic Triple-Spin Ring would help in substantial weight loss", "evidence": "Jansio Ring is a a triple fidget ring that claims to reduces panic attacks makes your nerves calm. It is made with premium titanium and embed with natural selenite stone, which effectively release powerful mineral elements to your body. Jansio Threanic Triple Fidget Ring is using a new-technology, a Japanese medical device. This ring is entirely magnetized by 55mT at 10-mm pitches in the Alternating North-South Polarity Orientation. This allows TitaniumION force from the whole neck loop to spread its effects across a wide surface, leading to an increase and improved blood circulation, improves metabolism, and enhance masculine energy. [...] - JANSIO Threanic Triple-Spin Ring is gentle on all skin-types. It does not bend or break easily and can be worn for a long years of use without tarnishing. The beads can be moved and spin smoothly for a perfect relief. [...] Pros Of Jansio Ring - It is easy to use - Suitable for both male and female - It claims to help in weigh loss - It is eco friendly - It does not contain any chemical", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "ongress President Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Navjot Singh Sidhu and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee are in the same pic with Pakistan\u2019s PM Imran Khan and its Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa", "evidence": "The original photo of the picture posted can be seen in the article of the news agency \u2018ARY NEWS\u2019. The photo is from the meeting of Pakistan Army Chief with its PM Imran Khan to discuss their country\u2019s security-related matters. No Indian political leader can be seen in the original pic. So, the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "More than 6 lakh high risk pregnancies identified under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan", "evidence": "The first claim is that the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) was \u2018launched to ensure good health of mother and child\u2019. [...] The fourth claim is that \"More than 6 lakh high risk pregnancies identified\u2019. One of the critical components of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is identification and follow-up of high risk pregnancies. Since its inception in 2016, Over 7 lakh women with high risk conditions have been identified.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "mages showing the technological upgrades in the Indian Railways before and after the BJP government in the country", "evidence": "Both the pictures shared in the post were taken in 2020 during the BJP government in the country. The first picture shows railway staff cleaning a platform at the Howrah Junction railway station after the nearly seven-week lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020. The other photo shows the staff cleaning a platform of Asansol railway station, as part of the \u2018Swachhta Saptah\u2019 in August 2020. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "20 new super specialty AIIMS \u2013 like hospitals being set up", "evidence": "In what can be called a major boost to the healthcare infrastructure and health education in the country, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a plan to set up 20 super-speciality All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and also to upgrade of 73 medical colleges. [...] \"Under this (PMSSY), we are going to set up 20 AIIMS in the country, six have already been established, and would upgrade 73 medical colleges. This is a historic decision,\" he added. [...] Highlighting other benefits of the PMSSY, Nadda said that each new AIIMS will add 100 UG (MBBS) and 60 B.Sc (Nursing) seats, 15-20 Super Specialty Departments and around 750 hospital beds.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The payment of wages (amendment) act 2017 is empowering workers", "evidence": "The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Act, 2017 has been passed on 15th Feb, 2017, with retrospective effect (w.e.f. 28th day of December, 2016.) by repealing Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 was passed on 28th December, 2016, which contains same provisions which are given in this amendment act, 2017. Please find the copy of Payment of Wages (Amendment) Act, 2017 enclosed herewith. [...] In the recent change in Payment of Wages act was that, wages shall be paid either thru cheque or crediting into employee bank according by the employer. However as mentioned by few friends that wages has been revised to 18000/- per month. Is there any gazette notification please share.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "A British nationalist and student of politics who covers the Indian elections, Mr. Brandon Davies claimed on Twitter that upon his analysis of 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 elections, he could say that he had never seen a PM Candidate as stupid as Rahul Gandhi.", "evidence": "Prime Minister candidate: Manmohan Singh (Indian National Congress (INC)) [...] - ^ \"Indian election statistics astonish British MPs\". samaylive.com. 4 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009. [...] - ^ \"India party declares PM candidate\". BBC News. 11 December 2007. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Ratan Tata: \u201cIn a country, if Prime Minister\u2019s popularity increases due to the death of 65 soldiers, then nobody can save that country from getting destroyed\u201d", "evidence": "God save this country. [...] Ravin 6 hours ago [...] Get rid of them to save the country.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Kuki tribes living in Manipur came from the Burma (Myanmar) as refugees and were later granted ST (Scheduled Tribe) quota in India in 1968", "evidence": "The Kukis are an ethnic group including multiple tribes originally inhabiting the North-Eastern states of India such as Manipur, Mizoram and Assam; parts of Burma (now Myanmar), and Sylhet district and Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh. While Kuki is not a term coined by the ethnic group itself, the tribes associated with it came to be generically called Kuki under colonial rule. In Manipur, the various Kuki tribes, living mainly in the hills, currently make up 30% of the total 28.5 lakh population of the State. While Churachandpur is their main stronghold, they also have a sizable population in Chandel, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Senapati districts. The rest of the population of Manipur is made up mainly of two other ethnic groups \u2014 the Meiteis or non-tribal, Vaishnavite Hindus who live in the valley region of Manipur, and the Naga tribes, historically at loggerheads with the Kukis, also living in the hilly areas of the State. Of the 60 seats in the Manipur Assembly, 40 are held by Meiteis and the rest 20 seats are held by Kukis and Nagas. Both the BJP and Congress are fielding Kuki and Naga candidates this time.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "India\u2019s longest road tunnel, the Chenani \u2013 Nashri tunnel in Jammu is constructed", "evidence": "The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes three claims about the tunnels and bridges in India constructed during the 48 months of the government. This article is a fact check of these claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u2018Hindus have the highest fertility rate in World\u2019", "evidence": "All religious groups in India have shown major declines in fertility rates, a study from Pew Research Center has found. [...] Muslims still have the highest fertility rate (2.6 children per woman in 2015) among the major religious groups, followed by Hindus (2.1). Jains have the lowest fertility rate at 1.2. The study says the general pattern is largely the same as it was in 1992, when Muslims had the highest fertility rate (4.4), followed by Hindus (3.3).", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "A recent judgement by an Indian Court allows both the wife and girlfriend to live in the same house", "evidence": "The post has been circulating since 2013, and it refers to a specific case that was resolved during a Lok Adalat proceeding in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. The case involved a man, his wife, and his live-in partner. The Lok Adalat judge resolved the dispute by ordering the man to spend alternate fortnights with his wife and partner, who continued to live together under the same roof. However, it\u2019s important to note that Lok Adalat decisions are case-specific and do not establish binding legal precedents. Hence the claim mad in the post is MISLEADING.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Subramanian Swamy stating that Adani did not acquire the 74% shares of Mumbai Airport from the Indian government, but instead purchased them from multiple foreign partners who Congress sold in 2006", "evidence": "A social media post featuring an image of former BJP MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy claims that he made a statement regarding Adani\u2019s Mumbai Airport acquisition. The post alleges that Swamy said, \"The truth is that Adani did not buy these 74% shares from the Indian government but bought 74% from multiple foreign partners which Congress had sold in 2006!\". Let\u2019s verify the claim made in the post. [...] Fact: These statements were not made by Dr Subramanian Swamy. In fact, Swami accused Adani of not repaying the loans and using nepotism to obtain stake in Mumbai Airport. Also, Adani Group has 74% stake in Mumbai\u2019s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, post the stake purchase transaction, with 50.5% being bought from GVK Group and 23.5% Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), and Bidvest Group. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. [...] Coming to Adani\u2019s Mumbai Airport acquisition, as per the media reports, Adani Group has a 74% stake in Mumbai\u2019s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, post the stake purchase transaction, with 50.5% being bought from GVK Group and 23.5% from minority partners including Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), and Bidvest Group.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The types of disabilities have been increased from the existing 7 to 21.", "evidence": "Addressing a Press Conference on the occasion of \"International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December)\" Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has said that in the \"Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPWD) Bill, the Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept and the types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to... Addressing a Press Conference on the occasion of \"International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December)\" Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has said that in the \"Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPWD) Bill, the Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept and the types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities. [...] iii. The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities. The 21 disabilities are given below:- - Blindness - Low-vision - Leprosy Cured persons - Hearing Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing)", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The Rs.500 note with green security thread closer to Mahatma Gandhi picture is a fake note", "evidence": "Both the variants of Rs. 500 notes shown in the image are acceptable. RBI Spokesperson clarified that the variation in the notes is due to defect in printing and people can freely accept both variants. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "WikiLeaks has published the 1st list of black money holders in Swiss banks.", "evidence": "INDIA/SWIZERLAND-- Black money trail: 2nd list of Indian Swiss accounts to be shared [...] TNN | Sep 14, 2011, 11.11AM IST http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Black-money-trail-2nd-list-of-Indian-Swiss-accounts-to-be-shared/articleshow/9977871.cms NEW DELHI: A second list containing names of Indians, who have stashed black money in Swiss banks, will be shared by the Germans, Times Now reported.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "By subjecting water to immense pressure and directing it through a minuscule nozzle, it can effectively cut through the hardest materials, including rocks, metals, bulletproof glass, and even diamonds", "evidence": "high-pressure phenomena, changes in physical, chemical, and structural characteristics that matter undergoes when subjected to high pressure. Pressure thus serves as a versatile tool in materials research, and it is especially important in the investigation of the rocks and minerals that form the deep interior of the Earth and other planets.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Speech and language disability and specific learning disability have been added for the first time.", "evidence": "- Developmental Language Disorder and Specific Learning Disorder - Co-occurrence of DLD and Specific Learning Disorder - Overlaps between DLD and Specific Learning Disorder - Key Differences between DLD and Specific Learning Disorder - Educational Identification, Labels, Exceptionalities, Disabilities - Specific Learning Disorder and Specific Learning Disability - Educational Categories for DLD and Specific Learning Disorder [...] Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. [IDEA, Section 300.8]", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "3.8 crore poor women provided with free LPG connections, target raised to 8 crore.", "evidence": "The meetings are aimed at creating awareness among women on the benefits of cooking with LPG in place of the conventional firewood. Kerala has achieved 99.89 per cent LPG penetration and leads the country in use of LPG for domestic cooking. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the government has given 3.8 crore LPG connections to the underprivileged sections of society. The target is to provide 5 crore connections by March 2019. Another 3 crore LPG connections are being given under the Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat scheme. \"We have identified 32,000 beneficiaries under the Ujjwala Yojana and provided household gas connections to 29,000 applicants so far. Nationwide, we have provided LPG connections to 83 per cent of the population and the government is planning to provide LPG connection to 99 per cent of families by 2020,\" he said. [...] Under the Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat scheme, the IOC has identified 15 villages in Kerala for giving LPG connections to rural women. These 15 villages are located in the districts of Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki and Pathanamthitta. IOC general Manager (LPG) A Ravi also participated in the press meet.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A Congress MLA misbehaved with the police when he was stopped by the police while chanting \u2018Pakistan Zindabad\u2019 slogans as part of a Rahul Gandhi\u2019s program in Madhya Pradesh", "evidence": "A video has been widely shared on social media platforms with the claim that the condition of police personnel who stopped a Karnataka Congress leader from raising the Pakistan Zindabad slogan was worsened adding: if Congress\u2018 reign comes, there will be an outcry in the entire country. [...] A user named Indian at Heart shared this video on X (Twitter), captioning: \"The condition of the police personnel who stopped a Congress leader from Karnataka from raising Pakistan Zindabad slogan was worsened* *These people started threatening to kill the poor man* *Just think, if Congress comes into the country or state even by mistake, then there will be an outcry in the entire country\". [...] DFRAC\u2019s Fact-Check proves that the viral video claiming condition of police personnel who stopped a Karnataka Congress leader from raising the Pakistan Zindabad slogan worsened, is completely misleading as the viral video is linked with the case of former Congress MLA Asif Khan abusing and manhandling a police officer in Delhi\u2019s Jamia Nagar in the month of November 2022.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Cristiano Ronaldo said that he loves Islam more than anything", "evidence": "A Facebook user shared this post and wrote, \"This woman from Saudi Arabia asked a question to Cristiano Ronaldo... Who do you love the most? Cristiano Ronaldo said that I love Islam the most. \" A Twitter user shared this post and wrote, \"This Muslim woman from Saudi Arabia asked a question to Cristiano Ronaldo. #Ronaldo who do you love the most,\" Cristiano Ronaldo .said I love #Islam. #Alhamdulillah\" [...] Cristiano Ronaldo, in an interview, confessed that he loves Islam the most.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Nirav Modi stated before the London court that he didn\u2019t leave India but was threatened by the leaders of a political party to escape and run away from the country.", "evidence": "The men are thought to have left India before the alleged fraud was discovered. Modi denies the allega- tions and has sought polit- ical asylum in the U.K. In a letter to Punjab Na- tional Bank last year, Modi said he owed the institu- tion about 50 billion rupees ($775 million). The $1.8 bil- lion \ufb01gure cited by the bank resulted in a media frenzy that pressured authorities to quickly search and seize assets from two of his com- panies, Firestar Interna- tional and Firestar Diamond International, Modi said. The son of a diamond merchant, Modi built an in- ternational jewellery empire that stretched from India to New York and Hong Kong. Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra became the face of his eponymous brand and Hollywood actress Naomi Watts appeared with Modi at the opening of his \ufb01rst U.S. boutique in 2015. As recently as 2017, Forbes magazine estimated Modi\u2019s wealth at $1.8 billion. But his empire began to crumble after the fraud alle- gations, and he was removed from the publication\u2019s bil- lionaires list in 2018. Last year, the interna- tional police organisation Interpol issued a \"red no- tice\" seeking Modi\u2019s ar- rest worldwide.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Rahul Gandhi: \u201cSurgical strikes and Air strikes happened during UPA government but we didn\u2019t disclose to anyone, not even to Army and Airforce\u201d.", "evidence": "A post is being shared by many users on Facebook claiming Rahul Gandhi has commented that UPA government also conducted Surgical strikes and Air strikes but didn\u2019t disclose to anyone, not even to Army and Airforce. Let\u2019s try to analyze the claim made in the post [...] Rahul Gandhi said in a public interaction meeting during the Rajasthan Assembly Elections that the UPA government also conducted Surgical strikes but did not disclose the information to the public. But, he did not say that the UPA government conducted strikes not even disclosing it to Army and Airforce. Finally, Rahul Gandhi\u2019s statement which was twisted by a parody account is being shared on Facebook as his statement and there isn\u2019t any truth in these posts.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "More people have travelled in airplanes than in AC trains for the first time", "evidence": "One of the infographics on the government\u2019s 48-month portal makes certain claims about the expansion of the aviation sector in the past 4 years under the NDA government . Here is a fact check of these claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "30,000 rupees is provided towards tuition fee and 20,000 as contingency allowance.", "evidence": "Saksham Scholarship Scheme for economically weaker differently abled students to pursue technical education Saksham Scholarship Scheme was launched in 2014-15, with the objective of encouraging economically weaker differently abled students to pursue technical education at Diploma and Degree levels. Scholarship amount of Rs. 30,000 is provided towards tuition fee reimbursement and Rs. 20000 as contingency allowance. Under the scheme, 1000 scholarships per annum are available. Number of application received from eligible candidates under the scheme every year, remained low despite wide publicity. Year-wise details of applications received are given in the table below: A committee of experts was set up, to suggest measures for improving the performance of the scheme. The committee recommended that a provision be made under the scheme to support differently abled student for purchase of Aids and Assistive Devices, in cases where tuition fee was either exempted or less than Rs.30,000/-", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Cost of the Evian brand\u2019s water bottle seen at the family gathering of Tejashwi Yadav is \u20b92900 per liter", "evidence": "Evian Water is widely considered the creme de la creme of bottled water. Hailing from a small town called Evian-Les-Bains, the prestige of the light blue-capped Evian bottle has outgrown its humble home. [...] Pricing certainly goes beyond popularity, however, Evian relies heavily on its respect amongst those in Hollywood and recording studios to maintain its image as the bottled water of the stars. [...] As mentioned earlier, Evian compares favorably with most other bottled brands when it comes to the price point. In fact, one of its direct competitors in the market - Fiji Water - costs nearly twice as much for a 12-pack of one-liter bottles.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "2017-18 is the is the best ever year of safety record for the railways and less than 100 accidents were recorded in that year.", "evidence": "According to official figures, railways has maintained the best safety record in 2017-2018 fiscal in over five decades. Across the railway network, 73 accidents were reported as of March 30, compared to 104 in the previous fiscal. This has been the lowest in 57 years. A senior official of the ministry said, \"The main reason behind the improvement is track renewal, the railways carried out renewal of 4,405 km of old rails in 2017-2018. This is the highest ever progress of rail renewal and exceeds the target of 4,400 km kept for the year.\" [...] \u2013 Derailments have come down from 78 in 2016-2017 to 54 in 2017-2018. Accidents at level crossings stood at 13 in 2017-2018 in comparison to 30 in the previous year.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Former Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar along with his wife met Narendra Modi to show his support for BJP in the General Elections-2019.", "evidence": "Mumbai: Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali Tendulkar Mumbai: Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali Tendulkar pose for photos during the Special Screening Of the upcoming Film 'Ghoomer', in Mumbai on August 20, 2023. (Photo: IANS/Sanjay Tiwari)", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Bharatmala Pariyojana: Phase 1: 5,35,000 crore rupees for expanding highways sector with multi-modal integration", "evidence": "The Cabinet has accorded approval to the investment proposal for the umbrella highway sector programme Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) Phase I for development/upgradation of 34,800 km of National Highways (NHs) with an outlay of Rs.5,35,000 crore for over a five year period i.e. from 2017-18 to 2021-22. In addition, 48,877 kms of projects under other ongoing schemes like NH(O), Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE), Externally Aided Projects (EAP) and Roads Projects in Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (LWE) are also to be implemented during the same period. This has an approved additional outlay of Rs.1,57,324 crore. Therefore, including Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, 83,677 kms of highway sector projects are proposed to be implemented with an overall cost of Rs.6,92,324 crore over a five year period. [...] Union Budget for 2018-19 gave massive push to National Highways as the budgetary allocation was pegged at Rs 71,000 crore, up from Rs 61,000 crore allocated during 2017-18. \"India needs massive infrastructure development up to Rs 50 lakh crore\u2026 At this speed, I am confident we will complete construction of 90,000 km of National Highways,\" Arun Jaitley, union minister for finance, said during the budget speech.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "A Muslim boy attacked a Hindu girl in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, in yet another Love Jihad incident", "evidence": "A social media post accompanied by a video claims that a Hindu girl was attacked with a knife by a Muslim boy in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh. This is being branded as yet another incident of Love Jihad. Let\u2019s verify the claim made in this post through this article. [...] Fact: The boy who attacked the girl is a Hindu named Sushil Yadav. Local Police clarified that there is no Love Jihad angle in this incident. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE. [...] To sum up, There is no \"Love Jihad\" angle in the Seoni knife attack incident.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "India with 5288 tops the list of countries with most universities", "evidence": "A social media post that claims that India tops the list of countries with the most universities is being widely circulated. The post puts India on top of the list with 5288 universities, followed by USA & Indonesia. Through this article let\u2019s fact-check the claim made in the post. [...] This list categorizes universities in a country based on their world rankings. With 56 universities in the top 100, the USA tops the list. Though India did not find any mention under the top 500 universities, as per the list, the total number of universities in the country stands at 5288. Most likely, the viral list of countries with the most universities could have been from this list. Because, according to these rankings, the total number of universities in India stands at 5288, followed by the USA (3216) & Indonesia (2595).", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWhen the entire opposition unites, then understand that the king of the country is honest\u201d- Chanakya", "evidence": "Background: Chanakya has uttered the above sentences. After Chanakya and Chandragupta established the 'Maurya' dynasty kingdom (defeating the Nand dynasty king), there were some difference of opinions between Chanakya and other ministers of the Kingdom. [...] See the confidence of Chanakya in himself! Apart from being self-confident, this subhaashita also teaches us that whatever we loose in life it is nothing... But let us not loose good mind/intellect and other noble qualities in ourselves.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "More line of control violations under NDA than UPA", "evidence": "As Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition-led by the Congress party spar over each other's handling of the situation. [...] There were 1,094 terror-related incidents under the NDA regime (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), while under the UPA Government, the figure was 1,218 from 2010 to 2013. [...] Official figures further reveal that more terrorists were killed by the security forces during the BJP's tenure than under the UPA.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "1054 essential medicines brought under price control regime", "evidence": "The latest DPCO, 2013 [6] was notified on 15 May 2013 for the implementation of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPP), 2012 [7]. The NPPP\u2019s objective was \u2018to put in place a regulatory framework for pricing of drugs to ensure availability of essential medicines at reasonable prices even while offering adequate opportunity for innovation and competition to support the pharmaceutical industry. As per the DPCO, 2013 all the drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines (n = 348) notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were brought under price control. DPCO 2013 set the price ceilings for these medicines averaging the existing market prices (of all brands that have a market share of 1% or greater) and adding a 16 per cent retailer\u2019s margin to it. In addition, the brands priced below the ceiling price were required to maintain the prices at current levels, whereas the brands priced above the price cap had to reduce their prices.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A poster branding PM Modi as a nation robber has been put up in New York", "evidence": "A photo of a famous TV series \u2018Money Heist\u2019 poster with the text that reads, \"MR N Modi. We only rob banks. You rob the whole nation,\" is being shared on social media with a claim that it was displayed in New York. This claim coincides with PM Modi\u2019s three-day visit to the US. Let\u2019s fact-check this claim through this article. [...] The Quint reported, \"On 3 July, a billboard mimicking Money Heist came up at LB Nagar \u2013 where the BJP has strong presence in local bodies and where the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had held an infamous march in 2020 \u2013 stating, \"We only rob bank. You rob the whole nation.\" The hoarding addressed PM Modi. Additional news reports on this topic can be found here and here. [...] To sum up, this poster is old and has no connection to PM Modi\u2019s ongoing US visit.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "India has validated elimination of maternal and neo-natal tetanus in may 2015, before the global target of December 2015.", "evidence": "The BJP government has published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes five claims about eliminating diseases & vaccination. This article is a fact check of the claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Rs. 1,290 crore rupees allocated under National Bamboo Mission to help setting up small industries.", "evidence": "Rs 1,290 crore announced for the National Bamboo Mission to help setting up of small industries and create new employments opportunities in bamboo sector. [...] New Funds of Rs10,000 crore announced for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry sectors; Re-structured National Bamboo Mission gets Rs.1290 crore. [...] *Allocation for the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) increased to Rs 5,750 crore in 2018-19 from Rs 4,500 crore.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Recent visuals of liquor mafia gang assaulting a police officer during Mahagatbandhan\u2019s rule in Bihar", "evidence": "Video shows liquor mafia gang thrashing ASI Ashutosh Kumar on 05 September 2020 for obstructing their illegal liquor business. On receiving the information, Jakkanpur Police reached the spot with extra force and rescued the injured ASI. However, during this period, Nitish Kumar served as the CM of Bihar with support from the BJP. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Raghuram Rajan had warned Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram about Nirav Modi, but they forced him to remain silent and kept approving loan till May 2014", "evidence": "Several readers sent BOOM an image of Rajan that was circulating on WhatsApp, along with a quote that attributed the following statement to him \u2013 \"I had warned Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram about frauds of Nirav Modi. But they forced me to remain quiet and kept approving the loans till May 2014. Why am I being blamed for the PNB scam now?.\" [...] \"I had warned @OfficeOfRG and @PChidambaram_IN about frauds of #NiravModi. But they forced me to remain silent and kept approving the loans till May 2014. Why am i being blamed for the PNB Scame now\"?- Raghuram Rajan, Ex-governor, RBI pic.twitter.com/Hp850LFk1l\u2014 Lalitesh Kushwah (@KushwahLalitesh) March 8, 2018 [...] Posted by Rajaram Pattabiraman on Thursday, March 8, 2018 \"I had warned Rahul Gandhi & P Chidambaram about fraud of NIRAV MODI. But, they forced me to remain silent and kept\u2026", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Website offering prizes in the name of Mohammed bin Rashid Ramadan Competition", "evidence": "There is no such official competition being organised in the name of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The URL shared is a phishing website intended to steal personal information of the users. Further the domain of the URL is known for hosting phishing websites. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Interview of Bill Gates where he was accused of stealing Microsoft Software and making money by promoting COVID-19 vaccines", "evidence": "A video showing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates abruptly ending an interview after being accused of profiting off the pandemic by selling COVID-19 vaccines that caused \"side effects and deaths\", is being widely shared on the internet as a real. [...] The video was tweeted by several social media users including lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who shared it with the caption, \"Watch: Bill Gates talking about how he was uniquely qualified to promote the untested & dangerous Covid Vaccines! Would be funny if the man had not done so much damage to the world. But he is still feted in India. Indian Express recently invited him to deliver the Goenka lecture.\" The tweet was later deleted by him. [...] We could not find a single instance in the interview, which matched the viral video. Ferguson, in the entire video, does not accuse Gates of stealing software, selling software with bugs or claim that he profited during the pandemic by selling vaccines that had side-effects and caused deaths. Furthermore, Gates is seen finishing the interview amicably, and does not end it abruptly, as seen in the viral video.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "More civilians killed under NDA than UPA", "evidence": "Total terror related incidents under UPA & NDA govt. are 9739 & 1219. So, the claim is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Social media ads propagating a downloadable variant of Google\u2019s AI chatbot, Bard", "evidence": "The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Google plans on incorporating the same AI tech powering the Bard chatbot into its advertising tools. This is according to an internal Google presentation for ad buyers cited in the Financial Times report. [...] The Times also reported that there are concerns about ads spreading misinformation this way. Bard famously got basic information wrong in its own announcement, and some Google employees have had ethical concerns about the chatbot since before it launched. For what it's worth, Google apparently will have defenses in place to make sure these AI-generated ad campaigns don't do anything weird.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Setu Bharatam project for safer roads. Making all national highways free of railway level crossings, by 2019, by building railway over bridges/under passes. Total outlay of 20, 800 crore rupees.", "evidence": "The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal. This infographic contains claims about the Bharatmala Pariyojana and Setu Bharatam Project. This article is a fact check of those claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "British authorities denied Savarkar the barrister degree and law practice, because Savarkar refused to take the oath of allegiance/loyalty to the British Empire", "evidence": "Savarkar was denied admission to the bar at Gray\u2019s Inn because of his involvement in political activities. Historical documents endorsed the same view. Biographies of Savarkar also mentioned it is his involvement in political activities cost him admission to the bar. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Hindus who wish to express their support for the Uniform Civil Code should give a missed call to \u20189090902024\u2019 before 06 July 2023", "evidence": "In fact, when the issue was being hotly debated in the Parliament during the discussions on the Hindu Code, some apologists for the status quo referred to the Vedas and the dharmashashtras , stating that the rule of conduct is the highest law: they tried to place custom and tradition on a pedestal even above the protection of human rights. Other speakers, while supporting the need for a UCC, cleverly disguised their opposition by emphasising the need to respect diversity amongst the various communities and castes within the Hindus. Of course, some of the more vocal critics spoke about the dangers to the Hindu religion if the UCC was approved. 8 3. And three, and in favour of the UCC, it is also well known that the Hindu law for a long time discriminated against women by depriving them of inheritance, remarriage and divorce. Their condition, especially those of Hindu widows and daughters, was poor due to this and other prevalent customs. Could religious practices be employed to deny basic fundamental rights and freedoms to women? Could not the UCC be employed to rectify the errors of a rigid discriminatory society and bring greater equity and compassion into social life? [...] The Hindu Code and the \"curious\" call for a UCC [...] VII. THE HINDU CODE: DEBATES, DILUTIONS, AND THE CALL FOR A UNIFORM CIVIL CODE", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "RBI issued new guidelines to banks to treat scribbled notes as invalid", "evidence": "Fact: RBI did not issue any such new guidelines stating scribbled bank notes as invalid. RBI on their website clearly stated that all bank notes with writings or colour stains on them will continue to be legal tender, provided they are decipherable. Lately, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) through a tweet clarified the same saying that bank notes with scribblings on them will still continue to be legal tender. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE. When searched to check whether RBI has issued any such news guidelines announcing scribbled notes as invalid, we could not find any such new guidelines on the RBI website. RBI in their \u2018Frequently Asked Questions\u2019 section mentioned about the scribbled notes and said, \"All Bank notes including Mahatma Gandhi (New) series notes with writing or colour stains on them continue to be legal tender, provided they are decipherable. Such notes can be deposited or exchanged in any bank branch.\" [...] On 08 January 2023, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) tweeted clarifying that RBI had not issued any new guidelines announcing scribbled notes as invalid. The RBI has on multiple occasions issued clarifications on these rumours of banks not accepting currency notes with anything written on them, and confirmed these rumours as fake.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "It is not mandatory for a woman to submit her marriage certificate or divorce decree while applying for passport", "evidence": "The provision for retaining the maiden name in passport always existed. While the PM was referring to the rule about single parents, the media understood it as the maiden name.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Provided for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities (PwDs)", "evidence": "The Lok Sabha today passed \"The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill \u2013 2016\". The Bill will replace the existing PwD Act, 1995, which was enacted 21 years back. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the Bill on 14.12.2016. [...] xviii. The Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities and also violation of the provisions of the new law. [...] The Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities and also violation of the provisions of the new law. Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs. Reservation in vacancies in government establishments has been increased from 3% to 4% for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability. Office of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities has been strengthened who will now be assisted by 2 Commissioners and an Advisory Committee comprising of not more than 11 members drawn from experts in various disabilities. Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The Titanic ship was switched with the HMS Olympic and deliberately sunk as part of an insurance fraud scheme", "evidence": "This tl;dr of this theory is that after the Olympic was damaged, the White Star Line switched it with the Titanic and purposely sunk it to claim the Titanic\u2019s insurance. So, how did the Olympic receive the initial damage? During its fifth for-profit trip, the Olympic literally had a run-in with the HMS Hawke, off the tip of southern England. Both ships received extensive damage from the accident, though ultimately currents from the Olympic were found to be the fault of the incident. It was out of commission for nearly four months, meaning the White Star Line not only lost money on repairs, but also lost out on the cruises the Olympic could have run during that time. In comes the sinister theory \u2013 executives on the White Star Line decided to rebrand the Olympic as a new ship \u2013 the Titanic. They then took out an insurance policy on the \"new\" ship to get a larger payout than they would have gotten from the damaged \"old\" ship. So let\u2019s get into why this is ridiculous, and why it didn\u2019t happen. [...] Apart from those ethical holes in the plot, the Olympic showed so much wear and tear after having been used for a year that calling it new surely would have raised eyebrows. Additionally, the insurance coverage for the Titanic would not monetarily cover the loss of the Olympic. And while the ships were nearly identical from the outside, the Titanic boasted far more amenities \u2013 especially when it came to dining. Those improved dining rooms were found in the wreckage.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Bridges over Narmada at Bharuch and Chambal at Kota.", "evidence": "A new four lane, Extra-dosed Bridge across river Narmada at Bharuch, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 9th of March 2017, has brought major relief for people travelling on the Vadodara- Surat section of NH-8. The 1.4 km \u2018Extradosed\u2019 cable stayed bridge is the longest in India and the second such bridge in the country after Nivedita Setu over Hooghly. (v) Bridge over River Chambal at Kota A 6-lane Cable Stayed Bridge across river Chambal at Kota was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 29th August 2017. Built at a cost of Rs. 278 Crores, this bridge marks the completion of the East-West corridor.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "GrAMs, electronically linked to e-NAM, to make direct sale to consumers and bulk purchasers.", "evidence": "The third claim is that \u2018GrAMs, electronically linked to e-NAM, to make direct sale to consumers and bulk purchasers\u2019. A response in Lok Sabha in February 2019 stated that \u2018in the Union Budget 2018-19, Government has announced upgradation and development of existing 22,000 village haats to Gramin Agriculture Market (GrAMs) through convergence of various schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and others. The GrAMs are to be exempted from Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) regulations and linked to e-NAM. These GrAMs are intended to facilitate farmers in selling their produce to direct buyers\u2019. [...] Fact: GrAMs (Gramin Agriculture Markets) are an up-gradation to the existing village haats through the convergence of different government schemes. These are to be linked to the e-NAM to facilitate farmers in selling their produce directly to buyers. Hence, the claim is TRUE. However, it has to be noted that the village haats have been in existence for a long time.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) introduced in Nov 2015. Around 4 crore doses administered to children.", "evidence": "New vaccines \u00b7 Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): IPV has been introduced in UIP as part of Global Polio end-game strategy, to mitigate the risk associated with tOPV to bOPV switch. IPV was introduced in November 2015 initially in 6 states, which was expanded across the country by April 2016. [...] \u00b7 A total of six phases of Mission Indradhanush have been completed covering 554 districts across the country. \u00b7 It was also identified as one of the flagship schemes under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (16,850 villages across 541 districts) and Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (48,929 villages across 117 aspirational districts).", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Social security has been made a nationwide phenomenon with Jan Suraksha", "evidence": "Lim SS, Dandona L, Hoisington JA, James SL, Hogan MC, Gakidou E. India's Janani Suraksha Yojana, a conditional cash transfer programme to increase births in health facilities: an impact evaluation. Lancet. 2010;375:2009\u201323.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Farm credit target has been raised to a record high of 11 lakh crore rupees for 2018-19.", "evidence": "Farm credit target raised to Rs 11 lakh crore for 2018-19 from Rs 10 lakh crore in 2017-18. [...] Farm Credit raised to 11 lakh crore in 2018-19 from 8.5 lakh crore in 2014-15. [...] Under SSA. the RE for 2016-17 was Rs 22500 crore out of which 96.35% was spent. The RE for 2017-18 was allocated at Rs 23500 crore out of which 82.21% has been released as on 28 02.2018. The BE for 2018-19 has been increased by 11.2% to Rs 26128.81 crore.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Bhutan has become the first country in the world without Mosques", "evidence": "In the Asia-Pacific region, 10 countries (20%) have an official state religion, and nine countries (18%) have a preferred or favored religion. While 44% of Asia-Pacific countries have no official or favored religion, the region has the highest share of countries (18%) with a hostile relationship with religion. Tajikistan\u2019s constitution, for example, does not recognize a state religion and allows individuals to adhere to any religion.16 In practice, however, the government keeps tight control over religious institutions. It restricts Muslim prayer to certain locations, regulates mosques and bars children (those under 18) from participating in public religious activities. Imams must be approved by the Committee on Religious Affairs, and the content of their sermons is controlled. The government also reportedly has surveillance cameras at mosques, and donations to mosques by individuals are banned.17", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "AMRIT pharmacies provide drugs for cancer and cardiovascular diseases at a discount of 60 to 90 percent", "evidence": "The pharmacy named AMRIT -- Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment -- will have 202 drugs of cancer and cardiovascular diseases where the price is going to be reduced on an average by 60 to 90 per cent. \"Under the AMRIT programme, we want to give medicines at an affordable cost. We have identified 202 drugs of cancer and cardio-vascular diseases where the price is going to reduced on an average by 60 to 90 per cent. In the same way, 148 cardiac implants will be given from the centre and sold here and their cost will be reduced by 50 to 60 per cent,\" Mr Nadda said on the occasion. [...] \"Some of the prices of the AMRIT Pharmacy drugs are strikingly low such as Amrit will sell 'Docetaxel 120mg' used for chemotherapy cycle at Rs.888.75 (93 per cent rebate) for one cycle, when the MRP of the injection is Rs.13,440. Similarly, Caboplatin 450 mg would be sold at Rs.1,316.25 while its MRP is Rs 2,561.57,\" said AIIMS Director MC Misra.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Visual capture of the occurrence of snowfall in the great mosque of Mecca", "evidence": "Riyadh: A video clip of snowfall in Grand Mosque in Makkah, has been circulating across social media platforms on Sunday. The 55-second video clip, which appeared on social media platforms, showed heavy snowfall in Grand Mosque, and pilgrims enjoying this rare phenomenon. [...] The official spokesperson for the National Center of Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, Hussain Al-Qahtani, made it clear, through his Twitter account, on Sunday evening, that the circulating video of snowfall on the Grand Mosque is not correct and has been created with additional effects.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Mob lynched a Christian and set him on fire over blasphemy charges in Pakistan\u2019s Nankana Sahib", "evidence": "Pakistan mob lynches man over blasphemy allegation: Police [...] The killing came just over two months after a Sri Lankan factory manager was beaten to death and set ablaze by a mob over blasphemy in Sialkot city, also in Punjab. [...] Mob killings over accusations of blasphemy \u2013 a crime that can carry the death sentence \u2013 are fairly frequent in Pakistan, home to 200 million people, mostly Muslims.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A group of people getting electrocuted during Sri Ramanavami Procession for dancing in front of a Mosque.", "evidence": "Tamil Nadu: 11 people die after being electrocuted during procession", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "India\u2019s National Anthem \u2018Jana Gana Mana\u2019 is declared by the UNESCO as the best anthem in the world.", "evidence": "In March 2016, a message claiming that UNESCO had named India's \"Jana Gana Mana\" as the best anthem in the world began circulating on Facebook. This rumor was a reiteration of one that originated in 2008, when it was widely shared via e-mail: [...] \"We are aware of several blogs in India reporting this story, but can assure you that Unesco has made no such announcement concerning the anthem of India or any country,\" she wrote. Regardless of the original intent behind the spreading of this rumor, there is no truth to it. UNESCO has not named India's national anthem, or any other national anthem, to be the world's best:", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Payment of wages to workers within 15 days in 85% of the cases as compared to long delays in the past.", "evidence": "The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal making two claims relating to timely payments & women participation in the MGNREGS. This article is a fact check of these claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Congress party leaders sat before a banner that reads \u2018\u2026Chor Group Meeting.\u2019", "evidence": "Congressional leaders are responsible for developing the party\u2019s agenda, promoting party unity, communicating with national press, liaising with the Executive Branch, and defending and increasing the number of seats the party holds. Party leadership hierarchies have developed over the years, originating first as informal positions which were then formalized and expanded upon.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "BBC removes Kashmir from the Indian map", "evidence": "The conundrum over the BBC documentary is still aflame and gets in yet another controversy anchored on the world\u2019s leading public service broadcaster. Twitter users were quick to notice the faux pas from BBC as the broadcasting agency placed a truncated map of India without Kashmir on their website. BBC removes Kashmir from Indian Map pic.twitter.com/aCRVkstdRn \u2014 Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) January 30, 2023 It was just days before that Anil Antony, son of veteran leader AK Antony apprehended the BBC documentary on PM Modi, much to the chagrin of fellow congress workers. Anil faced a flurry of threats following which he resigned from congress. Albeit resigning, Anil never pulled back any punches and slammed BBC, by sharing on his Twitter page pictures from 2020 showing the news broadcasters' website using an Indian map devoid of Kashmir.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Scenes of protesters firing machine guns during recent clashes in Manipur", "evidence": "This video is old and unrelated to the recent Manipur clashes, as it has been circulating online since 2019 on various Spanish-related Facebook and Instagram channels. Therefore, the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "India ranked 9th on the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2016 \u2013 World Investment Report 2017.", "evidence": "Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a stable means of financing capital requirements of a growing economy and both developed and emerging economies have made major efforts for augmenting the information base on FDI at market value. In India, major advancements have been made in this regard with the implementation of the Co-ordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and compilation of Foreign Affiliate Trade Statistics (FATS). The empirical results from the analysis of key factors influencing FDI inflows indicate that trade openness, economic growth, market size, labour cost and capital account openness of the host countries are major determinants of FDI flows. [...] During the last decade, India focused on increasing FDI inflows and introduced a comprehensive FDI liberalisation strategy. During 2015, FDI rules were relaxed in 15 major sectors which include agriculture, civil aviation, construction, defence, manufacturing and mining. In 2016, direct investment regulations were amended further to encourage foreign investment in start-ups and liberalise the investment regime for foreign venture capital investors. During 2019, restrictions on foreign investment in single-brand retail trading, airlines and power exchanges were relaxed. In the beginning of 2020, FDI policy for e-commerce was liberalised in order to safeguard the interests of domestic offline retailers. [...] The reform made a positive foreign investment climate in India and helped in increasing growth in FDI inflows mainly due to strong investment in top three industry recipients viz., \u2018manufacturing\u2019, \u2018communication\u2019 and \u2018financial services\u2019. FDI inflows into India demonstrate increasing trend during 2014-15 to 2018-19 (Chart 4).", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Special banking arrangement of Rs. 10,000 crores to clear fertilizer subsidy dues.", "evidence": "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has accorded the ex-post facto approval for implementation of Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) for Rs 10,000 crore for payment of outstanding claims on account of fertilizer subsidy in the year 2016-17, an official statement said here on Wednesday. [...] \"Under the SBA, a total loan of Rs 9,969 crore for settlement of outstanding subsidy bills with SBI was raised by the government. The loan amount along with interest liability on the part of government amounting to Rs 80.90 crore was paid to State Bank of India,\" the statement said. The SBA for an amount of Rs. 10,000 crore for the year 2016-17 has already been implemented/ operationalised to overcome the liquidity problems of the fertilizer companies, it added.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Recent picture of Deepika Padukone posing in saffron-coloured heels", "evidence": "Amid the controversy over Deepika Padukone\u2019s saffron-coloured costume in \u2018Besharam Rang\u2019 song in \u2018Pathaan\u2019, a photo is being shared on social media claiming it as a recent picture showing Deepika Padukone wearing saffron-coloured heels. In the wake of Bajrang Dal activists vandalising \u2018Pathaan\u2019 posters at a multiplex in Ahmedabad, this post claims that Deepika Padukone had countered protestors by publishing this picture of her wearing saffron-coloured heels. Let\u2019s verify the claim made in the post. [...] On 17 May 2019, Deepika Padukone\u2019s stylist Shaleena Nathani shared the same picture of Deepika Padukone taken at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Lately, Deepika Padukone did not pose for any photo wearing saffron-coloured heels. To sum it up, Deepika Padukone\u2019s old photo taken at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival is being linked to the ongoing row over her saffron-coloured costume in Pathaan film.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Modi government reconstructed the Sharda Peeth temple situated in PoK", "evidence": "Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) \u2013 Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, inaugurated ancient Shri Sharada temple (Sharada Peeth) that was restored recently, in an online event on 22nd March. The temple is located in Teetwal of the Karnah sector near LoC, in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It is 30 km away from Kupwara. For several decades, the temple was in ruins. Amit Shah said during the event, \u2018Similar to the Kartarpur corridor, our Government is working on building a road to Shri Sharada temple. Since the abrogation of article 370, Kashmir\u2019s ancient culture and traditions are being restored. Sharada Peeth is a historical centre of India\u2019s cultural, religious and academic heritage. Once upon a time, the Sharada Peeth was the centre of knowledge in this subcontinent. Scholars across the country used to visit here to gain spiritual knowledge. The Idol of goddess has been installed here before the \u2018Chaitra Navaratri\u2019. This is not just the restoration of a temple but the beginning of research about the Sharada civilization. This is one of the Shakti Peethas. Mother Sati\u2019s left hand had fallen here. The Amrut found during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) was also brought here. Two drops of the Amrut fell here and they stayed in the form of an Idol. Adi Shankaracharya also visited this place and praised goddess Shri Saraswati\u2019.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "TRS MLA Harish Rao set to join BJP.", "evidence": "At the same time in Tarnaka, TJAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram was cutting green chillies to help out his family members. TRS MLA Harish Rao and P Vishnuvardhan Reddy ate food in the backdrop of Hitech city. Vijayashanthi, who represents Medak district in Lok Sabha, tried her hand at frying 'vadiyalu'. She later offered them to Harish Rao who was appreciative of her culinary talents. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya and suspended Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy had 'pulihora' at Gunpark.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Under the UPA II, the average annual MSP growth rate was 19.3%, under the NDA government; this has fallen to 3.6%", "evidence": "Home / Economy / News / NDA govt's growth rate lower than UPA's 10-year average: Chidambaram NDA govt's growth rate lower than UPA's 10-year average: Chidambaram [...] Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a swipe at the NDA government for claiming that the growth rate was better in its rule, saying it was lower than UPA's 10 years average and was going downward.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A woman can choose whether the name in the passport should be of her mother or the father and not both parents.", "evidence": "\"Now women won\u2019t have to give their divorce or marriage certificates while applying for a passport. It will be up to a woman on whether she would like to use her mother\u2019s or father\u2019s name.\" [...] The second half of the statement made by the Prime Minister was, \"It\u2019ll be their discretion to use their father or mother\u2019s name in the passport.\" It is entirely up to the woman to choose between her mother\u2019s and her father\u2019s name in the passport. The statement had nothing to do with retaining her maiden name.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "India remains the world\u2019s fastest growing large economy.", "evidence": "India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world and its GDP growth is projected to hit 6.2 per cent in 2024, according to the \u2018World Economic Situation and Prospects 2024\u2019 report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It said there is a robust domestic demand and strong growth in the manufacturing and services sectors. [...] 1) India remains the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Though growth in India is projected to reach 6.2 per cent in 2024, it is slightly lower than the 6.3 per cent estimate for 2023, amid robust domestic demand and strong growth in the manufacturing and services sectors. [...] 8) India is benefiting from growing interest from multinationals, which see the country as a key alternative manufacturing base in the context of developed economies\u2019 supply chain diversification strategies.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "During UPA government\u2019s tenure, the unemployment rate was 2.2% while under NDA government, the unemployment rate is 7.9%.", "evidence": "The employment-unemployment data released by Labour bureau (EUS 2015) has put the rate of unemployment at 5%. Independent estimates also suggested that 2013-15 period saw the total employment shrinking by 70 lakhs heralding a new job loss growth under Modi. The most recent BSE-CMIE data suggested that the rate of unemployment stood at 5.7% in June 2018 and the December data puts it at 7.02%. The GDP estimates also recorded a significant deceleration from 7.5% in July-September 2017 to 5.7% in April-June 2018. The Niti Ayog Vice Chairperson Rajiv Kumar\u2019s rejection of the job data was grounded on his optimism from the high growth rates. But all the window dressing got exposed after the resignation of the acting Chairperson and another member of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) opposing the government decision to delay the findings of the NSSO EUS which was finalised and ready for publishing way back in December 2018. This data that leaked out subsequently in the public domain showed alarmingly higher levels of unemployment. According to this, the country\u2019s unemployment rate stood at over a four-decade high of 6.1% during 2017-18, compared to 2.2% in 2011-12 (see table 1.1) by the usual status approach. [...] 2.2 Lower allocations to MGNREGS", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The number of ITRs filed during FY 2017-18 is 6.84 crore, a jump of 80.5% compared to FY 2013-14", "evidence": "\"2017-18 direct tax collection recorded at Rs 9.95 lakh crore, up by 17.1 percent year-on-year. Nearly 6.84 crore tax returns were filed compared to 5.43 crore, thus registering a 26 percent year-on-year hike,\" CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra said here at a press conference. [...] During FY 2017-18, 6.84 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) were filed with the Income Tax Department as compared to 5.43 crore ITRs filed during FY 2016-17, showing a growth of 26 percent. There has been a sustained increase in the number of ITRs filed in the last four financial years. As compared to 3.79 crore ITRs filed in F.Y. 2013-14, the number of ITRs filed during F.Y. 2017-18 (6.84 crore) has increased by 80.5 percent. During FY 2017-18, the number of new ITR filers has also increased to 99.49 lakh (as on March 30) as compared to 85.51 lakh new ITR filers added during FY 2016-17, which translates into a growth of 16.3 percent. (ANI)", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Chilli Prices were Rs 12000 per quintal then, now is Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 per quintal", "evidence": "Rahul Gandhi visited Telangana and addressed a public meeting in which he made a lot of claims. We fact check some of his claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions", "evidence": "The names and job titles of officers employed in significant government offices like the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, the President\u2019s Office, and various ministries are publicly accessible. However, these disclosures do not provide information regarding their specific categories or classifications. Similar assertions have circulated for years, suggesting that these prominent offices are predominantly controlled by Muslims or Christians, while neglecting Hindus. Nevertheless, these claims lack substantiation and lack a verified source. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Rural road connectivity increased from 56% in 2014 to 82% villages.", "evidence": "Has the average speed of rural road construction doubled? Has the average speed of national highway construction increase substantially? Here is a fact check", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "A woman with ten kids from ten different men was buried in a Phallus-shaped coffin in Ghana, Africa", "evidence": "A woman has been laid to rest in a casket designed in a form of a man\u2019s private part. Ghanaian media practitioner and lawyer, Gabby Otchere-Darko shared the video and further revealed that he was told the deceased had 10 children with different men hence the male organ shaped casket. [...] \"I am told this was the final funeral rites with the casket of an amazing woman who died leaving behind 10 children from 10 different men here in Ghana. May she rest in p\u2026\u2026\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "All students studying Business Management at Seton Hall University in the USA are obligated to study Bhagavad Gita", "evidence": "In USA, the study of the Bhagvad Gita has become mandatory for every student joining Seton Hall University in New Jersey from 2008.The university wanted to introduce a transformational course that will influence the character and life of its students. Also, it wanted a course that seek answers to perennial questions like the purpose of life, why are we here, where are we going, etc,. as part of the course. In India, a bill was introduced by Ramesh Bidhuri, who calls it \"Compulsory Teaching of Bhagavad Gits As a Moral Education Text Book In Educational Institutions Bill, 2016. It is believed that every educational institution shall compulsorily teach Bhagavad Gita as a moral education text book. It is justified by its universal message that shaped the greatest thinkers of the time. As per the Bill, \"The teachings of Gita is ageless and unbounded. It contains the teaching ranging from spiritual awakening to leadership and management. Teachings of Gita is teaching of humanity and brotherhood. Many great thinkers from our time such as Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi as well as Madhavacharya, Shankara and Ramanuja, from bygone ages, have all deliberated upon its timeless teachings.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Shram Suvidha Portal has been launched that allocates Unique labour identification number and enables online registration of establishments", "evidence": "1. Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India and the State Governments enforce more than 44 labour laws in their respective spheres. There have been requests from various stakeholders for ensuring simplification of formats, ease of compliance, transparency in inspections and speedy redressal of grievances. In order to address these concerns Ministry of Labour & Employment has developed a single unified Web Portal for Online Registration of units, Reporting of inspections and submissions of Annual Returns. [...] 4. This integrated portal operate through common Unique Labour Identification Number (Shram Pehchan Sankhya) for each Establishment. The employers will be allotted Labour Identification Number (LIN) after registration on web portal. The enforcement agency will upload the data of inspection on the web portal which will be updated periodically.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "20 Gokul Grams are being established and 41 Bull Mother farms modernized.", "evidence": "It is proposed to establish Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres or Gokul Grams in the breeding tracts of indigenous breeds. Gokul Grams will be established in: [...] Each Gokul Gram will be set up by the EIA and function under the auspices of the SIA/ EIA or in a PPP mode. The Gokul Gram will maintain milch and unproductive animals in the ratio of 60:40 and will have the capacity to maintain about 1000 animals. Achievements under Rashtriya Gokul Mission - 14 Gokul Grams are being established and 41 Bull Mother Farms modernized.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Double taxation avoidance agreement signed with Mauritius, Cyprus, Singapore", "evidence": "The first claim is that \u2018double taxation avoidance agreement signed with Mauritius, Cyprus, Singapore\u2019. [...] The website of the Income Tax department displays all the DTAAs that India has signed. Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore are on that list along with tens of others. As per the Income Tax website, there are about 135 such agreements of varying nature. [...] The agreement with Cyprus states that \u2018an agreement and protocol between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income as set out in the Annexure to this notification, was signed at Nicosia, Cyprus on the 18th day of November, 2016\u2019.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "153 integrated cluster action plans (ICAPs) for 29 states and 1 UT have been developed.", "evidence": "The second claim is that Agro based and thematic clusters for skilled manpower and economic opportunities are being identified. According to an answer provided in the Lok Sabha, \u2018Rs. 19,961.81 crores of investment have been estimated in the first 197 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs). Of the total investment proposed, nearly 78% is targeted towards saturation of Economic and Basic Amenities. Various Thematic Areas have been identified for saturation of Economic Amenities, such as Agri Services and Processing, followed by Skill development to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Tourism.\u2019 The details of the specific clusters based on various economic themes is available on the SPMRM website. [...] The third claim is that 153 integrated cluster action plans (ICAPs) for 29 states and 1 UT have been developed. As per the answer provided in the Lok Sabha in March 2018, \u2018through intense engagements with the States, 197 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs), which are the blue prints of investment for each cluster, have been approved for 29 States and 2 UTs.\u2019 [...] Fact: 197 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs), which are the blue prints of investment for each cluster, have been approved for 29 States and 2 UTs as of March 2018. Hence, the claim is TRUE.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Allocation in budget 2018 raised to 3 lakh crore rupees, a rise of 20% over previous year.", "evidence": "The BJP government published an infographic titled \u2018Harnessing yuva shakti through self-employment\u2019 on the 48-months portal. The infographic makes four claims about self-employment related schemes of Startup India and MUDRA. This article is a fact check of these claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014", "evidence": "One Lakh Twenty Five Thousands Bio-Toilets Installed in Trains Coaches [...] Beginning with the introduction of 57 bio-toilets in one train i.e. Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express in January 2011, Indian Railways has provided about 1,25,000 bio-toilets in its coaches till March 2018. This covers about 60% of coaching fleet of Indian Railways. During 2017-18, IR has installed highest ever bio-toilets in coaches which is 40% higher than the set target of 40,000 bio-toilets and 64% higher than the fitment of 34134 bio-toilets in 2016-17. [...] \"Bio-Toilet project\" of Indian Railways is an innovative & indigenous development of technology. This technology is first of its kind being used by any railroad in the world for On-board accelerated digestion of human waste. These bio-toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the human waste discharged into them is acted upon by a colony of anaerobic bacteria that convert human waste mainly into water and small amount of bio-gases. The gases escape into atmosphere and waste water is discharged after chlorination onto the track. Human waste, thus, does not fall on the railway tracks thus improving cleanliness and hygiene at platforms, and facilitate track and coaches maintenance staff to perform their work more efficiently. The Bio-toilet project is very much aligned with \u2018Swachh Bharat Mission\u2019, launched by Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister of India.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "417 Mandis and 87.5 lakh farmers and sellers registered.", "evidence": "- The mandi system too needs to be revisited and alternatives have to be made available so that farmers can choose the point of sale. [...] - The key changes seek to free agricultural markets from the limitations imposed by permits and mandis that were originally designed for an era of scarcity. [...] - These mandis are usually overflowing with fruits and vegetables and the labour force at these centres usually handles the produce without safety gears.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Minimum wage increased by 42%, directly benefiting 55 lakh workers.", "evidence": "The BJP government published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes 3 claims about labour welfare under the present government. This article is a fact check of the claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Pervez Musharraf has said \u201cBiggest strength of Pakistan is Indian Muslims, not the nuclear bombs. They are converting India into an Islamic nation by population explosion. India can repeal article 370 from Kashmir, India can build Ram Temple, India can win war against Pakistan, but India cannot prevent itself from becoming an Islamic nation\u201d.", "evidence": "/Producer (Michael R Chambers) [...] Balance of Power, Bilateral Security Cooperation, Book, China, Conflict Threat Assessment and Risk Analysis, Defense Alliances, Defense Planning, Defense Policy, Demographic Forecasting, Economic Forecasting, Geopolitics, India, Indo-Pakistani Conflict, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Weapons Proliferation, Pakistan, Regional Stability, Security Threat Perceptions, South Asia, Strategic Culture, War on Terrorism (2001-Present) [...] Conflict Threat Assessment and Risk Analysis", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Eating eggs and banana at the same time will kill a man in five minutes.", "evidence": "Since early 2017, the Internet has been littered with \"warnings\" about the dangers of eating bananas and eggs together (or serially): [...] It is unlikely, for example, that a large restaurant chain such as Denny\u2019s would so enthusiastically promote their \"salted caramel banana cream pancake breakfast\" (which contains both eggs and bananas) if the risk of death were real. Similarly, the risks of Starbucks' banana bread, which is made with eggs and bananas, would likely discourage the coffee chain from prominently featuring the product in their pastry section if it were going to kill the company's customers. We have uncovered no evidence the story referenced in the warning of a young man's dropping dead on the spot after consuming a banana and an egg is real, and we understand no mechanism by which a person\u2019s death could be triggered by the consumption of a benign egg and banana combination, absent a severe allergy to either food.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "All 34 international airports and all 48 domestic airports have been provided with accessible feature.", "evidence": "Sec.36.211 Maintenance of accessible features. [...] (g) Duty to provide accessible features in the event of disproportionality. (1) When the cost of alterations necessary to make the path of travel to the altered area fully accessible is disproportionate to the cost of the overall alteration, the path of travel shall be made accessible to the extent that it can be made accessible without incurring disproportionate costs. [...] Section 36.211 Maintenance of Accessible Features", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "More than 1.16 crore antenatal check-ups conducted at over 12,900 health facilities.", "evidence": "Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his un-daunting support to the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), as the programme crossed one crore mark in antenatal check-ups. The Union Health Minister stated that Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister of India had envisioned that 9th of every month, symbolizing the 9 months of pregnancy, should be dedicated to pregnant women. The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 to fulfil his vision and ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India. \"More than one crore antenatal check-ups have been conducted under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), which has provided quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women on the 9th of every month. Now safe pregnancy has become a social movement in our country,\" Shri Nadda added.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Muslim Advocate Adeel Ahmed recently filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on Gadar-2 film", "evidence": "A post is being shared on social media claiming that a Muslim advocate named Adeel Ahmed had filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking a ban on Gadar 2 film, which is said to be released on 26 January 2023. According to the post, the advocate had appealed to the Supreme Court to stop the screening of the Gadar 2 film, accusing the filmmakers of hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslims. Let\u2019s verify the claim made in the post. [...] Fact: As on date, no such petition seeking a ban on Gadar 2 film was filed in the Supreme Court of India. Supreme Court Advocate Adeel Ahmed released a video clarifying that he did not file any such petition against Gadar 2 film. The producers of the movie have not yet announced the official release date of the film. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE. When we searched to check whether any Muslim lawyer named Adeel Ahmed had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on Gadar 2 film, we could not find any such news on the internet. Though \u2018Zee Studios\u2019 confirmed the release of Gadar 2 in 2023, they did not announce the official release date of the film as yet.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can only accomodate up to 64 candidates.", "evidence": "The Election Commission is working on a new design for electronic voting machines (EVMs) which will accommodate more than the present maximum limit of 64 candidates. This information was given in the Lok Sabha by Law and Justice minister Salman Khurshid in response to a question. \"The present EVM is so designed that it can be used only in a constituency, where the maximum number of candidates is sixty four,\" Mr. Khurshid said in his written reply. \"The Election Commission has intimated that they are working on a new design of EVMs, which will accommodate more than 64 candidates,\" he said.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Shark Tank India\u2019s Judge Vineeta Singh played the role of Raju\u2019s Mother in \u20183 Idiots\u2019 movie", "evidence": "An image is widely shared on social media stating that Sugar Cosmetics CEO and Shark Tank India judge Vineeta Singh had played the character of Raju\u2019s Mother in the 3 Idiots movie. The image is shared on Facebook with a caption: \"CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, Vineeta Singh, didn\u2019t feel ashamed or nervous and proudly played the role of a poor mother in 3 Idiots\" [...] According to the film\u2019s end credits and IMDb, actress Amardeep Jha, 62, played Raju\u2019s mother (Mrs Rastogi). Vineeta Singh did not appear in this film.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Congress Manifesto: \u201cWill withdraw the AFSPA, reduce army presence if voted\u201d.", "evidence": "The Congress Manifesto promises to amend or review the AFSPA, not withdraw it. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India Kiren Rijiju has been re-elected as Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh", "evidence": "Kiren Rijiju (born 19 November 1971) is an Indian politician serving as 28th Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and 7th Minister of Minority Affairs since 2024. He was the Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries in the Government of India since 2023 till June 2024 and a member of the parliament in Lok Sabha from Arunachal West since 2014 and from 2004 to 2009. Earlier, he served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs from 2014 to 2019, Minister of State for Minority Affairs from 2019 to 2021, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2019 to 2021 and the Law minister from 2021 to 2023.[3][4] [...] Political career [edit]Kiren Rijiju is a three time MP in Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh (2004, 2014, and 2024). He has served as minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) youth affairs and sports, MoS minority affairs, MoS home affairs, and Minister of Law and Justice. His tenure as Law Minister was marked by controversies. On 18 May 2023, he was assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences.[8] On 10 June 2024, he was appointed as the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.[9]", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Families of the deceased persons to be given an assistance of 4 lakh rupees, up from 2.5 lakh rupees.", "evidence": "Death case- 2 lakh Serious injury- 50,000/- 4.5 2 1 10 [...] Death case- 2 lakh Serious injury- 50,000/- 14.5 7 1 4 [...] Death case- 2 lakh Serious injury- 50,000/- 52.50 25 5 4", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Contribution of 12% to EPF for new employees for 3 years by the government in sectors employing large number of people.", "evidence": "Government will pay the 12 per cent of wages to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution on behalf of new employees in all sections for the next three years. The decision was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during his Union Budget presentation in Lok Sabha on Thursday. Mr. Jaitley also said the Employees Provident Fund Act will be amended to reduce contribution of women to eight per cent from 12 per cent with no change in employer\u2019s contribution. This would effectively mean women employees will be able to get a higher take-home pay. According to the Employees\u2019 Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), 36.8 lakh new members in the age group of 18-25 years were added as of November 2017.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "S.M.S English Medium School in Karnataka designed a Social Studies question paper for 7th standard students, which exclusively asked questions related to Muslim and other communities, indicating bias against Hinduism", "evidence": "The question paper analysis of the SSLC Karnataka social science subject has been provided below after the availability of the final exam paper. Inputs have been taken from expert faculty and students (who took the exam) for doing a proper analysis of the question paper. The Karnataka SSLC Social Science question paper was of the moderate difficulty level. All the questions in the exam was asked from the standard syllabus. The objective questions were simple and scoring. The subjective questions were a bit lengthy. Overall the exam paper was scoring. As per the experts, students who would have practiced in the final days can score above 90 percent comfortable. The students also reported that they could complete the exam in time. [...] The Karnataka SSLC Social Science model paper 2024 contains questions from the standard syllabus prescribed by the Karnataka Board. The model question paper has been released in both Kannada and English language, just like the exam paper. The model paper contains exactly the same number of questions in the exact pattern as present in the actual board exam paper. That is why, students must practice the sample paper to have an idea about the question nature and difficulty level.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "No organisation associated with Islam participated in the relief work during the Odisha train accident", "evidence": "Islamic organizations, such as Dawat-e-Islami India and Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, have actively participated in the relief work following the Odisha accident. They have provided essential supplies like food and water to the victims and facilitated transportation to nearby hospitals. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "atayu, a mythical bird from Ramayana, is found alive for first time in Kaliyug in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh", "evidence": "Recently, a video of a big vulture captured in Kanpur is making round in social media with claims that it was Jatayu, a mythological bird from the Ramayana, that was revered for helping Rama to inform him about Sita. The claim obviously said the Jatayu bird is still alive as seen in Uttar Pradesh now. The video, shared on Facebook, carried a caption:\"\u0915\u0932\u092f\u0941\u0917 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0930 \u091c\u093f\u0902\u0926\u093e \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0947 \u0930\u093e\u092e\u093e\u092f\u0923 \u0915\u0947 \u091c\u091f\u093e\u092f\u0941! \u0909\u0924\u094d\u0924\u0930 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0926\u0947\u0936 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0928\u092a\u0941\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u093f\u090f \u0938\u093e\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093e\u0924 \u0926\u0930\u094d\u0936\u0928\" (English translation: Jatayu of Ramayana found alive for the first time in Kalyug! Gave live darshan in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh) [...] Similar vultures were seen in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra in 2018 and 2021, respectively. Hence, the claim in video of the Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued in Uttar Pradesh as Jatayu described in epic Ramayana is misleading.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Visuals of a Hindu girl lying in a pool of blood after being murdered by her Muslim lover in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh", "evidence": "A video of a woman lying in a pool of blood is being widely shared, claiming that it depicts the brutal murder of a Hindu woman by her Muslim lover in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Let\u2019s verify the claim made in the post. [...] Furthermore, our investigation revealed that the screenshot of Jagran news headline overlaid on viral video pertains to a separate murder incident in Jabalpur that occurred last year. The perpetrator, in that case, was identified as Hemant Rajendra Bhadane, and the victim was named Shilpa. FACTLY had already debunked this video when it previously went viral, refuting claims of it being related to alleged love jihad. [...] To sum it up, an old unrelated video from Colombia is being shared as an incident Muslim Man murdering a Hindu girl in Jabalpur.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "There were 83,000 common service centers pre 2014. This number has increased to 2.92 lakh post 2014.", "evidence": "\"CSC e-Governance Services India Limited\" : You can locate your nearest Common Service Center in your locality. Choose your State from above Dropdown to Search List of Common Service Centers in State.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "While Manmohan Singh spent Rs 12 crore per trip i.e. Rs 493 crore on 38 trips, Modi spent only Rs 10 crore per trip i.e. Rs 443 crore on 44 trips.", "evidence": "Till now, PM Modi has taken 44 trips to foreign countries, 6 more than his predecessor Manmohan Singh took during UPA-2. However, the expenses incurred on Modi\u2019s foreign visits are almost Rs 50 crore lesser than that of the latter. As PM, Singh undertook 38 trips abroad in those five years, and incurred an expenditure of Rs 493.22 crore, while Modi has so far been charged Rs 443.4 crore for official foreign visits by Air India. [...] The reason behind lower cost despite more journeys is Modi\u2019s formula of \"single ticket double journey\" or in other words, travelling to multiple destinations during an overseas trip, as he told HT in an interview. While Manmohan Singh travelled mostly to one or two destinations, Modi flew to as many as to six countries on a single trip when he visited Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2015; 16 of his trips were to multiple countries. Also, while during Singh\u2019s tenure, Air India One was used even on short-haul tours, PM Modi used the business jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for six international trips, incurring no additional expense. Modi went to Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran and Singapore in the IAF\u2019s Boeing 737 business jet that is used round the year exclusively for VVIP travel.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Prices of cardiac stents and knee implants reduced by 50 to 70%\u201d", "evidence": "Keeping the Independence Day promise of PM Narendra Modi to take measurable steps to harness healthcare costs, the government has announced to curb the price of knee implants in the country. With private hospitals reportedly indulging in unethical profiteering by charging unreasonable and extravagant rates and doing, the government has taken a decision to cap the retail price of knee implants. Under a special provision in the drug pricing law that allows the government to intervene in extraordinary circumstances in public interest, nearly 70 percent cost is slashed down keeping the knee implants in the range from Rs 54,000 to Rs 1.14 lakh which is lower than the current knee implant cost surgeries. Every year around 3 crore patients undergo knee implants surgery and with this move, over 3 crores arthritis patients in the country are expected to be benefitted with the estimated saving of 1500 crore annually. In February also, the government has taken steps to rein in the cost of coronary stents by slashing their maximum price by up to 85 per cent. This decision does not surface as a surprise as the NPPA had already released analytic data showing unethical trade margin on orthopedic knee implants. Earlier this month, in the analysis of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, it was found that manufacturers, distributors, and hospitals are illegally profiting up to 450% trade margins on these widely used knee implants. Against an earlier exorbitant MRP of Rs 1,58,324, now the knee implants surgery involving cobalt chromium will cost Rs 54,720. Similarly, knee implant cost involving special metals like oxidized zirconium and titanium have seen the decline of 70%, to 76,600 from Rs 2.49 lakh.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "A young Dalit man named Lakhan\u2019s head was shaved, and he was assaulted by a mob in Uttar Pradesh\u2019s Meerut", "evidence": "According to the news reports, the incident did happen in Meerut. Some people in the Brahmpuri area assaulted a man named Lakhan Kumar. The police clarified that the assaulters and Lakhan both belong to the Dalit community and related to each other. Hence, the claim made in the post is Misleading.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "A circular in the name of AICTE talks about scrapping the 75% attendance rule for the engineering course.", "evidence": "This will come into effect from N Scheme onwards i.e. from the academic year 2020-2021. [...] A candidate will be declared to have passed in First Class with Superlative Distinction if he/she secures not less than 75% of the marks in all the subjects and passes all the semesters in the first appearance itself and passes all subjects within the stipulated period of study 2 / 3/ 3\u00bd/ 4 years [Full time(lateral entry)/Full Time/Sandwich/Part Time] without any break in study. [...] A candidate will be declared to have passed in First Class with Distinction if he/she secures not less than 75% of the aggregate marks in all the semesters put together and passes all the semesters except the I and II semester in the first appearance itself and passes all subjects within the stipulated period of study 2 / 3/ 3\u00bd/ 4 years [Full time(lateral entry)/Full Time/Sandwich/Part Time] without any break in study.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "The song \u201cMere Angane Mein\u201d was originally from a 19th-century movie called \u2018Miss Sheela\u2019 (1883)", "evidence": "An audio recording of the hit Hindi song 'Mere Angne Mein' is being widely shared on social media, claiming that it was first recorded in 1883 by one Miss Sheela. [...] What about 'Mere Angne Mein'?: We came across a blog post which mentioned that the song 'Mere Angne Mein' was actually a folk song from Uttar Pradesh.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Acid attack victims have been included in the list of people considered as disabled.", "evidence": "In an infographic published by the government, certain claims were made regarding provisions of the \u2018Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act\u2019. Here is a fact check of those claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Concept design of car safety belt in 1960s that goes around the neck", "evidence": "Although we were unable to find the source of this photograph, which is captioned \"A concept design for car safety belts from the 1960s,\" the concept appears to have been inspired by a scene in the 2008 film \"The Onion Movie\": According to the consumer advocacy group Center for Auto Safety, seat belts started their evolution as lap belts. In 1958, a Swedish engineer for Volvo invented the three-point restraint, namely a seat belt that included a lap belt and diagonal shoulder restraint. We found no evidence of any such design as the one shown above for neck belts \u2014 and for obvious reasons it would be an extraordinarily bad idea. The neck belt meme reminded some who commented on social media posts of a thought experiment called Tullock's Spike, an idea thought up by economist Gordon Tullock, who posed the question: Do people engage in riskier behavior as cars get safer over time? If so, Tullock wondered, would putting a spike in the middle of the steering wheel convince people to drive more safely, counterintuitively saving more lives by preventing more traffic collisions?", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Financial security of senior citizens with PM Vaya Vandana Yojana, gives 8% interest for 10 years. Investment limit doubled to 15 lakh rupees and scheme extended till 2020.", "evidence": "\"The scheme has two USPs. One is the return of 8% p.a. which is a very good rate of interest when you look at fixed deposits fetching not more than 7% p.a. One more advantage is that the rate of return will remain 8% for the next 10 years, which is definitely a boon for senior citizens. It will ensure a smooth and consistent cash flow for them. Given the inflation rate of 4-5% p.a., the guaranteed pension at 8% p.a. is going to be so relieving,\" says Atul Surana, Certified Financial Planner, Catalyst Financial Planning. [...] \"This scheme can be compared to other limited years schemes such as Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) or Post Office MIS. The interest rates offered in SCSS also stands today at 8.4% which is locked till maturity once you invest. This is higher than the announced scheme. Also, in SCSS you can invest up to Rs 15 lakh, but here you can invest only up to Rs 7.5 lakh. When I look at both these features, then I stand to gain in SCSS. However, guaranteed schemes always attract us and a guaranteed for 10 years will attract people. Although PMVVY will provide a fixed income for 10 years, it does not factor in inflation which is a dampener. In my view, it\u2019s the assured return which is attracting investors, but there are more lucrative options available in the market where one stands to benefit more,\" says Jitendra P.S. Solanki, CFP & Planner for Special Needs Member Families.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "World\u2019s biggest Anaconda snake which is 134 feet long and 2067 Kgs weight.", "evidence": "An image is being shared widely on Facebook with the claim \u2018World\u2019s biggest snake Anaconda found in Africa\u2019s Amazon river. It has killed 257 humans & 2325 animals. Africa\u2019s Royal British Commandos took 37 days to get it killed\u2019. Let\u2019s try to analyze the claim made in the post. [...] Claim: Photo of the World\u2019s biggest \u2018Anaconda\u2019 snake which is 134 feet long and 2067 Kgs weight. [...] And as per the National Geographic Channel, the \u2018Green Anaconda\u2019 is the largest snake in the world with length up to 30 feet and weigh up to 250 kgs. But the dimensions of the anaconda given in the post are much higher than any of these figures.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Disinvestment crossed target of 72,500 crore rupees.", "evidence": "Re-structured National Bamboo Mission gets R5.l290crore Loans to Women Self Help Groups will increase to Rs. 75,000 crore in 2019 from 42,500 crore last year. [...] Disinvestment crossed target of Rs 72,500 crore to reach Rs 1,00,000 crore. [...] Rs. 75,000 crore rupees will be provided as loans to Women Self Help Groups till March, 2019.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "In an open letter written by Dr. Devi Shetty, he called on people to gather at the Governor\u2019s residence of each state with a petition to oppose the recently proposed health care service tax which he labels as a \u2018Misery tax\u2019", "evidence": "A social media post containing an open letter allegedly written by Dr. Devi Shetty opposing a proposed 5% service tax on healthcare in the recent budget is being shared on social media. This letter also calls out to people to assemble at the Governor\u2019s house of each state at 11 am on 12 March with a petition to roll back the tax. Let\u2019s know the details behind this letter in this fact-checking article. [...] We performed a reverse image search on the image to learn more details about the letter. This search led us to two blog posts (here and here) from March 2011, which contained the same letter. One of those two posts mentions that Dr. Devi Shetty issued this open letter to the people of India urging them to \u2018observe 12th March 2011 as \u2018Misery Day\u2019. The letter also opposed the Union Government\u2019s proposal to impose an additional 5 per cent service tax on healthcare provided by the private hospitals. He called this new proposed tax as \u2018Misery Tax\u2019. We then looked for relevant news articles regarding this and found the related information. Reportedly, in 2011, the then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed to levy a service tax of 5% on the healthcare services provided by hospitals with 25 or more beds with central air conditioning facilities. This proposal received a negative response from the healthcare industry. Opposing this Service Tax, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya, wrote an open letter (here and here) calling it a \u2018Misery tax\u2018.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "More than 6 lakh high risk pregnancies identified.", "evidence": "New Delhi: More than 550,000 women were found to be going through high-risk pregnancies during screening between June 2016 to December 2017 under a government scheme for protection of pregnant women. [...] \"Women identified as high-risk pregnancy were referred to a specialist or a higher health facility for appropriate care. Identifying high-risk pregnancies is the first step towards saving mothers and infants from preventable deaths,\" said J.P. Nadda, Union minister of health and family welfare, in New Delhi on Friday. [...] To enable early detection of high-risk pregnancies, 8.4 million haemoglobin tests, 5.5 million HIV tests, 4.1 million tests for gestational diabetes, 3.3 million tests for syphilis and more than 1.5 million ultrasound examinations were conducted under the programme. The government is also providing free of cost management of any existing clinical condition such as anaemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes under the programme.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "1000 scholarships per annum are available", "evidence": "More than 1000 fully funded scholarships are available at world top universities for international students. These scholarships provide average monthly stipend of $1000 along with tuition fees, accommodation charges, health insurance and travel allowance. [...] Imperial Collage London PhD Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. Up to 10 fully-funded scholarships are awarded each year. This scholarship covers both tuition fees and an annual tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of \u00a316,553. [...] Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) is a fully funded scholarship for international students. Approximately 600 scholarships are available for Masters and doctoral research studies. This scholarship offers living allowance of $31,200 per year, Full fee offset, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership, Relocation grant and many other benefits.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Agro based and thematic clusters for skilled manpower and economic opportunities are being identified", "evidence": "One of the most promising strategies is the cluster-based development approach. Clusters are defined as \"groups of industries closely related by skill, technology, supply, demand and/or other linkages\" (Delgado, Porter, and Stern 2016). A cluster-based development approach involves collaborative actions by groups of companies, governments, and other related institutions to improve the competitiveness of a group of interlinked economic activities in a specific geographic region (Ketels and Memedovic 2008). Sonobe and Otsuka\u2019s (2006) empirical study of cluster-based industrial development in developing countries suggests that a cluster can be an effective institution for HVP value chain development as well. Indeed, G\u00e1lvez-Nogales (2010) finds numerous successful agro-based clusters in many countries. As an illustration, Figure 1 shows the structure of an agro-based cluster. In the cluster, farmers are entrepreneurs who see their farms as businesses. They are not just farming but operating complicated businesses, employing workers, coordinating the division of labor among teams, and collaborating with outsiders. In other words, entrepreneurial farmers are skillful at not only producing but also grading, marketing, branding, and management.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "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.", "evidence": "The Congress party has made a series of claims about the budget allocation & expenditure on education and health during the UPA. The following article is a fact check of the claims made on the Congress website.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "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.\"", "evidence": "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.\" Trump has said that he would propose a 10% tariff on all non-domestic goods sold in the U.S. While tariffs are levied separately from taxes, economists say that much of their impact would be passed along to consumers, making them analogous to a tax. [...] The American Action Forum, a center-right think tank, has projected additional costs per household of $1,700 to $2,350 annually. The Peterson Institute of International Economics, another Washington, D.C.-based think tank, projected that such tariffs would cost a middle-income household about $1,700 extra each year.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cCandace Owens vows to have Taylor Swift banned from next NFL season.\u201d", "evidence": "Satirical story about Candace Owens trying to ban Taylor Swift from the NFL spreads without context [...] Conservative commentator Candace Owens has been critical of singer Taylor Swift, but claims she\u2019s trying to bar Swift from the NFL originated on fake news pages. \"BREAKING: Candace Owens vows to have Taylor Swift banned from the next NFL season, \u2018she\u2019s awfully woke,\u2019\" a June 18 Facebook post said.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThere 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.\"", "evidence": "Black farmers who are struggling to retain their land despite racial discrimination and little assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), could find relief in a measure called The Justice for Farmers Act. [...] \"When it comes to farming and agriculture, we know that 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,\" wrote the Act\u2019s sponsor Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in a news release. \"The Justice for Black Farmers Act will work to correct this historic injustice by addressing and correcting USDA discrimination and taking bold steps to restore the land that has been lost in order to empower a new generation of Black farmers to succeed.\" [...] The USDA has a long history of racism against Black farmers. A June 2019 report published in The Counter, an online investigative newsroom focused on food issues, documents how the USDA seized land from Black farmers. In the past, a common USDA practice was to foreclose on farms owned by Black people who had filed discrimination complaints against the agency. The Counter details how the USDA would ignore complaints then, allow them to sit unanswered until the statutes of limitations ran out.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\"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.\"", "evidence": "Since becoming the minority party in the Assembly in 2011, the percentage of Democratic-authored bills that received a public hearing declined from 15.6% to 1.9% in the 2021-22 legislative session. Republicans, when in the minority, saw 39% of their bills receive public hearings in the 2009-10 legislative session. More than 70% of their bills have received hearings since taking over in the 2011-12 session.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cCaitlin Clark rejects $400 million deal from Nike\u201d saying \u201cnot with that Kaepernick clown.\u2019\u201d", "evidence": "Clark's new Nike deal is reported to be worth $28 million over eight years, per the Wall Street Journal. She chose the Swoosh over Adidas and Stephen Curry's \"Curry Brand\" with Under Armour, according to Charania. Clark's Nike deal guarantees that she will receive a signature shoe with the brand. Among other Nike athletes with their own signature shoe are Sabrina Ionescu, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant, and Devin Booker. [...] Caitlin Clark NIL deals", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "California Assembly Bill 1955 \u201cwould allow schools to secretly, socially and perhaps medically transition your child without your knowledge and consent.\"", "evidence": "Bill Text: CA AB1955 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended [...] Status: (Passed) 2024-07-15 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 95, Statutes of 2024. [AB1955 Detail] [...] (a) A school district, county office of education, charter school, state special school for the blind or the deaf, or a member of the governing board of a school district or county office of education or a member of the governing body of a charter school, shall not enact or enforce any policy, rule, or administrative regulation that would require an employee or a contractor to disclose any information related to a pupil\u2019s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil\u2019s consent, unless otherwise required by state or federal law.(a)The department shall encourage and assist local educational agencies to improve and monitor the health of their pupils. The department shall provide guidance and assist local educational agencies to secure the voluntary assistance of local health professionals, schools of medicine, schools of public health, schools of nursing, voluntary health agencies, and other appropriate entities to provide pupil health screening and appropriate medical referrals and to provide valuable health information to pupils and their parents.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cCaitlin Clark has officially joined the Canadian women's Olympic team.\u201d", "evidence": "Caitlin Clark's Olympics snub took a major turn, and there is evidence she could join the team after all. Originally, there was a cavalcade of backlash when it was announced Clark would not be going to the Olympics to play for Team USA women's basketball. \"Leaving Caitlin Clark off the women's Olympic team is the dumbest s*** I've ever heard,\" Dave Portnoy wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on June 8 alongside a fiery video message. All that blustering outrage could prove to be for naught, as a key member of the Olympic team could be stepping aside to make way for Clark. [...] One reason that Caitlin Clark was an appealing alternate for the women's basketball team at the Olympics was how she handled being excluded from the roster. People wondered how Clark would react after being left off, but the highly-touted rookie took the news in stride. \"I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could've gone either way of me being on the team,\" she told reporters on June 9, per NBC News. In fact, Clark was not shocked to not make the team. \"Honestly, no disappointment,\" she told the press about not being named an Olympian. The Indiana Fever star was not only fine with not making Team USA, but showed support for the women who were going to the Olympics. \"I'm gonna be rooting them on to win gold,\" Clark added.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "The Trump administration \u201cachieved the lowest African American unemployment rate and the lowest African American poverty rate ever recorded.\u201d", "evidence": "Republican Sen. Tim Scott has claimed that African Americans, Hispanics and Asians all had their lowest unemployment rate under former President Donald Trump. But the lowest unemployment rate on record for African Americans was under President Joe Biden, and the lowest unemployment rate for Hispanics was the same under both presidents. [...] \"We were just better off under President Trump,\" began Scott, who is considered to be a potential vice presidential running mate for Trump. \"Inflation, Kristen, was at 2%, and we had the lowest unemployment rates for African Americans, for Hispanics, for Asians, a 70-year low for women.\" [...] Under Trump, the unemployment rate for African Americans went down to 5.3% in August 2019 \u2013 at that time, the lowest rate on record, according to BLS data going back to 1972. When Trump left office in January 2021, amid the pandemic, the rate was 9.3%.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Crime statistics \u201cno longer include data from 30% of the country including the biggest and most violent cities.\u201d", "evidence": "Tracking crime statistics \u2013 and more importantly, whether or not crime is rising or falling in the United States \u2013 is getting harder to do. That\u2019s because nearly a third of America\u2019s cities are no longer reporting crime statistics to the FBI. This is more than just a problem for policymakers looking for data to address the cities most in need of assistance. It also means that some policymakers are demanding bad policy because they\u2019re relying on incomplete data. The Marshall Project reported that 31 percent of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. failed to report crime data to the FBI\u2019s national database after transitioning to a new data collection system, according to the latest statistics from the FBI. That\u2019s a slight improvement from 2021, when 40 percent of law enforcement agencies didn\u2019t report crime data. Still, it\u2019s a glaring blind spot, especially when that data is missing from some of the largest metro areas dealing with rampant, out-of-control crime.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals \u201cjust ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional.\u201d", "evidence": "\"The ranks of the conspiracy theorists now include the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which just ruled Covid vax mandates unconstitutional because the vaccine does not stop transmission,\" Kennedy wrote in a June 12 Facebook post. \"I dunno, maybe it\u2019s the brain worm, but I seem to remember the experts and authorities telling us otherwise.\" [...] The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on June 7 ruled only that the lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Unified School District could move forward. It overturned a lower court decision to dismiss the lawsuit, which was brought by the nonprofit Health Freedom Defense Fund, which advocates against vaccine mandates, and employees who opposed the district\u2019s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. [...] The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to vacate a lower court\u2019s dismissal of the vaccine mandate lawsuit; it did not rule on whether a vaccine mandate is constitutional.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Apple is \u2026 about to start charging us to use the FaceTime feature.\u201d", "evidence": "When you enable FaceTime it sends an SMS to an Apple server in the UK to activate the service. Normally carriers that support the iPhone do not charge for this SMS. However, your carrier may not participate, in which case using FaceTime can get to be expensive, because it periodically updates that server with a new SMS. FaceTime is a free service from Apple. It requires an internet data connection, either wifi or cellular. If the data connection is free, there are no charges at all. If a carrier or wifi provider charges you to use their data connection, then charges will apply (to the internet connection provider, not to Apple). The same thing applies for Apple's free iMessage service. [...] This has nothing to do with whether FaceTime uses data over cellular or WiFi. This refers to the activation process when you enable FaceTime. The message means that enabling FaceTime will involve an SMS - actually an International SMS - to activate the service in Apple's servers, and this specific carrier may charge for that International SMS. As it's international, it will be expensive - probably 50 cents per message or more. And this charge will appear every few days as FaceTime reactivates with Apple's servers.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Pittsburgh Steelers coach \u201cdirects team to not participate in pride month\u201d calling it \"woke crap\"", "evidence": "The story originated on a satire site. A Pittsburgh Steelers spokesperson confirmed that coach Mike Tomlin did not make such statements. A social media page associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers posted an image showing team staff gathered after participating in a pride parade. As of June 13, we saw no other messages from the team regarding about Pride Month.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Trump can\u2019t be on the Texas ballot because of our state constitution.\"", "evidence": "Supreme Court rules states cannot remove Trump from ballot for insurrection on Mar 4, 2024 at 12:09 pm The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states cannot disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. In an unsigned opinion, a majority of the justices held that only Congress \u2013 and not the states \u2013 can enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted in the wake of the Civil War to disqualify individuals from holding office who had previously served in the federal or state government before the war but then supported the Confederacy, against candidates for federal offices. [...] The dispute leading to Monday\u2019s opinion began last year in a state court in Colorado. A group of voters in that state argued that Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot under Section 3, which provides (as relevant here) that no one \"shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State,\" if that person had previously sworn, \"as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States,\" to support the Constitution but then \"engaged in insurrection or rebellion\" against the federal government.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Fuddruckers is \u201cclosing ALL locations.\u201d", "evidence": "Fuddruckers closes all Orlando restaurants, without reason ORLANDO, Fla. - Fuddruckers announced the closing of all of its Orlando locations on Monday. [...] After a great deal of careful consideration, we are definitely closing our restaurants. It was a very difficult decision, but ultimately necessary.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\"The last administration oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded.\"", "evidence": "The number of murders in the U.S. rose by 5,795 from 2019 to 2020, when Donald Trump was president. That\u2019s the largest one-year increase since such data began being systematically recorded in the early 1960s. Crime data analysts generally attribute most of the reason for the murder spike to a complex confluence of the coronavirus pandemic and the social upheaval after George Floyd\u2019s murder, not Trump\u2019s actions.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Kansas City Chiefs said they refuse to participate in Pride Month because \u2018it\u2019s extremely woke.\u2019", "evidence": "Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "HarperCollins \u201cremoved 64,575 words from the Bible.\u201d", "evidence": "Since 1978, the New International Version of the Bible has been revised twice, most recently in 2011, \"reflecting new archaeological findings, current biblical scholarship and changes to the English language,\" according to HarperCollins, which owns the Bible\u2019s publisher Zondervan. Some passages and verses were relocated to footnotes in the New International Version to better reflect older and more reliable biblical manuscripts, the publisher said.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Says Sen. Lindsey Graham said a newly elected Donald Trump \u201cwill round up and deport LEGAL immigrants.\u201d", "evidence": "President Trump has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct a mass roundup of migrant families that have received deportation orders, an operation that is likely to begin with predawn raids in major U.S. cities on Sunday, according to three U.S. officials with knowledge of the plans. [...] Large-scale immigration enforcement operations are typically kept secret to avoid tipping off targets, but Trump\u2019s tweet Monday blew the cover off the roundup. That the operation was revealed publicly stunned law enforcement officials, and they believe it gave them more latitude to discuss the raids. [...] The expedited family court docket, or \"rocket docket,\" was developed by Trump officials late last year in an effort to deport more migrant families with the belief that a highly visible roundup operation could have a deterrent effect on others in Central America considering the journey.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Audio of President Joe Biden\u2019s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur leaked.", "evidence": "WASHINGTON \u2014 President Joe Biden has asserted executive privilege over audio recordings of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur, the Republican federal prosecutor who declined to recommend charges against him over his handling of classified documents. [...] John Fishwick, who was a U.S. attorney in the Obama administration, told NBC News that the Justice Department \"should not stand on a flimsy executive privilege argument to stall the release of President Biden\u2019s audio interviews with special counsel Hur\" and that Biden and the Justice Department \"should promote full transparency of the Hur investigation and release the audio recordings now.\" [...] \"President Biden is apparently afraid for the citizens of this country and everyone to hear those tapes,\" Johnson said. \"They obviously confirm what the special counsel has found and would likely cause, I suppose, in his estimation, such alarm with the American people that the president is using all of his power to suppress their release.\"", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cWage increases have exceeded\u201d the cost of inflation.", "evidence": "Average wages have surpassed inflation for 12 straight months Average hourly wage growth has exceeded inflation for 12 straight months, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data released this morning. This real (or inflation-adjusted) wage growth is a key indicator of how well the average worker\u2019s wage can improve their standard of living. As inflation continues to normalize, I\u2019m optimistic more workers will experience real gains in their purchasing power. [...] While nominal wage growth is an important indicator for Fed policymakers to measure signs of labor market slack and inflationary pressures (and these remain relatively muted), real wage growth is what matters for workers\u2019 living standards. On average, the data are clear: wages have been beating inflation for 12 months now.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cJames Woods leaves Hollywood to join Mel Gibson\u2019s new non-woke film studio.\u201d", "evidence": "Veteran actor James Woods has officially left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson\u2019s newly established non-woke film studio. This partnership marks a significant shift for Woods, who has long been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken conservative beliefs in a predominantly liberal industry. [...] The reaction to Woods\u2019 move has been mixed. While many conservative voices have lauded his decision as a brave stand against Hollywood conformity, others in the industry warn that this split could deepen the cultural divisions within the arts community. Critics of the non-woke studio concept argue that it might limit the diversity of perspectives that film can offer by favoring certain viewpoints. [...] In conclusion, James Woods\u2019 departure from Hollywood to join Mel Gibson\u2019s non-woke film studio is more than just a career pivot\u2014it\u2019s a cultural statement. It represents a burgeoning movement within the film industry seeking to reclaim what its proponents feel is a lost emphasis on artistic freedom over political correctness. Only time will tell how this bold move will impact Woods\u2019 career and the broader cinematic landscape.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cKyle Rittenhouse\u2019s mom is 38.\u201d", "evidence": "Wendy Rittenhouse is the mother of the Antioch, Illinois, teenager, Kyle Rittenhouse, who is on trial for the shooting deaths of two men in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the wounding of a third. A single mother who has worked as a nurse\u2019s assistant, Rittenhouse\u2019s mom has defended him in interviews. She was controversially at his side when he was photographed with members of the Proud Boys organization in a Wisconsin bar, but his attorneys say he is not affiliated with that group. As such, Wendy Rittenhouse has emerged as a controversial figure who has repeatedly given interviews to advance her son\u2019s defense. [...] Rittenhouse\u2019s mother\u2019s Facebook page indicated she works in health care and is a law enforcement supporter. Her name is sometimes given as Wendy Lewis but was given in court as Wendy Rittenhouse. The Washington Post described her as a single mom and nurse\u2019s assistant.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Donald Trump wants to terminate the Affordable Care Act.", "evidence": "More than 21 million people have signed up for health plans through the Affordable Care Act\u2019s health insurance marketplaces, the Biden administration announced Wednesday. The record level of enrollment comes as former president Donald Trump, seeking the GOP nomination, is again vowing to repeal the program if elected. [...] \"I don\u2019t want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!\" Trump wrote in a November 2023 post on Truth Social, his social media platform. Trump \u2014 who has spent the past decade pledging to repeal and replace the ACA \u2014 has yet to produce a health plan that would provide comparable health coverage at the same or less cost, analysts have said. [...] \"At a time when more Americans are enrolling in the ACA than ever before, it is outlandish that the likely GOP nominee is even considering another attempt at repeal,\" Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, a Democratic-aligned health-care advocacy group, said in a statement.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWalmart has announced starting June 3rd all locations in the U.S. will go back to 24hrs.\u201d", "evidence": "Social media was swirling like crazy that all Walmart stores would return to open 24 hours beginning in June. [...] *\"Walmart has announced started June 3rd all locations in the U.S. Will go back to 24hrs,\" one post states. *\"Walmart just announced that on June 3rd all stores nationwide will be open 24 hours a day,\" another posts states.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "When Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Ukraine recently \"he announced that they were going to suspend elections in Ukraine.\"", "evidence": "Blinken visits Ukraine as Russia\u2019s military closes in Kyiv | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday in an unannounced diplomatic mission to reassure Ukraine that it has American support as it struggles to defend against increasingly intense Russian attacks. The visit comes less than a month after Congress approved a long-delayed foreign assistance package that sets aside $US60 billion ($90 billion) in aid for Ukraine, much of which will go towards replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defence systems.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cViolent crime is near a record 50-year low.\u201d", "evidence": "\"Claiming that Florida is unsafe is a total farce,\" DeSantis said in the announcement. \"I mean, are you kidding me? You look at cities around this country, they are awash in crime. In Florida, our crime rate is at a 50-year low.\" But his statement rests on patchy, incomplete crime data. About half of the agencies that police more than 40% of the state\u2019s population are missing from figures the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) used for a state-wide estimation. [...] Putting the crime data quality issue aside, DeSantis\u2019 claims about Florida\u2019s declining crime rates follow long-term national trends, and should not be a surprise to the public, according to Asher. \"\u2018Crime is at a 50-year low\u2019 should sort of be \u2018no duh,\u2019\" he said. \"Crime is falling. It's not that big of a deal.\" Both property crime and violent crimes have been on the decline nationally, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey, a Justice Department program that surveys 150,000 households about crimes that happened to them.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cElon Musk Fires Entire Cast of \u201cThe View \u201d After Acquiring ABC.\u201d", "evidence": "No, Elon Musk hasn't acquired ABC and fired the cast of \u2018The View\u2019 [...] \"Elon Musk Fires Entire Cast of \u2018The View\u2019 After Acquiring ABC,\" it read. [...] Snopes, Elon Musk Fired 'The View' Cast After Acquiring ABC? April 25, 2024", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cU.S. Olympic committee says Lia Thomas is welcome to try out for the men\u2019s team.\u201d", "evidence": "On Oct. 21, 2023, SpaceXMania published an article claiming that former NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas had decided to swim with a men's team after facing \"extreme criticism.\" Thomas, a transgender woman, become the first known trans athlete to win a Division I national championship in any sport in March 2022. [...] Breaking: Lia Thomas to Swim With A Men\u2019s Team After Extreme Criticism In a move that has sent shockwaves through the world of competitive swimming, Lia Thomas has reportedly decided to join a men\u2019s swim team after enduring relentless criticism surrounding her participation in women\u2019s events. This decision is emblematic of the broader challenges and controversies that transgender athletes face and further intensifies the debate on gender, biology, and fairness in sports.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cDr. Sebi\u2019s daughter was sentenced to 155 years in prison for revealing top secret health hacks.\u201d", "evidence": "The claim: Dr. Sebi\u2019s daughter was sentenced to 155 years in prison for spreading secret health tips [...] \"Dr. Sebi\u2019s daughter was SENTENCED to 155 years in prison for revealing TOP SECRET health hacks,\" reads text on top of the image. [...] There is no credible evidence that the daughter of controversial alternative medicine promoter Dr. Sebi was sentenced to prison for sharing health practices. The image used in the claim is likely AI-generated, experts said.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Tariffs are a \u201cdirect, regressive tax on Americans\u201d and President Joe Biden\u2019s new tariffs on Chinese goods will \u201chit every family.\u201d", "evidence": "President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump will be America\u2019s two presidential candidates in 2024 and their approaches to economic competition with China will prominently feature in the 2024 presidential debate. They each have a body of work over their first term in office to evaluate the results of their policies toward China. On the surface, their approaches are similar. Both presidents view themselves as \"self-strengtheners,\" leaders who prioritize bolstering America\u2019s economic prosperity. Trump adopted tariffs on Chinese imports and Biden upheld them. There also are some rhetorical through lines in how the Trump and Biden administrations have talked about economic competition with China. [...] The ensuing trade war cost the U.S. economy nearly 300,000 jobs. The tariffs served as a regressive tax on imported goods that were primarily borne by American consumers. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Columbia University found that U.S. companies lost at least $1.7 trillion in stock value from U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. [...] In an apparent nod to the political salience of Trump\u2019s tariffs, the Biden administration has not removed or lowered the China tariffs it inherited. Even though the tariffs are inflationary, and despite the fact that Biden and members of his team slammed the tariffs during the 2020 election campaign, the tariffs remain in place. This constancy likely reflects Biden\u2019s political instincts. Even if he lacks conviction on the policy merits of sustaining the tariffs, Biden recognizes that removing them would carry greater political costs than benefits.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called voter ID \u201cracist,\u201d calls NRA a \u201cterrorist organization\u201d and supports affirmative action.", "evidence": "Opinion, The NRA as a Terrorist Organization? San Francisco Took One Step Too Far, The Hill (Sept. 5, 2019, 12:00 PM), https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/460090-the-nra-as-a-terrorist-organization-san-francisco-took-one-step-too-far. [...] Opinion, Kennedy\u2019s Decisions May Not Last. It Might Be His Own Fault, Wash. Post (June 28, 2018), https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/kennedys-decisions-may-not-last-it-might-be-his-own-fault/2018/06/28/e39c3298-7a87-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Former President Donald Trump \u201chas the worst record of job loss of any president.\u201d", "evidence": "Fact check: Pelosi says Trump has 'the worst record of job loss of any president' [...] Pelosi said April 29 that Trump \"has the worst record of job loss of any president.\" [...] Pelosi said Trump had the worst jobs record of \"any president.\" Hoover almost certainly fared worse, and we don\u2019t know about earlier presidents, who served before reliable records were kept.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Trump bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street.\"", "evidence": "At one point, the ad asserts, \"Trump bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street.\" [...] The Lincoln Project ad says, \"Trump bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street.\" [...] The clearest problem with the claim is the notion in the ad that \"Main Street\" is not being aided. About three-quarters of the loans in the Paycheck Protection Program were made in the smallest loan size category, one that would support a business of roughly seven to 10 people.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Says gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch \u201cworked 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.\u201d", "evidence": "Perhaps Joel Kleefisch, an Oconomowoc Republican, began feeling a bit eclipsed by his wife Rebecca, a social conservative who emerged from political obscurity in 2010 to become Gov. Scott Walker\u2019s running mate and Wisconsin\u2019s lieutenant governor. First elected to the state legislature in 2004, Kleefisch has really come into his own in the past two years \u2014 and not in a good way. [...] Kleefisch was also caught plagiarizing in an email to members of the state Senate and Assembly regarding his proposal for the Flexibility for Working Families Bill. The email included unattributed quotes from three congressmen sponsoring the federal measure on which Kleefisch had based his own proposal. [...] Kleefisch made his biggest splash, however, with his proposal to cap the amount of child support that wealthy parents would be required to pay. People cried foul when it was reported that Michael Eisenga, a wealthy businessman and donor to both Rebecca and Joel Kleefisch, had helped draft the bill after he tried unsuccessfully in court to reduce his support payments. It also came out that the millionaire had put his children on the state\u2019s health-care program for low-income children.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Your state will send you free infant formula if you call Enfamil and Similac customer service numbers.", "evidence": "The Enfamil Family Beginnings program is a way to earn rewards on Enfamil purchases, get discounts, free baby formula samples, and baby freebies! After signing up, you can receive special offers, get baby formula coupons, information, and more. [...] As a member of the Enfamil Family Beginnings\u00ae program, you may be eligible to receive free formula samples! [...] Get free baby essentials and more 1. Every motherhood journey is unique, so your Enfamil Family Beginnings experience is tailored to the information you provide and may vary from what another mom might experience. If you have questions about the program or would like more detail, our Family of Experts can help at 1-800-BABY123 between 7am-7pm CST M-F; 8am-4:30pm Sat.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Derek Chauvin had his left hand in his pocket while kneeling on George Floyd.", "evidence": "Fact check: Derek Chauvin did not have hand in his pocket while kneeling on George Floyd The claim: Derek Chauvin's hand was in his pocket while pinning George Floyd to the ground [...] The claim that former Officer Derek Chauvin had his hand in his pocket while kneeling on George Floyd is FALSE, based on our research. A review of the full video of the incident, along with a lightened version of the photo used in the claim, shows Chauvin was wearing a black glove on his left hand that blended in with his dark pants. The hand was actually resting on his leg and hip at various points.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Since the mid-'90s, this country has been governed by revolving continuing resolution and omnibus spending bill(s). \u2026 That is the reason we're $33 trillion in debt.\"", "evidence": "Matt Gaetz stated on October 1, 2023 in an interview on ABC's \"This Week\" \"Since the mid-'90s, this country has been governed by revolving continuing resolution and omnibus spending bill(s). \u2026 That is the reason we're $33 trillion in debt.\" Mike Pence stated on August 23, 2023 in a Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee \"I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt in the United States, when I was the leader of House conservatives.\" TikTok posts stated on June 22, 2023 in a post A new law allows people to permanently erase unpaid debt older than two years from their credit records. Load more [...] Matt Gaetz stated on October 1, 2023 in an interview on ABC's \"This Week\" \"Since the mid-'90s, this country has been governed by revolving continuing resolution and omnibus spending bill(s). \u2026 That is the reason we're $33 trillion in debt.\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Poll watchers in Philadelphia prevented from entering polling places.", "evidence": "\"A poll watcher in Philly was just wrongfully prevented from entering the polling place,\" Will Chamberlain, editor-in-chief of the conservative magazine Human Events, tweeted Nov. 3. His tweet includes a video that shows two people standing at a doorway and telling a third person that he cannot go in. \"You are not letting me in?\" the man asks the couple. \"No,\" they replied. [...] Tweets claimed that poll watchers in Philadelphia were 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\u2019s certificate, said Feeley, a spokesperson for Philadelphia City Commissioners. The same poll watcher went to another site and was allowed to go in, according to Feeley.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cFor African American families in particular, the homeownership rate remains relatively unchanged since 1968, the year the Fair Housing Act was signed into law.\u201d", "evidence": "\"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\u2019s spokesperson said the senator reached his conclusion using the same statistics that we did. [...] Data shows his numbers are correct. In 1970, about a year and a half after the law was enacted, about 42% of Black Americans owned homes. In 2022, Black homeownership stood at 44%.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cPrivate insurance gives \u2026 better coverage\u201d than people would get under a Medicaid expansion.", "evidence": "Meanwhile, half a dozen states have received federal approval to expand under the ACA using alternative program features, including the private option.46 There is keen interest in assuring that federal flexibility does not jeopardize care for newly insured populations. We found few significant differences between Arkansas\u2019s private option and Kentucky\u2019s Medicaid expansion. Other than the type of coverage obtained (primarily private insurance in Arkansas and Medicaid in Kentucky), the only significant difference was higher glucose monitoring rates among patients with diabetes in Kentucky compared with those in Arkansas. All other outcomes related to utilization, quality of care, and self-reported health were similar for Kentucky and Arkansas. Of particular relevance to clinicians, we found no significant differences in access to primary and specialty care between private insurance and Medicaid expansions. Overall, more than 85% of low-income adults in both expansion states reported no difficulties obtaining physician appointments in 2015. Whether other state expansion models using different features than Arkansas\u2019s program would produce similar results is unclear and worthy of future study. Subgroup analyses suggested that racial/ethnic minorities may be differentially affected by alternative expansion approaches. For nonwhites, the private option decreased reliance on the ED and improved self-reported health, but increased out-of-pocket spending compared with Medicaid. The latter finding likely relates to Arkansas\u2019s decision to impose more cost-sharing for higher-income private option beneficiaries than most states require in traditional Medicaid.47 Overall, the 2 alternate expansions were associated with very similar changes for most outcomes. [...] RJ. Low-income residents in three states view Medicaid as equal to or better than private coverage, support expansion.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\"Our Supreme Court has never taken away a constitutional right.\"", "evidence": "And because the government\u2014unlike the rest of us\u2014has no constitutional rights of its own, under some circumstances speech that is protected by the First Amendment when uttered by a nongovernmental speaker may still violate specific constitutional protections when uttered by the government. To be sure, the Supreme Court has recognized that we don\u2019t have a First Amendment right to shut down the government\u2019s speech just because we disagree with it: The government must speak on a wide range of issues and take a variety of policy positions in order to govern. But the constitutional analysis is very different when the government\u2019s speech\u2014including its lies\u2014interferes with or punishes its targets\u2019 exercise of their constitutional rights. [...] And to be sure, many governmental lies\u2014like the government\u2019s lies to avoid political and legal accountability for its misconduct\u2014may inflict more diffuse and less tangible harm, such that it may be hard to trace a causal connection between the government\u2019s speech and the denial of a specific constitutional right. That these lies\u2019 harms are intangible or diffuse, however, does not mean that they\u2019re painless or unimportant: They are instead often deeply dangerous, threatening to corrode our democracy. But constitutional law often has limited capacity to address diffuse, collective, or causally complicated harms. As I\u2019ve written elsewhere, \"[t]hese complexities suggest that the government\u2019s most catastrophic lies may be those especially resistant to redress.\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Nikki Haley \u201csays the retirement age at 65 is way too low, it must be much higher.\u201d", "evidence": "Nikki Haley tells Bloomberg News \"65 is way too low\" for the retirement age, advocates attaching it to life expectancy pic.twitter.com/E3yxPl0LIC \u2014 Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) August 24, 2023 Haley said the retirement age should be raised to factor in increased life expectancy, but didn\u2019t have an exact figure to share. \"I think we have to do the numbers,\" she said. \"We\u2019ve gotta figure out what it is but what we do know is 65 is way too low and we need to increase that. We need to do it according to life expectancy.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Says Donald Trump said \u201cgood\u201d during the final presidential debate in reference to families being separated at the border.", "evidence": "President Donald Trump didn\u2019t say \"\u2018GOOD\u2019 about the kids being separated from the parents\" at the southern border during the final presidential debate, as social media posts wrongly claim. He said \"go ahead\" to the moderator, who was trying to move on to the next topic. [...] In this last installment of the year in our collaboration with CNN\u2019s \"State of the Union,\" CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper reviews four of the biggest whoppers told by President Donald Trump in 2018. Q: Did the Obama administration separate \"72,410 Children From Their Families in 2013\"?", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cLego donates model MRI kits to hospitals to help children understand the procedure and reduce their anxiety.\u201d", "evidence": "The_Ghostface 12 jun 278 blankMadeMeSmile subscribe Lego donates model MRI kits to hospitals I to help children understand the procedure >and reduce their anxiety 93 comments Aman has been diagnosed with cancer in lego city! Putins_Pringles id #blankmademesmile#subscribe#lego#donates#mri#kits#hospitals#help#children#understand#procedure#reduce#anxiety#comments#aman#has#been#diagnosed#cancer#city", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The Electronic Registration Information Center is \u201ca system that\u2019s funded by George Soros.\u201d", "evidence": "In January, a provocative right-wing website, Gateway Pundit, published a series of blog posts with line after line of inaccurate or misleading information. The posts asserted that ERIC is actually a liberal ploy funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, intended to get more Democrats registered to vote. Gateway Pundit also suggested the program could allow private voter data to be released. [...] He immediately set about correcting the record, releasing statements stressing that: ERIC is one of the best tools that Alabama and other enrolled states have to check across state lines for duplicate voter registrations, inaccurate registrations and deceased voters, making it an important measure for election integrity. It is funded by states that voluntarily enroll \u2014 not by Soros. [...] ERIC is not funded by George Soros, and it\u2019s not a Democratic venture", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "New York state \u201chospitals reporting thousands of fungus lung infections due to wearing a mask!!\u201d", "evidence": "No, New York state hospitals didn\u2019t report thousands of lung infections caused by face masks [...] - There\u2019s no evidence wearing a face mask properly causes fungal lung infections. [...] There is a similar dearth of evidence to corroborate the claim that hospitals in New York have reported thousands of fungus lung infections caused by face masks, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does recommend washing cloth face coverings after each use.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThis month alone, more than 16,000 non-citizens have been removed from the voter rolls in 3 states.\u201d", "evidence": "Three Republican-led states \u2014 Alabama, Texas and Virginia \u2014 have taken steps to remove or flag ineligible people on the voter rolls, since at least 2021. This included noncitizens, or potential noncitizens, according to state officials. There are some unknowns about the people affected, and the number of people who turn out to be noncitizens could change. Congress banned noncitizen voting in federal elections in 1996. Noncitizens rarely cast ballots. If they do, they face stiff penalties including jail time, deportation or denial of citizenship applications.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Says he is the \u2018ranking member\u2019 of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.", "evidence": "Rep. Jim Banks is not the ranking member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In fact, he isn\u2019t on the committee at all.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "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.\"", "evidence": "Waiting Periods - Waiting periods are arbitrary impositions with no effect on crime or suicide, introduce no additional investigative avenues, and only burden law-abiding gun owners without changing how or when criminals obtain firearms. [...] - Most gun-owners own more than one firearm[5] and a waiting period could not possibly have an effect on those purchasing an additional firearm. First-time buyers seeking a firearm for self-defense would be affected by a waiting period that limits their ability to safeguard themselves and their loved ones. [...] Two-thirds of gun owners own more than one gun.[12] A cooling-off period for these gun owners could not possibly have an effect as they already own other firearms. Anecdotal evidence about a person who purchases a firearm and then immediately uses it to harm themselves or somebody else are just that: anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence that waiting periods have an effect on suicide, homicide, or mass shootings.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Republicans are \u201ctrying to create a fake unemployment crisis.\u201d", "evidence": "Wisconsin\u2019s outdated unemployment insurance system has remained largely unchanged despite an array of warning signs across the last three gubernatorial administrations. Hintz was condemning Republicans for not acting in 2020 as tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents saw checks delayed \u2014 often by months \u2014 due to the overwhelmed system. But Hintz moved beyond blame in claiming that Republicans are now pushing a \"fake\" crisis, which is flat wrong.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Gaza has \u201cthe highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by the Integrated Food Security Classification system \u2014 anywhere, anytime.\u201d", "evidence": "An 18 March Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report said that famine is \"imminent in the northern governorates of the Gaza Strip and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024\", with the entire population of Gaza facing high levels of acute food insecurity. In a 19 March statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk said that \"[t]he situation of hunger, starvation and famine is a result of Israel\u2019s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure\". Noting that the report found that over half of all Palestinians in Gaza, 1.1 million people, have completely exhausted their food supplies and are facing catastrophic hunger\u2014the highest such number ever recorded by the IPC system anywhere, anytime\u2014Guterres said that the report is clear evidence for \"the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire\" and called on Israel to \"ensure complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza\". [...] Following a 6 March request by South Africa for the indication of further provisional measures, on 28 March the ICJ ordered that Israel shall, among other actions, take all necessary measures \"to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza\".", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Says a 2010 Rockefeller Foundation report shows the COVID-19 pandemic and the international response were \u201cmeticulously planned at least 10 years ago.\u201d", "evidence": "In July 2020, several social media users started posting about \"Operation Lockstep,\" a document allegedly released by The Rockefeller Foundation that showed how global elites had planned to manufacture the COVID-19 pandemic for the last 10 years in order to implement a police state: [...] While the \"Lock Step\" section of the actual document does deal with a global pandemic, the similarities between The Rockefeller Foundation's envisioned scenario and the current COVID-19 crisis are few and far between. For instance, the hypothetical pandemic envisioned by foundation started in 2012, originated in wild geese, and killed 8 million people in the first 7 months. Comparatively speaking, the COVID-19 pandemic began at the end of 2019, is widely believed to have originated with bats, and, according to John Hopkins University (as of this writing in July 2020) has killed just over 600,000 people within an approximate 7 month time-span. [...] In 2010, The Rockefeller Foundation produced a report entitled \"Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development\" that envisioned how the world would be impacted in four different scenario narratives \u2014 one of which dealt with a global pandemic. This document gives a hypothetical look at future events in order to envision possible problems that might arise. While this document does explore how the global population could react during a pandemic, it is in no way an \"operation manual\" for how to manufacture a virus in order to implement a police state.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cAntifa is warning that tonight they're moving out of the cities - and into residential areas to 'take what's ours.'\u201d", "evidence": "A Facebook post includes a screenshot to a tweet from a suspended account called \"ANTIFA America\" that claims the left-wing movement is moving Black Lives Matter protests to residential areas. There is no evidence to support the post. Antifa is a broad, loosely affiliated coalition of left-wing anti-fascist activists. It has no leaders and is organized into autonomous local groups. We could find no tweets from local antifa cells or local news reports about protests moving into residential areas on May 31, the day the post was made. It is still unclear to what extent the movement is involved in the demonstrations.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Says Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez \u201csays that all young people want to be socialists.\u201d", "evidence": "No evidence that AOC said all young people want to be socialists [...] Our searches of Google, Bing and Nexis found no instance in which she said that all young people want to be socialists, as Baxter\u2019s ad says. We also searched for any mention of young people and socialists on her personal and official Twitter accounts. Had Ocasio-Cortez flatly stated that all young people want to be socialists, it\u2019s likely news coverage would have quickly followed.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The coronavirus has seen a \u201cbig surge in New Zealand. It's terrible. We don't want that.\"", "evidence": "Coronavirus: How New Zealand relied on science and empathy [...] During the next two weeks of lockdown, New Zealand saw a steady decline in the number of new cases. To date, it has had 12 deaths, and has confirmed that on average each infected person is passing the virus to fewer than one other person. [...] Key to New Zealand's response to Covid-19, Dr Wiles argues, was that the prime minister and government visibly put people's health first, whereas other countries which delayed imposed social distancing measures for fear of the economic damage are now having a much harder time controlling the virus.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Bath and Body Works products are not recommended during pregnancy because they are suspected of \u201cdamaging fertility or the unborn child.\u201d", "evidence": "A Bath & Body Works safety data sheet includes warnings about skin irritation, infertility and organ damage. These disclosures aren\u2019t new or limited to Bath & Body Works. Home fragrance companies are required to post these notices on their websites. The disclosures are meant for manufacturers and emergency workers \u2014 not consumers \u2014 who need to know how to handle, store or dispose of large quantities of chemicals, the company said. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists told PolitiFact that it has no official recommendation about pregnant women not using Bath & Body Works products. People who are pregnant should speak to their doctors if they have questions about any product.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe CBO says (the Build Back Better Act) is $3 trillion of deficit spending.\u201d", "evidence": "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has given us a sobering look into our fiscal future under the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), estimating that if all the bill\u2019s policies were made permanent, $3 trillion would be added to the national debt over the next 10 years. This is on top of more than $7 trillion in deficits over the last two years, leading to a $21 trillion total national debt held by the public this year (about the size of GDP). Under current law, the CBO predicts national debt held by the public will reach $36 trillion in 2031, or 106 percent of GDP\u2014the highest debt load in U.S. history. [...] Ultimately, policymakers and taxpayers should understand the scope of tax changes necessary to fully pay for the large-scale social spending programs that would be initiated under the Build Back Better Act. It most certainly does not cost zero, and the costs will most likely be borne in large part by the middle class in the form of higher tax burdens, inflation, and reduced economic opportunities.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "A person\u2019s immune system \u201ctanks\u201d after their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.", "evidence": "Fig. 2: Dynamics and projection of circulating IgG levels against RBD after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination using a linear model. [...] In conclusion, humoral responses following COVID-19 vaccination decreased in all age groups after approximately 6 months. Non-linear models estimated a continuous waning in humoral responses primarily in the older population and individuals with a delayed administration of the second vaccine dose. Natural infections prior to completion of vaccination induced a more robust immune response, characterized primarily by the stability of the IgG levels, higher levels of IFN-\u03b3 release from activated T-cells, and the presence of IgA antibodies in circulation. The use of dynamic models taking into consideration different factors of the immune system may be of use to establish guidelines for future re-vaccination strategies. [...] Ledford, H. Delaying a COVID vaccine\u2019s second dose boosts immune response. Naturehttps://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01299-y (2021).", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cMyanmar used Dominion Voting Systems.\u201d", "evidence": "Dominion Voting Systems was only used in a few counties that experienced minor problems that were quickly resolved, and were either the result of human error or temporary malfunctions. [...] Dominion Voting Systems, which makes software and hardware for election officials to use around the country, is at the center of baseless claims that say \"glitches\" from its machines caused mistakes in vote tallies to favor Joe Biden in several states. [...] \"No credible reports or evidence of any software issues exist,\" Dominion says on its website. \"While no election is without isolated issues, Dominion Voting Systems are reliably and accurately counting ballots. State and local election authorities have publicly confirmed the integrity of the process.\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Senate Republicans' move to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in an election year is \"not constitutional.\"", "evidence": "Asked whether he would consider adding justices to the Supreme Court if elected, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden claimed Senate Republicans\u2019 move to install Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the vacant seat less than a month before Election Day was \"not constitutional.\" [...] As for the move to seat Barrett before the election, two constitutional scholars said that in a general sense, the Senate Republicans\u2019 actions seem at odds with some of the democratic principles underlying the Constitution. [...] Newsweek, \"Joe Biden Says Amy Coney Barrett Appointment 'Not Constitutional' as He Evades Court Packing Question Again,\" Oct. 10, 2020", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Says Amber Alerts are issued for white kids \"but not Black kids in Milwaukee.\"", "evidence": "Nearly half of the 41 alerts issued since 2003 in Wisconsin were for Black children. Milwaukee police initiated more than one-fourth of all alerts, far more than any other agency. Every one of their 11 alerts was for a Black child.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cIndividuals released from incarceration are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release.\u201d", "evidence": "Tonko boldfaced one statistic for emphasis: \"Individuals released from incarceration are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release.\" The release called this \"alarming.\" [...] Specifically, the authors found that the risk of death from overdose was 129 times higher for people in the first two weeks after release, compared with the rate for the general public. [...] In the paper, published in the American Journal of Public Health, seven academics studied data for North Carolina from 2000 to 2015. They found that two weeks after release, the risk of an opioid overdose death was 40 times higher than for North Carolina residents generally, and the risk of a heroin overdose after two weeks was 74 times higher.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe know mask mandates work. There\u2019s enough evidence out there between counties that have done it and counties that haven\u2019t.\"", "evidence": "So Governor Kim Reynolds there, also a Republican, was initially against the mask mandate, and she even said that cities couldn't issue their own mandates back in the summer. But she recently reversed course. Iowa has seen one of the biggest surges in cases and hospitalizations in the country per capita. Iowa has roughly half the population of Missouri, but it's almost in the same ballpark in terms of new cases. So earlier this month, Reynolds did end up issuing a statewide mask mandate, as well as some restrictions on public and private gatherings, with exceptions for some businesses and religious services. [...] INSKEEP: Well, I guess we can be consistent here and note that there's more and more evidence that masks work, that mask mandates work. There were questions about this six months ago - hardly any questions now. And if I'm not mistaken, Sebastian, there was even a study in a very red state, Kansas, that proved this. VALDIVIA: Yeah. So Kansas actually has a mask mandate that counties can opt into and opt out of, and so the CDC looked at how cases have played out in the counties that opted out and opted in. And they found that in the two months after the mandate, new cases on average actually slightly decreased in counties with the mandate, but they doubled in those nonmandated counties. Now, there's some caveats there. Some of the mandated counties had other additional public health orders, so you can't chalk it all up to mask mandates. But the difference is pretty stark.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The American Medical Association rescinded a previous statement and now says \"hydroxychloroquine is okay\" for COVID-19.", "evidence": "The American Medical Association never took back its March statement concerning hydroxychloroquine. The group tweeted that Rush Limbaugh\u2019s claim is wrong. The AMA considered a resolution to rescind a previous statement on the drug when the group\u2019s policymaking body met in November. But it ultimately rejected the resolution. The website Limbaugh cited has corrected its story.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe Wisconsin voter roll has over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for over 100 years.\u201d", "evidence": "Wisconsin municipalities kept their own registration records \u2014 and the smallest municipalities weren\u2019t required to keep records at all \u2014 until a 2002 federal law required a statewide database and a standard format. When a municipality\u2019s system didn\u2019t track a voter\u2019s date of birth or initial date of registration, a default date was entered into the statewide system: 1/1/1900 for date of birth and 1/1/1918 for date of registration. Such placeholders for missing information have been used by other states as well. As of the fall of 2021 in Wisconsin, there were still about 3,700 active voter records that contain default information for date of birth and about 120,000 records exist in the system with a default date of voter registration.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Says of Gov. Tony Evers and 2020 violence in Kenosha after the police shooting of Jacob Blake: \u201cIt took the loss of lives before help finally came.\u201d", "evidence": "Four groups of county sheriffs and police are asking Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to stop \"making statements and issuing press releases\" about Sunday's Kenosha police-involved shooting incident \"until the facts of the investigation are known.\" [...] Evers said in a media statement Sunday after the shooting of Jacob Blake of Kenosha by police that Blake \"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. We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country \u2014 lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.\" [...] On Wednesday following the shooting death of two people in Kenosha, Evers issued another statement that said, \"A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again. I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night. I also ask the individuals who are not there to exercise those rights to please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement, and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cPutin has stated: Russian citizens (have) 2 options: Stay home for 15 days or in jail for 5 years.\u201d", "evidence": "Russian authorities have increased general security measures in Moscow and other large cities. [...] Violation of the rules of migration registration may result in a fine. In some cases, visitors may face expulsion from Russia and a ban from re-entering of up to 5 years. [...] It is illegal for minors (those under 18) to participate in unauthorized protests. Adults who involve minors in such protests could face up to 15 days in jail and fines of up to RUB1 million.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cFree health allowance is available at no cost.\u201d", "evidence": "The other Facebook video claimed that registration was open for people to sign up for a $5,200 health allowance. \"I can\u2019t believe what the prez announced,\" said the voice in the video, referring to President Joe Biden. \"The newest incentive for anyone who doesn\u2019t have Medicare or Medicaid. I got $5,200 worth of health allowances for me and my wife. It\u2019s so nice being able to get my prescriptions and going to the doctor for free. Just click below and you can get qualified, too.\" [...] The second video also provided no evidence that Biden had announced a $5,200 health allowance.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cOne quarter\u201d of today\u2019s $31.4 trillion federal debt \u201cwas accumulated in the four years of my predecessor,\u201d Donald Trump.", "evidence": "Biden\u2019s number is accurate; about one-fourth of the total debt incurred to date came on Trump\u2019s watch. However, assigning debt to a particular president is tricky, because so much of the spending was approved by decades-old, bipartisan legislation that set the parameters for Social Security and Medicare. A different calculation shows more debt stemming from former President Barack Obama, with whom Biden served as vice president.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe\u2019ve had more Americans die of fentanyl than the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam Wars, combined.\u201d", "evidence": "Why it matters: Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, has killed more Americans than the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined. In 2021 alone, more than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, with the main culprit being fentanyl mixed with other drugs or chemicals, often without the user's knowledge. Provisional data from the CDC show that 100,500 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12-month period from September 2021 to September 2022. Americans aged between 18 and 49 are more likely to die from fentanyl poisoning than any other cause of death. [...] Moreover, fentanyl did not take such a hold on the U.S. drug market until recently. In 2016, 20,000 Americans died from synthetic opioid overdoses. Since then, fentanyl overdoses have been steadily increasing.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cPelosi\u2019s $1.9 trillion bailout gives EVERY federal employee a $21,000 bonus check\u2026 they never lost their job!\u201d", "evidence": "The law allocates money for an expanded paid-leave fund for federal workers dealing with certain COVID-19-related matters. There is no bonus check. It covers leave that would otherwise be unpaid.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Tim Walz signed into law driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in Minnesota.\"", "evidence": "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill that lets people in the state, regardless of immigration status, apply for a license or an ID card. To get a license, people must meet certain requirements, including showing proof that they live in Minnesota, documentation proving their identity and passing a written test on the rules of the road and a driving skills test.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Bernie Sanders has \u201cnever taken corporate lobbyist money in his *entire political career.*\"", "evidence": "Lobbyists pan Sanders proposal to end corporate donations for party conventions Sen. Bernie Sanders\u2019s (I-Vt.) new proposal to prohibit corporate funding of party conventions drew sharp criticism from lobbyists on Monday, with some arguing the move would discourage cities from offering to host the quadrennial gatherings. [...] \"Bernie Sanders is building an unprecedented grassroots campaign to end corruption, and as a nominee would host a grassroots conventions for delegates, party members, teachers, workers, nurses, farmers, and students \u2014 corporate lobbyists will never buy influence with Bernie, period,\" Josh Orton, Sanders\u2019s national policy director, said in a statement.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cStarbucks just announced that they\u2019re going cashless.\u201d", "evidence": "But what exactly does it mean for Starbucks to go cashless? In simple terms, it means that Starbucks will no longer accept physical currency, such as cash or coins, as a form of payment. Instead, customers will be encouraged to pay using various digital payment options, such as their Starbucks mobile app, credit cards, or other contactless payment methods. [...] Going cashless refers to the practice of conducting financial transactions without using physical currency. In the context of Starbucks, it means that customers will no longer be able to pay for their purchases using cash or coins. Instead, they will be encouraged to use digital payment methods. [...] By going cashless, Starbucks is positioning itself as a forward-thinking brand that embraces the digital future. In an era where technology is rapidly evolving, and digital payments are becoming increasingly popular, staying ahead of the competition is crucial for long-term success.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cTim Ryan when he ran for president two years ago \u2026 supported banning fracking both on public lands and generally speaking.\u201d", "evidence": "Biden has also walked a fine line on fracking, a process used to produce underground natural gas and oil that environmentalists broadly oppose. Liberal Democrats have pushed for an outright ban on fracking, while centrists have warned of potential job losses in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Biden says he would allow current fracking projects to move forward while banning future permits on federal land, telling WNEP in Scranton, Pa., last week that \"fracking is not going to be on the chopping block.\" \"He\u2019s very, very practical. We have billion-dollar fracking plants in western Pa.,\" said Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), one of Biden\u2019s former presidential primary opponents. \"He\u2019s not going to step in the middle of that because certain people want a complete ban.\"", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cBernie 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.\u201d", "evidence": "The post claims Bernie Sanders\u2019 Medicare for All plan would place a 52% tax on earnings over $29,000. But he has never suggested that. Sanders has proposed several options to help cover the cost of Medicare for All, including raising taxes to 52% for incomes above $10 million. Another option is a 4% income-based premium paid by households. That would add to Americans\u2019 tax burden, but not as much as the post said.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cIn 2021, Minnesotans were roughly five times more likely to move to Florida than vice versa\u201d because they were \u201cfleeing\u201d the state under Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.\"", "evidence": "In 2021, almost four times as many Minnesotans moved to Florida than Floridians moved to Minnesota. This is part of a long-standing migration pattern that isn\u2019t limited to Minnesota or Democratic Gov. Tim Walz\u2019s tenure. For years, more people move from upper Midwestern states to Florida than the inverse. Other states, some Republican-led, had similar if not higher out-migration numbers to Florida. People\u2019s motivations for moving out of state vary, and it\u2019s possible some may have moved because they liked Florida\u2019s policies over Minnesota\u2019s. Some reasons for migrating from upper Midwestern states to Florida typically include retirement, lower taxes and warmer climate, migration experts said.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Says Melania Trump is the \u201cfirst FLOTUS to visit troops in a combat zone since 1969.\u201d", "evidence": "\"Melania Trump is the 1st FLOTUS to visit troops in a combat zone since 1969,\" a viral post reads. It has more than 1,600 shares. President Trump Fans \u2014 the page behind the post \u2014 did not respond to request for comment from USA TODAY. Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush all visited troops in combat zones [...] Based on our research, the claim that Melania Trump was the first first lady to visit troops in a combat zone since since 1969 is FALSE. Both Michelle Obama and Laura Bush visited troops in combat zones, too.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cJoe Biden\u2019s margin of the less than 21,000 votes in Wisconsin was the tightest of any state in 2020.\u201d", "evidence": "Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch: \"Joe Biden\u2019s margin of the less than 21,000 votes in Wisconsin was the tightest of any state in 2020.\" [...] \"Joe Biden\u2019s margin of the less than 21,000 votes in Wisconsin was the tightest of any state in 2020,\" former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch noted in a June 8, 2022 email. \"Make no mistake, the Left knows exactly what\u2019s on the line in the Badger State this year.\" [...] \"But in 2020 Wisconsin was not the tightest in terms of either the raw number of votes or percentage of the vote separating the top two presidential candidates,\" he said in an email. \"By both measures Wisconsin was the third most competitive state in 2020. The margins between Biden and Trump \u2013 in terms of both raw votes and the percentage difference between them \u2013 were actually tighter in Arizona and Georgia than in Wisconsin.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cCongress has one job here: to count electoral votes that have in fact been cast by any state.\u201d", "evidence": "Each state has as many electoral votes as it has senators and representatives combined (or, in the case of the District of Columbia, as many as it would have if it were a state). There are 538 in total, with 270 votes needed to win. As the Congressional Research Service puts it, the electors \"tend to be a mixture of state and local elected officials, party activists, local and state celebrities, and ordinary citizens.\" [...] Each state is supposed to submit one set of electoral votes to Congress, and that\u2019s what usually happens. Following the disputed Hayes-Tilden election of 1876, in which three states submitted two conflicting sets of returns, Congress passed the Electoral Count Act to try to set rules in case such a thing ever happened again. Under that law, if two conflicting sets are submitted \u2013 say, one by a Republican-run legislature and one by a Democratic governor \u2013 and the House and Senate cannot agree on which set is the legitimate one, then the electoral votes certified by the state\u2019s governor are supposed to prevail. (Even stranger things are possible: In 1960, Hawaii\u2019s governor first certified Vice President Richard Nixon\u2019s electors, but after a recount certified Sen. John F. Kennedy\u2019s electors. Both slates of electors met and voted for their pledged candidate; when the time came for Congress to decide which slate was the legitimate one, Nixon voluntarily deferred to Kennedy.)", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Eric Schmitt \u201csponsored a bill to spend $480 million of your tax dollars\u201d on cargo hub for airlines \"owned by China's Communist Party\u201d and \"voted to let China buy up Missouri farmland.\"", "evidence": "In 2011, Schmitt was one of the main proponents of Aerotropolis, more colloquially known as \"China Hub,\" a global cargo hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport which he believed would increase exports and foreign trade. [...] Unlike \"China Hub\" another bill garnering Schmitt\u2019s support in 2013 did pass and effects Missouri to the present day. [...] Whether, or to what degree, Missouri agricultural land should be foreign owned is an important policy choice for the people of Missouri, a decision that should be made through their elected representatives and only after the specific proposal has been sufficiently vetted and openly considered.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Says NBC News\u2019 Kristen Welker \u201cgave thousands of dollars to Obama, Clinton and Biden, is registered as a Democrat & her family spent Christmas with the Obamas at the White House.\u201d", "evidence": "By Mike Allen (@mikeallen; [email protected]), and Daniel Lippman (@dlippman; [email protected]) [...] BIRTHDAYS: Guy Cecil \u2026 NBC\u2019s Kristen Welker (hat tip: Peter Alexander) \u2026 Kate Wilson, director of operations for Analytics Media Group (h/ts Chris and Chauncey) ... AP\u2019s Brett Zongker \u2026 Keith Macleod ... CRAFT\u2019s Travis Holler ... Mike Czin, comms. director for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and alum of DNC, OFA and Hillary \u2026 Erika Bolstad \u2026 Mara Lee Durrell \u2026 Liz Elkiss, V.P. of legal and external affairs at ed-tech startup General Assembly and Obama admin. and \u201908 alum ... Kevin Franck, Massachusetts Democratic politico ... Jonathan Capehart! ... Lida Masoudpour \u2026 Julie Gibson \u2026 John Giesser \u2026 Pat McQuillan ... [...] Learn more: http://bit.ly/1Gxh0QY **", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Says his Jan. 6, 2021, speech on the White House Ellipse drew the \u201csame number of people,\u201d as the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech.", "evidence": "More than 3,000 members of the press covered this historic march, where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the exalted \"I Have a Dream\" speech. [...] \u2013 I Have a Dream, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [...] Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered this iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. See entire text of King's speech below.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\"Antifa was already inside the Capitol with floor plans dressed as Trump supporters\" on Jan. 6, 2021, proving the attack \u201cwas 100% a setup.\"", "evidence": "The claim: A video shows antifa inside the Capitol building with floor plans and dressed as Trump supporters on Jan. 6, proving the attack was a setup Security experts told USA TODAY antifa was not involved in the Jan. 6 attack. The footage provides no evidence to support the claim. It shows pro-Trump rioters as the attack was underway; some of the rioters identified in the video are well-known Trump supporters. Read more. The claim: No one was arrested inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Says Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \u201cJesus loves the U.S. most and that is why the Bible is written in English.\u201d", "evidence": "Viral image stated on June 19, 2022 in an Instagram post: A photo shows Marjorie Taylor Greene wearing a Soviet shirt and giving a Nazi salute. Viral image stated on February 17, 2022 in a Facebook post: Says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \"If it weren\u2019t for electricity, we\u2019d all be watching TV by candlelight.\" Facebook posts stated on July 26, 2021 in a Facebook post: Says Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \"Jesus loves the U.S. most and that is why the Bible is written in English.\" [...] Viral image stated on February 17, 2022 in a Facebook post: Says Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \"If it weren\u2019t for electricity, we\u2019d all be watching TV by candlelight.\" Facebook posts stated on July 26, 2021 in a Facebook post: Says Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \"Jesus loves the U.S. most and that is why the Bible is written in English.\" [...] Facebook posts stated on July 26, 2021 in a Facebook post: Says Marjorie Taylor Greene said, \"Jesus loves the U.S. most and that is why the Bible is written in English.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "During the 2020 Minnesota riots after George Floyd\u2019s murder, Gov. Tim Walz didn\u2019t call in the National Guard, \u201cso, I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis.\u201d", "evidence": "Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order May 28, 2020, calling up the Minnesota National Guard to respond to riots. Shortly after the order, the National Guard said that it was assigning and preparing units to respond. President Donald Trump spoke to Walz hours after Walz\u2019s order. Trump offered assistance.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cAnything that you lose on the tariff from the perspective of the consumer, you gain in higher wages, so you're ultimately much better off.\u201d", "evidence": "Fact check: Vance says consumers are 'better off' under tariffs [...] Most economists disagree with this idea. Our previous review of academic studies of real-world tariffs concluded that consumers ultimately shoulder most of the burden in higher prices for goods, and the burden outweighs tariffs\u2019 economic benefits. [...] Are consumers \"much better off\" after tariffs, as Vance said?", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "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.\"", "evidence": "Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Andrew Hitt \"Tony Evers tried to raise taxes by $1 billion in his proposed budget, so it is laughable that he is now taking credit for Republicans\u2019 tax cut. We applaud Wisconsin Republicans for putting forward a historic budget with transformative tax cuts that will put more money in the pockets of Wisconsin families despite Tony Evers\u2019 tax increase in his proposed budget.\" [...] \"Governor Evers proposed raising taxes by more than $1 billion to fund his tax-and-spend budget. Instead, the Legislature listened to Wisconsinites and passed the most conservative spending plan in a generation including tax cut of more than $3 billion. [...] \"In particular, Governor Evers proposed raising taxes by $1 billion in his original budget wish list. He now gets to reverse course and take credit for the Republican budget which will cut taxes by over $3 billion.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cMichael Jordan rejects $400 million Disney offer, stating, \u2018I do not collaborate with companies aligned with woke ideologies.\u2019\u201d", "evidence": "The $400 million deal with Disney, had it gone through, would have marked another significant chapter in Jordan\u2019s illustrious post-basketball career. Disney, a conglomerate known for its global influence in media and entertainment, has delved into a variety of projects that touch on social and political themes. In recent times, Disney has been at the center of discussions regarding \u2018woke culture\u2019 \u2013 a term that has evolved to often represent a critical stance on entities or individuals that are perceived as being overly politically correct or excessively progressive.By rejecting this deal, Jordan has made it clear that his business decisions are not just about financial gain but are also deeply rooted in his personal beliefs and values. This move is a reflection of his stance against what he perceives as the overreach of corporations into social and political activism. It\u2019s a bold statement from someone who has traditionally maintained a distance from overtly political or socially charged statements, preferring instead to let his work and achievements speak for themselves.The concept of \u2018woke culture\u2019 in corporate America has been a contentious topic. Originally a term denoting awareness of social injustices, particularly regarding race, \u2018woke\u2019 has evolved in public discourse.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The United States spent \u201c2 trillion dollars to train and equip the Afghan military over the past 20 years. They fell in a week.\u201d", "evidence": "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. [...] \"We did not spend $2 trillion to train and equip the Afghan military,\" Harrison said. \"The cost of training and equipping the Afghan\u2019s is a relatively small subset of the total cost. The vast majority of the costs for the war were for the operation of our own forces and support for our own service members.\" [...] Ojeda said the U.S. had \"2 trillion dollars to train and equip the Afghan military over the past 20 years.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cHomicides are intraracial. When you look at white-on-white crime, it's 84%. Right? Homicides. White people kill white people.\u201d", "evidence": "\"|Okay cops kill white people more frequently. Y\u2019all commit the majority of crime so that makes sense, but the difference is they aren\u2019t killing you because you are white. White people being killed is not the same thing as white people being killed because they are white. Black people are being killed for their blackness in a lot of cases. Cops are more likely to shoot us. \" [...] Also, your sources are shit. Vox is basically the next buzzfeed. What did you do? Literally just google \"White on white murder\" and pick the first link and not even read it? They\u2019re basically saying \"White people, being the highest amount of population in the country, are surprisingly killed the most by other white people!\" [...] According to the US Department of Justice, blacks accounted for 52.5% of homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with whites 45.3% and \"Other\" 2.2%. The offending rate for blacks was almost 8 times higher than whites, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of white victims killed by whites, and 93% of black victims killed by blacks.[33][34][35]", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201c24 of every 100 kids in school today speak Spanish.\u201d", "evidence": "When it comes to education, Elementary school-aged children process information in a variety of ways in order for it to make sense to them. They process information on levels that are different than adults and can be taught a variety of subjects. Learning to speak Spanish is no different as they will retain what they have learned with greater accuracy. Giving a child a head-start in today\u2019s world by speaking Spanish can be beneficial in a number of ways. [...] 4. Easy to Practice \u2013 In the United States, Spanish is easily the second most spoken language in the country as a whole. According to the Answers provided on Yahoo, 16% of the country speaks Spanish. That means that nearly one out of every seven people you meet will speak Spanish. Of course, that\u2019s statistically speaking and this number could greatly increase or decrease depending on your location. [...] Regardless of the situation, learning to speak Spanish at an early age can help a child succeed throughout his or her life. The student could develop a talent for linguistic skills that could benefit learning other languages later on. As speaking Spanish is growing to be an ever demanding skill, why not give the child the ability to keep up with an ever growing society?", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe have 85 million Americans who have no health insurance.\u201d", "evidence": "The Commonwealth Fund, a respected source of data on health care research, found in 2022 that 43% percent of working-age adults ages 19 to 64 were uninsured or inadequately insured. That adds up to about 85 million adults. About 17.7 million adults were uninsured, according to the Commonwealth analysis. People who were uninsured for a year or longer were disproportionately young, Hispanic, poor, unhealthy and living in the South.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cViolent crime was up under Donald Trump.\u201d", "evidence": "In Michigan, Donald Trump predicts \u2018destruction and death\u2019 under Democrats - In Michigan, Donald Trump claims violence crime surged under Democrats, but statistics he cited aren\u2019t as conclusive - Trump spoke at the Livingston County Sheriff\u2019s Department flanked by sheriffs from rural Michigan counties who support his reelection - Democrats have countered Trump\u2019s assertions with statistics showing violent crime is down under the administration of President Joe Biden [...] Democrats pointed to data from the FBI and Michigan State Police showing violent crime in both the U.S. and Michigan spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Trump\u2019s final year in office. \"Violent crime was up under Donald Trump under his administration,\" Attorney General Dana Nessel said earlier Tuesday. \"It went down substantially when he left office and when Vice President Harris and of course, President Biden have been in office, we've seen a reduction in violent crime.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "In Pompano Beach, Florida, Somali immigrants illegally in the U.S. were in line to get driver\u2019s licenses and \u201call you need to vote is a driver's license.\u201d", "evidence": "The FL Secretary of State's office has received multiple calls on this video and has started an investigation into the Pompano Beach DMV to ensure that no illegals have voted there or to prevent this from happening. [...] Military age illegal aliens mostly from Somalia in line in Florida for drivers license. DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis told us this didn't happen in Florida. Was he lying? [...] These fricking people are getting drivers licenses to vote and these fricking illegals will be driving around on our highways without having the slightest clue about American diving laws, etc", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "China \u201chad 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.\"", "evidence": "Numerically, Haley is on target with both countries\u2019 ship counts. Experts say counting ships says little about military capabilities. Ship counts ignore overall tonnage, specific warfighting capabilities, and overall geographic reach, all of which are metrics where the United States maintains an edge over China.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"The Postal Service is not losing money because of Amazon. It\u2019s 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.\u201d", "evidence": "The claim that USPS is required to fund its pensions for 75 years in advance is commonly cited across the internet and in articles spanning back several years, largely in relation to mentions of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, or PAEA. USPS has long maintained that PAEA\u2019s pension pre-funding requirements \"contributes significantly to postal losses.\" The relevant portion of PAEA appeared to be this one: [...] Then there is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA), which some have taken to calling \"the most insane law\" ever passed by Congress. The law requires the Postal Service, which receives no taxpayer subsidies, to prefund its retirees\u2019 health benefits up to the year 2056. This is a $5 billion per year cost; it is a requirement that no other entity, private or public, has to make. If that doesn\u2019t meet the definition of insanity, I don\u2019t know what does. Without this obligation, the Post Office actually turns a profit. Some have called this a \"manufactured crisis.\" It\u2019s also significant that lots of companies benefit from a burden that makes the USPS less competitive; these same companies might also would benefit from full USPS privatization, a goal that has been pushed by several conservative think tanks for years.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\"We put $330 million in general school aids \u2014 the largest in more than a decade.\"", "evidence": "Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of public-school advocates at Central High School in La Crosse, Gov. Tony Evers thanked members of the Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) for \"having my back,\" and called out the group repeatedly, mentioning increases in the state budget he signed for special education, mental health services and general state aid. As he ticked off each budget increase he intoned, \"Thank you, WPEN.\" [...] But, he said, he was \"damn proud\" of increasing funding for special education by $95 million\u2013more than at any time in the last decade, and allocating $330 million in state general aid, the largest increase since 2005. [...] Evers\u2019 use of his partial veto powers made that picture slightly rosier. By vetoing the first year of education funding in the two-year budget he made the higher, second-year numbers apply in year one, increasing overall state aid. But the net increase really only takes the state back to funding levels of a decade ago, WPEN has pointed out.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cElon Musk backs Caitlin Clark, offers $10 million endorsement.\u201d", "evidence": "Elon Musk\u2019s endorsement of Caitlin Clark is a significant milestone in her career. Musk, who has a reputation for making headline-grabbing announcements, took to Twitter to express his support. \"I\u2019ve been following Caitlin Clark\u2019s career and am incredibly impressed by her talent and determination. I\u2019m proud to offer her a $10 million endorsement to support her journey. I support you, Caitlin Clark,\" Musk tweeted. [...] The $10 million endorsement from Musk is a game-changer for Caitlin Clark. Financially, it provides her with substantial resources to invest in her career, support her family, and engage in philanthropic activities. Beyond the financial benefits, the endorsement significantly raises her profile, linking her name with one of the most influential figures in the world. [...] Elon Musk\u2019s $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.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Says President Donald \u201cTrump promised 13,000 new jobs to the people of #Wisconsin. 3 years later, we\u2019re still waiting\u2026\u201d", "evidence": "In 2017, Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant, announced plans to build a massive LCD factory in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The deal, touted by then-President Donald Trump as a game-changer for U.S. manufacturing, was supposed to bring 13,000 jobs and a $10 billion investment to the state. However, the reality has been far from the promised vision. [...] While the Foxconn debacle under Trump left a bitter taste, Biden\u2019s recent announcement about Microsoft\u2019s $3.3 billion data center investment in Racine is a breath of fresh air. The very site where Trump grandstanded about Foxconn\u2019s supposed $10 billion investment and 13,000 jobs is now being repurposed by Microsoft. Biden\u2019s administration has already overseen the addition of over 700,000 manufacturing jobs. Instead of just throwing money at individual companies, they are trying to create a more favorable environment through legislation. The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law by Biden in 2022, provides over $50 billion in incentives for companies to build semiconductor fabrication plants in the U.S.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Speaking of an HIV outbreak in Indiana during his time as governor, says \u201cwe immediately deployed health resources.\u201d", "evidence": "AUSTIN, Ind. -- The rural community of Scott County, approximately an hour and a half south of Indianapolis, made international news when public health officials discovered an HIV outbreak the likes of which nobody had ever seen. [...] News of the HIV outbreak in Scott County broke in early 2015. The sparsely staffed health department there had never handled HIV cases before then. Instead, the regional Sexually Transmitted Diseases Department in Clark County had handled all cases of HIV. The system made sense at the time. [...] PREVIOUS | Gov. Pence declares public health emergency over HIV outbreak", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWhen I came into office, Iran had $70 billion in foreign exchange reserves. \u2026 By the time I left, they had nothing. They were broke.\u201d", "evidence": "\"When I came into office, Iran had $70 billion dollars in foreign exchange reserves, its piggy bank for terrorists. They were broke \u2013\u2014the Iranian regime could barely afford to keep the lights on,\" Trump said. \"Sadly, Crooked Joe surrendered my tough sanctions. Iran now once again has over $70 billion dollars to finance terror, and Israel is paying the price in blood.\" Trump\u2019s claim is backed up by the data. Iranian oil exports have risen on Biden\u2019s watch from nearly zero to an expected 3.4 million barrels daily, according to Iran\u2019s oil minister. The Wall Street Journal reported the Biden administration\u2019s lack of sanctions enforcement resulted in $30 billion to $40 billion in oil revenue to Iran this year alone.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWisconsin had over 1,400 opioid overdose deaths in 2022.\u201d", "evidence": "The number of people who died from opioids in 2022 rose to 1,421 Those deaths, in large part, are due to the prevalence and popularity of mixing fentanyl into other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"Samsung drops out of $1 billion advertising campaign with Olympics.\"", "evidence": "Samsung Drops Out Of $1 Billion Advertising Gig With Olympics, 'They've Gone Woke' [...] The claim about Samsung dropping out of a $1 billion advertising deal with the Olympics came from a July 28, 2024, SpaceXMania article (archived here) titled, \"Breaking: Samsung Withdraws $1 Billion Sponsorship from Paris Olympics, 'Woke Agenda.'\" [...] A Google search of keywords (archived here) from the claim returned no matching news articles about Samsung dropping their Olympics advertising deal, which would have been international news had it actually happened.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Baby boomers didn\u2019t have autism, seizures, allergies and other ailments when they were kids.", "evidence": "Facebook posts stated on August 16, 2022 in a Facebook post: \"The IRS is about to double in size, with 87,000 new armed agents and an additional $80 billion in order to primarily enhance IRS enforcement and operations.\" Facebook posts stated on July 2, 2022 in a Facebook post: \"Putin humiliatingly blows up all weapons and facilities\" on Snake Island by retreating Russian troops. Facebook posts stated on June 27, 2022 in a post: Planned Parenthood clinics are \"closing down all over the country\" because Roe v. Wade was overturned. Facebook posts stated on May 18, 2022 in a Facebook post: Baby boomers didn\u2019t have autism, seizures, allergies and other ailments when they were kids. [...] Facebook posts stated on May 18, 2022 in a Facebook post: Baby boomers didn\u2019t have autism, seizures, allergies and other ailments when they were kids.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cClassified documents can never be taken out of a (sensitive compartmented information facility), ever.\u201d", "evidence": "Referring to Biden\u2019s handling of materials with classified markings, Fitzpatrick cited his experience as an FBI special agent and a federal prosecutor, and said: \"Classified documents can never be taken out of a SCIF, ever.\" [...] Moss said classified documents, no matter their level, \"cannot simply be removed and taken outside of any secured space without complying with security protocols.\" However, he called Fitzpatrick\u2019s characterization of the process an \"oversimplification.\" [...] This is exaggerated. SCIFs must be used when documents with the highest-level classifications have to be reviewed. But even the most highly classified documents can be taken out of a SCIF, as long as specific precautions are taken that ensure similar levels of security.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The United States had 589 coal-fired plants 10 years ago, and \u201cwe're down to 504. \u2026 We are the only nation that has reduced our reliance (on) coal energy.\"", "evidence": "Manchin is broadly right to note that the U.S. has decreased its reliance on coal for generating electricity over the past decade, although he incorrectly labeled the units of measurement that went along with his figures. He also has a point that the U.S. has led the world in the number of retirements of coal-fired assets. However, other countries have also made significant cuts in coal-fired power over the same period.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cKamala cast the tie breaking vote to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to go after your tip income.\u201d", "evidence": "On Aug. 23 at a Las Vegas restaurant, Trump said: \"Kamala cast the tiebreaking vote to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to go after your tip income.\" [...] In August, we debunked a similar viral statement on Instagram about Harris and tipped income. Harris cast the tiebreaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, but the law did not lay out a plan to send 87,000 agents after tipped workers. And a 2023 IRS proposal to replace programs for taxed tip compliance was never implemented. [...] Trump said Harris \"cast the tiebreaking vote to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to go after your tip income.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cOverdose deaths in WV are up 45% from the prior year.\u201d", "evidence": "If Your Time is short \u2022 Overdose deaths in West Virginia have increased by about 45% between calendar year 2019 and calendar year 2020, according to state data. [...] Between February 2020 and February 2021, the most recent period for which the CDC data is available, the number of cumulative overdose deaths in West Virginia in the previous 12-month period rose from 889 to 1,395. That\u2019s an increase of 506, or almost 57%. The trend is not new: The number of overdoses in West Virginia has been rising since at least 2015. The same CDC data shows that in the 12-month period ending in February 2015, there were 653 overdose deaths in the state. So between 2015 and 2021, the number of overdoses in West Virginia rose by 114%.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cTexas ranks 3rd highest among states for the number of people who have recovered from\u201d the coronavirus.", "evidence": "The updated rankings, released today, are based on data available as of 1 p.m. CT on March 23, so they don\u2019t reflect the stay-at-home order issued this morning for Houston and Harris County. That order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight and will expire on April 3. [...] These were the rankings for Texas based on the March 16 data: [...] On March 16, there were 69 cases in Texas but Gov. Greg Abbott said the state should expect an \"exponential\" increase soon. As of March 24, there are 728 cases in the state and seven have died.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cNetflix loses 6 million subscribers within hours of donation announcement.\u201d", "evidence": "This claim originated on a self-described satire site.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cWhen we discovered, I discovered, that we were doing many, many, too many stop and frisks, we cut 95% of it out.\u201d", "evidence": "Shootings are on the rise this year in New York City, and the trends are raising questions about whether Mayor Bill de Blasio\u2019s decision to cut down on stop-and-frisk tactics has made it easier to carry guns in New York. The best data available on stop-and-frisk makes it clear that the search tactic turned up relatively few guns in terms of number of stops conducted. [...] That figure casts doubt on whether stop-and-frisks are useful in finding weapons and taking them off the street, but it is also the least generous way of judging the NYPD\u2019s program. Officers might stop passers-by for a variety of reasons (matching the description of someone involved in a crime, appearing to be involved in a drug deal, etc.), and, in many of these cases, the goal is not to find weapons. [...] De Blasio claims that pulling cops off of stop-and-frisk work will allow them to focus more on community policing, building ties that will pay off in the long term in reducing crime. His critics, including former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, argue that the mere possibility of being searched is a psychological deterrent to carrying a gun in the city. The numbers available aren\u2019t convincing enough to win the argument for either side.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cWisconsin is 49th in public health spending.\u201d", "evidence": "A review of public health funding in the United States, before and after the release of the 2002 IOM report, does not project confidence in a country committed to reducing preventable deaths. Using the OECD model for public health funding, the U.S. allots approximately three percent of total national health spending for nonclinical health or \"public health\" improvement efforts. Matters deteriorate further at the state level; according to a 2016 report from the Trust for America\u2019s Health, Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 states, with a per capita public health spending of $5.90 per person.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThis year, it's going to be over $1.5 trillion (that we\u2019ve) reduced the debt.\"", "evidence": "FACT CHECK: Joe Biden Claims The Debt Was Reduced Under His Presidency [...] President Joe Biden sat down with Scott Pelly, the host of 60 Minutes, where he discussed subjects such as inflation, the economy, COVID-19 and Ukraine. During the interview, Biden claimed that \"[his administration] also reduced the debt and reduced the deficit by $350 billion my first year. This year, it\u2019s gonna be over $1.5 trillion reduced the debt.\" [...] Biden\u2019s claim that his administration reduced the debt is incorrect. When he took office, the total national debt was $27.75 trillion. As of Sept. 16, the national debt is $30.89 trillion, marking an increase of $3 trillion, according to the Treasury Department.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Black Lives Matter protesters outside the White House faced a more militarized response than rioters who assaulted the Capitol.", "evidence": "The escalating use of force against demonstrators comes amid a wider push to militarize the government\u2019s response to domestic unrest, and particularly demonstrations perceived to be linked to left-wing groups like Antifa, which the administration views as a \"terrorist\" organization (New York Times, 31 May 2020). In the immediate aftermath of Floyd\u2019s killing, President Trump posted a series of social media messages threatening to deploy the military and National Guard to disperse demonstrations, suggesting that authorities should use lethal force if demonstrators engage in looting (New York Magazine, 1 June 2020). The president called governors \"weak\" for allowing demonstrations in their states and instructed them to call in the National Guard to \"dominate\" and \"cut through [protesters] like butter\" (Vox, 2 June 2020). Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, an advisor to the president, recommended that the administration \"send in the troops\" and give \"no quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters\" (New York Times, 3 June 2020, 23 June 2020).", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cIn April last year, our state unemployment rate hit a record low of 2.4%. Last year, Wisconsin had an all-time lowest number of unemployed workers ever in modern history.\u201d", "evidence": "\"In April last year, our state unemployment rate hit a record low of 2.4%,\" Evers said during his Jan. 23 address. [...] April\u2019s record low beat Wisconsin\u2019s previous lowest unemployment rate of 2.5% from just the month prior. And before the pandemic, Wisconsin\u2019s lowest unemployment rate on record was 2.9% in March 2020. [...] Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, \"BLS Data: Wisconsin Statewide Unemployment Rate Hits New Record Low of 2.4% in April, State Adds 3,800 Total Jobs Over Month,\" May 18, 2023", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "In Georgia, it's \"illegal to give people water within 150 feet of a polling place\" and \"punishable by up to a year in prison.\"", "evidence": "State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, D-Brooklyn, has introduced S.7382 to repeal Section 17-140 of the state Election Law, relating to furnishing money or entertainment to induce attendance at polls. Commonly known as the \"line warming ban\" the legislation prohibits organizations from handing out refreshments, water or other items such as PPE or hand sanitizer while individuals wait in line to vote. Anyone prosecuted under the statute is subject to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail or three years\u2019 probation and a fine of up to $1,000 if found guilty. [...] Prohibitions on giving food and water to those standing in line to vote became a national issue earlier this year when Georgia officials passed new voting laws that included a prohibition on giving away water or food within a certain distance of voters or polling places. [...] The Georgia law, for example, makes it a crime for anyone but a poll worker to provide food or bottles of water within 150 feet of a polling place or 25 feet of any voter standing in line.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cA few years back,\u201d Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield, W.Va., \u201cwas voted the best high school football field in America.\u201d", "evidence": "America\u2019s Best High School Football Stadium is in West Virginia! Mitchell Stadium is home to Bluefield Middle School (Buccaneers), Bluefield High School (Beavers), Graham Middle School (G-Men), Graham High School (G-Men), Bluefield University (Rams), Bluefield State University (Big Blues). Mitchell Stadium of Bluefield, West Virginia, is the winner of America\u2019s Best High School Football Stadiums contest by USA Today High School Sports. Mitchell Stadium was built in 1936. It is located on the border of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia, and overlooks the scenic East River Mountain. Mitchell Stadium is currently home to two middle school teams, two dominant high school football programs, and two college teams. The two middle school teams are the Buccaneers of Bluefield, West Virginia, and the G-Men of Bluefield, Virginia, the two high school teams are the Bluefield Beavers of Bluefield, West Virginia, and the Graham G-Men of Bluefield, Virginia, and the two college teams are the Big Blues of Bluefield, West Virginia, and the Rams of Bluefield, Virginia. Mitchell Stadium is the home field to many teams. Since Graham Middle and Graham High School play in West Virginia, they are the only schools in the country to host their games in another state. The stadium holds 10,000 fans, but the annual Graham-Beaver game between the two high schools typically sees crowds over the stadium\u2019s capacity, at around 12,000 attendees.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Project 2025 would end gay marriage.", "evidence": "In such a lengthy, expansive plan, it can be easy to get lost in the details. This may be intentional, bogging down discussion and complicating reporting on the project\u2019s potential impact. So let\u2019s focus on the vision of society driving the blueprint. That means beginning with Project 2025\u2019s threat to bodily autonomy: how Project 2025\u2019s drafters plan to mandate their narrowly defined and state-enforced patriarchal, heterosexual, married, procreating family and how they plan to confine people within that vision. [...] This is the America envisioned by Project 2025: one in which gender and sexuality are not acknowledged as actually existing outside patriarchal, nuclear families. All that exists here is mothers and babies, children and families. Each family is meant to function as an extension of the state, dedicated to controlling and confining sex, gender, and sexuality, with all the coercive power and violence that would require. Full compliance could only be accomplished through self-policing under intimidation. These groups know they cannot expect people to do that completely. They know they cannot force everyone to be straight, to marry, to deny their gender, to birth a child. They know people will refuse. What they want is to use that inevitable noncompliance as a threat and a tool.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cRon DeSantis is against fracking. He is against drilling\u201d", "evidence": "Nikki Haley: \"Ron DeSantis is against fracking. He's against drilling. He always talks about what happens on day one. You better watch out because what happens on day two is when you're in trouble. Day two in Florida you banned fracking. You banned offshore drilling.\" pic.twitter.com/Ga2xsy3VE7 \u2014 TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 28, 2023 [...] Ron DeSantis did not ban fracking. A constitutional amendment was passed by the people of Florida prohibiting offshore drilling, and he executed the will of the people as is his obligation as governor. https://t.co/043v5iEOMl \u2014 Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 28, 2023 [...] RATING: Haley's claim that DeSantis banned fracking and offshore oil drilling is PARTLY FALSE, uses misleading framing, and omits important context. DeSantis's actions against fracking in Florida are more nuanced than Haley's attack purports.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cBefore the pandemic, just over 40,000 were on continuing UI claims. Now, there are well over 100,000 on state or federal UI benefits.\u201d", "evidence": "Lisa Subeck stated on February 16, 2024 in X, formerly Twitter: \"The United States is an outlier, one of only about half a dozen countries, without any guarantee of paid leave for new parents and/or other health care needs.\" Tim Kaine stated on March 15, 2022 in a tweet.: \"Virginia women are paid 80 cents for every dollar paid to Virginia men.\" Mandela Barnes stated on May 23, 2021 in Twitter: \"It\u2019s been over 50 years since minimum (wage) and inflation parted ways, then over a decade since the federal minimum went up at all.\" Glenn Grothman stated on June 8, 2021 in Twitter: \"We have a record 9.3 million job openings in the U.S.\" Mark Born stated on June 2, 2021 in Twitter: \"Before the pandemic, just over 40,000 were on continuing UI claims. Mandela Barnes stated on May 23, 2021 in Twitter: \"Since 1978, CEO compensation rose over 1,000% and only 11.9% for average workers.\" Joe Biden stated on April 15, 2020 in comments at a virtual town hall meeting: \"Until this week, they [OSHA] weren\u2019t even enforcing these guidelines [for coronavirus]. [...] Mark Born stated on June 2, 2021 in Twitter: \"Before the pandemic, just over 40,000 were on continuing UI claims.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201c100 million ballots (Democrats) prefilled now have the wrong name.\u201d", "evidence": "July 29 - Professor Rebecca Green is quoted in the Poynter Fact-Checking story in PolitiFact, \"No, Democrats have not \u2018pre-filled\u2019 100 million ballots with \u2018wrong name.\u2019\" Read the story.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Higher education is one of America's strongest export sectors. Over 1 million international students studied at American universities, (in the) 2018-19 school year. They contributed over $40 billion to the economy.\u201d", "evidence": "Higher Education is America\u2019s 10th Top Export, Injecting Over $40 Billion into the U.S. Economy Did you know that the United States has a secret weapon in its economic arsenal? It\u2019s not technology, agriculture, or manufacturing \u2013 it\u2019s education. Higher education has quietly become America\u2019s 10th largest export, pumping over $40 billion into the U.S. economy annually. [...] However, this educational export faces challenges. Increasing competition from other countries, visa restrictions, and geopolitical tensions threaten to erode America\u2019s market share. To maintain its edge, the U.S. must continue to invest in its educational institutions and create welcoming policies for international students.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Kamala Harris \u201csupported abolishing ICE.\u201d", "evidence": "As a U.S. senator in 2018, Kamala Harris criticized the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policies, including a policy that led to family separations at the border. In that context, Harris said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s function should be reexamined and that \"we need to probably even think about starting from scratch.\" But Harris didn\u2019t say there shouldn\u2019t be immigration enforcement. In 2018, Harris also said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had a role and should exist.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Due to U.S. Senate rules, Democrats need \"more than a majority ... to codify Roe vs. Wade.\"", "evidence": "By \u2014 Candice Norwood Candice Norwood Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/with-senate-split-50-50-heres-what-democrats-can-and-cant-do Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter With Senate split 50-50, here\u2019s what Democrats can and can\u2019t do Politics Jan 28, 2021 12:05 PM EDT Democrats now have a thin majority control in Congress, but passing sweeping legislation still won\u2019t be easy. A rule requiring votes from 60 of the Senate\u2019s 100 members in order to advance legislation may force President Joe Biden\u2019s administration to modify its priorities on economic relief, climate change, racial equity and immigration in order to gain support from Republicans and moderate Democrats. With just 50 members and a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Democrats will have the power to confirm executive and judicial nominees and launch investigations in a range of areas. While the 60-vote threshold remains the party\u2019s biggest hurdle for change, Democrats have some mechanisms to potentially avoid the rules \u2014 or even upend them. Why do Democrats have control in a 50-50 split Senate?", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "ABC News reporter said \u201cgovernment tried to kill\u201d former President Donald Trump.", "evidence": "\"The United States has been searching for Baghdadi for many years,\" Trump said from the White House. \"Capturing or killing Baghdadi has been the top national security priority of my administration. U.S. special operations forces executed a dangerous and daring nighttime raid in northwestern Syria and accomplished their mission in grand style.\" [...] \"Our military service members and our interagency partners executed brilliantly,\" the secretary told ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz. \"So here we are. Earlier in the year, we defeated the physical caliphate \u2014 destroyed the physical caliphate \u2014 and now its leader is dead. So it's a great day.\" [...] Baghdadi was in a compound with a few other men and women and a large number of children. \"Our special operators have tactics and techniques and procedures they go through to try and call him out,\" Esper said. \"But at the end of the day, as the president said, he decided to kill himself and took some small children with him, we believe.\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "In Afghanistan, \u201cover 100 billion dollars spent on military contracts.\u201d", "evidence": "News reports show the Pentagon spent $107.9 billion on contracted services in Afghanistan. [...] When asked for back up for the statement, Barnes\u2019 spokesman Christian Slater pointed us to a April 23, 2021 Bloomberg Law report which found that \"Since 2002, the Pentagon has spent $107.9 billion on contracted services in Afghanistan, a Bloomberg Government analysis shows.\" [...] A Bloomberg Law report found that the Pentagon has spent $107.9 billion on contracted services in Afghanistan. Those contracted services include lodging, laundry, food, transportation, equipment maintenance and fuel.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cNew Haven, Conn., had to issue bonds for a bridge after using funds for that bridge to pay for a police misconduct settlement.\"", "evidence": "In 2017, New Haven, Conn., had to pay $8.4 million to settle a police misconduct lawsuit. [...] We wondered about the New Haven example. Was money for a bridge diverted to settle a lawsuit against the police? [...] Kaine said police settlements can defund city services, as when \"New Haven, Conn, had to issue bonds for a bridge after using funds for that bridge to pay for a police misconduct settlement.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Says Taylor Swift \u201cannounced a fund raising concert with Beyonc\u00e9 in support of Harris\u201d on July 23.", "evidence": "- Taylor Swift and Beyonc\u00e9 are making concert films from their blockbuster Eras and Renaissance tours. [...] In August, Swift announced that an Eras concert film will be released October 13. The film's presale shattered records, selling $26 million worth of tickets in the first 24 hours. After much speculation, on Sunday night Beyonc\u00e9 announced her own concert film: The Renaissance tour's film is set to debut December 1. [...] It's a shrewd move from the two musicians. While there are a number of entertainers who who would make a \"best of business\" list \u2014 billionaire Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Kim Kardashian, and George Clooney to name a few \u2014 Swift and Beyonc\u00e9 have surely joined the ranks.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a law that would \u201ctake children away from their parents if the parents don\u2019t want to consent to sex changes.\u201d", "evidence": "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed Minnesota House File 146 \u2014 called the \"Trans Refuge\" bill \u2014 into law in April 2023. It amended the law governing which court would have jurisdiction over child custody cases involving more than one state. The law now gives Minnesota courts temporary jurisdiction to hear child custody cases when a child is in the state with a parent to seek gender-affirming care. It does not authorize the government to take custody of children whose parents don\u2019t consent to them getting gender-affirming care. Courts will not automatically rule against a parent who doesn\u2019t consent to a child receiving gender-affirming care. Courts seek to determine parental custody based on evidence about what is in children\u2019s best interests. \u200b", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "My 2018 election was the first time Speaker Robin Vos has lost a Republican-held seat", "evidence": "Yet Republicans won 63 of the 99 Assembly seats, just one less than their pre-election majority. That marks an increase in the pro-Republican \"efficiency gap\" from about 10 percent in 2016 to almost 15 percent this year. Democrats also won or are leading in elections for all of Wisconsin's statewide offices, showing voter support for their candidates in races that are not affected by gerrymandering. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called it a \"faulty premise\" to say that Republicans' legislative majority is due to gerrymandering. [...] Wisconsin Progress, an organization that recruits and trains liberal candidates, said 30 of the 31 Democratic candidates it backed in Republican-held Assembly districts ended up losing in the Nov. 6 elections.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "There is \u201c$500 billion of unspent COVID money\u201d that can be rescinded.", "evidence": "Government estimates show that more than $400 billion in COVID-19 relief money remained unspent as of Jan. 31. But government sources say a majority of that money has been allocated, meaning it\u2019s earmarked to be spent and wouldn\u2019t be eligible for rescission. Estimates about how much remains unspent and unallocated range from $70 billion to $90.5 billion.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "In Milwaukee, \"The (homicide) rate has nearly doubled in the past two years.\"", "evidence": "Milwaukee reached its grim homicide milestone the week of Nov. 23, when a 33-year-old man was killed in a shooting, bringing the homicide tally to 197 up to that date. In 2019, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel\u2019s homicide tracker, there were 111 homicides. In 2020, the number rose to 204; in 2021, the figure had climbed to 212 homicides. To have doubled in two years from 111 in 2019, the tally would have to have reached 222 in 2021. So Steil\u2019s \"nearly doubled\" claim is in the ballpark.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe state of Washington has already sent out their ballots\u201d for the 2024 presidential election.", "evidence": "The Presidential election is coming up on November 5, 2024. Stay informed with the latest voting information, key dates, primary results and more for Washington. [...] How Washington Voted in Past Presidential Elections [...] * The Decision Desk pre-election race ratings characterize the competitiveness of all U.S. House and Senate seats up in 2024, all gubernatorial elections in 2024, and the states and districts that comprise the 538 electoral votes in the presidential election. Several factors are taken into consideration in determining ratings, including various combinations of the analysis of historical electoral results, election polling, analysis of voter file registration data and early voting (when applicable), political advertising data as well as qualitative assessments of the specific candidates.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Project 2025 would \u201cend Head Start.\u201d", "evidence": "Project 2025 Would End Head Start and Hurt Children with Disabilities [...] The 2024 Republican National Convention has highlighted the party\u2019s platform this week, drawing heavily from Project 2025. The conservative policy plan calls for the elimination of Head Start, alarming education advocates who note that doing so would remove access to early learning for over 787,000 children from families with low-incomes across the U.S. Of those children served, over 111,000 (about 14.2%) are children with disabilities, and many more are at risk for developing disabilities. Head Start specializes in providing comprehensive services to young children with disabilities from families with low incomes, who face intertwined challenges from inequitable access to food, health care, housing, and high-quality early learning. If Head Start ends, so will critical services for thousands of children with delays and disabilities living in poverty across the country. [...] Project 2025\u2019s brevity about the elimination of Head Start belies its potentially devastating consequences for some of the U.S.\u2019s most vulnerable children and their families. Cutting Head Start comprises just one paragraph in the project\u2019s 900-plus-page Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise. The paragraph includes misleading information about Head Start\u2019s efficacy and no mention of its services for children with disabilities. It does not offer an alternative strategy for providing critical services to set young children up for long-term success.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Former President Jimmy Carter \u201cpassed away Tuesday, July 23, at 01:34 am at his home in Plains, Georgia at the age of 99.\u201d", "evidence": "The claim: President Jimmy Carter died July 23, 2024 [...] \"Former President Jimmy Carter \u2013 James Earl Carter, Jr. \u2013 a passionate champion of human rights, democracy, WWII veteran, and 39th President of the United States, passed away Tuesday, July 23, at 01:34 a.m. at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 99,\" the purported statement began. [...] Carter, the oldest living former president at 99 years, entered hospice care Feb. 18, 2023, opting to forgo medical treatments after cancer had spread to his brain. His grandson Jason said in June that the former president was \"experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "There are nine states \u201cwhere Biden\u2019s name can\u2019t be removed and no one can be added. That\u2019s over 130 electoral votes in the toilet.\u201d", "evidence": "There are ways to resolve this problem, as two other states with early deadlines have already done. Washington state officials said they will accept a provisional certification of Biden\u2019s nomination before the convention. And Alabama\u2019s Legislature shortened its deadline so that Biden could qualify for the ballot there. [...] So, Democrats might have to file a lawsuit to get Biden on the ballot.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cIran has stockpiled 10 times as much enriched uranium as it had\u201d in 2016.", "evidence": "By the fall of 2009, Iran had been the subject of four sets of UN sanctions aimed at compelling the country to comply with IAEA demands to disclose the full extent of its nuclear program and to stop its uranium enrichment activities. In September 2009, Iran informed the IAEA that it was constructing a second fuel enrichment plant near the city of Qom, but refused to answer all of the Agency's questions about the new plant.[3] At that time, Iran had an estimated stockpile of 1,500 kilograms of low enriched uranium (LEU), enriched to between 3.5 and 5 percent. When Iran announced that it would begin enriching uranium to 19.75 percent because it was running out of fuel for use in its Tehran Research Reactor that produces medical isotopes, the United States, France, Russia, and the IAEA (the \"Vienna Group\") proposed a fuel swap as a confidence-building measure pending renewed talks with Iran.[4] This proposal called for Iran to ship roughly three-quarters of its then LEU stockpile to Russia and France to be further enriched to nearly 20 percent and then returned to Iran as fuel for its Tehran Reactor.[5] Iran initially expressed interest in the proposal, but then withdrew its support,[6] continued its enrichment activities, and spurned further negotiations with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1).", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Kamala Harris \u201creturned\u201d a $5,000 donation Donald Trump made to her campaign in 2011.", "evidence": "Donald Trump once donated to Kamala Harris\u2019 campaign. Here\u2019s what she did with the money. [...] In 2011, Donald Trump, as a private citizen, donated $5,000 to Kamala Harris\u2019 California attorney general reelection campaign. In 2013, Trump gave Harris an additional $1,000. [...] A July 21 Threads post included a photo of a $5,000 check Trump wrote in September 2011 to Harris\u2019 California attorney general reelection campaign. The post said, \"A donation (Harris) returned.\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\"(The) top issue for college students is the economy.\"", "evidence": "\"The everyday concerns of Americans are the economy \u2014 even young people that we work with at Young America's Foundation, our polling shows nationwide, their top issue for college students is the economy,\" Walker said. [...] Is Walker right that \"The top issue for college students is the economy\"? [...] The economy was the top issue for college students who participated in the group\u2019s poll. Wisconsin pollster Charles Franklin said the polling company is reputable and the questions were overall evenhanded.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Says since he took office, the City of Milwaukee has seen the creation of 7,000 new affordable housing units.", "evidence": "Donald Trump stated on March 2, 2020 in a Tweet Michael Bloomberg \"did not poll well as mayor in handling crisis!\" Michael Bloomberg stated on January 30, 2020 in a news release During his tenure as mayor of New York City, \"street homelessness decreased by 28 percent.\" Tom Barrett stated on November 20, 2019 in a public forum Says since he took office, the City of Milwaukee has seen the creation of 7,000 new affordable housing units. Michael Bloomberg stated on January 1, 2020 in a television ad \"Mayor Bloomberg helped lower the number of uninsured by 40 percent, covering 700,000 more New Yorkers\" Viral image stated on November 5, 2019 in a Facebook post \"These are real ads running in New York City calling for the removal of \u2018trash\u2019 which includes white people, Trump supporters, and Christians.\" Greg Abbott stated on October 10, 2019 in a tweet \"The City of Austin is dedicating more than $20,000 PER HOMELESS PERSON in Austin.\" Roger Stone stated on September 28, 2018 in a Facebook post As mayor of Newark, N.J., Cory Booker \"stole $600,000 from a city water authority and laundered it through his law firm.\" [...] Tom Barrett stated on November 20, 2019 in a public forum Says since he took office, the City of Milwaukee has seen the creation of 7,000 new affordable housing units.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe\u2019ve seen an 800% increase in the Swanton sector, which is the part of the northern border that I represent, in illegal crossings.\u201d", "evidence": "\"We\u2019ve seen an 800% increase in the Swanton sector, which is the part of the northern border that I represent, in illegal crossings,\" Stefanik said on \"Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo\" on Jan. 28. [...] The Swanton sector includes an estimated 24,000 square miles and includes northeastern counties in New York, three counties in New Hampshire, and all of Vermont. [...] In November, Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia of the Swanton sector posted on X \u2013 formerly Twitter \u2013 that there had been a 550% increase in apprehensions between fiscal year 2022 and 2023, and that the migrants came from 79 countries. Garcia posted in August that apprehensions in just over 10 months exceeded the previous nine years combined.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe racial wealth gap is the smallest it\u2019s been in 20 years.\u201d", "evidence": "President Joe Biden referred to 2022 Federal Reserve data that showed a modest decrease in the wealth ratio between white and Black Americans. For every $100 the average white family had in wealth, the average Black family had $15.75, the smallest gap in 20 years. By a different measure \u2014 the dollar amount difference in wealth \u2014 the gap widened between white and Black Americans to its largest disparity since 1989. Economists use both measures to assess the racial wealth gap. Learn more about PolitiFact\u2019s fact-checking process and rating system.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWhen a basketball player or football or baseball player from another team plays in Wisconsin, that one game's salary, they pay Wisconsin income tax on it. ... So if for some reason we do not have the Brewers in Wisconsin all of those player salaries that generate dollars for the State of Wisconsin go away.\"", "evidence": "Robin Vos stated on March 9, 2023 in Podcast \"When a basketball player or football or baseball player from another team plays in Wisconsin, that one game's salary, they pay Wisconsin income tax on it. ... Tony Evers stated on March 8, 2023 in Twitter The money for upgrades to the Milwaukee Brewers stadium in Evers\u2019 budget is \"a bipartisan plan.\" Facebook posts stated on September 5, 2022 in a video on Facebook Joe Biden called Pope Francis the \"famous African American baseball player in America.\" Chris Carr stated on May 22, 2022 in a tweet Stacey Abrams \"supported the MLB boycott.\" Snapple stated on April 5, 2018 in a bottle cap \"There are only 18 minutes of total action in an average baseball game.\" Donald Trump stated on October 10, 2017 in a tweet The NFL is \"getting massive tax breaks.\" [...] Robin Vos stated on March 9, 2023 in Podcast \"When a basketball player or football or baseball player from another team plays in Wisconsin, that one game's salary, they pay Wisconsin income tax on it. ... Tony Evers stated on March 8, 2023 in Twitter The money for upgrades to the Milwaukee Brewers stadium in Evers\u2019 budget is \"a bipartisan plan.\"", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cPrices have increased over 17% in the last two years.\u201d", "evidence": "Have prices increased by over 17% in two years, as new Speaker Mike Johnson said? [...] Johnson has a point that prices have increased over two years, but not by 17%. He also ignored that wages have also increased, though not as much as prices. [...] Johnson\u2019s office sent PolitiFact data showing that consumer prices have increased 17% since the beginning of Joe Biden\u2019s term in January 2021. However, Johnson said \"two years,\" not two years and nine months.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe are No. 1 among all large states in having fully vaccinated teenagers. We are No. 2 in all large states for having fully vaccinated five- to 11- year-olds.\u201d", "evidence": "The CDC's current definition of \"fully vaccinated\" is two shots of the mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna or one shot of J&J. Those aged 5 and up are eligible for booster shots at least five months after a second dose of the mRNA vaccines or two months after a J&J shot. [...] Since the start of the COVID vaccination campaign, health officials focused on reaching older Americans, who are at high risk of severe disease. People over 65 have the highest vaccination rates in the U.S., while kids under age 12 have the lowest. (5-to-11-year-olds were first eligible for the vaccine starting in fall 2021. Children younger than 5 could receive the vaccine starting in June 2022.) [...] States receive vaccine allocations from the federal government and make their own plans for how to get those vaccines out to residents. Some states are encountering hesitancy and resistance to getting vaccinated among their populations.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cIf you look at the hospitalizations at Ruby Memorial in West Virginia, and around the country, 90% to 95% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated.\u201d", "evidence": "J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital leader says they are preparing for COVID hospitalization surge [...] \"The biggest worry for us is that hospitalizations tend to lag two-to-three weeks behind infections,\" said Dr. Ron Pellegrino, the C.O.O. of J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201c2022 was the biggest tourism year ever in West Virginia\u201d", "evidence": "Is Gov. Jim Justice right that West Virginia had its biggest tourism year in 2022? [...] Did West Virginia have its best tourism year ever in 2022, as Gov. Jim Justice said recently? In a Sept. 12 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Justice, a Republican, said, \"2022 was the biggest tourism year ever in West Virginia, and the numbers are absolutely incredible.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Milwaukee's Marcus Performing Arts Center \u2013 where 'The Daily Show' had been scheduled \u2013 \u201cwas originally located in the \u2018soft perimeter,\u2019 they called it, security-wise\u201d but \u201cwas shifted, understandably so, to the \u2018hard perimeter.\u2019\u201d", "evidence": "The RNC\u2019s security \"hard zone,\" where people need credentials to enter, encompasses the convention\u2019s main buildings: Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, and the Baird Center. Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, the director of the Secret Service said her agency\u2019s security plan had been \"strengthened\" but that there were no changes to the perimeters of the security zone. At the time that \"The Daily Show\" canceled its Milwaukee trip, there were still questions about whether those security perimeters could change. But by the time Stewart was addressing his viewers about the canceled trip, there were no stated changes to the perimeters. The Marcus Center, where he was set to host his show, was not, and still is not, in the security \"hard zone\" as Stewart claimed.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Says he has issued more pardons than \u201cany Wisconsin governor in contemporary history.\u201d", "evidence": "Evers pardons 171 Wisconsin convicts, total now 774 MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday, Dec. 29 that he has granted another 171 pardons \u2013 bringing his total number of pardons granted to 774 \u2013 a news release stated. Evers had already issued more pardons than any Wisconsin governor in modern history. The vast majority of those pardons were granted to people convicted of lower level, nonviolent crimes.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Kamala Harris has adopted the Nazi-rooted phrase \u201cStrength Through Joy\u201d as her campaign slogan.", "evidence": "Kamala Harris, tweet, August 18, 2016 Kamala Harris, campaign website, accessed August 2016 Interview, Nathan Click, Kamala Harris campaign spokesman, August 22, 2016", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe passed 27 bills last year, which is the fewest since the Depression.\u201d", "evidence": "During 1931-1933, the 72nd Congress passed only 21 bills Last year, the 118th Congress passed only 27 bills, the smallest since the 21 bills during the Great Depression", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe idea that there\u2019s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of.\u201d", "evidence": "People who commit political violence have aggressive personalities.23 Many who commit forms of political violence that do not include preplanning\u2014such as most hate crimes, threats, and violence at rallies\u2014also have poor self-control or have lowered their self-control temporarily (by drinking, for instance).24 These traits are shared across individuals who commit all forms of violence. What is unique about political violence is that it does not arise from interpersonal friction. Instead, for people with low self-control (a large pool that includes, for instance, teenage boys and anyone who has drunk in excess) and aggressive personalities (which limits that pool somewhat) to turn to violence, they need to be enraged and have that anger directed at a group of people they don\u2019t know. They also need to believe that they will not face severe consequences or not care about consequences (because they are too impulsive to care or because they think the consequences are worth it). [...] 177 Rachel Kleinfeld, \"The Rise of Political Violence in the United States,\" Journal of Democracy 32, no. 4 (2021): 160\u2013176, https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/the-rise-of-political-violence-in-the-united-states; and Lee Drutman, \"The Case for Proportional Voting,\" National Affairs 56 (2018): https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-case-for-proportional-voting.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "During his tenure as mayor of New York City, \u201cstreet homelessness decreased by 28 percent.\u201d", "evidence": "Coalition for the Homeless stated on April 8, 2020 in a newspaper interview New York City could pay to house its homeless population in hotel rooms currently sitting vacant, but Mayor Bill de Blasio \"has absolutely to this point refused to do that.\" Michael Bloomberg stated on January 30, 2020 in a news release During his tenure as mayor of New York City, \"street homelessness decreased by 28 percent.\" Gavin Newsom stated on February 19, 2020 in a State of the State Address \"Back in 2005, when we did that first point-in-time count, there were over 188,000 thousand people that were deemed homeless in the state of California. \u2026 That\u2019s 35,000 more than we have today.\" Greg Abbott stated on January 7, 2020 in a press gaggle The city of Austin has \"removed, seemingly, any legal consequences to the actions where the homeless lie, sleep, where they defecate.\" Darrell Steinberg stated on October 24, 2019 in an interview with Capital Public Radio \"90,000 Californians are unsheltered and homeless.\" Greg Abbott stated on October 10, 2019 in a tweet \"The City of Austin is dedicating more than $20,000 PER HOMELESS PERSON in Austin.\" [...] Michael Bloomberg stated on January 30, 2020 in a news release During his tenure as mayor of New York City, \"street homelessness decreased by 28 percent.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The GOP-controlled Legislature has \"refused to act on at least 150\" appointees of Gov. Tony Evers.", "evidence": "Since Evers took office in January 2019, he has been stymied by the GOP-controlled Legislature on many fronts. The Legislature has delayed action on a large range or appointees. These include the Department of Transportation and Department of Workforce Development. The non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau puts the number awaiting action as of Sept. 10, 2021 at 163.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWe're having the largest classes of correctional officers we've ever had before.\u201d", "evidence": "Wisconsin lawmakers passed a pay raise for corrections officers last year in hopes of fixing staffing shortages. The state Department of Corrections graduated its largest training class ever in February with 214 graduates. Prison staff vacancy rates have been trending down since they peaked at 35% in August.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "New York is \"leading the nation with the lowest imprisonment rate of any large state\u201d", "evidence": "Despite efforts to shrink it, New York\u2019s prison infrastructure is one of the largest in the country. Today, more than 40,000 New Yorkers are behind bars and another 337,000 have spent time in prison at some point in their lives; three-quarters of them are people of color. As the recent Brennan Center report Conviction, Imprisonment, and Lost Earnings: How Involvement with the Criminal Justice System Deepens Inequality shows, this creates enormous, lasting consequences for impacted individuals, families, and communities. Time spent in prison can reduce a person\u2019s lifetime earning potential by half a million dollars. In New York State alone, imprisonment translates to nearly $2 billion annually in reduced earnings, overwhelmingly extracted from communities of color, the very communities Robin Hood serves. [...] But policies and budgets can change. Last year, New York passed important reforms related to discovery, bail, and trial conduct, and our overall prison population continues to drop year over year. Following the lead of states including Louisiana, Missouri, and South Carolina, New York legislators and advocates have advanced a new set of priorities. The Less Is More Act, for example, would prevent thousands of New Yorkers from being reincarcerated for technical parole violations like being late for curfew, failing a drug test, or missing appointments with a parole officer.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cRight now, two-thirds of the U.S. Senate is composed of millionaires.\u201d", "evidence": "I have been researching this issue for the past 10 years, and the results, published in my new book, The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office \u2013 and What We Can Do About It, are clear. Contrary to the cherished ideal of a government of and by the people, Americans are almost always governed by the very privileged. The president is the billionaire head of a global business empire. His cabinet is mostly millionaires. Most members of Congress are millionaires. Most supreme court justices are millionaires. Millionaires make up less than 3% of the general public, but have unified majority control of all three branches of the federal government. Working-class Americans, on the other hand, make up about half of the country. But they have never held more than 2% of the seats in any Congress since the nation was founded. [...] So why are so few workers running? In a democracy like ours where almost any citizen can stand for elected office, why are the vast majority of candidates drawn from the ranks of white-collar professionals, and usually affluent or wealthy ones at that?", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "List shows settlements Donald Trump made to 10- to 13-year-old victims of child sex crimes.", "evidence": "We found no evidence of these cases or settlements.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Project 2025 mandates women carry \u201cperiod passports\u201d to \u201ctrack their menstrual cycles\u201d and \u201cmonitor pregnancies.\u201d", "evidence": "Called the 2025 Presidential Transition Project\u2014or \"Project 2025,\" for short\u2014the plan has \"four pillars\": [...] \u2014Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "The Associated Press reported \u201cprosecutors are reconsidering bringing charges against former President Donald J. Trump on child rape and molestation charges.\u201d", "evidence": "The Associated Press didn\u2019t report this.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "C-sections are coded as abortions in hospitals.", "evidence": "Tim Sheehy stated on June 8, 2024 in in a U.S. Senate candidate debate: \"Elective abortions up to and including the moment of birth. Healthy, 9-month-year-old baby killed at the moment of birth. That\u2019s what Jon Tester and the Democrats have voted for.\" Threads posts stated on July 7, 2024 in a Threads post: Project 2025 mandates women carry \"period passports\" to \"track their menstrual cycles\" and \"monitor pregnancies.\" Threads posts stated on July 27, 2024 in a Threads post: C-sections are coded as abortions in hospitals. Ron Johnson stated on April 15, 2024 in Podcast: \"Every Senate Democrat has voted to support unlimited abortions up to the moment of birth.\" Lila Rose stated on May 14, 2024 in an Instagram post: Anti-abortion activist sentenced to 57 months in prison for \"handing roses and resources to women at an abortion facility.\" X posts stated on May 10, 2024 in an X post: Sen. Katie Britt introduced a bill \"to create a national registry of pregnant women.\" Paul Renner stated on April 4, 2024 in an interview: For health risk exceptions in Florida\u2019s abortion amendment, \"You're not even talking to a doctor to make that determination.\" [...] Threads posts stated on July 27, 2024 in a Threads post: C-sections are coded as abortions in hospitals.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Under Joe Biden, there are \u201crecord numbers of new Black entrepreneurs\u201d", "evidence": "During President Biden\u2019s visit Wednesday to the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, he showcased the unprecedented growth of Black small business ownership under his administration. In a press call, top White House officials attributed the surge in Black entrepreneurship, the fastest in 30 years, to Bidenomics, which the president pledged would receive further support through new investments targeting underserved communities. [...] Administration officials noted that Biden\u2019s \"Investing in America\" agenda has catalyzed historic gains in small business creation and entrepreneurship. They reported that a record 15 million applications to start new businesses had been filed since he took office, with Black business ownership growing faster than in three decades.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cDisney and Google bought the rights to the first King James Bible.\u201d", "evidence": "\"Disney and Google bought the rights to the first King James Bible, they\u2019re already changing it,\" a man says in a video shared in a June 28 Facebook post. [...] Instead, we discovered a July 2018 post on the satirical Babylon Bee website, which ran a story with this headline: \"Disney buys rights to the Bible, plans 37 sequels.\" [...] If The Walt Disney Co. and Google, part of Alphabet, acquired the Bible\u2019s rights, it would draw global news coverage, but there\u2019s none.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Texas and Florida have a \u201cbalanced budget\u201d while California is \u201cin debt $54 billion and New York is \u201cin debt $6.1 billion.\u201d", "evidence": "A Facebook post lists metrics for the four most populous states including their budgets. It states that Texas and Florida have \"balanced\" budgets while California is \"in debt $54 billion and New York is \"in debt $6.1 billion.\" While this post didn\u2019t comment on the party affiliations of the governors, similar posts point out that the governors of Florida and Texas are Republicans while the governors of New York and California are Democrats. [...] While Florida and Texas have passed balance budgets, they too are certain to face economic woes related to the pandemic. [...] The $6.1 billion figure for New York stems from projections late last year about a shortfall, and ignores that the state has since passed a balanced budget.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Says Joe Biden \u201chas issued more executive fiats than anyone in such a short period of time, ever, more than Obama, more than Trump, more than anyone.\u201d", "evidence": "Marco Rubio stated on July 19, 2022 in a campaign ad: Val Demings \"called abolishing the police 'thoughtful.'\" Marco Rubio stated on May 25, 2022 in an interview on CNN: \"There hasn't been a single of these mass shootings that have been purchased at a gun show or on the internet.\" Marco Rubio stated on July 30, 2021 in a tweet: Photos show Lloyd Austin without a face shield after he landed in the Philippines. Marco Rubio stated on March 6, 2021 in a tweet: In rejecting his amendment, \"Democrats voted to send reopening money to schools that refuse to reopen.\" Marco Rubio stated on January 27, 2021 in remarks: \"Only in the Third World do you see this habitual use of prosecutions of former leaders.\" Marco Rubio stated on January 22, 2021 in a tweet: Says Joe Biden \"has issued more executive fiats than anyone in such a short period of time, ever, more than Obama, more than Trump, more than anyone.\" Marco Rubio stated on December 27, 2020 in a tweet: Says \"Dr. Fauci lied about masks in March.\" [...] Marco Rubio stated on January 22, 2021 in a tweet: Says Joe Biden \"has issued more executive fiats than anyone in such a short period of time, ever, more than Obama, more than Trump, more than anyone.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"For 18 months under President Trump, not a single American was harmed in Afghanistan.\u201d", "evidence": "\"For 18 months, we lost nobody in Afghanistan. And then we had that horrible, horrible withdrawal where we lost 13 soldiers, 38 horribly wounded, left Americans behind,\" Trump said in remarks after his Super Tuesday victories earlier this month. [...] But two senior Biden administration national security officials told NBC News that the Taliban is holding two Americans that the U.S. government would like to see released. Other Americans in Afghanistan are there of their own volition, they said. [...] \"President Trump is absolutely right to call out Joe Biden for his betrayal of Americans in Afghanistan,\" Leavitt said in a statement. \"Biden\u2019s calamitous withdrawal left hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens behind and led to the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. Service Members at Abbey Gate.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cWNBA organizers have officially announced an investigation into the referees in all of Caitlin Clark's games for ignoring all dirty actions by her opponents against her.\u201d", "evidence": "WNBA Launches Investigation into Refereeing in Caitlin Clark\u2019s Games The Women\u2019s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has officially announced an investigation into the refereeing of all games involving Caitlin Clark, following allegations that referees have consistently ignored dirty actions by her opponents. This move comes after numerous complaints and growing concerns about the fairness and integrity of the officiating in these matches. [...] Caitlin Clark has not publicly commented on the investigation, but her team has expressed support for the WNBA\u2019s decision. \"We believe in the fairness of the game and trust that the league will take the necessary steps to ensure that all players are protected and that the rules are enforced equally,\" a team representative said.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cResearch illustrates a clear correlation between vitamin D deficiencies and (higher) COVID-19 mortality rates.\u201d", "evidence": "Vitamin D deficiency has been strongly associated with various health outcomes, including all-cause mortality [68]. A 2014 Cochrane meta-analysis showed a relevant and significant lower all-cause mortality of ~7% and cancer mortality of ~13% in patients who received vitamin D3 [69]. The results of a meta-analysis by using individual participant data conducted by Gaksch et al., analyzing almost 17,000 individuals, showed a strong association between low 25(OH)D and increased risk of all-cause mortality [70]. Using a Mendelian randomization with genetic variants in the vitamin D synthesis pathway, the analysis of Aspelund et al. supports a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and increased all-cause mortality. However, despite a cohort of >10,000 participants, it was still too underpowered to confirm a causal relationship [71]. [...] Zhang Y, Fang F, Tang J, Jia L, Feng Y, Xu P, et al. Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019;366:l4673. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4673", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\"Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 returns after 10-year mystery\"", "evidence": "No, missing Malaysian Flight 370 has not returned after 10 years [...] \"Breaking News: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Returns After 10-Year Mystery, 239 Passengers\u2019 Journey,\" read a June 28 Facebook post. [...] Thysak, Breaking News: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Returns After 10-Year Mystery, 239 Passengers' Journey,\" (archived) June 28, 2024", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Says a 1942 Milwaukee YMCA brochure shows children playing a violent, racist carnival game", "evidence": "Fact check: Racist carnival game featured in 1942 Milwaukee YMCA brochure The claim: A 1942 Milwaukee YMCA brochure shows white children playing a violent, racist carnival game [...] - Facebook post, June 12, 2020 - YMCA of Greater Milwaukee, 1942 Camp Minikani brochure (provided by the Jim Crow Museum), - Snopes, Was a Violently Racist Carnival Game Once Popular in America?, Feb. 26, 2018 - Email exchange with Franklin R. Hughes, multimedia specialist, Jim Crow Museum, June 17, 2020 - YMCA of Greater Milwaukee, Camp Minikani, accessed June 18, 2020 - Henry Louis Gates Jr., \"Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the rise of Jim Crow,\" 2019.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cR. Kelly has been released from United States of America Federal Prison, Chicago.\u201d", "evidence": "Disgraced R&B singer and convicted sex trafficker R. Kelly has been transferred to a federal prison in North Carolina. R. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was moved to FCI Butner Medium I, a \"medium security federal correctional institution,\" according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. [...] R. Kelly was previously being held in Chicago, where he was sentenced in February to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted on three counts of production of child pornography and three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Says Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson \u201ccalled climate change \u2018bull----\u2019 during a record heatwave\u201d and \u201craked in over $700k in fossil fuel cash.\u201d", "evidence": "- Ron Johnson mouthed to a GOP luncheon that climate change is \"bullsh--,\" CNN reported. [...] Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called climate change \"bullsh--\" during a GOP luncheon in early June, just weeks before a heat wave claimed dozens of lives in the Pacific Northwest. Scientists have linked the historic high temperatures to climate change. \"I don't know about you guys, but I think climate change is \u2014 as Lord Monckton said \u2014 bullsh--,\" Johnson said during the Republican Women of Greater Wisconsin Luncheon at Alioto's in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in comments caught on video and first reported by CNN. \"By the way, it is.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"President Zelenskyy\u2019s wife orders 4 million dollar Bugatti\u201d in Paris with U.S. tax money.", "evidence": "\"I'm glad that we are sending billions of our tax money so Zelensky's wife can go on $42,500 shopping spree in Paris,\" one user wrote on December 15. \"F*** Zelensky and his corrupt regime and everyone who supports them.\" [...] While the source is not cited in those tweets, Newsweek found that the screenshotted article, titled \"Zelensky's Wife Spent $40,000 Shopping in Paris While Demanding US Give Ukraine Money,\" appeared on known hoax news site NewsPunch, widely reported to have disseminated misinformation online. [...] \"Ukraine's President Zelensky's wife joined Ukrainians asking for money in Paris the past few days.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The city of San Francisco posted street signs warning that \u201cstolen goods must remain under $950.\u201d", "evidence": "Photo of fake sign in downtown SF appearing to mock CA retail theft law goes viral by: Aaron Tolentino [...] The sign, which reads \"stolen goods must remain under $950,\" appears to mock retail theft law in California. In the state, retail thefts are prosecuted as a felony only if the value of the stolen items exceeds $950. Retail theft valued less than that is charged as a misdemeanor, which has been the case since voters passed Proposition 47 in 2014.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"86% of Americans and 82% of gun owners support requiring all gun buyers to pass a background check.\"", "evidence": "Iowa voters will decide in 2022 whether to add a state Constitution amendment affirming the right to bear arms. Support for the amendment has fallen along party lines. Opposing Democrats refer to a poll that says an overwhelming number of even gun owners support background checks for gun buyers.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe weapons that Ukraine used in the early days of this war to fend off the Russian invasion are the weapons that Donald Trump sent, that Barack Obama and Joe Biden had refused to send.\u201d", "evidence": "What weapons are being used in Russia's invasion of Ukraine? What are thermobaric weapons? [...] The Stinger missiles have been credited as a key weapon in helping Ukrainian fend off invading Russian forces. [...] Like the Stinger missiles, the Javelin missiles have been an important part of Ukraine's arsenal against Russian forces.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cNew York is one of only 12 states where the average gallon of gas costs more than $2.00.\u201d", "evidence": "According to AAA data, New York was one of 12 states that had unleaded regular gasoline that cost more than $2.00 a gallon on April 27, as long as the District of Columbia is included as a state. All told, among the 50 states and D.C., New York ranked the seventh-highest for unleaded regular prices per gallon.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Chiefs' Coach Andy Reid \"fires 3 top players for anthem kneeling.\"", "evidence": "This story originated on a self-described satire website.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cIt wasn\u2019t all women that lost jobs (in the December jobs report), it was mostly Black and Latina women. In fact, white women gained employment.\u201d", "evidence": "Black and Latina women carried the brunt of job loss in December [...] Did Black and Latina women carry the brunt of job loss nationally, while white women gained employment? [...] With a link to a news article, Godlewski claimed: \"It wasn\u2019t all women that lost jobs, it was mostly Black and Latina women.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A jury \u201cordered Disney and Lucasfilm to pay\u201d actor Gina Carano $115 million.", "evidence": "Former actor Gina Carano has filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Corporation and Lucasfilm for alleged wrongful termination. The suit was filed in federal court in California. Carano alleges she was fired from her role on the Disney+ show Mandalorian for voicing right-wing opinions online. She is seeking a court order requiring Lucasfilm reinstate her or compensate her for at least $75,000. Carano claims in the suit that she suffered emotional damage and lost millions of dollars in income. Carano also claims that Disney and Lucasfilm discriminated against her, and alleges that male colleagues were not held to similar standards. Carano stated that X, formerly known as Twitter, was covering the costs of the suit. She alleges that she had been the target of a \"bullying smear campaign\" intended to make \"an example out of me\" by others. In February 2021, Carano posted on Instagram comparing mask mandates to the Holocaust. She had also suggested voter fraud had occurred in the 2020 presidential election and put \"beep/bop/boop\" in her then Twitter profile after fans asked her to display her pronouns in her account\u2019s bio. Pedro Pascal, the current lead actor of Mandalorian, has a trans sister whom he supports. [...] Carano\u2019s lawsuit spends countless pages complaining that her political views about Covid-19, the 2020 election, and transgender persons were either not protected by or punished by Disney while the politically liberal views of her male colleagues were ignored by the corporation.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Florida has \u201cthe highest\u201d homeowners insurance in the nation.", "evidence": "Trump is correct that Florida has highest home insurance rate in the United States [...] Trump is correct that Florida has the nation\u2019s costliest highest homeowners insurance. [...] Trump said that Florida has \"the highest\" homeowners insurance in the nation.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "CNN's David Chalian referred to Michelle Obama as \"Big Mike\" on air during presidential debate coverage.", "evidence": "DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: We should note Michael Cohen said those things after he broke with Donald Trump, not while he was in his employ. I think jurors -- who knows, is the answer. I don't know how jurors will actually feel that way. But it seems to me the very public split that these two men have had is a known thing. [...] CHALIAN: And we should just note in the transcript, we now know what the judge said to Todd Blanche in that sidebar where he said, why are you making this all about yourself? [...] Joining us now, our Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings and CNN Political Director David Chalian.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cToday in America, 1 in 3 women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban.\u201d", "evidence": "About 21.5 million women and girls of reproductive age live in states that ban abortions completely, or after six weeks of pregnancy, Census data shows. That\u2019s about 29% of women ages 15 to 49. When adding in states that ban abortion after 12 or 15 weeks of pregnancy, the number of affected women grows to about 25 million, or about 40%. Learn more about PolitiFact\u2019s fact-checking process and rating system.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cTwo-thirds of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump not wearing a face mask in public.\u201d", "evidence": "US President Donald Trump has said he will not wear a face mask despite new medical guidance advising Americans to do so. [...] The president - without a mask [...] Yet the president said he would not put on a mask: he said it would not look right for him to wear one in the Oval Office.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cYou\u2019ve raised a lot more money than I have, Bernie.\u201d", "evidence": "Biden says Sanders has raised \u2018a lot more money.\u2019 He\u2019s right [...] Here, we\u2019ll focus on the last part of Biden\u2019s statement, that Sanders has \"raised a lot more money\" than Biden has. [...] Combined, Sanders and his allied groups have raised more than $180 million, compared with $109 million for Biden and his allied groups. That\u2019s a lead of about $71 million for Sanders \u2014 a figure we think qualifies as \"a lot more.\" The money spent by outside groups supporting Biden narrows the margin a bit, but not much.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"Hospitals murdered patients\u201d with remdesivir, a drug banned from Ebola trials because of \u201c53% kill rate.\u201d", "evidence": "No, hospitalized COVID-19 patients weren\u2019t killed by remdesivir [...] At a panel discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a nurse claimed that remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug used to treat people hospitalized with COVID-19, is actually killing patients. [...] Sirotek claimed that remdesivir is responsible for killing patients hospitalized with COVID-19.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "In COVID-19 crisis, \u201conly 20% of African Americans had jobs where they could work from home.\u201d", "evidence": "The commonly paired statements that \"everyone is working from home\" and \"everyone is having their goods delivered\" amid the coronavirus outbreak ignores a whole segment of the workforce\u2014the ones prepping and delivering their purchases. In fact, less than 30% of workers can work from home, and the ability to work from home differs enormously by race and ethnicity. The chart below separates the share of workers who can telework for the three largest race groups as well as by Hispanic ethnicity (these groups are not mutually exclusive in these data). Asian workers are the most likely to be able to work from home, followed by non-Hispanic and white workers. Only 16.2% of Hispanic workers and 19.7% of black workers can telework. Less than one in five black workers and roughly one in six Hispanic workers are able to work from home: Share of workers who can telework, by race and ethnicity, 2017--2018", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The atmospheric residency time of carbon dioxide is five years and it is quickly sequestered into plants, marine life, oceans and sediments.", "evidence": "In fact, as shown here, the reality is that, if molecules have a residence time in the atmosphere of 5 years, surplus CO remains in the atmosphere less than 5 years, albeit not much less if the residence time in the sink is much longer. Since that seems to be the case, for all purposes, we can take the residence time as the adjustment time. In fact, we suspect the residence times of [...] The residence time in the atmosphere can be estimated quite well from the above-ground atomic bomb tests [ 1], which makes us happy that these at least served the purpose of advancing atmospheric science, if nothing else. The best estimate is about = 5 years [ 9]. Other references mention different times, with the IPCC mentioning the shortest (4 years) in their 5th Assessment Report (p. 1457 of Ref. [ 4]), showing that this value is not settled yet; we will use 5 years in this work. The equilibrium amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is open for debate, but, for this purpose, we might use the consensus value of 280 ppm ( = 2250 Gt). To estimate the amount of CO in the sink is very difficult. However, there seems to be a general view that it is fifty times more than in the atmosphere,", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Harvard study finds that wind turbines create MORE global warming than the fossil fuels they eliminate", "evidence": "\"Wind beats coal by any environmental measure, but that doesn't mean that its impacts are negligible,\" said David Keith, the Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and senior author of the papers. \"We must quickly transition away from fossil fuels to stop carbon emissions. In doing so, we must make choices between various low-carbon technologies, all of which have some social and environmental impacts.\" [...] The Harvard researchers found that the warming effect of wind turbines in the continental U.S. was actually larger than the effect of reduced emissions for the first century of its operation. This is because the warming effect is predominantly local to the wind farm, while greenhouse gas concentrations must be reduced globally before the benefits are realized. [...] \"The direct climate impacts of wind power are instant, while the benefits of reduced emissions accumulate slowly,\" said Keith. \"If your perspective is the next 10 years, wind power actually has \u2014 in some respects \u2014 more climate impact than coal or gas. If your perspective is the next thousand years, then wind power has enormously less climatic impact than coal or gas.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "A windmill could spin until it falls apart and never generate as much energy as was invested in building it.", "evidence": "\"A two-megawatt windmill contains 260 tonnes of steel requiring 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore, all mined, transported and produced by hydrocarbons\" \"a windmill could spin until it falls apart and never generate as much energy as was invested in building it\" [...] \"[The concept of net energy must also be applied to renewable sources of energy, such as windmills and photovoltaics.] A two-megawatt windmill contains 260 tonnes of steel requiring 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore, all mined, transported and produced by hydrocarbons. [The question is: how long must a windmill generate energy before it creates more energy than it took to build it? At a good wind site, the energy payback day could be in three years or less; in a poor location, energy payback may be never.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Blood pressure tracking apps can replace a cuff", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: Blood pressure tracking apps can replace a cuff [...] A widely-shared Facebook post featured a video of someone dressed as a doctor pushing aside a blood pressure cuff and giving it a thumbs down, before holding her finger to the camera of an iPhone with an app appearing to display live measurements of her heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and temperature. The post encouraged viewers to download the app Blood Pressure-Monitor Tracker. [...] Despite the way it was shown in the promotional Facebook post, there is no indication that the app is able to to measure blood pressure. Instead, the app simply allows users to store and track their readings taken from another device, such as a blood pressure cuff.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Autism and vaccination decreased over the same time period among high-income white households from California, indicating a possible causal relationship", "evidence": "In California, statewide legislative and educational interventions were associated with a decrease in the yearly rates of kindergartners without up-to-date vaccination status. These interventions also were associated with reductions in the number of schools inside the clusters with high rates of kindergartners without up-to-date vaccination status and the potential for contact among these kindergartners. [...] California implemented Senate Bill 277 (SB277) in 2016, becoming the first state in nearly 30 years to eliminate nonmedical exemptions from immunization requirements for schoolchildren. Our objectives were to determine (1) the impacts of SB277 on the percentage of kindergarteners entering school not up-to-date on vaccinations and (2) if geographic patterns of vaccine refusal persisted after the implementation of the new law. At the state level, we analyzed the magnitude and composition of the population of kindergarteners not up-to-date on vaccinations before and after the implementation of SB277. We assessed correlations between previous geographic patterns of nonmedical exemptions and patterns of the remaining entry mechanisms for kindergarteners not up-to-date after the law\u2019s implementation. In the first year after SB277 was implemented, the percentage of kindergartners entering school not up-to-date on vaccinations decreased from 7.15% to 4.42%. The conditional entrance rate fell from 4.43% to 1.91%, accounting for much of this decrease. Other entry mechanisms for students not up-to-date, including medical exemptions and exemptions for independent study or homeschooled students, largely replaced the decrease in the personal belief exemption rate from 2.37% to 0.56%.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Peanut allergies are caused by the peanut oil in vaccines", "evidence": "Factually inaccurate: Peanut oil isn\u2019t an ingredient in vaccines. Risk factors for peanut allergies are unclear, but are commonly linked to age, genetics, and history of other allergies\u2014not consumption of peanut oil. Misleading: Peanut allergies and peanut oil allergies aren\u2019t one in the same. Some people with peanut allergies may safely consume peanut oil, particularly if it\u2019s the highly-refined variety used in cooking and frying. While peanut oil was used as a vaccine adjuvant ingredient in a clinical trial for an influenza vaccine in the 1960s, this vaccine wasn't approved for public use.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "If masks were effective and necessary, non-mask wearers should be dead by now", "evidence": "Another study looked at coronavirus deaths across 198 countries and found that those with cultural norms or government policies favoring mask-wearing had lower death rates. [...] Masks may be more effective as a \"source control\" because they can prevent larger expelled droplets from evaporating into smaller droplets that can travel farther. [...] The latest forecast from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation suggests that 33,000 deaths could be avoided by October 1 if 95 percent of people wore masks in public.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cBill Gates\u2019 shoddily-hastened vaccine has been determined to make all animal test subjects get COVID-19 when exposed to the virus\u201c", "evidence": "Cherry-picking: The article selectively highlights the finding that viral genetic material was isolated from vaccinated monkeys, but fails to report that vaccinated monkeys were protected from developing viral pneumonia, a common COVID-19 complication. Misleading: The article refers to the Oxford group\u2019s vaccine as Bill Gates\u2019 vaccine, suggesting that Gates has a direct hand in vaccine research and development. While Bill Gates does contribute funding to COVID-19 vaccine efforts, he is not a scientist, nor does he have any medical or scientific credentials, and therefore is not qualified to conduct vaccine research and development.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cVitamin D3 is radiated sheep\u2019s wool mixed with chloroform\u201d, \u201cVitamin D3 IS RAT POISON !!\u201d, \u201cD levels are low because of lack of light and high vitamin A diets.\u201d", "evidence": "Support your immune system with Puori D3 \u2013 a potent dose of Vitamin D (2500IU) from a natural source (sheep's wool), dissolved in organic coconut oil for optimal absorption. [...] Naturally sourced vitamin D from lanolin, a natural component extracted from sheep\u2019s wool. [...] The vitamin D in Puori D3 is extracted from lanolin, a natural component of sheep\u2019s wool. The wool is gently sheared from the sheep and undergoes a purification and cleaning process. From the wool a pre-state of vitamin D is extracted. Radiation with UV light of the pre-vitamin D forms active vitamin D, comparable to how sunlight initiates the vitamin D formation in our skin. Afterwards, the vitamin D is mixed with organic virgin coconut oil.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThere is a huge boom in cancer, especially in female breast cancer in the younger ages of 45 and below.\u201d", "evidence": "Mubarik, S. et al. Epidemiological and sociodemographic transitions of female breast cancer incidence, death, case fatality and DALYs in 21 world regions and globally, from 1990 to 2017: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis. J Adv Res37, 185\u2013196, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2021.07.012 (2022). Li, Y. et al. Global Burden of Female Breast Cancer: Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Incidence Trends From 1990 to 2019 and Forecasts for 2035. Front Oncol12, 891824, https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.891824 (2022). [...] Arshi, A. et al. Expression Analysis of MALAT1, GAS5, SRA, and NEAT1 lncRNAs in Breast Cancer Tissues from Young Women and Women over 45 Years of Age. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids12, 751\u2013757, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2018.07.014 (2018).", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "5G at 60 GHz \u201cstops the human body and blood absorbing oxygen\u201d; this is what doctors are describing in COVID-19 cases", "evidence": "Novel 60 GHz Band Spatial Synthetic Exposure Setup to Investigate Biological Effects of 5G and Beyond Wireless Systems on Human Body - PMID: 34938710 - PMCID: PMC8685201 - DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.777712 Novel 60 GHz Band Spatial Synthetic Exposure Setup to Investigate Biological Effects of 5G and Beyond Wireless Systems on Human Body The global spread of 5th generation (5G) wireless systems causes some concern about health effects of millimeter waves (MMW). To investigate biological effects of local exposure to 5G-MMW on human body, a novel 60 GHz band exposure setup was developed, and its performance was validated. A spatial synthetic beam-type exposure setup using two dielectric lens antennas was proposed to achieve high intensity 60 GHz irradiation to the target area of human skin. Variety distributions and intensities of electromagnetic fields at the exposed area, which is modified by incident angles of the combined beams, were simulated using finite-difference time-domain methods. The exposure performance we estimated was verified by temperature elevations of surface in a physical arm-shaped silicone phantom during the MMW exposure. The interference fringes generated in the exposed area due to the combined two-directional beam radiations were observed both in the simulation and in the phantom experiment but eliminated by applying an orthogonalizing polarized feeding structure. Under these exposure conditions, the local temperature changes, which could evoke warmth sensations, were obtained at the target area of the human forearm skin, which means the achievement of exposure performance we intended.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth\u2019s atmosphere has climbed to a level last seen more than 3 million years ago \u2014 before humans even appeared on the rocky ball we call home", "evidence": "Last year will go down in history as the year when the planet\u2019s atmosphere broke a startling record: 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide. The last time the planet\u2019s air was so rich in CO2 was millions of years ago, back before early predecessors to humans were likely wielding stone tools; the world was a few degrees hotter back then, and melted ice put sea levels tens of meters higher. [...] The last time the planet had a concentration of 300 to 400 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere was during the mid-Pliocene, 3 million years ago \u2014 recently enough for the planet to be not radically different than it is today. Back then, temperatures were 2 degrees C to 3 degrees C (3.6 to 5.4\u00b0F) above pre-industrial temperatures (though more than 10 degrees C hotter in the Arctic), and sea levels were at least 15-25 meters higher. Forest grew in the Canadian north and grasslands abounded worldwide; the Sahara was probably covered in vegetation. Homo habilis (aka \"handy man\"), the first species in the Homo line and probably the first stone-tool users, got a taste of this climate as they arrived on the scene 2.8 million years ago. (Homo sapiens didn\u2019t show up until 400,000 years ago at the earliest.)", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Raw manuka honey kills every bacteria scientists throw at it, including antibiotic-resistant superbugs", "evidence": "We previously reviewed a claim that \"raw manuka honey kills every bacteria scientists throw at it, including antibiotic-resistant superbugs\", found to be partially correct: reviewers explained that manuka honey had potent antibacterial effects, even on some antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but only through topical application, not ingestion.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201csunscreen and then skin cancer, it's a direct correlation\u201d; wearing sunglasses increases the risk of sunburn; sunscreen reduces vitamin D production", "evidence": "Skin cancers were the most common group of cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2022. Although some sunlight stimulates vitamin D production and provides health benefits, overexposure to ultraviolet sun radiation is the primary cause of skin cancer. Medical associations and public health authorities recommend limiting exposure and using sunscreen regularly when outdoors to minimize this risk.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "CO2 is not a greenhouse gas.", "evidence": "Laboratory measurements first established that CO2 is a greenhouse gas in the 1850s\u2014a result that is easily confirmed today. This means that it absorbs radiation at infrared wavelengths, allowing sunlight to pass through to the Earth but trapping heat that is emitted back to space.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cNew Study Links Pfizer\u2019s COVID Vaccine to \u2018Turbo Cancer\u2019\u201d", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: \"New Study Links Pfizer\u2019s COVID Vaccine to \u2018Turbo Cancer\u2019\"; \"A recent scientific study published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology links the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the development of aggressive cancer.\" On 13 July 2023, the website The Florida Standard published an article carrying the headline \"New Study Links Pfizer\u2019s COVID Vaccine to \u2018Turbo Cancer\u2019\". Screenshots of the article\u2019s headline circulated on social media in July 2023, with some users implying that this showed COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe like in this Instagram post. The claim is based on a study published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology in May 2023. [...] In summary, claims that a mouse study by Eens et al. shows COVID-19 vaccination causes \"turbo cancer\" misinterpret the study\u2019s findings and fail to understand its limitations. The Florida Standard article distorted the conclusions of the study by claiming it showed a \"link to \u2018turbo cancer\u2019\", incorrectly lending readers the impression that the study was relevant to humans.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Best available data show sea-level rise is not accelerating. Local and regional sea levels continue to exhibit typical natural variability\u2014in some places rising and in others falling.", "evidence": "Globally, sea level is rising due to melting glacial ice and warming oceans, and the current rate of sea level rise is faster than past rates.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 is caused by snake venom, not a virus; snake venom is in the COVID-19 vaccines and causes miscarriage", "evidence": "COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not snake venom; no snake venom in COVID-19 vaccines, contrary to claim by chiropractor Bryan Ardis [...] Factually inaccurate: COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. There\u2019s no snake venom in COVID-19 vaccines, and the current scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccination doesn\u2019t increase the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. [...] In the sequel to \"Watch The Water\", Ardis built on his earlier claims about snake venom and COVID-19, now asserting that L-amino-acid oxidase, which is present in snake venom, is also present in COVID-19 vaccines and increases the risk of miscarriage.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Human-produced carbon might be one of the factors [of climate change], but there\u2019s simply no evidence that it is a significant one.", "evidence": "There is overwhelming evidence that current climate change is significantly caused by human carbon emissions contrary to claim in Townhall [...] Misleading: The effects of these factors (the sun, volcanoes...) have all been quantified, and human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are clearly the dominant cause of current global warming. [...] Careful analysis that attempts to take into account all major factors and their evolution in time indicates that anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gasses account for more than 100% of the observed warming on the century timescale (requiring cancellation from cooling influences). See the summary graphic from Carbon Brief, below.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe unvaccinated Amish rarely get cancer, autism, or heart disease.\u201d", "evidence": "Posts on social media claim that not a single Amish child has been diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, or autism. Many of the posts include a screenshot of an article, published by Slay News on July 9, 2023, with the headline \"Zero Amish Children Diagnosed with Cancer, Diabetes or Autism.\" [...] The claims are based on a senate testimony from tech entrepreneur turned anti-vaccine activist Steve Kirsch. According to the Slay News article, \"a new comprehensive study has found that no Amish children have been diagnosed with chronic conditions that impact the rest of America.\" It states that Amish children are strictly 100 percent unvaccinated and rarely presented with any long-term diseases or lifelong disorders, including cancer, autism, heart disease and others. The study was allegedly presented by Steve Kirsch to the Pennsylvania State Senate. [...] Kirsch did give testimony in a Pennsylvania State Senate hearing on June 9, 2023. Talking about vaccines and the Amish, he said, \"The Amish are a perfect example of a large group of people who are largely unvaccinated. And there is no \u2013 we can\u2019t find an autistic kid who was unvaccinated. It\u2019s very, very rare. In the Amish community, very, very rare. You won\u2019t find transsexuals, you won\u2019t find homosexuals. You won\u2019t find kids with ADD, with auto-immune disease, with PANDAS, PANS, with epilepsy. You just don\u2019t find any of these chronic diseases in the Amish.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Study shows myocarditis from COVID-19 vaccination carries serious risk of death", "evidence": "Several other studies have highlighted the association between COVID-19 vaccination and the risk of myocarditis and other cardiac events. Vaccination with mRNA vaccines is associated with an increased risk of myocarditis or myopericarditis, especially in young people, in investigation using data from the US21,22, Denmark11, and England23, with higher increased risk generally found among young males24. We found little evidence of increased risk of death due to cardiac events after an mRNA vaccine for either sex. Whilst there was some indication of a potential increase in risk for men after a second dose of a mRNA vaccine, the result was sensitive to the choice of the risk period. [...] Whilst COVID-19 vaccination has been linked to an increased risk of myocarditis and other cardiac events in young people, we found no evidence of substantially increased mortality risk, either due to cardiac events or overall, from mRNA vaccines, which suggest that cases of myocarditis or myopericarditis due to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be fatal. We do, however, find evidence of an increased risk of cardiac death after a first dose of a non mRNA vaccine among females. It should also be noted that non mRNA vaccines are no longer used in the UK vaccination programme28. This provides reassurance that mRNA vaccines pose minimal risk of increased mortality in the first twelve weeks post-vaccination in young individuals. However, it is important to continue to monitor mortality after vaccination as more deaths are being registered, and extend the surveillance to other age groups and deaths from other causes.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cMask study published by NIH suggests N95 Covid masks may expose wearers to dangerous level of toxic compounds linked to seizures and cancer\u201d", "evidence": "01 Sept. 2023 \u2013 Peter McCullough, MD [...] N95 Covid masks may expose wearers to dangerous level of toxic compounds linked to seizures and cancer 24 Aug. 2023 \u2013 HW 7:39 \u2013 Del Bigtree [...] FN Health and Spiritual Blog", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Pfizer documents confirm that mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations contain graphene oxide", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines were rigorously tested in clinical trials before they were permitted to be used in the general public. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doesn\u2019t contain graphene oxide nor is graphene listed on any credible ingredient lists of any COVID-19 vaccine provided by public health authorities and regulators. However, some have misrepresented a Pfizer document to claim otherwise. In fact, the document describes a microscopy study that was part of the structural characterization of the vaccine spike protein, in which scientists used graphene oxide as a support material for sample processing and visualization.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cCOVID Vaccines Were Never Safe for Pregnant Women, Pfizer\u2019s own data show\u201d", "evidence": "Covid vaccines safe in pregnancy, data shows The UK's Health Security Agency says its analysis of English data shows Covid vaccines are safe in pregnancy, reinforcing international evidence. [...] \"Every pregnant woman who has not yet been vaccinated should feel confident to go and get the jab and that this will help to prevent the serious consequences of catching Covid in pregnancy,\" she said.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The pandemic was planned; respiratory illness surge in New York and China isn\u2019t airborne but due to chlorine and benzene in food and water", "evidence": "WASHINGTON \u2014 The \"upsurge\" in respiratory illness in China is not from \"a new or novel pathogen,\" the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reassured members of Congress on Thursday. [...] Chinese authorities have attributed the uptick to the lifting of many of the strictest pandemic restrictions late last year, with this year marking the first full flu season since the end of the country's \"zero-Covid\" policies. Such a surge in respiratory illnesses is characteristic of other countries that have lifted strict Covid restrictions, including Australia and New Zealand.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "New England Journal of Medicine \u201cproves\u201d 80% miscarriage rate among vaccinated women; COVID-19 vaccines harm men\u2019s and women\u2019s fertility", "evidence": "Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines harming fertility is a widespread myth that has damaged public trust in the vaccines. While the original vaccine clinical trials didn\u2019t evaluate the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility, scientific studies and safety surveillance data later on have shown that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and don\u2019t cause pregnancy or fertility problems. COVID-19 itself is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, which vaccination can help prevent. [...] Northrup\u2019s speech supposedly provided evidence that COVID-19 vaccines harm fertility, particularly in women. However, the data that Northrup cited doesn\u2019t support her claim, as they don\u2019t come from reliable scientific studies but from partial analyses with many critical flaws, as we will explain below. [...] Claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility and pregnancy problems are unsubstantiated and contradict the available evidence. Published studies so far show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and not associated with pregnancy complications or infertility in men or women. It is COVID-19 itself that increases the risk of pregnancy complications and poses a risk to both the mother and the baby. Contrary to these claims, COVID-19 vaccination helps reduce the risk of harm to the mother and baby.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The CDC found a 236% increased risk of autism in African-American boys associated with the MMR vaccine", "evidence": "CDC data did not show an increased risk of autism in African-American boys associated with the MMR vaccine. This claim is based on a study that was later retracted due to its methodological flaws which produced spurious results. Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vaccines do not cause autism.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cNo discernible benefit of covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy\u201d; \u201chigher rate of neonatal and all-cause readmissions among babies born to vaccinated mothers\u201d", "evidence": "Covid-19 vaccination is the safest and most effective way for people who are pregnant to protect themselves and their babies against severe covid-19 disease. Available data do not support an increased risk of adverse outcomes following covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy, so vaccination should be recommended as the benefits of vaccination during pregnancy seem to outweigh any potential risks. The immunogenicity of vaccinations in pregnancy seems to be similar to that in the non-pregnant population; however, the optimal timing of vaccination in pregnancy for neonatal/infant benefit remains uncertain. Additional information on non-mRNA vaccines, vaccination early in pregnancy, and longer term infant outcomes are also needed. Given that pregnant people are at increased risks for severe complications from covid-19, increasing the data and knowledge surrounding vaccination in this population is important to help to reduce vaccine hesitancy. Along with more data, directed personal vaccine counseling by obstetric providers to pregnant patients may also improve vaccination rates. To meet all these goals, pregnant people around the world must be prioritized in covid-19 vaccine research.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201c\u2026a virus is not the cause of an illness. It\u2019s a necessary cause [\u2026] but it is not the cause.\u201d", "evidence": "Factors like nutrition, genetics and age can influence an individual\u2019s susceptibility to a microorganism, such as a virus or a bacteria. These factors make individuals more or less likely to develop infections after they were exposed to a microorganism. That being said, even individuals who are young and healthy can develop infectious diseases because the cause of infectious diseases is still the microorganism.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Each of these ingredients [thimerosal, ovalbumin, formaldehyde, sodium deoxycholate] is a known neurotoxin", "evidence": "The ingredients include egg protein, octylphenol ethoxylate (Triton X-100) \u2264150 mcg, sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution, thimerosal (multi-dose vials), formaldehyde (\u2264100 mcg), and gelatin (\u22640.05). [...] The other ingredients include egg protein (ovalbumin), formaldehyde (\u2264100 mcg), Octylphenol ethoxylate (\u2264250 mcg), and sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution. [...] Other ingredients include formaldehyde (\u2264100 mc) and Octylphenol ethoxylate (\u2264250 mcg).", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Alzheimer\u2019s disease is a \u201cphysician-caused disease\u201d that arises due to nutritional deficiencies", "evidence": "Additionally, it is important to determine the actual cause of the cognitive symptoms, as they may not be caused by Alzheimer\u2019s disease and many causes, such as depression, drug interaction, thyroid problems, and vitamin deficiencies, are reversible if detected early and treated appropriately.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccines can be sexually transmitted to unvaccinated people; vaccines cause blood discoloration and weaken immune system", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a live virus, so there isn\u2019t a biological path for a vaccinated person to \"shed\" the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to those around them. Nor is there any evidence the vaccines cause reproductive problems. That means there\u2019s no basis for social media claims that \"shedding\" causes reproductive issues in unvaccinated people. None of the COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States contains a live virus with the ability to reproduce itself. Therefore, there\u2019s no scientific basis to support the claim that people who\u2019ve received the authorized COVID-19 vaccines can spread or shed the virus to unvaccinated people. [...] \"The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the FDA are not live virus vaccines, and there is no medical or scientific evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines shed,\" Dr. Christopher M. Zahn, an obstetrician-gynecologist, retired Air Force officer and vice president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a statement sent to FactCheck.org. \"This is a conspiracy that has been created to weaken trust in a series of vaccines that have been demonstrated in clinical trials to be safe and effective and that are our single best tool for confronting a global pandemic that has taken 600,000 lives in this country alone.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Ancient civilizations once inhabited Antarctica, as shown by the pyramids there, but the continent\u2019s position and climate rapidly changed due to \u2018tectonics and pole shift\u2019.", "evidence": "The rocky pyramid-shaped feature in Antarctica is a natural landform called a \u2018horn\u2019 or \u2018pyramidal peak\u2019. These peaks form when three or four intersecting glaciers carve out mountain faces in different directions, thus making a horn or pyramidal shape. They are common in Antarctica and found in many other places on Earth. Scientific evidence shows that Antarctica slowly drifted to its current position over millions of years through tectonic plate movement; not a sudden shift of the poles or crust.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Aluminum in vaccines causes neurological damage and autism", "evidence": "Vaccines do not cause neurological damage, aluminum levels in vaccines are safe Scientific evidence shows that vaccines are safe and not associated with autism. The amount of aluminum present in vaccines is very low, in fact much lower than the amount of aluminum in the diet of infants. Furthermore, the biologically active form of aluminum cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, hence it cannot cause damage to the brain or autism. [...] Several Facebook posts containing screenshots of Google search results purporting to show evidence linking aluminum in vaccines with neurological damage and autism were published in early March 2020. An article published by Collective Evolution in mid-February reported a similar claim made by Christopher Exley, professor of bioinorganic chemistry at Keele University, based on the findings of his study[1].", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Global warming is driving polar bears toward extinction\"", "evidence": "Sea-ice loss due to global warming is the most important threat to long-term survival and reproduction of polar bears. Under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, all but a few polar bear subpopulations are at risk of extinction by 2100. In the moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario, some polar bear subpopulations could persist through the century.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Childhood vaccines contain \u201cmixed up toxins\u201d including formaldehyde, aluminum, aborted fetal DNA, fetal bovine serum, monkey kidney cells, mercury, pig circoviruses", "evidence": "Misleading Health Posted on: 2024-05-07 Vaccines don\u2019t contain cells or tissues of aborted fetuses Claim: Some vaccines \"incorporate aborted fetal tissue\" Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-04-23 [...] Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-03-07 Childhood vaccine ingredients are safe in the amount present in vaccines; cells, animal products, and viruses aren\u2019t part of these ingredients Claim: Childhood vaccines contain \"mixed up toxins\" including formaldehyde, aluminum, aborted fetal DNA, fetal bovine serum, monkey kidney cells, mercury, pig circoviruses Source: Instagram, Social media user, 2024-03-03", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Salt and corn gluten meal are used to kill mice, they are hazardous to humans", "evidence": "Sodium chloride and corn gluten meal aren\u2019t hazardous to humans, even though they are used as mouse poison [...] Misleading: The reel cited the fact that salt and corn gluten meal are both present in mouse poison and some processed food to imply that this food is hazardous to humans. However, this claim overlooks the fact that these ingredients are hazardous to rodents but not to humans or other animals because their bodies work differently. [...] In summary, while table salt and corn gluten meal are used in rodenticides, this doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re toxic to humans. Both ingredients are lethal to rodents because they form a thick plug that physically obstructs the airway of rodents. Since rodents are unable to vomit, this obstruction leads to suffocation and death. However, this mechanism doesn\u2019t occur in humans. It\u2019s safe for humans to consume salt and corn-derived products as part of a balanced diet.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Autopsies performed by the Italian pathologists [have] shown that [COVID-19] is not pneumonia but it is disseminated intravascular coagulation\"", "evidence": "The autopsy debate during the COVID-19 emergency: the Italian experience - PMID: 32350596 - PMCID: PMC7190281 - DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02828-2 The autopsy debate during the COVID-19 emergency: the Italian experience [...] References - - Rapporto ISS COVID-19 n. 6/2020 - Procedura per l\u2019esecuzione di riscontri diagnostici in pazienti deceduti con infezione da SARS-CoV-2. Versione del 23 marzo 2020. https://www.iss.it/documents/20126/0/Rapporto+COVID-19+n.+6_2020+Autopsi.... Accessed 8 April 2020 - - Infezione respiratoria da COVID-19 DOCUMENTO SU AUTOPSIA E RISCONTRO DIAGNOSTICO\"prodotto da COMLAS e SIAPEC-IAP. https://www.siapec.it/public/uploads/archiviodocumenti/PRD%20COVID-19-9%.... Accessed 8 April 2020 - - Fineschi V et al (2020) Management of the corpse with suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 respiratory infection \u2013 Italian interim recommendations for personnel potentially exposed to material from corpses, including body fluids, in morgue structures and during autopsy practice. Pathologica. 10.32074/1591-951X-13-20 - PMC - PubMed - - Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, Zhang J, Huang L, Zhang C, Liu S, Zhao P, Liu H, Zhu L, Tai Y, Bai C, Gao T, Song J, Xia P, Dong J, Zhao J, Wang FS. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8(4):420\u2013422. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30076-X. - DOI - PMC - PubMed - - Indicazioni emergenziali connesse ad epidemia COVID-19 riguardanti il settore funebre, cimiteriale e di cremazione. Ministero della Salute-Direzione Generale Della Prevenzione Sanitaria. Ufficio 4 - 0011285-01/04/2020-DGPRE-DGPRE-P. http://www.trovanorme.salute.gov.it/norme/renderNormsanPdf?anno=2020&cod.... Accessed 8 April 2020", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Blank COVID-19 vaccine safety inserts show there are no safety and effectiveness studies for these vaccines", "evidence": "A Facebook reel posted on 3 August 2023 showed a person speaking to a CVS pharmacist, asking for COVID-19 vaccine inserts. Upon finding a blank sheet of paper except for text indicating the paper was left \"intentionally blank\", the person asked \"How is it informed consent when all of the [\u2026] placebo safety studies are not listed from their manufacturer?\" and claimed that it showed people \"don\u2019t know what we\u2019re injecting into ourselves\". [...] Inaccurate to claim there\u2019s no safety and effectiveness studies on COVID-19 vaccines [...] Earlier fact-checks by Reuters and AFP reported that blank COVID-19 vaccine inserts aren\u2019t evidence that there aren\u2019t any safety or effectiveness studies about the vaccines. FDA spokesperson Alison Hunt told AFP that information for approved vaccines is provided in package inserts. But in the case of the authorized vaccines, the information was communicated via patient Fact Sheets that were posted on the FDA website.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Moderna was already producing COVID-19 vaccines before the beginning of the pandemic", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: Moderna was already producing COVID-19 vaccines before the beginning of the pandemic; its CEO, St\u00e9phane Bancel, predicted the pandemic [...] Another iteration of that type of claim is that St\u00e9phane Bancel, CEO of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine company Moderna, declared that Moderna was already producing 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2019, prior to the pandemic. This declaration would have occurred during a panel titled \"The state of the pandemic\" at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 18 January 2023. However, this is a misinterpretation of Bancel\u2019s declaration, as we explain below. [...] Never did he specify that he was talking about COVID-19 vaccine doses. In fact, Bancel was commenting on the general Moderna manufacturing capacity in 2019 for any kind of vaccines. Moderna has been producing mRNA therapeutics since 2010 and was already working on mRNA vaccine candidates for other diseases in 2019. Moderna\u2019s report to investors for the third quarter of 2019 shows that Moderna\u2019s pipeline had at least three mRNA vaccine candidates, for Zika, RSV, and CMV. Furthermore, nowhere in the report is mentioned the development or production of mRNA vaccines for any coronavirus.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Babies under six months shouldn\u2019t drink water as it can result in health risks", "evidence": "Breastfeeding is recommended by numerous health agencies for providing the necessary nutrition and antibodies to a growing infant. Water isn\u2019t necessary for babies to drink, and giving it to them can lead to overhydration and health effects such as nutrition deficiency, electrolyte imbalances, and in severe cases, hyponatremia, a condition that can cause seizures, coma, and death.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "So that means that probably about half, maybe half of that nine-tenths of the degree [of total warming] might be caused by greenhouse gases", "evidence": "Multiple factors\u2014some human-caused and some natural\u2014combine to influence global temperatures. However, human activities were already causing warming in the first half of the 20th century, and are responsible for approximately 100% of the more-rapid warming taking place after 1950. Thus, humans are responsible for most of the warming since 1900.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Sea level rise could reach six or seven feet by the year 2100.", "evidence": "The message for the world\u2019s leaders and decision makers is that sea level rise is real and is only going to get worse. Indeed, we make the case in our recent book, The Rising Sea, that governments and coastal managers should assume the inevitability of a seven-foot rise in sea level. This number is not a prediction. But we believe that seven feet is the most prudent, conservative long-term planning guideline for coastal cities and communities, especially for the siting of major infrastructure; a number of academic studies examining recent ice sheet dynamics have suggested that an increase of seven feet or more is not only possible, but likely. Certainly, no one should be expecting less than a three-foot rise in sea level this century. [...] Seeking to correct the IPCC\u2019s failure to come up with a comprehensive forecast for sea level increase, a number of state panels and government committees have produced sea level rise predictions that include an examination of melting ice sheets. For example, sea level rise panels in Rhode Island and Miami-Dade County have concluded that a minimum of a three- to five-foot sea level rise should be anticipated by 2100. A California report assumes a possible 4.6-foot rise by 2100, while the Dutch assume a 2.5-foot rise by 2050 in the design of their tidal gates.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccines cause leprosy", "evidence": "Many of the people posting about this shared an article from The Epoch Times, which The New York Times has called a \"leading purveyor of right-wing misinformation.\" The headline on the article read, \"Growing number of leprosy cases reported after COVID-19 vaccination,\" and the newspaper reported that researchers in the U.K. said two cases of leprosy could have been caused by the vaccine. Additionally, the article said, \"At least 14 other cases of leprosy or a leprosy reaction within 14 days of COVID-19 vaccination have been reported in the literature, including eight in India.\" Under X\u2019s new policy that allows readers to challenge controversial claims, a follow-up post was added that said, \"COVID vaccines do not cause leprosy. The study does NOT show that COVID-19 vaccination causes leprosy, or reduces a person\u2019s immunity and makes it easier to get leprosy. Study participants already had been infected with leprosy months or years before COVID-19 vaccinations.\" [...] It\u2019s easy to see how people skimming headlines could make that association. Conduct an internet search for \"leprosy\" and \"COVID vaccines\" and you\u2019ll find studies that have been published about how the vaccine could affect people who already have Hansen\u2019s disease.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cMost of the victims of the Spanish flu didn\u2019t die from the Spanish flu. They died from bacterial pneumonia. And the bacterial pneumonia was caused by [...] wearing masks\u201d", "evidence": "The claim: A study co-authored by Dr. Anthony Fauci found Spanish flu victims died from pneumonia caused by mask-wearing. [...] \"And the bacterial pneumonia was caused by... wait for it, wait for it... wearing masks.\" [...] We rate this claim FALSE because it is not supported by our research. Dr. Anthony Fauci and colleagues did write a 2008 paper determining victims of the 1918 Spanish flu died from bacterial pneumonia brought on by the flu. Masks are not mentioned anywhere, whether as source for the bacteria or otherwise.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The WHO declaration of a public health emergency is a scheme to use vaccines \u201cstocked up in warehouses\u201d; bird flu, parvovirus B19, and monkeypox are \u201crebranding\u201d of the same virus", "evidence": "Monkeypox: WHO declares a public health emergency of international concern - PMID: 35882402 - DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o1874 Monkeypox: WHO declares a public health emergency of international concern WHO declared monkeypox a public-health emergency of international concern: A case for prevention rationale.Int J Surg. 2022 Sep;105:106850. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106850. Epub 2022 Aug 24. Int J Surg. 2022. PMID: 36028142 Free PMC article. No abstract available.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Coronavirus contains 'HIV insertions'", "evidence": "Several online stories inaccurately claim that the new coronavirus contains HIV \"insertions\" and shows signs of being created in a lab. But there is no evidence that the new virus was bioengineered, and every indication it came from an animal. [...] A ZeroHedge article with the headline, \"Coronavirus Contains \u2018HIV Insertions,\u2019 Stoking Fears Over Artificially Created Bioweapon,\" pounced on some of the language in the preprint to argue that the scientists were saying the virus might be \"man-made.\" The story also cited tweets from a visiting scientist at Harvard who had commented on the preprint and stated that the scientist\u2019s tweets suggested that the virus \"might have been genetically engineered for the purposes of a weapon.\" [...] Only one \"insertion\" is not fully shared with the bat virus, Bedford explained, and \"in no way suggests engineering\" since it is consistent with the types of insertions and deletions that happen in coronaviruses. \"There is absolutely no evidence for either (1) sequence insertions or (2) their relationship to HIV,\" he concluded.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "A public information film on the coronavirus was released in the 1970s", "evidence": "Right\u2026 this is quite complex! There\u2019s an aspect of political history to this, as well as an aspect of communication theory. Firstly\u2026 it\u2019s not that there are no Public Information Films being made. There are. In fact, during the Coronavirus period, people may have seen films from the government giving advice about handwashing and staying alert\u2026 possibly during ad breaks, but also online. Most of the ones I\u2019ve seen haven\u2019t been particularly creative in their style, but they have been made. Government departments have still commissioned films, just not through the Central Office of Information.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe clothing industry contributes up to 10% of the pollution driving the climate crisis.\u201d", "evidence": "Fast fashion is an enormous, rapidly growing industry. The number of new garments made per year has nearly doubled over the past 20 years, and our global consumption of fashion has increased by 400%. The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon emissions. Animal-based textiles like wool are responsible for water pollution, widespread habitat loss from deforestation, and other harms to wildlife. Slow down your fashion by caring for your clothes, repairing when possible and, when you need new clothes, shop secondhand or join clothing swaps. If you must buy new, look past the greenwashing and purchase clothing made of truly sustainable materials like organic cotton or Tencel from brands that are made to last. Read about greenwashing of the wool industry and the harms of fast fashion.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cFauci frankensteined Covid bats on our soil a year before the pandemic, but then acted all shocked when the virus started spreading\u201d ; Fauci\u2019s goons went to the Wuhan lab, bottled up a virus and brought it to a lab in America\u201d", "evidence": "\"Fauci frankensteined Covid bats on our soil a year before the pandemic, but then acted all shocked when the virus started spreading\" [\u2026] \"Lock Fauci up, lock everybody up in Montana that is responsible [\u2026] let\u2019s just try to save as many lives as possible\". [...] According to Watters, the animal rights group White Coat Waste Project, which shared misinformation about Fauci in the past, had uncovered documents describing coronavirus research done in Montana using Egyptian fruit bats. [...] \"In 2018, Fauci\u2019s goons went to the Wuhan lab, bottled up a virus and brought it to a lab in America\" ; \"Grabbed a dozen Egyptian fruit bats, threw them in the back of a van\"", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Unapproved genetically modified organisms in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines could permanently change our DNA", "evidence": "Concerns over the potential health effects of residual DNA in biological products like vaccines aren\u2019t new or unknown to regulatory agencies. Regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have recommended specific limits on the amount of residual DNA in a vaccine. DNA-containing vaccines, such as the chickenpox vaccine\u2014a live attenuated vaccine containing a DNA virus\u2014have also been widely used before the pandemic and have been shown to be safe.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 mRNA vaccines aren\u2019t vaccines, according to court ruling", "evidence": "In June 2024, posts circulated on Instagram claiming COVID-19 mRNA vaccines weren\u2019t actually vaccines under \"traditional medical definitions\". The posts reference an article published 8 June 2024 on InfoWars, which claimed that the \"9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the COVID-19 mRNA jabs do not qualify as vaccines\". [...] Yet the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals didn\u2019t rule that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines aren\u2019t vaccines\u2014rather, they determined the case should be sent back to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, where the case was first argued, for further review. This is the function of an appellate court, as explained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: [...] As the expression goes, the jury is still out on whether the U.S. federal court system may determine COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to be \"medical treatments\" rather than vaccines. The plaintiffs argue that vaccines should prevent infection and transmission of the disease, and that COVID-19 vaccines \"[do] neither\". However, this is a misconception about how vaccines work in general, and isn\u2019t consistent with the data available on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Vaccines contain unhealthy levels of aluminum; Japan\u2019s elimination of vaccines has reduced infant mortality", "evidence": "The aluminum contained in vaccines is similar to that found in a liter (about 1 quart or 32 fluid ounces) of infant formula. While infants receive about 4.4 milligrams* of aluminum in the first six months of life from vaccines, they receive more than that in their diet. Breast-fed infants ingest about 7 milligrams, formula-fed infants ingest about 38 milligrams, and infants who are fed soy formula ingest almost 117 milligrams of aluminum during the first six months of life. [...] Why Is Aluminum in Vaccines? Isn\u2019t It Dangerous? [...] Given the quantities of aluminum we are exposed to on a daily basis, the quantity of aluminum in vaccines is miniscule. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been used for decades and have been given to more than 1 billion people without problem. In spring 2000, the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) reviewed aluminum exposure through vaccines and determined that no changes to vaccine recommendations were needed based on aluminum content. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has also reviewed studies and found no evidence of health risks that would require changes to vaccine policy.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "A \u201czapper\u201d can kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses; it cures all diseases", "evidence": "The zapper is a device invented by Dr Clark. It electrically kills parasites, bacteria, viruses, moulds and fungi. Viruses and bacteria disappear in three minutes; tapeworms, flippers, roundworms in five and mites in seven. All that is needed is a positive offset powered by a battery with a very low voltage of 5 to 10 volts. The zapper kills parasites and bacteria wherever the current reaches them. But it does not reach the eyes, appendix, testicles, inner ear bones. The current flows along the stomach or intestinal wall, not through its contents. It does not reach gallstones or living cells. The current does not flow evenly through the body. With regular zapping, the current passes mainly through our fluids, i.e. our lymphatic and vascular system, with a small fraction reaching all the organs and tissues of our body. Blood and lymph are the most important places to zap. [...] Independence of frequency. Any frequency positively shifted kills all bacteria, viruses and parasites simultaneously under sufficient voltage (5 to 10 volts, a duration of seven minutes and a frequency of 10 Hz to 500,000 Hz). Passes mainly through the fluids of our body, the lymphatic and blood system. The Varizapper is ideal for standard zapping.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "[T]he raw data, the actual thermometer data[...] shows that the US has been cooling for 80 to 90 years. But the graphs they release to the public show warming trend, and it's all because they've altered the data.", "evidence": "This was very disturbing to both NASA and NOAA. Their CO2 warming theory was failing badly, so they simply changed the data, turning cooling into warming. This happened at the same time Michael Mann was erasing the Medieval Warm Period. The blue line below shows the five year mean of the average annual temperature at all NOAA United States Historical Climatology Network Stations. The red line shows the graph they release to the public, and has been highly altered to create the appearance of warming \u2013 which does not exist in the thermometer data. If they believe there is error in the data, the correct way to handle it is to leave the data intact, and put error bars on it. Not alter the data and pass it to the public as if it represents the actual thermometer data.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cAn accurate reporting by Pfizer would have shown equal numbers of clinical trial deaths in the vaccine and placebo groups and thus, no benefit of vaccination\u201d", "evidence": "No Changes in All-Cause Mortality in Pfizer\u2019s Clinical Trial for mRNA Vaccine: Why? In the 6-month trial, 21 deaths occurred in the mRNA vaccine group and 17 in the placebo group. [...] To state this article\u2019s conclusion early, yes, no reduction in all-cause mortality rate was seen in the mRNA vaccine group in Pfizer\u2019s 6-month clinical trial. But there are reasons for this; for example, very few participants are at high risk of fatal Covid-19, making this trial unsuitable for studying mortality rate. Other observational studies on Covid-19 vaccines and all-cause mortality show otherwise.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Vaccines have caused an \"explosion\" of childhood cancer; vaccine package insert states vaccines weren\u2019t tested for mutagenic effect", "evidence": "Misrepresents source: The fact that vaccine package inserts state a vaccine hasn\u2019t been tested for carcinogenicity or mutagenicity doesn\u2019t mean we have no data on whether vaccines cause cancer. Such tests weren\u2019t performed because the safety of these vaccines had already been demonstrated through data acquired earlier, and vaccine ingredients aren\u2019t present in quantities that pose a cancer risk. In January 2024, political commentator and talk show host Candace Owens posted a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that vaccine package inserts state vaccines haven\u2019t been tested for carcinogenic or mutagenic effect, that there has been an \"explosion\" of childhood cancers after manufacturers were removed from liability, and that \"vaccines can cause childhood cancers\". [...] To sum up, the reason why vaccine package inserts state that \"the vaccine has not been tested for carcinogenic or mutagenic effect\" is because there\u2019s no scientific grounds to think the vaccine would cause either effect. Childhood vaccines don\u2019t use novel adjuvants or additives and vaccine ingredients aren\u2019t present in quantities that are expected to cause cancer, based on previous research.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Countries that sign pandemic treaty cede their sovereignty to the WHO, allowing WHO to control domestic policies, force vaccination, lockdowns, and arrest of vaccine opponents", "evidence": "Furthermore, to solidify collaboration and coordination at the highest levels of government, all of WHO\u2019s 194 Member States resolved in December 2021 to develop an international agreement, referred to as a pandemic accord (and sometimes called a pandemic treaty), which will define rules and norms for how countries can better prevent pandemics from happening and respond to future health emergencies in order to protect the safety and well-being of people everywhere. [...] Countries are negotiating the pandemic accord based on the principles of solidarity, equity, science and evidence, respect for human rights, and protection of national sovereignty over all health decision-making. [...] What it would not do is hand over control of domestic public health policies to WHO or any other international body. As with other international agreements, the pandemic accord would not affect countries\u2019 sovereignty. How each country goes about implementing the agreement would depend on its own domestic laws and policies.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Father of Global Warming\u2019 Scientist Finally Admits Theory Is Wrong", "evidence": "Father Of Global Warming Admits: It Used To Be Hotter Than It Is Now [...] James Hansen, the famed NASA scientist who stirred the climate scare when in 1988 he told a Senate committee that \"global warming\" -- yes, he used those words -- \"is already happening now,\" has never backed off his claims, despite the fact that he's been demonstrably wrong. No one this side of Al Gore has had a larger impact on trafficking in fear and trying so hard to sow panic. [...] Hansen has even admitted this.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\"Cat parasite\" causes toxoplasmosis; toxoplasmosis increases ghrelin hormone levels", "evidence": "Toxoplasmosis is caused by an infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is most commonly found in contaminated food (especially raw and undercooked meat), but it can also be found in cat feces. Most T. gondii infections in people with healthy immune systems are asymptomatic and resolve on their own within a few weeks or months. Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach and often called the \u201chunger hormone\u201d. There is currently no evidence supporting an association between toxoplasmosis and increased ghrelin hormone levels.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "HPV vaccine increases the risk of developing cervical cancer", "evidence": "Some things can increase a person\u2019s risk of getting cancer. These are called risk factors. There are some general risk factors for developing cancer. And there are some that increase the risk of developing a specific type of cancer. [...] - Human papilloma virus (HPV), which increases the risk of cervical cancer and is linked to cancers of the head and neck, anus, vulva, vagina and penis - hepatitis B and C, which are linked to liver cancer - HIV, which can increase the risk of cancers including lymphoma and sarcoma. [...] If you have an increased risk of cancer caused by HPV, you may be able to have an HPV vaccine. Your GP, local sexual health clinic or HIV clinic can give you more information.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201c99.2% of U.S. COVID deaths in June were unvaccinated people\u201d", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have proved highly effective at preventing severe disease and death in vaccinated individuals. Over 95% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths from the past few months occurred among unvaccinated people and could have been avoided by vaccination.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Sweetgum balls contain the same active ingredient that Tamiflu contains, which is shikimic acid; It kills viruses including SARS-CoV-2", "evidence": "I like sweetgum trees, but most people run from them, versus wanting to plant them. The spiny fruit does contain seeds, in fact, quite a few. Each sweetgum ball has about 40 to 60 capsules, with each containing one or two seeds. Fertile seeds are black with wings on either side; infertile seeds are yellow and wingless. Harvest the sweetgum balls when they are fully brown, but before they dry out. Once they dry, they open and scatter the seeds. Harvest the sweetgum balls and let them dry out on sheet of paper. Then when the seeds start to fall out, collect them and put the fertile seeds inside a plastic bag filled with moist sterile potting soil. Put that in your refrigerator for three months and then plant the seeds in a pot outside. This cool, moist storage period in the refrigerator is known as stratification and is needed to break the seed dormancy. As an aside, researchers have discovered that the unripe fruit of the sweetgum tree contains a key ingredient used in Tamiflu called Shikimic acid.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Switzerland stops COVID-19 vaccines due to safety concerns", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at protecting against severe illness and death. Vaccine recommendations change in response to the changes in the need for vaccination, which depends on factors like the level of immunity in the population, the level of threat posed by an infectious agent, and the benefit-risk tradeoff of a vaccine.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "[NASA] has been adjusting temperatures from the past[...] downward, while adjusting current-day temperatures upward, and those changes are responsible for most of the claimed global warming during that time.", "evidence": "There are two specific changes to the U.S. temperature observation network over the last century that have resulted in systemic cooling biases: time of observation changes at most of the stations from late afternoon to early morning, and a change in most of the instruments from liquid in glass thermometers to MMTS electronic instruments. Back in July I posted a general introduction to U.S. temperature adjustments that looked at the relative effect of each adjustment. Here I will focus in detail on the Time of Observation adjustment, which is responsible for the majority of the change in U.S. temperatures vis-\u00e0-vis raw data. In a future post I will address the pairwise homogenization algorithm, which attempts to correct for factors like the MMTS transition and the impact of urbanization on temperature trends. [...] The net effect of adjustments to correct for time of observation changes is shown in Figue 2. TOBs adjustments increase the amount of warming in the historical temperature record by just under 0.3 C, with similar adjustments to both minimum and maximum temperatures. This adjustment alone is responsible for the majority of the difference between raw and adjusted temperatures reported by NCDC.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "\u201cMyocarditis and pericarditis only occur after vaccination and not after COVID-19 infection.\u201d", "evidence": "In June 2024, the news outlet The Epoch Times claimed that new data from England\u2019s National Health Service (NHS) showed that \"myocarditis and pericarditis only occur after vaccination and not after COVID-19 infection.\" The Epoch Times has repeatedly published vaccine misinformation. [...] In order to support The Epoch Times\u2019 claim that myocarditis \"only occur[s] after vaccination and not after COVID-19 infection\", one would need to compare people who were exposed to one of two things: a COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19, but not both. If a vaccinated person also got COVID-19 and then developed myocarditis, it would be impossible to know for sure if the cause was the vaccine or COVID-19 without additional information. [...] - 3 \u2013 Wong et al. (2022) Risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after the COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in the USA: a cohort study in claims databases. The Lancet.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Forward projections of solar cyclicity imply the next few decades may be marked by global cooling rather than warming, despite continuing CO2 emissions.", "evidence": "While regional and seasonal effects might be larger, the expected global temperature response to a future grand solar minimum similar to the Maunder Minimum is a cooling of about 0.1\u00b0C. It should be pointed out that this cooling would occur on the background of current anthropogenic warming which is about a factor of 10 larger[\u2026] It is also clear from these numbers that a future grand solar minimum (which would last only for a few decades anyway) would not save us from global warming, as we have shown in a scientific paper* and explained in this RealClimate post. The marginal temperature differences between warming scenarios with and without a future Maunder Minimum is illustrated here: [...] Forward projections of solar variability are fraught with deep uncertainties, as exemplified by the last solar minimum. Satellite observations show this to be the weakest solar cycle in over a century. [...] The claim that the Earth may cool in coming decades due to solar variability is incorrect (even in the word \"may\"). It has no bearing in any climate science, model projections, or basic physical theory. The forcing from solar variability to the heat content of the Earth system is small relative to the accelerating forcing provided by human CO2 emissions.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women is connected to an increase in U.S. infant mortality rate in 2022", "evidence": "- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu and Tdap Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women \u2013 United States, April 2022. Flu, Tdap, and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women \u2013 United States, April 2022 | FluVaxView | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC - DeSisto CL, Wallace B, Simeone RM, et al. Risk of Stillbirth Among Women With and Without COVID-19 Delivery Hospitalization \u2014 United States, March 2020\u2013September 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:1640\u20131645. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7047e1 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 Vaccination Among Pregnant People aged 18-49 years overall, by race and ethnicity, and date reported to CDC \u2013 Vaccine Safety Datalink , United States. Accessed on March 1, 2023. CDC COVID Data Tracker: Vaccination Among Pregnant People - Brewer, LI, Ommerborn, MJ, Nguyen, AL, et al. Structural inequities in seasonal influenza vaccination rates. BMC Public Health. 2021;21: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11179-9 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Guide for Community Partners. Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Among Members of Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities. Accessed on April 5, 2023.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Vitamin B17 \u201cwas banned by the US because of its cancer-killing properties\u201d", "evidence": "- Health \"Vitamin B17\" is neither a vitamin nor a cancer treatment and can cause cyanide poisoning [...] Factually inaccurate: The so-called \"vitamin B17\" is actually amygdalin, a compound that isn\u2019t a vitamin and which decades of research have shown to be ineffective as a cancer treatment. [...] On 1 March 2023, a Facebook reel with more than 1.6 million views claimed that \"Vitamin B17\", a compound present in apricot kernels, \"was banned by the U.S. because of its cancer-killing properties\".", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cSince the vaccine rolled out, [a midwife]\u2019s seen no normal placenta [\u2026] they\u2019re all compromised\u201d", "evidence": "Vaccines could attack the placenta - No evidence", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "HPV vaccines are ineffective and cause side effects including autoimmune and neurological disorders, based on VAERS reports", "evidence": "Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, often through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. While many HPV infections are eventually cleared by the body\u2019s immune system, certain types of HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, or back of the throat. HPV vaccination, combined with regular cervical cancer screenings, can reduce the risk of cervical cancer.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Poppers are the cause of Kaposi\u2019s sarcoma", "evidence": "New analysis of old data suggests that \"poppers\" -- chemical inhalant stimulants used by some homosexuals -- may trigger Kaposi's sarcoma, a kind of cancer commonly associated with AIDS. [...] The only significant difference discovered was that those who developed Kaposi's sarcoma used the most poppers, or amyl nitrite, as a sexual stimulant. \"Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer of blood vessels, and nitrites cause the blood vessels to dilate, so you have the product having an effect in roughly the same place you're getting the cancer,\" he explains.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Blocks of color printed on toothpaste tubes indicate whether the toothpaste is made of safe ingredients", "evidence": "Incorrect: Colored squares printed at the ends of toothpaste tubes aren\u2019t a secret code for the safety of toothpaste ingredients. Instead, they allow light sensors on the toothpaste production line to recognize the end of the tube, so that tubes can be filled, cut, and sealed correctly. [...] In the clip, TikTok celebrity and podcast host Carlos Juico claimed that color blocks at the end of toothpaste tubes indicated whether the toothpaste ingredients were natural or \"chemical\". More specifically, he asserted that a green color block meant the toothpaste was all-natural; a blue color block meant the toothpaste was \"natural plus medicine\"; and a black color block meant the toothpaste was \"all chemical\". [...] In summary, the conspiracy theory that toothpaste tubes carry a secret color code indicating the safety of toothpaste ingredients is baseless. If people wish to know which ingredients are present in their toothpaste, they can simply read the ingredient list printed on toothpaste packaging.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Magnetic poles reversals involve the Earth flipping vertically and momentarily stopping its rotation, causing cataclysmic events during 6 days.", "evidence": "CLAIM: Shifts in the planet\u2019s magnetic poles involve the earth doing a 90\u00b0 flip, with the planet remaining still for 6 days. During this short period, cataclysmic events happen, involving heat, wind, floods, and climate change. [...] In a recent podcast episode, Comedian and Ultimate Fighting Championship commentator Joe Rogan and YouTuber Jimmy Corsetti talked about the so-called \"Adam and Eve\" theory. Even though this theory has no support in science, as we will show below, Corsetti and Rogan discussed it as if it were credible. Corsetti appears to believe that when magnetic poles reverse, the Earth flips over itself and stops rotating for six days. Corsetti also claimed that the next reversal should happen in a very near future, and that it would be cataclysmic. A clip from this interview was viewed over twenty millions times on TikTok, and several other clips were widely shared on social media. [...] The \"Adam and Eve\" theory laid out in the interview suggests that magnetic poles\u2019 reversal includes the Earth doing a \"flip\", involving North and South poles physically changing positions. In reality, no scientific evidence indicates that the Earth ever performed such flips. This claim is extremely implausible, as there is hardly anything that could flip the Earth in such a way, apart from a collision with planets or other astronomical bodies.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "there has been no reduction in oceanic pH levels in the last century", "evidence": "- When CO2 dissolves in seawater, the water becomes more acidic. The acidity of the oceans has increased by 26 % since about 1850, a rate of change roughly 10 times faster than any time in the last 55 million years. [...] Since around 1850, the oceans have absorbed between a third and a half of the CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. As a result, the average pH of ocean surface waters has fallen by about 0.1 units, from 8.2 to 8.1 (Figure 2). This corresponds to a 26 % increase in ocean acidity, a rate of change roughly 10 times faster than any time in the last 55 million years. [...] Despite the different responses within and between marine groups, positive or negative, research suggests that ocean acidification will be a driver for substantial changes in ocean ecosystems this century. These changes may be made worse by the combined effect with other emerging climate-related hazards, such as the decrease of ocean oxygen levels \u2013 a condition known as ocean deoxygenation \u2013that is already affecting marine life in some regions (Long et al. 2016).", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Discovery Of Massive Volcanic CO2 Emissions Discredits Global Warming Theory", "evidence": "The eruption of Eyjafjallaj\u00f6kull provided an opportunity to lay certain misconceptions about volcanic carbon dioxide to rest. The volcano was estimated to have emitted between 150,000 and 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide a day; by contrast the grounding of the European air fleet prevented the emission of some 2.8 million tons in just eight days, a figure greater than the total global annual emissions from all of the volcanoes in the world. If painting The Scream today, the appropriate backdrop would not be the blood-red sky of Krakatoa\u2019s eruption, but a sky criss-crossed with contrails: the same contrails that litter the websites of chemtrail conspiracy theorists, even, if not especially, those who deny the realities of man-made climate change. We are all looking at the same sky and seeing radically different things.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Viruses don\u2019t exist, terrain theory explains why diseases occur", "evidence": "The terrain theory, which can be traced back to French chemist Antoine B\u00e9champ, has been used as a competing explanation with germ theory for why diseases occur. The terrain theory argues that diseases aren\u2019t caused by germs, but by imbalances in the host organism resulting from lifestyle, such as nutritional deficiencies. As such, correcting the imbalance will cure the disease. [...] Health Feedback previously addressed a similar claim about terrain theory, explaining that the existence of microzymes has never been demonstrated and that viral infection demonstrably produces changes even in healthy cells that are consistent with disease. [...] However, the fact that some principles of the terrain theory explain why certain diseases occur doesn\u2019t mean that germ theory is wrong. Diseases can result from infectious and non-infectious causes. Our understanding of diseases and how to treat them draws on the principles of both theories. The denial of germ theory espoused in the Instagram reel lends users an incorrect understanding of how diseases occur and can be potentially dangerous if it leads them to reject proven treatments and preventative measures.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Mammograms don\u2019t prevent cancer; mammograms contribute to cancer development", "evidence": "Mammography is a medical imaging technique that helps detect breast tissue abnormalities, including possible tumors. Published scientific studies show that women aged 40 and older who go for a mammogram annually have a greater chance of detecting breast cancer early, thus improving their chances of successful treatment and survival. Although mammography uses X-rays, the radiation doses are low, and the benefits of routine mammograms outweigh the possible risks.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cOfficial CDC data: 143,233% surge in fatal cancers among Vaxxed Americans\u201d", "evidence": "Incorrect claim that COVID-19 vaccines caused a 143,233% surge in cancer results from flawed calculations that misuse adverse event reporting data [...] An Instagram post published in January 2024 claimed that \"official data\" from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed a \"143,233% surge in fatal cancers among Vaxxed Americans\". The figure most likely originated from an article published on The Expos\u00e9 on 8 December 2023 titled, \"U.S. Government Data Reveals a Staggering 143,233% Surge in Fatal Cancer Cases\". The article explicitly attributed this increase to \"the experimental Covid-19 injections\".", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Zero Amish Children Diagnosed with Cancer, Diabetes or Autism; Amish children are largely unvaccinated; Covid death rates among Amish communities are 90 times lower than for the rest of America", "evidence": "One example of this claim can be found in this Leading Report article, published on 9 July 2023, alleging that a \"new study [found] zero Amish children diagnosed with cancer, diabetes or autism\" because they are \"strictly 100 percent unvaccinated\". The article also claimed that the \"Covid death rates among Amish communities are 90 times lower than for the rest of America\" because they didn\u2019t get vaccinated. Leading Report is recognized as a Questionable Source by Media Bias/Fact Check, regularly promoting conspiracy theories and misinformation. [...] It is inaccurate to say that there are no health conditions such as autism, cancer, or diabetes among the Amish. A conference paper from the International Society for Autism Research dating to 2010 reported an autism prevalence of 1 in 271 children in Amish communities. This was lower compared to the overall U.S. prevalence of 1 in 91 children at that time, but is by no means zero, contrary to the claim. [...] There is no basis in fact for the claim that the Amish don\u2019t experience medical conditions such as autism, cancer, and a lower COVID-19 mortality rate because they don\u2019t vaccinate.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "CO2 concentrations are increasing in Earth\u2019s atmosphere faster than they have in the last 50,000 years.", "evidence": "\"Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing faster than the Southern Ocean can keep up.\" May 2024, AccessScience, McGraw Hill, https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.aBR2405151. [...] Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing faster than the Southern Ocean can keep up. McGraw Hill\u2019s AccessScience; 2024. https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.aBR2405151 [...] Through a chemical analysis of Antarctic ice, a group of scientists from Oregon State University has discovered that Earth\u2019s current rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase is 10 times faster than it has been at any point in the past 50,000 years. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas; this molecule traps heat in the atmosphere and thus contributes to the warming of Earth\u2019s climate. Atmospheric CO2 levels have fluctuated significantly throughout geologic time. However, accumulating evidence comparing the most notable past peak levels to current trends shows an upturn that threatens ecological disaster in coming decades and centuries. See also: Antarctica; Atmosphere; Carbon dioxide; Greenhouse effect", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Doctors are \u2018injecting poison\u2019 into babies every two months.", "evidence": "Vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety, and common side effects, such as soreness, are signs of the body developing protective immunity. Childhood vaccination has saved hundreds of thousands of lives, and lower uptake can lead to disease outbreaks. Toxic chemicals, such as mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde, are either in a safe form, found in only trace quantities that are safe, or have been removed entirely.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas so it is the main cause of recent global warming", "evidence": "Water vapor may be the most abundant GHG keeping the planet habitable, but it is not a major driver of long-term climate change and the recent global warming we are experiencing. It is incorrect to claim that because water vapor is natural and the greenhouse effect is natural, recent global warming must be natural. Water vapor is fundamentally different from the other GHGs which directly cause global warming. It has a negligible ERF, it leaves the atmosphere in a matter of days, and it is ultimately governed by temperature rather than human emissions. It is more of a consequence of global warming than a cause. We already know beyond any reasonable doubt that anthropogenic emissions of the other GHGs like CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide, is the primary cause of global warming. Water vapor is not relevant when it comes to the enhanced greenhouse effect in the context of recent global warming.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "[It] is nearly impossible to categorize post-vaccine deaths as vaccine-related", "evidence": "The median age of final study group (N = 138) was 55 years (IQR 43,70) and the median time from last vaccine to death was 17 days (IQR 11,22). Among them, 113 (81.9%) were male and 31 (22.5%) were Qatari nationals. Among the 138 deaths evaluated, 8 deaths were classified as having high probability of being related to vaccination (1.15 death/1,000,000 vaccine doses administered). Fifteen deaths were classified as having intermediate probability (2.16 death/1,000,000 vaccine doses administered). One hundred and twelve deaths were classified as low probability or not related to vaccination. [...] We developed an algorithm to determine the probability of a death being related to COVID-19 vaccine administration using a framework similar to the one proposed by the World Health Organization, which takes into account evidence of any other cause of death, temporal association with vaccination, and lack of any other possible explanation19,20 (Fig. 2). Four licensed physicians were trained on the algorithm criteria to independently assign the probability of a death being related to vaccine administration. Final categorization was based on at least three reviewers assigning the same level of probability. Where less than three reviewers assigned the same probability of association, one additional reviewer adjudicated the outcome.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cSecret CDC Report confirms nearly 120k Youngsters 'Died Suddenly' in the USA by Oct. 2022 following roll-out of COVID Vaccines\u201d", "evidence": "A superficial analysis of publicly available data published by an anti-vaccine outlet named \"The Expos\u00e9\" went viral in December 2022. The piece, entitled \"CDC quietly confirms at least 118k Children & Young Adults have 'Died Suddenly' in the USA since the roll-out of the COVID Vaccines,\" frequently cited its own inability to find publicly available information as evidence of a nefarious plot, claiming that: Official figures quietly published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirm nearly half a million children and young adults have died ever since the Food & Drug Administration first granted emergency use authorisation to a Covid-19 vaccine in the USA. This has sadly resulted in nearly 118,000 excess deaths compared to the 2015-2019 average. [...] Ultimately, The Expos\u00e9 claims that \"figures provided by the Office for National Statistics \u2026 are definitive proof that the Covid-19 injections increase a person's risk of dying. Which means the Covid-19 injections have been and are continuing to kill people\u2026. This is why it should come as no surprise to find that a secret CDC report confirms half a million American children & young adults have died following the Covid vaccine roll-out.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Based on the increase of solar activity during the twentieth century, it should account for between half to two-thirds of all climate change", "evidence": "Fossil fuel era [edit]The link between recent solar activity and climate has been quantified and is not a major driver of the warming that has occurred since early in the twentieth century.[24] Human-induced forcings are needed to reproduce the late-20th century warming.[25] Some studies associate solar cycle-driven irradiation increases with part of twentieth century warming.[26][27] [...] Benestad and Schmidt[45] concluded that \"the most likely contribution from solar forcing a global warming is 7 \u00b1 1% for the 20th century and is negligible for warming since 1980.\" This paper disagreed with Scafetta and West,[46] who claimed that solar variability has a significant effect on climate forcing. Based on correlations between specific climate and solar forcing reconstructions, they argued that a \"realistic climate scenario is the one described by a large preindustrial secular variability (e.g., the paleoclimate temperature reconstruction by Moberg et al.)[47] with TSI experiencing low secular variability (as the one shown by Wang et al.).[48] Under this scenario, they claimed the Sun might have contributed 50% of the observed global warming since 1900.[49] Stott et al. estimated that the residual effects of the prolonged high solar activity during the last 30 years account for between 16% and 36% of warming from 1950 to 1999.[50]", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Ventilators, not COVID, killed hospitalized COVID patients", "evidence": "Ventilators were commonly deployed for critically ill COVID-19 patients who developed trouble breathing. The way ventilators were used initially during the pandemic was based on doctors\u2019 experiences of treating other, known types of pneumonia. Over time, as doctors gained a better understanding of COVID-19, their approach to ventilator use also evolved. While it is probable that ventilators were used on some patients who might not have needed it in the end, the claim that ventilators, not COVID-19, were responsible for killing the majority of COVID-19 patients isn\u2019t substantiated by evidence. [...] On the podcast, Rogan stated \"80% of people they put on ventilators died\". Musk, who has no training in medicine, then followed up by claiming that putting people on ventilators is \"what is damaging the lungs, not Covid. It\u2019s the treatment, the cure is worse than the disease\".He alleged that he received this information from doctors in Wuhan that he called. Taken as a response to Rogan\u2019s statement, Musk\u2019s remarks can be interpreted to mean that it was ventilators that had killed COVID-19 patients, rather than COVID-19. [...] In an article for MedPage Today, Rohin Francis, a cardiologist and science communicator, also refuted the claim that ventilators were what killed COVID-19 patients, citing \"breathless articles in the news stating that 80% of patients placed on ventilators die\":", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cthose who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with mRNA shots will lose 25 years of their life\u201d", "evidence": "The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines authorized for use were found to be safe and effective in clinical trials and real-world conditions. A professor in Ireland baselessly claims in a video circulating on social media that they are not, and that those who get the vaccines will die as a result within several years. [...] \"And I would say anyone who gets the mRNA injection, no matter what age you are, your life expectancy will be reduced to you know die, if you\u2019re in your 30s, within five to 10 years,\" continues Cahill, a professor at the medical school at the University College Dublin who has previously come under criticism for spreading misinformation about COVID-19. [...] While Cahill\u2019s claims about supposed long-term effects of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines aren\u2019t rooted in evidence, there is support for the fact that COVID-19 itself can result in long-term health effects.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cFor every one person who dies: 19 more require hospitalization; 18 of those will have permanent heart damage for the rest of their lives\u201d", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: \"For every one person who dies: 19 more require hospitalization; 18 of those will have permanent heart damage for the rest of their lives; 10 will have permanent lung damage; 3 will have strokes; 2 will have neurological damage that leads to chronic weakness and loss of coordination; 2 will have neurological damage that leads to loss of cognitive function.\" [...] Despite the update, Veaux\u2019s methods for calculating probability remain unclear and the sources he used contain some unacknowledged flaws and/or caveats. To support his statement that 18 people will have permanent heart damage for every one person who dies, he gathered statistics on heart damage from this article, which is largely based on a 12 June article published by Vox. The relevant passage states: [...] Finally, if we assume that Veaux made his calculations based on the Lancet study and if we leave aside all these caveats, the number of deaths (six) among the study cohort to the number of cases of heart damage (five) means that for every one person who dies, approximately one person suffers from heart damage, rather than 18 as he stated in his post. At any rate, given the limitations of the Lancet study, it would not be good practice to attempt to use its numbers to extrapolate to a hypothetical situation for the general population in the U.S., or indeed, anywhere else.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Ice cores from Greenland show no significant warming, casting doubt on the climate change theory", "evidence": "The effect of atmospheric CO2 concentrations on global temperatures is well established; as concentrations rise, global warming increases through the greenhouse effect. Scientific studies show that modern global warming is primarily driven by increasing CO2 emissions from human activities. Based on the available scientific evidence, solar variation has had no significant effect on modern global warming compared to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Antarctic sea-ice extent is increasing to record levels. Antarctica is getting colder; its sea ice and ice cap are not melting", "evidence": "Despite a period of slight growth between 1979 and 2014, Antarctic sea ice cover is not increasing to record levels. The trend reversed in 2014 and ice cover started to decrease vigorously. Many long-term measurements from Antarctic research stations show no significant warming or cooling trends over the whole continent, but parts of the continent are among the regions experiencing the fastest warming in the world, and the ice cap is losing mass. Cherry-picking Antarctic sea-ice extent reached a record high in 2014, but that was not the sign of a long term trend of expansion since a precipitous decline followed, with the sea ice extent reaching its lowest value in 40 years. [...] Former climatologist Judith Curry, who called into question the fact that humans are the dominant cause of recent climate change in Congressional Testimony, first claims that \"Antarctica sea ice extent is increasing to record levels\". Sea ice extent refers to the cumulative area of all ocean surfaces where water is covered with ice. On the other hand, the terms ice cap and ice sheet refer to ice covering terrain such as land or bedrock. In order to understand the trends in sea ice extent, scientists study its area in February and September, respectively the periods in which the ice cover retreats and peaks.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "I am talking about the slaughter, death, and starvation of 6 billion people this century\u2014that's what the science predicts.", "evidence": "Research shows that continuing climate change results in a broad array of serious threats to humans and other species. However, counter to Hallam's statement, published studies have not predicted 6 billion human deaths this century and there is no credible mechanism referred to justify how this could happen.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The pH for the coronavirus varies from 5.5 to 8.5. What we need to do to defeat the coronavirus is to consume more alkaline foods above the virus\u2019 pH level.", "evidence": "Scientists have not determined the ideal pH environment for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the cells of the tissues that SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets, including the lungs and intestines, maintain a very tightly controlled pH both inside and out in order to maintain cellular metabolism and proper enzyme activity. Altering pH in cells and tissues beyond a very narrow range would likely result in death.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "The way urine reacts to salt is a test for pregnancy", "evidence": "The salt method, also known as the salt pregnancy test, is a popular DIY method for checking if you are pregnant. It is a simple and inexpensive method that supposedly relies on the reaction between urine and salt to determine pregnancy. While this method may seem intriguing, it is important to note that it is not scientifically proven or reliable as a pregnancy test. [...] However, it is crucial to understand that the salt method lacks scientific evidence and is not recognized as a legitimate pregnancy test. The reaction between salt and urine is influenced by various factors such as the concentration of salt, temperature, impurities in the urine, and individual variations. Therefore, the results of this method can be highly subjective and unreliable. [...] The salt method is a DIY pregnancy test that involves mixing urine with salt to observe a reaction. While this method may seem simple and cost-effective, it is important to understand the potential risks and limitations before relying on it as a reliable form of pregnancy testing.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Scientists were caught 'adjusting' sea level data to create false impression of rising oceans", "evidence": "Global average sea level has risen throughout the 20th century and continues to rise at an accelerating rate. Sea level rise primarily results from glacial ice melting and the expansion of seawater as it warms. Scientists do not arbitrarily adjust sea level data, but instead compare sea level measurements to stable benchmarks to generate accurate estimates of sea level change over time.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Solar forcings are not too small to explain twentieth century warming. In fact, their effect could be equal to or greater than the effect of CO2 in the atmosphere.", "evidence": "Factually Inaccurate: No estimate of 20th century climate forcings (warming or cooling influences) shows the solar forcing to be close to the effect of increased CO2. [...] There is strong evidence that solar forcing cannot explain much of the observed warming at all. The \"fingerprint\" of solar forcing does not match the observed changes at all, neither over time nor space. Solar forcing would warm both the stratosphere and the surface of the Earth, whereas CO2 warms the surface (and the troposphere) but cools the stratosphere. Using radiosondes and (more recently) satellites, we have observed a warming surface and troposphere together with a cooling stratosphere. See Santer et al (2013)* for one of many studies providing this evidence. [...] Solar forcing is much smaller than CO2 forcing. As this figure from the latest IPCC report shows, CO2 radiative forcing (1.68 W/m2) dwarfs solar forcing (0.05 W/m2). Along with other greenhouse gases, CO2 dominates the total radiative forcing when all positive and negative factors are taken into account.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Placing raw onion on the bottom of the feet eliminates illness", "evidence": "Onions contain nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants, which can provide health benefits when eaten. Rigorous scientific studies are necessary to determine whether foods or practices possess curative properties. There is no known scientific evidence to support the practice of placing raw onions on or against the body to cure viral infections.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Earth about to enter 30-YEAR \u2018Mini Ice Age\u2019", "evidence": "A mini ice age could hit the Earth in the 2030s, the first such event to occur since the early 1700s. New mathematical models of the Sun's solar cycle developed at Northumbria University suggest solar activity will see a \"significant\" drop, causing temperatures on Earth to plummet. The last mini ice age occurred between 1645 and 1715 and caused temperatures in northern Europe to fall dramatically, with London's River Thames freezing over during winter and sea ice extending for miles around the UK. The prolonged cold snap, known as the Maunder Minimum, has been linked to a reduction in the number of sunspots, as observed by scientists at the time.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The cyclical activity of the Sun as well as other variations in solar and earth activity, and NOT anthropogenic CO2 emissions, are responsible for climate change", "evidence": "Since it is the Sun's energy that drives the weather system, scientists naturally wondered whether they might connect climate changes with solar variations. Yet the Sun seemed to be stable over the timescale of human civilization. Attempts to discover cyclic variations in weather and connect them with the 11-year sunspot cycle, or other possible solar cycles ranging up to a few centuries long, gave results that were ambiguous at best. These attempts got a well-deserved bad reputation. Jack Eddy overcame this with a 1976 study that demonstrated that irregular variations in solar surface activity, a few centuries long, were connected with major climate shifts. The mechanism was uncertain, but plausible candidates emerged. The next crucial question was whether a rise in the Sun's activity could explain the global warming seen in the 20th century? By the 1990s, there was a tentative answer: minor solar variations could indeed have been partly responsible for some past fluctuations... but future warming from the rise in greenhouse gases far outweighed any solar effects.(1)", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Measles vaccine caused Samoa measles outbreak", "evidence": "Measles: Samoa declares emergency as cases continue to spike worldwide [...] Samoa is fighting a \"huge outbreak\" of measles, the World Health Organization has said, a year after a vaccine scare resulted in a collapse of immunisation rates. So far 42 people have died from measles, almost all young children, and 3149 cases have been reported on the six islands that make up the Pacific nation, inhabited by about 200 000 people. Every day about 200 people with suspected cases arrive at hospital, said Ian Norton of WHO\u2019s emergency medical unit, speaking to reporters from Geneva. The main hospital in the capital, Apia, which normally has four beds in its intensive care ward, currently has 14 children on ventilators, he said.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "The DTaP vaccine causes SIDS", "evidence": "No causal association between the DTaP vaccine and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) Although cases of SIDS have occurred after the DTaP vaccine, there is no evidence to support the claim that the DTaP vaccine has caused these cases. Studies show that DTaP vaccines, and vaccination in general, are not associated with an increased risk of SIDS. Inaccurate: Studies show that the DTaP vaccine is not causally associated with SIDS. SIDS is not listed as a side effect (adverse reaction) to the vaccine.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Flat-topped landforms, such as buttes and mesas, are the remains of giant ancient trees. Tree features can be seen in Devils Tower, for example \u2013 the large hexagonal columns are fibers of a tree that would have been 19,000 feet tall. Other tree features can be seen in buttes and mesas, such as sloped sides and flat tops that look like tree stumps after trees are cut down.", "evidence": "Available scientific evidence shows that plateaus, mesas, buttes, and pinnacles form through geological processes of deposition and erosion. As a more erosion-resistant top layer of rock slows downward erosion, the sides of these landforms preferentially weather and erode away, leaving flat-topped landforms with sloped sides. There is no evidence that these landforms are the remains of \u2018ancient trees\u2019.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of miscarriages and stillbirths", "evidence": "Available data shows that a pregnant woman who has a COVID-19 vaccine is not at an increased risk of having adverse pregnancy outcomes. Worldwide data, looking at many thousands of people vaccinated in pregnancy, has reported no increased risk of miscarriage, preterm birth or stillbirth following vaccination. Nor does vaccination increase the risk of a small-for-gestational age baby or developing congenital anomalies. One of these studies, from St George\u2019s, University of London, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) on 9 August 2021, compared pregnancy outcomes for women who had received a COVID-19 vaccine and those who had not. The study found there were no significant differences between the two groups, with no increase in stillbirths or premature births, no anomalies with development and no evidence of babies being smaller or bigger. [...] The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency\u2019s (MHRA) Yellow Card scheme collects and monitors information on safety concerns, such as suspected side-effects or adverse incidents involving medicines and medical devices, including vaccines. They have been analysing reports of miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women who have received the COVID-19 vaccines and have not identified any pattern to suggest the COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK, or any reactions to these vaccines, increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Arctic sea ice is not melting and there is no indication that we should expect the Arctic sea summer ice to disappear completely, as predicted", "evidence": "A new study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications found Arctic sea ice could disappear completely during the month of September as early as the 2030s. Even if the world makes significant cuts to planet-heating pollution today, the Arctic could still see summers free of sea ice by the 2050s, scientists reported. [...] An Arctic with no summer sea ice would send dire ripple effects around the world. The bright white ice reflects solar energy away from the Earth. When this ice melts, it exposes the darker ocean, which absorbs more heat causing additional warming \u2013 a feedback process called \"Arctic amplification.\" [...] \"We can regard the Arctic sea ice as the immune system of our body which protects our body from harmful things,\" Min said. \"Without the protector, the Arctic\u2019s condition will go from bad to worse quickly.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Doctors murdered to protect Big Pharma profits and silence holistic health practitioners", "evidence": "Conspiracy theories alleging that the pharmaceutical industry is targeting alternative medicine practitioners to silence them have proven to be popular and enduring on social media. By extension, these conspiracy theories imply that alternative medicine is more effective than conventional medicine, thus posing a threat to the pharmaceutical industry\u2019s profits. However, claims that practices in alternative medicine provide effective treatments generally lack reliable supporting evidence derived from rigorously conducted research", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThe Government has released their initial plans to force a vaccine on everyone\u201d; \u201cThree potential vaccines are currently in Stage 3 trials in the United States and could be ready in weeks\u201d", "evidence": "By mid-September 2020, as immunization manufacturers scrambled to develop a viable product, Snopes received numerous inquiries about a new piece of viral content \u2014 a Sept. 16 web page titled, The Government Has Released Their Initial Plans to Force a Vaccine on Everyone. It alleged: [...] At the press conference, the Trump administration outlined its plan for getting vaccines to Americans when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes mass distribution. The president said the military was \"lined up\" to help with the plan's logistics \u2014 confirming one aspect of the above-displayed claim \u2014 though no one at the event said vaccinations would be forced on people or that citizens would need the shots to leave their homes. After that, we reviewed federal documents with more details about the government's plans. A congressional report said the Department of Health and Human Services was leading vaccine research, while the DOD was partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to distribute the final product. All parties were working to ensure \"every American who wants to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one,\" per the report. Nowhere in the documents did the government say it would force vaccinations on people.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Health authorities like the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discourage people from wearing face masks", "evidence": "Health authorities like the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend that the public use face masks in shared spaces, like public transportation and grocery stores. This change in guidance occurred after several studies found that infected individuals can transmit COVID-19 even when not showing symptoms. Contrary to many viral claims, face masks do not cause oxygen deficiency or a toxic buildup of carbon dioxide. It is important to remember that cloth face masks, surgical masks, and even N95 respirators do not provide 100% protection from the novel coronavirus and therefore must be combined with other transmission control measures such as physical distancing and good hand hygiene.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The measles outbreak is directly caused by illegal immigration", "evidence": "Other conservative voices have linked measles to illegal immigrants. The conservative website The Blaze wrote about Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., who said the disease was brought into the country by \"illegal aliens.\" [...] There is no data that links this or any other outbreak of measles to those immigrants, who are vaccinated at about the same rate as Americans. [...] The Blaze, GOP Congressman on Why He Thinks Illegal Immigrants Might be to Blame for Measles Outbreak, Feb. 4, 2015", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "May 2024 auroras were caused by experiments from High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) experiments", "evidence": "The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is a research facility that uses a high-power, high-frequency transmitter to study the physical properties and behavior of the highest point of the atmosphere, the ionosphere. Radio transmissions from HAARP only cause small effects in the ionosphere that last for a brief span of a few seconds. HAARP is incapable of causing the magnitude of aurora effects witnessed in May 2024; evidence shows these effects were caused by mass ejections of magnetized plasma from the Sun. [...] In summary, there is conclusive evidence that the aurora observed around the globe on 10-11 May 2024 was caused by a solar storm that began erupting from the Sun on 8 May 2024. The claims attributing the auroras to HAARP experiments that coincided with this event are simply incorrect. As explained above, not only is HAARP incapable of producing the observed auroras from its limited power output, but the experiments \u2013 which were scheduled over a month in advance \u2013 were conducted to study space debris, unrelated to auroral effects.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is sort of the voice of the consensus, concedes that there has been no increase in extreme weather events.", "evidence": "Broadcast regulator Ofcom upheld a complaint by prominent scientist Brian Cox and Jim Al-Khalili and the UK\u2018s Green Party about an interview on the BBC\u2018s flagship cultural affairs radio show, the Today programme. On the programme, Lawson said \"all the experts say there hasn\u2019t been\" an increase in extreme weather events, and that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change \"concedes\" this, and that, according to official figures, \"during this past 10 years [\u2026] average world temperature has slightly declined,\" the Guardian reported.22Mark Sweney. \"BBC Radio 4 broke accuracy rules in Nigel Lawson climate change interview,\" The Guardian, April 9, 2018. Archived April 14, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.li/xeMeB [...] Lawson: For example, he said that, er, there had been a growing increase, which had been continuing, in the extreme weather events. There hasn\u2019t been. All the experts say there haven\u2019t been. Extreme weather events have always happened. They come and go. And some kinds of extreme weather events of a particular time increase, whereas others, like tropical storms, diminish\u2026", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Scientists predicted global cooling and were wrong, so they are wrong about global warming", "evidence": "Some climate scientists in the 1970\u2019s were concerned about the cooling effect of atmospheric aerosols and explored the hypothesis that it might lead to a cooling of the Earth. However, the majority of scientists at that time were actually forecasting global warming for the future. In fact, scientists have warned that elevated greenhouse gasses would cause global warming since the 19th century. Overwhelming observational evidence has resulted in the scientific consensus that global warming is real and human activities, primarily through the emissions of greenhouse gasses, is the main driver.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Fungi are the cause of cancer", "evidence": "Seeing this, I harkened back to work of Dr. Tullio Simoncini, who was trendy in alternative cancer therapy circles twenty years ago. In 2005, he wrote a book entitled CANCER IS A FUNGUS A Revolution in Tumor Therapy, which enjoyed widespread popularity. According to Wikipedia, Simoncini \"was known for the claim that cancer is caused by the fungus Candida albicans, and has argued that cancer is a form of Candida overgrowth.\" He advocated for intravenous bicarbonate therapy for cancers and treated patients accordingly. [...] Spoiler alert: I agree. Cancer is not a fungal infection. It would be nice if an inexpensive substance like sodium bicarbonate would provide the key to eradicating cancer. But like many facile theories about cancer, it fails the reality test. However, as with some seemingly wacky ideas, there\u2019s a kernel of truth, and a potential for therapeutic applications, in the cancer-fungus connection. Or, in other words, \"absence of proof doesn\u2019t necessarily mean proof of absence\" of the role fungus may play in cancer.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "\u201cNew medicine normalizes blood sugar levels after the first use\u201d", "evidence": "The first step in managing type 2 diabetes is to normalize fasting glucose levels, with weekly or monthly adjustments in the regimen.14 Metformin is a first-line consideration. Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with its use can be minimized by beginning with a low dose and titrating slowly. Additional agents include sulfonylureas, nonsulfonylurea secretagogues, thiazolidinediones, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Any of these agents can be combined with another. Once fasting blood glucose approaches near-normal levels, postprandial glucose is addressed by increasing the dose of the current medications or by adding additional agents. Once maximal benefit is achieved from first-line medications, other agents, such as exenatide (approved for use with metformin or sulfonylureas) and sitagliptin (approved for use with metformin or thiazolidinediones), can be considered.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Whooping cough vaccine was never necessary, DTaP vaccine is linked to sudden infant death syndrome", "evidence": "DTaP vaccine isn\u2019t associated with sudden infant death syndrome, whooping cough vaccine led to historic decline in cases [...] Factually inaccurate: Studies have found no association between the DTaP vaccine and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Childhood vaccination isn\u2019t a risk factor for SIDS. An Instagram reel posted in March 2024 suggested that the whooping cough vaccine was never needed, since whooping cough deaths had plummeted before the vaccine was available. It also implied that the DTaP vaccine is dangerous and associated with sudden infant death syndrome.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Surface air temperatures at the bottom of the world have risen three times faster than the global average since the 1990s.", "evidence": "Human-induced warming reached approximately 1\u00b0C (likely between 0.8\u00b0C and 1.2\u00b0C) above pre-industrial levels in 2017, increasing at 0.2\u00b0C (likely between 0.1\u00b0C and 0.3\u00b0C) per decade (high confidence). Global warming is defined in this report as an increase in combined surface air and sea surface temperatures averaged over the globe and over a 30-year period. Unless otherwise specified, warming is expressed relative to the period 1850\u20131900, used as an approximation of pre-industrial temperatures in AR5. For periods shorter than 30 years, warming refers to the estimated average temperature over the 30 years centred on that shorter period, accounting for the impact of any temperature fluctuations or trend within those 30 years. Accordingly, warming from pre- industrial levels to the decade 2006\u20132015 is assessed to be 0.87\u00b0C (likely between 0.75\u00b0C and 0.99\u00b0C). Since 2000, the estimated level of human-induced warming has been equal to the level of observed warming with a likely range of \u00b120% accounting for uncertainty due to contributions from solar and volcanic activity over the historical period (high confidence). {1.2.1} Warming greater than the global average has already been experienced in many regions and seasons, with higher average warming over land than over the ocean (high confidence). Most land regions are experiencing greater warming than the global average, while most ocean regions are warming at a slower rate. Depending on the temperature dataset considered, 20\u201340% of the global human population live in regions that, by the decade 2006\u20132015, had already experienced warming of more than 1.5\u00b0C above pre-industrial in at least one season (medium confidence). {1.2.1, 1.2.2}", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cBuy yourselves charcoal activated tablets [\u2026] it will counteract most date rape drugs\u201d", "evidence": "AFFIRMATION COMPLETE: \"Guys please buy yourselves Charcoal activated tablets & carry them with you to any gathering or night club. Should you feel like you aren\u2019t yourself or out of place, drink one tablet & it will counteract most date rape drugs.\" [...] Though activated charcoal is the most used method of gastrointestinal decontamination in the developed world, an activated charcoal tablet would not be useful to counteract date rape drugs in the manner described in the Facebook post. The dose of activated charcoal in tablets is too low and the formulation is not ideal. The activated charcoal tablets would need to be taken soon after the date rape drug, which can be hard because many of the drugs associated with DFSAs are odorless and tasteless, and are absorbed quickly by the body. Lastly, activated charcoal would have no effect on alcohol, which is the drug most commonly associated with DFSAs and does not adsorb to activated charcoal.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are experimental, \u201cineffective and harmful\u201d", "evidence": "Clinical trials and ongoing vaccine monitoring efforts show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at reducing a person\u2019s risk of severe disease and death. Like any medical intervention, vaccines also come with risks. While COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are linked to a slight increase in the risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), COVID-19 itself is associated with a greater risk of heart inflammation and other health complications. On balance, the benefits of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines outweigh their risks.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "There are no FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines on the U.S market as of May 2023", "evidence": "The COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been extensively tested and shown to be safe and effective against the disease. Emergency Use Authorizations allow for a faster distribution of vaccines in the context of an ongoing pandemic that poses a public health threat compared to a full approval which would require more time. As of 2023, the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines are fully approved for people aged over 12 and 18, respectively. These vaccines as well as those by other companies have received emergency use authorizations for use in other age groups or as booster shots.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Patent US5676977A is for AIDS, patent US8835624B1 is for H1N1, patents US7897744B2 and US8506968B2 are for SARS", "evidence": "US8835624B1 - Influenza A H1N1 subtype-specific aptamer and applications thereof - Google Patents Influenza A H1N1 subtype-specific aptamer and applications thereof Download PDFInfo - Publication number - US8835624B1 US8835624B1 US14/185,196 US201414185196A US8835624B1 US 8835624 B1 US8835624 B1 US 8835624B1 US 201414185196 A US201414185196 A US 201414185196A US 8835624 B1 US8835624 B1 US 8835624B1 - Authority - US - United States - Prior art keywords - influenza - aptamer - subtype - virus - seq - Prior art date - Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) [...] - the present invention provides an aptamer with high specificity and binding activity for Influenza A H1N1 subtype virus, which was selected using the combination of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and microfluidic chip technology.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "VAERS data are \u201ccrystal clear\u201d: \u201cthe COVID vaccines are killing people\u201d", "evidence": "\"VAERS data is crystal clear,\" the headline read. \"The COVID vaccines are killing an estimated 1 person per 1,000 doses (676,000 dead Americans).\" [...] Steve Kirsch\u2019s newsletter, \"VAERS Data Is Crystal Clear: The COVID Vaccines Are Killing an Estimated 1 Person per 1,000 Doses (676,000 Dead Americans),\" Aug. 6, 2023 Health Feedback, \"VAERS Data Don\u2019t Show That COVID-19 Vaccines Are Deadly; Steve Kirsch\u2019s Claim to the Contrary Relied on Flawed Analysis,\" Aug. 6, 2023", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The long-term tide gauge datasets are all in agreement that there is no acceleration", "evidence": "With that as prologue, I decided to look at the longest sea-level records and see if there is any acceleration. We have a few of these that have 100 to 150+ years of data. This is long enough to remove most of the long-term tidal cycles. As above, I used the CEEMD method to remove the cycles, leaving just the underlying residual. To start with, I looked at the sea-level data for Cuxhaven in Germany. It\u2019s a 176-year dataset. [...] So those are the majority of the long tidal datasets. I gotta say, I am simply not seeing the acceleration claimed by the boffins. I don\u2019t know just how they\u2019ve calculated their results, but the best long-term datasets that we have simply don\u2019t show the acceleration that they claim to find. [...] The long-term tide gauge datasets are all in agreement that there is no acceleration, neither in the early nor in the recent parts of the records. Yes, they often porpoise a bit above and a bit below the trend line, but there is no evidence of any CO2-caused recent increase in the rate of sea-level rise.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "2019 novel coronavirus contains 'pShuttle-SN' sequence proving laboratory origin", "evidence": "The pShuttle-SN vector was designed by researchers seeking to develop a potential SARS vaccine. However, the 2019 novel coronavirus does not contain a sequence from the pShuttle-SN vector as claimed. There is no evidence supporting the claim that 2019-nCoV is man-made.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Peer-reviewed studies, geologic records, and all the studies have shown that we have actually cooled since the Roman Warming Period, and likely since the Medieval Warming Period.", "evidence": "Of course, our understanding of millenial temperatures has improved greatly. The reconstructions extend further back than they did originally. The analysis methods have improved, so we have more confidence in the results. We can use many different proxies to reconstruct these temperatures, so have better spatial and temporal resolution. This allows for an improved understanding of variability and of the role of both internal and external perturbations. However, the big picture has changed little. A warm period about 1000 years ago, typically referred to as the Medieval Warm Period, a general cooling towards what is referred to as the Little Ice Age, and then the modern warm period, that appears unprecedented in the last 1000 years, or so. I think it\u2019s important to realise that all of this is part of the normal scientific process. Early work will have limited data and will often use methods that have not been tried before. With time, we collect more data, develop improved methods, and \u2013 consequently \u2013 improve our understanding. We might even conclude that some of the early work used methods that we\u2019d no longer regard as suitable. This doesn\u2019t suddenly invalidate the earlier work, or imply kind of some nefarious intent. It seems pretty clear that the big picture presented by the early millenial temperature reconstructions have stood the test of time. I hope I, one day, have a paper that is still relevant, and being discussed, 20 years after being published.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "[A] series of just-released studies by working-level scientists prove that geological and not atmospheric forces are responsible for melting of Earth\u2019s polar ice sheets.", "evidence": "What they found was alarming. The Greenland ice sheet, parts of the Antarctic ice sheet, and Arctic sea ice are melting at rates that are unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. [...] Ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland may have already passed the point of no return; their collapse could raise sea levels by 10 metres [...] The Greenland ice sheet is also melting at an accelerating rate, and could add a further seven metres to sea levels. Models show that the Greenland ice sheet will collapse when the Earth warms to 1.5\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels, which could happen as soon as 2030.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Bill Gates-funded company released genetically modified mosquitoes in the U.S. and caused a malaria outbreak", "evidence": "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports research into fighting malaria, including funding a company that releases genetically modified mosquitoes that are incapable of carrying the disease. But reports of locally acquired cases of malaria in the U.S. have sparked social media posts that baselessly suggest Gates was behind the recent outbreak. [...] The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds efforts to fight the spread of malaria, and it has provided funding to a British biotech company, Oxitec, to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Africa that are incapable of carrying the disease. [...] Social media posts implied that Gates-funded research involving genetically modified mosquitoes is linked to the U.S. malaria cases, though they offered no evidence. In any case, Oxitec mosquitoes couldn\u2019t be responsible for the recent outbreak: They\u2019re incapable of transmitting disease.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "this coronavirus genome contained sequences of another virus [\u2026] the HIV virus (AIDS virus)", "evidence": "Numerous articles published in April 2020 report that Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier claimed that \"SARS-CoV-2 is a manipulated virus that was accidentally released from a laboratory in Wuhan, China\" and that \"Indian researchers have already tried to publish the results of the analyses that showed that this coronavirus genome contained sequences of another virus [\u2026] the HIV virus (AIDS virus).\" The claim that SARS-CoV-2 contains \"HIV insertions\" began circulating in January 2020, and was propagated by outlets such as Zero Hedge and Infowars. Health Feedback covered this claim in early February 2020, and found it to be inaccurate. [...] This has also been independently confirmed in another published analysis[5]. In other words, these sequences are not insertions, but are rather common sequences found in numerous other organisms such as bacteria and parasites. Therefore, the existence of these sequences in SARS-CoV-2 does not provide evidence of a link to HIV, nor that scientists purposely inserted HIV sequences into the SARS-CoV-2 genome. [...] The author of this article by European Scientist also compared the genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and found \"no significant similarity\", explaining that \"In plain English, SARS-CoV-2 is not made of the bat coronavirus and small bits of the HIV virus.\" Readers who wish to verify the level of sequence identity between the two viruses for themselves are welcome to follow the steps listed in the article.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Flu shots spread the flu", "evidence": "Myth #1: The Flu Shot Can Give You the Flu One of the most prevalent myths is that the flu shot itself causes the flu. This belief stems from a misunderstanding of the vaccine\u2019s composition. The influenza vaccine contains either inactivated flu viruses or, in some cases, a recombinant flu vaccine containing no flu virus at all. While some individuals may experience mild side effects, such as soreness at the injection site, muscle aches, or low-grade fever, neither of these formulations can cause the flu. [...] Some individuals express concerns that the flu shot is a live virus that will cause illness. In reality, the flu vaccine contains either inactivated flu viruses or proteins derived from the flu virus, neither of which can replicate or cause flu infection.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "a [group] of people is injecting fruits with blood containing HIV and AIDS", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: If you see that your fruit contains [a] red weird colour in it, don't eat it because a [group] of people is injecting fruits with blood containing HIV and AIDS This post, which has been circulating recently on Instagram and Facebook, contains an image showing a banana with red discoloration, and the caption claiming that, \"If you see that your fruit contains [a] red weird colour in it, don\u2019t eat it because a [group] of people is injecting fruits with blood containing HIV and AIDS\".", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "A soup made of garlic, onions, thyme, and lemon can replace the flu shot and cure other illnesses such as the common cold and norovirus", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: \"Forget the flu shot. A soup based on more than 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme and lemon will destroy almost any virus that enters its path including colds, flu and even norovirus\" A recent Facebook post claimed that a soup with ingredients including garlic, onions, thyme, and lemon can act as a natural remedy to replace the flu shot. This claim is not new; variations of it have been circulating since at least 2021 when a viral video claimed that this combination of ingredients could cure COVID-19. [...] The diverse nature of viruses necessitates tailored approaches to their prevention and treatment. Despite the history behind natural remedies like garlic, onions, lemons, or thyme, there isn\u2019t sufficient scientific evidence to suggest that consuming these ingredients together in a soup protects against the flu and other viral infections.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "The spike protein induced by COVID-19 vaccines is toxic and causes diseases and deaths; nattokinase can counter these effects", "evidence": "Circulating Spike Protein Detected in Post-COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Myocarditis - PMID: 36597886 - PMCID: PMC10010667 - DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.061025 Circulating Spike Protein Detected in Post-COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Myocarditis [...] Response by Yonker et al to Letter Regarding Article, \"Circulating Spike Protein Detected in Post-COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Myocarditis\".Circulation. 2023 Sep 12;148(11):910-911. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.065629. Epub 2023 Sep 11. Circulation. 2023. PMID: 37695829 No abstract available.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Global COVID Vaccine Safety study shows that COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous, inadequately tested; getting vaccinated is more dangerous than getting COVID-19", "evidence": "Vaccines developed for COVID-19 do not protect against influenza, and similarly, the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19. Follow the advice of your local authorities on getting the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe and effective to get both vaccines at the same time. COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by WHO are proven to protect against severe illness and death caused by COVID-19 disease. More than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered globally since 2021 and the vaccines have met rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and quality. If you do get COVID-19 or flu after vaccination, you are more likely to have mild or no symptoms than if you hadn\u2019t been vaccinated. [...] WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe for adults and children 6 months and older. Those in the high-priority group for COVID-19 vaccination include older adults, adults with chronic diseases, those with immunocompromising conditions, pregnant adolescent and adults, and health and care workers. Influenza vaccines are also recommended for these same population groups.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cSalt does not raise blood pressure\u201d", "evidence": "Increased amounts of sodium in the blood causes more water to enter the bloodstream, raising blood pressure. Salt, or sodium chloride, is a major contributor of sodium in our diet and most people consume more than the recommended amounts. Clinical trials have shown that more salt in the diet increases blood pressure and the risks of heart disease and stroke.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "there are no studies that prove vaccines don\u2019t cause autism", "evidence": "The research is clear: Vaccines don\u2019t cause autism. More than a dozen studies have tried to find a link. Each one has come up empty. [...] In 2004, the Immunization Safety Review Committee of the Institute of Medicine published a report on the topic. The group looked at all the studies on vaccines and autism, both published and unpublished. It released a 200-page report stating there was no evidence to support a link between vaccines and autism. Still, studies continue to look at the issue. In 2019, the largest study to date looked at almost 660-thousand children over a course of 11 years and found no link between the vaccine and autism.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cCoronavirus quickly spread around the world as early as October 2019\u201d", "evidence": "COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. This virus was first identified in December 2019 and quickly spread around the world. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness. Most people recover in a few weeks, but some people are sick for a long time or die from this disease.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Sea-level rise does not seem to depend on ocean temperature, and certainly not on CO2", "evidence": "\"Early-stage [sea level rise] was driven primarily by warming of the atmosphere due to increased CO2,\" he says. \"But more and more, we see sea level rise being driven by different kinds of feedbacks within the system. Nowadays, the majority of sea level rise that we get both in Greenland and Antarctica is primarily driven by heat within the ocean\u2014and that's not necessarily the ocean warming up directly because of ongoing climate change. It's more about shifting patterns of winds that are moving deep warm water around and causing it to come into contact with the glaciers.\" [...] Farther in the future, the differences between the best- and worst-case scenarios grow even starker. Unlike world temperatures, sea level rise responds slowly to climate change, and we can confidently expect that the oceans will keep rising long after we stop all our climate pollution. By the year 2300, even with strong action to control climate change this century, we could plausibly see a meter or more of sea level rise; in the worst case, the seas could rise a staggering 10 meters (33 feet) or more. Over the centuries, the chances of Antarctic ice sheets collapsing also rise. \"On a long enough timeline, we lose virtually all ice on Earth,\" Minchew says. \"Over geological timescales, it\u2019s rare to have ice sheets at the poles.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "AIDS was cured in more than a dozen patients", "evidence": "While the intensive virostatic combinations applied according to the conventional models (such as HAART), based only on the attacks of two HIV-1 targets, retrotranscriptase and protease, and applied in a long and continuous fashion, a) are notably toxic, b) do not correct completely the abnormal immunologic parameters, and c) are followed by particularly severe and poorly sensitive relapses in case of discontinuation, we propose to the 'AIDS treatment headquarters' to include in their failing strategy the two original features which we have included in the treatment of a cohort of a dozen patients, treatment applied at all but one AIDS stage. We attack one more HIV-1 target than the conventional protocols do, by adding inhibitors of integrase; we apply the combinations of virostatics, comprising inhibitors of the three targets, in short sequences (of 3 weeks), between which the analogues are changed inside each series. The first patient of the cohort started his treatment 8.5 years ago, and the entries of the others into it have been at random and not randomized. All patients are alive today and in excellent condition.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "the IPCC is wrong \u2212 the sun, not CO2, drove modern global warming", "evidence": "While many people may be unaware of this good news, they do react to each weather or climate disaster in the news. Activist scientists and the media quickly seize upon each extreme weather event as having the fingerprints of manmade climate change \u2014 ignoring the analyses of more sober scientists showing periods of even more extreme weather in the first half of the 20th century, when fossil fuel emissions were much smaller. [...] To further complicate climate model projections for the 21st century, the climate models focus only on manmade climate change \u2013 they make no attempt to predict natural climate variations from the sun\u2019s output, volcanic eruptions and long-term variations in ocean circulation patterns. We have no idea how natural climate variability will play out in the 21st century, and whether or not natural variability will dominate over manmade warming.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "There isn\u2019t yet any empirical evidence for their claim that greenhouse gases even cause temperatures to increase.", "evidence": "The well-established theory that man-made CO2 is causing global warming is supported as well as any chain of evidence in a rock-solid court case. CO2 keeps the Earth warmer than it would be without it. It has done so for most of geological time. Humans are adding substantial amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere, mainly by burning fossil fuels. Empirical evidence abounds to support the contention that the rising temperatures are being caused by that increasing CO2. [...] Greenhouse gases act like a blanket, keeping the Earth warm by preventing some of the sun\u2019s energy being re-radiated from Earth's warmed surface, back out into space. If we add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, the effect is like wrapping yourself in a thicker blanket: even less heat is lost. So how can we tell what effect CO2 is having on temperatures, and if the increase in atmospheric CO2 is really making the planet warmer? [...] The final piece of evidence is \u2018the smoking gun\u2019, the proof that CO2 is causing the increase in temperature. CO2 traps energy at very specific wavelengths, while other greenhouse gases trap different wavelengths. In physics, these wavelengths can be measured using a technique called spectroscopy. Here\u2019s an example:", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "18 proxies tell us the world was the same or warmer 1,000 years ago", "evidence": "The basic conclusion of Mann et al. (1998, 1999) was that the late 20th century warmth in the Northern Hemisphere was unprecedented during at least the last 1,000 years. This conclusion has subsequently been supported by an array of evidence that includes both additional large-scale surface temperature reconstructions and pronounced changes in a variety of local proxy indicators, such as melting on ice caps and the retreat of glaciers around the world. Not all individual proxy records indicate that the recent warmth is unprecedented, although a larger fraction of geographically diverse sites experienced exceptional warmth during the late 20th century than during any other extended period from A.D. 900 onward. [...] Surface temperature reconstructions for the last 2,000 years are consistent with other evidence of global climate change and can be considered as additional supporting evidence. In particular, the numerous indications that recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia, in combination with estimates of external climate forcing variations over the same period, support the conclusion that human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming. However, the uncertainties in the reconstructions of surface temperature and external forcings for the period prior to the instrumental record render this evidence less conclusive than the other lines of evidence cited above. It should also be noted that the scientific consensus regarding human-induced global warming would not be substantively altered if, for example, the global mean surface temperature 1,000 years ago was found to be as warm as it is today.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Sweden Bans Mandatory Vaccinations Over 'Serious Heath [sic] Concerns'", "evidence": "Did Sweden ban mandatory vaccinations? Multiple articles have been published in various languages, claiming that Sweden has banned mandatory vaccinations. They appear to come from a communiqu\u00e9 put out by the controversial American alternative therapy lobby group that calls itself the National Health Federation. According to the various stories, this ban was inspired by a claim that mandatory vaccines went against the Swedish constitutional right to choose one's healthcare. So what actually happened? We tell you more.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "The current solar minimum could last for more than three decades which could lead to temperatures plummeting across the globe, scientists have warned.", "evidence": "What happens if the next solar cycle becomes less active? Will we enter into a new ice age? [...] In more depth, scientists know that even a prolonged Grand Solar Minimum would only serve to offset a few years of warming caused by human activities. In other words, warming caused by the greenhouse gas emissions from the human burning of fossil fuels is 6 times greater than the possible decades-long cooling from a prolonged Grand Solar Minimum. Even if a Grand Solar Minimum were to last for a century, global temperatures would still continue to warm. Because the Sun is not the only factor affecting global temperatures on Earth.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "U.S. deaths from COVID-19 hit 1 million", "evidence": "By \u2014 Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/u-s-covid-deaths-hit-1-million-less-than-3-years-into-the-pandemic Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. COVID deaths hit 1 million less than 3 years into the pandemic Health May 16, 2022 1:41 PM EDT The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 1 million on Monday, a once-unimaginable figure that only hints at the multitudes of loved ones and friends staggered by grief and frustration. The confirmed number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 336 days. It is roughly equal to how many Americans died in the Civil War and World War II combined. It\u2019s as if Boston and Pittsburgh were wiped out. \"It is hard to imagine a million people plucked from this earth,\" said Jennifer Nuzzo, who leads a new pandemic center at the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island. \"It\u2019s still happening and we are letting it happen.\" READ MORE: Why 1 million dead from COVID is so hard for our brains to understand Some of those left behind say they cannot return to normal. They replay their loved ones\u2019 voicemail messages.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "changes in the solar orbit of the earth, along with alterations to the earth\u2019s axial tilt, are both responsible for what climate scientists today have dubbed as \u201cwarming\u201d[...]. In no way, shape, or form are humans warming or cooling the planet", "evidence": "Slowly changing orbital cycles did, indeed, control the timing of ice ages over the last several million years, but they cannot explain the much more rapid climate change seen in the last century. Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have strengthened Earth's greenhouse effect, and this is clearly the cause of global warming.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cAutism is nothing more than mercury toxicity\u201c; vaccine ingredients are toxic", "evidence": "Even as Dr. Wakefield's reported findings were being evaluated and repudiated, another stream of concern entered the public consciousness. The vaccine given to children whom Wakefield studied did not contain mercury, but some vaccines in the United States were preserved with a mercury-containing compound called thimerosal. An emerging public health concern about effects of mercury exposure coincided with Dr. Wakefield's publication. Because certain forms of mercury are toxic to humans in sufficient quantity, some parents and clinicians feared that thimerosal might be a cause of autism. Although this association has been refuted by scientific evidence, many people continue to believe that the two are related. [...] - Baker JP. Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories. Am J Pub Health 2008;98(2):2-11. [...] - Stehr-Green, P., Tull, P., Stellfeld, M., Mortenson, P., Simpson, D. Autism and thimerosal-containing vaccines: lack of consistent evidence for an association. Am J Prev Med 2003;25:101\u2013106.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Study in Italy shows nearly 1 in 3 COVID vaccine recipients have neurological side effects, indicating an \u201cunacceptable\u201d safety profile", "evidence": "Study in Italy didn\u2019t show COVID-19 vaccines have an \"unacceptable\" safety profile, contrary to claim by Peter McCullough [...] In late October 2023, a claim that a study found \"nearly 1 in 3 COVID-19 vaccine recipients suffered neurological side effects\" made the rounds on the Internet. The claim originates from an Epoch Times article, which is in turn based on a Substack article by cardiologist Peter McCullough. McCullough has figured prominently in the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. The Epoch Times posted the same claim on Instagram, receiving more than 11,000 likes. In his Substack article, McCullough cited a study by researchers in Italy, which surveyed vaccinated people to measure the number of neurological adverse events occurring after COVID-19 vaccination. He claimed the study showed \"a shocking 31.2% of respondents to this large dataset sustained neurologic injury after two injections with verified data in health registries\" and called the safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccines \"unacceptable\".", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Melting of Arctic sea ice and polar icecaps is not occurring at \u2018unnatural\u2019 rates and does not constitute evidence of a human impact on the climate.", "evidence": "The rapid loss of glacial ice and Arctic sea ice cover is consistent with and most likely due to human impact on the climate system.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "ADHD is a fake disease invented by Big Pharma to drug children for profit", "evidence": "In 2009, pediatrician and former medical school professor Bose Ravenel and I published \"The Diseasing of America's Children\" (Thomas Nelson), in which we argued from facts that ADHD and other childhood behavior disorders were inventions of the psychological-psychiatric-pharmaceutical industry. [...] Just to be clear: I am not saying ADHD is over-diagnosed; I am saying it does not exist. It is a fiction. I've been saying this since the early 1980s and have been the target, since then, of much professional and parent criticism, even scorn. Russell Barkley, for example, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on ADHD, equates me with Scientologists and claims that I believe television causes ADHD. He cannot honestly debate me, so he mocks me and distorts what I have actually said. [...] In the January 2017 edition of CuriousMindMagazine.com (\"Renowned Harvard Psychologist Says ADHD Largely a Fraud\"), Kagan is quoted as saying that ADHD is \"an invention.\" Referring to the drugs used to supposedly treat ADHD, Kagan says that if a drug is available, physicians will use it.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\u201cNo childhood vaccine has ever been through a double blind placebo controlled trial.\u201d", "evidence": "Randomized controlled trials are commonly held up as the gold standard for determining the safety and efficacy of a medical intervention, like a vaccine or a drug. Saline placebo-controlled trials are sometimes used to test a new vaccine, but such trials aren\u2019t always practical or ethical to do. For instance, when testing a new vaccine against a disease for which there are existing, effective vaccines, such a trial would leave the placebo group unprotected from the disease. In such cases, it is considered acceptable to compare the new vaccine with an existing one.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Thai princess \u201cmost likely a victim of the jab\u201d, Thailand \u201ccould become the first country in the world to nullify the contract between the government and Pfizer\u201d", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines are instrumental in reducing the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand collapsed because of a bacterial infection with Mycoplasma that can lead to complications such as cardiac arrhythmia. Thailand continues to offer and recommend COVID-19 vaccination.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\"A third of Antarctic ice shelf risks collapse as our planet warms\"", "evidence": "One-third of Antarctic ice shelf area at risk of collapse as planet warms [...] - Study shows highest warming scenario would put 34% of Antarctic's ice shelf area at risk of fracture and collapse from melting and run-off - including 67% of the Antarctic Peninsular ice shelf area. This would allow glaciers to flow freely into the sea causing sea level rise. More than a third of the Antarctic's ice shelf area could be at risk of collapsing into the sea if global temperatures reach 4\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels, new research has shown.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "You have a 0.03[%] chance of dying from [COVID-19] in the state of California. [...] it\u2019s similar to the flu.", "evidence": "His team put together a simple table that looks at various scenarios using case fatality ratios ranging from .1, similar to seasonal flu, to .5, a moderately severe pandemic, and 1.0, a severe one. The infection rate ranged from 0.1 percent of the population to 50 percent. That put the range of deaths at 327 (best case) to 1,635,000 (worst case). The deaths would not necessarily happen over a month or a year, but could occur over two or three years, he said. [...] In his Capitol Hill testimony, Fauci said that a plausible covid-19 fatality rate could be 1 percent. That, he said, is 10 times as lethal as seasonal influenza. He was clear: This is more dangerous than the flu. [...] Forecasts have been wrong in the past. Early estimates of the fatality rate for H1N1 in 2009 were much higher than the roughly 0.01 to 0.03 percent it turned out to be. With covid-19, the fatality rate is likely to be in the 0.5 to 1.5 percent range outside Wuhan, according to a report this week from Imperial College London.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cThere is a cure to every d!isease\u201d; herbs can cure cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer\u2019s", "evidence": "Social media posts wrongly claim that herbs can cure every disease including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer\u2019s [...] Factually inaccurate: No herbal product has been proven effective for treating chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer\u2019s. While several drugs are available to manage these conditions and improve the patient\u2019s quality of life, they have currently no cure. [...] One instance of that type of misinformation is a Facebook reel published on 6 November 2023 claiming that herbs can cure \"every disease\", from cancer to diabetes and Alzheimer\u2019s. The reel was viewed more than 200,000 times and received over 10,000 interactions.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Pfizer admits that vaccinated people can shed the vaccine on unvaccinated people", "evidence": "A viral Oct. 27 blog post reads, \"Pfizer Confirms COVID-Vaccinated People Can \u2018Shed\u2019 Spike Proteins And Harm The Unvaccinated.\" The claim can be traced to an April press release, when the hoax about vaccine shedding was proliferating. [...] The claim also says that \"Pfizer confirmed\" that people can shed spike proteins, which is unsubstantiated. This part of the claim appears to have originated with an April 29 tweet from Dr. Simone Gold, the founder of America\u2019s Frontline Doctors who also was arrested for actions stemming from her participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. [...] A blog post claims, \"Pfizer Confirms COVID-Vaccinated People Can \u2018Shed\u2019 Spike Proteins And Harm The Unvaccinated.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The EU could SEIZE and SCRAP your old car if it doesn't meet their criteria as part of their climate agenda.", "evidence": "EU is not passing law to \u2018seize and scrap\u2019 cars under climate agenda, contrary to Peter Sweden claim [...] One such viral post was published by Peter Imanuelsen, also known as \"Peter Sweden\", who has regularly shared climate change misinformation according to Climate Action Against Disinformation. Imanuelsen claimed that the EU could \"SEIZE and SCRAP your old car if it doesn\u2019t meet their criteria as part of their climate agenda.\" His post further claimed that the state would dictate \"how long you will be allowed to own your car\", suggesting there would be mandatory scrapping of vehicles that miss their regular EU checkup for two years or if the cost of repairing a car exceeds its market value. In reality, the EU Commission\u2019s proposal does not mandate the seizure and scrapping of vehicles simply for not meeting certain environmental criteria. Instead, it provides guidelines for assessing vehicles that are neither economically repairable nor roadworthy, without stipulating specific consequences. In accordance with this, Annex 1 of the ELV proposal specifies that a vehicle is considered economically irreparable if its market value is lower than the cost of the necessary repairs required to meet road worthiness standards in the Member State where it is registered. This clause relates to evaluating the economic viability of repairing a vehicle; it does not enforce the seizure and scrapping of vehicles based solely on their condition.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Human additions of CO2 are in the margin of error of current measurements and the gradual increase in CO2 is mainly from oceans degassing as the planet slowly emerges from the last ice age.", "evidence": "Human beings are now dramatically changing our planet and altering the environment by modifying the global carbon cycle through anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The CO2 concentration of air was around 280 ppm in 1750 AD (the beginning of Industrial Revolution), but it has increased over the last two centuries and is currently above 400 ppm. Carbon dioxide is one of the primary greenhouse gases in Earth\u2019s atmosphere, together with water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and others. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) intermediate RCP 6.0 scenarios (IPCC 2013b) predicts that the CO2 concentration in air will increase to 720\u20131000 ppm by 2100 AD and that the global mean temperature will rise by 2.6 \u00b0C. Comparison of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere with fossil-fuel burning data indicates that about 60% of fossil-fuel emissions remain in the air. The remainder is mainly absorbed by the ocean, which may provide some relief from severe warming.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "More people are dying now than at the peak of the pandemic; the COVID-19 vaccines are the cause of the excess deaths seen in late 2022", "evidence": "COVID-19 vaccines substantially reduce the risk of dying from COVID-19, and serious side effects are very rare. Excess deaths among working-age adults in 2021 and 2022 were driven by COVID-19 and other factors, not vaccination. Faulty logic underlies claims that vaccines caused mass disability and economic harm. [...] Despite overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have mitigated the effects of the pandemic, a report called the Vaccine Damage Project, or V-Damage Project, claims that they led to 310,000 excess deaths among Americans ages 25 through 64 in 2021 and 2022. It also baselessly claims the vaccines had a \"significant impact\" on the number of Americans with disabilities and that COVID-19 vaccines were the \"most likely cause\" for a large increase in work absences. [...] \"COVID-19 Vaccines Did Not Cause Excess Deaths among Millennials.\" AP News. 26 Mar 2022.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Unprecedented climate change has caused sea level at Sydney Harbour to rise approximately 0.0 cm over the past 140 years.", "evidence": "Sea level has risen even though it appears Sydney Harbour has not changed in 140 years [...] A post being shared on Telegram claims that \"climate change has caused sea level at Sydney Harbour to rise approximately 0.0 cm over the past 140 years\". The post includes two images that show the same building in the middle of the sea in the Australian city. This is a MISLEADING statement: Yes, both images are real and they were taken approximately 140 years apart from one another. However, it does not show that the sea level has not risen. The building visible in the image has recorded a sea-level rise of 0.79 mm every year. [...] Fort Denison, the building in the photos in the post, started taking measurements in 1886. From the data collected over nearly 140 years, the facility has established a rise in sea level of 0.79 millimetres per year (7.9 centimetres per century) in Sydney Harbour, which would mean there has been an increase of roughly 10 centimetres in height between the times the two photos were taken.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "That one little burp by Mt. Etna has already put more than 10,000 times the CO2 into the atmosphere than mankind has in our entire time on the Earth", "evidence": "The claim: One eruption of Mt. Etna in Italy released 10,000 times more CO2 than humans ever have [...] Etna has already put more than 10,000 times the CO2 into the atmosphere than mankind has in our entire time on Earth,\" reads text accompanying a picture of Mt. Etna in a June 6 Facebook post. [...] Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that one eruption of Mt. Etna in Italy released 10,000 times more CO2 than humans ever have. The 2015 eruption in question released less CO2 than what humans did just that year. Combined, volcanoes release less than one gigaton of CO2 per year, whereas humans release dozens of gigatons per year.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Chemtrails contain toxic substances such as barium salts that are 10 thousand times more toxic to your nervous system than lead", "evidence": "Misleading: Barium salts are not 10,0000 more toxic for the nervous system than lead. Although some barium salts are toxic, their toxicity is comparable to lead. The claims that aeroplanes are deliberately depositing chemicals in the sky in chemtrails containing barium salts 10,000 times more toxic than lead are taken from a four hour long lecture by self-proclaimed prophet Dr Bill Deagle at the Granada Forum in 2006. The snippet has been posted multiple times on social media including Facebook, where one post received over 37,000 likes and 33,000 shares in March 2023. [...] As for the claim that barium salts are 10,000 times more toxic than lead, this exaggerates the toxicity of barium salts. Some salts such as barium sulphate are insoluble and not readily absorbed. They are used as contrast agents for medical images, for instance to make x-rays of the gastrointestinal tract clearer. Over exposure to barium salts can lead to \"vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, difficulties in breathing, increased or decreased blood pressure, numbness around the face, and muscle weakness\"[5,6] and excessive quantities can be fatal. However the toxicity does not grossly outweigh that of lead[7] as suggested in the video.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Unvaccinated children pose no threat to anyone", "evidence": "Vaccination is an effective way to protect oneself and others from many diseases. Deciding not to vaccinate makes it more likely for a person to contract a potentially serious and preventable disease, and makes it easier for a person to spread diseases to others, especially immunodeficient persons.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Sugar causes cancer; eliminating sugar from the diet can cure cancer", "evidence": "- There is an indirect link between sugar and cancer. Eating a lot of high sugar foods can contribute to excess caloric intake, which may lead to weight gain and excess body fat. [...] By Mae Reilly, MS, RD, LDN, senior clinical nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute \"Does sugar feed cancer?\" is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive as oncology dietitians. Researchers continue to investigate the relationship between sugar intake and cancer; meanwhile, there are steps you can take to avoid any potential harm that sugar can cause. [...] To date, there are no randomized controlled trials showing sugar causes cancer. There is, however, an indirect link between sugar and cancer.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "They tell us that we are the primary forces controlling earth temperatures by the burning of fossil fuels and releasing their carbon dioxide. I hope my readers can recognize the absurdity of their claims. \u2026 increasing sunspots are linked to increases in earth temperature", "evidence": "The claim appeared in an article published by CFACT in April 2020. This claim directly contradicts ample scientific evidence showing that human-caused increases in greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2, have been the primary driver of global warming[1,2]. [...] Specifically, the article claims that \"increasing sunspots are linked to increases in earth temperature,\" however, this claim is not supported by scientific evidence. Li et al (2017) analyzed the relationship between the number of sunspots and global warming and found that \"solar activity is not a representation of the driving force of the upward trend of global temperature after the industrial age. The Granger causality test results demonstrate that the phenomenon of global warming is caused by excessive CO2 emissions.\"[5]. Figure\u2014The monthly average number of sunspots (left) and global surface temperature time series from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (right). Although sunspot number varies in approximately 11 year cycles, global temperature has steadily increased since 1950.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "there is no relationship between temperature and carbon dioxide emissions by humans[...] carbon dioxide has had a minuscule effect on global climate", "evidence": "NARRATOR: Only in the last few decades do rising global temperatures seem to coincide with the greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere. [...] CO2 is minuscule, but through an accident of physics - the greenhouse effect -its consequences are significant. [...] FRED SINGER, George Mason University: I have no doubt that an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere should lead to some increase in global temperatures. The question is, how much? And how can we be sure that any temperature increase that we do find in the record is, in fact, due to this additional carbon dioxide? Since we know that the climate also changes naturally - it warms, it cools - how can you distinguish a warming produced by an increase in carbon dioxide from a warming produced by some other cause, let's say by the sun?", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccine mRNA cannot be broken down; COVID-19 vaccines cause excess death and unprecedented blood clots", "evidence": "While COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are associated with a slightly higher risk of myocarditis in young men, the risk of heart problems in general is higher in people who get COVID-19. Moreover, COVID-19 is associated with a host of health problems, of which heart problems are just one. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and severe disease. As such, the vaccines\u2019 benefit outweighs their risk.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "[climate models] systematically over-estimate the sensitivity of climate to carbon dioxide ... and modelers exclude forcings and feedbacks that run counter to their mission", "evidence": "Climate models are based on physical processes and our understanding of how the climate system works. Their sensitivity to CO2 is in line with estimates based on modern observations and records of past climate changes.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 vaccines are \u201cexperimental poison\u201d; COVID has gone away", "evidence": "COVID-19 cases have shown a tendency to peak during the winter. COVID-19 vaccines were initially highly effective against both infection and severe disease. The emergence of more infectious viral variants greatly diminished the vaccines\u2019 effectiveness against infection, but the vaccines remain highly effective at protecting people from developing severe disease and death, which is their main purpose.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Climate change is not happening, there is no significant man-made global warming now, there hasn't been any in the past, and there's no reason to expect any in the future.", "evidence": "So, when people talk about climate change today, they mean anthropogenic (human-made) climate change. This is the warming of Earth\u2019s average temperature as a result of human activity, such as burning coal, oil and gas to produce energy to fuel our homes and transport, and cutting down trees to produce the food we eat. You can read more about it here: How do we know climate change is real? [...] Human-induced climate change is something that has been happening for many years and Western countries, like the UK, have played a big role in contributing to carbon emissions over the past 200 years. This means that only looking at who the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are today is an oversimplification of a very nuanced topic. [...] We\u2019re already seeing the devastating effects of climate change on global food supplies, migration, conflict, disease and global instability, which will only get worse if we don\u2019t act now. Human-made climate change is the biggest crisis of our time. It threatens the future of the planet that we depend on for our survival and we're the last generation that can do something about it.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cSARS is the research developed by humans, weaponizing a life system model to actually attack human beings\u201d", "evidence": "A novel cell culture system modeling the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle - PMID: 33711082 - PMCID: PMC7990224 - DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009439 A novel cell culture system modeling the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Colloidal silver is effective for any infection", "evidence": "Under the \"News\" tab of your website, your article titled \"Using Colloidal Silver for Kidney Infections\": - \"Colloidal Silver just might be the next germ-fighting wonder drug. And not just for the serious threats making headlines. It\u2019s also effective against bacterial infections like strep throat, viruses like the flu, and fungal infections like Candida.\" [...] - \". . . I just used colloidal silver for a kidney infection for three days . . . and my fever is gone . . .. I have a kidney disease that harbors infection in my kidneys continuously, and through the years, I have become resistant to a lot of the heavy antibiotics . . .\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Bones \u201care not made of calcium\u201d; wild yam is a treatment for osteoporosis", "evidence": "Calcium is essential for bone health. Insufficient calcium consumption can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Compared to men, women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis during menopause due to hormonal changes. A healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, as well as physical activity and, in some cases, calcium supplements, can help prevent osteoporosis.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Every election year has a disease; coronavirus has a contagion factor of 2", "evidence": "The image, which appears in numerous Facebook posts, shows a handwritten sign that reads, in part, \"Every election year has a disease.\" It then lists: \"SARS-2004 Avian-2008 Swine-2010 MERS-2012 Ebola-2014 Zika-2016 Ebola-2018 Corona-2020\" [...] The posts also claim the novel coronavirus \"has a contagion factor of 2.\" This refers to the number of people to which an infected person can transmit the disease, also known as the R0 number. The WHO estimates this number to be 1.4 to 2.5 for COVID-19, but estimates vary because the disease is so new. The posts use upper-range estimates for the contagion factor of the other diseases. It says that SARS has an R0 of 4. According to the WHO, SARS has an R0 in the range of 2 to 4. The posts also claim that the R0 for measles is 18. Measles is most often cited as having an R0 range of 12 to 18, and studies have found that estimates could vary more widely.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Published studies show that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause metabolic cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death", "evidence": "Studies so far haven\u2019t shown any association between COVID-19 vaccines and mortality risk or sudden death. All medical interventions come with side effects and COVID-19 vaccines are no exception. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are linked to an increased risk of heart inflammation in adolescent and young adult males. However, the risk of heart complications and other health problems associated with COVID-19 is well-documented to be higher than that associated with vaccination. On balance, COVID-19 vaccines offer more benefits than drawbacks.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "There is nothing wrong with the thyroid in patients with Hashimoto\u2019s disease; vitamin B is a cure for Hashimoto\u2019s disease", "evidence": "The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. In people with Hashimoto\u2019s disease - the immune system makes antibodies that attack the thyroid gland - large numbers of white blood cells, which are part of the immune system, build up in the thyroid - the thyroid becomes damaged and can\u2019t make enough thyroid hormones [...] Hashimoto\u2019s disease causes your thyroid to become damaged. Most people with Hashimoto\u2019s disease develop hypothyroidism. Rarely, early in the course of the disease, thyroid damage may lead to the release of too much thyroid hormone into your blood, causing symptoms of hyperthyroidism.3 [...] Researchers are looking at other ways in which diet and supplements\u2014such as vitamin D and selenium\u2014may affect Hashimoto\u2019s disease.2 However, no specific guidance is currently available.3", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "When the exact same group of 'experts' who claimed it was global cooling in 1977 now claim it's global warming you can easily see why I am skeptical", "evidence": "\"When the exact same group of \u2018experts\u2019 who claimed it was global cooling in 1977 now claim it\u2019s global warming you can see why I am easily skeptical,\" reads the text flanking what appear to be two Time magazine covers that Nugent posted to Facebook on May 20. The first, which the post says is from 1977, shows a penguin in snow and the headline: \"How To Survive The Coming Ice Age.\" The second, which the post says is from 2008, is an illustration that shows the men from the iconic Iwo Jima photograph lifting a Redwood tree instead of the American flag in the original image from 1945. The cover story from that issue? \"How to Win The War on Global Warming.\" [...] Featured Fact-check \"Sorry,\" the headline of writer Bryan Walsh\u2019s story says, \"a TIME magazine cover did not predict a coming Ice Age.\" He notes that the fake 1977 cover is a doctored version of a cover from 2007 with the same penguin picture but a different title: \"The Global Warming Survival Guide.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "A study showed a \u201cweakened immune response in kids injected with Pfizer\u2019s COVID-19 shot\u201d; \u201cThe mRNA Covid jabs damage immune responses to other viruses in children\u201d", "evidence": "What parents need to know about Pfizer\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 [...] In a clinical trial, Pfizer assessed the immune response and the safety of their mRNA vaccine in kids 5 to 11. The trial included about 2,250 children, with two-thirds getting the shot and the other third receiving a placebo. [...] Pfizer assessed kids\u2019 immune response to the vaccine by looking at antibody levels. The company compared the response in a group of 5- to 11-year-olds one month after the second shot with antibody levels seen in a group of 16- to 25-year-olds, who were part of the earlier and much larger clinical trial that studied the vaccine\u2019s efficacy in tens of thousands of adults (SN: 10/4/20). There was no difference in the immune responses between the different groups, even though the younger children received a smaller dose, the FDA reported in their review of Pfizer\u2019s trial data. Since the immune response was similar between the two groups, the protection against COVID-19 offered by the vaccine for each group should also be similar.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "HPV vaccine may lead to elimination of cervical cancer", "evidence": "Impact of HPV vaccination and cervical screening on cervical cancer elimination: a comparative modelling analysis in 78 low-income and lower-middle-income countries - PMID: 32007141 - PMCID: PMC7043009 - DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30068-4 Impact of HPV vaccination and cervical screening on cervical cancer elimination: a comparative modelling analysis in 78 low-income and lower-middle-income countries [...] Interpretation: Predictions were consistent across our three models and suggest that high HPV vaccination coverage of girls can lead to cervical cancer elimination in most LMICs by the end of the century. Screening with high uptake will expedite reductions and will be necessary to eliminate cervical cancer in countries with the highest burden.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "unadjusted data suggests that temperatures in Australia have only increased by 0.3 degrees over the past century, not the 1 degree usually claimed", "evidence": "Former Australian prime minister and current MP Tony Abbott has said no \"big change\" in our climate has resulted from increasing carbon dioxide levels in the past century, and called global warming \"beneficial\" in the same speech. [...] Abbott careens through accusations of \"adjusted\" records, the \"downplayed\" impact of urban heat islands and \"slanted\" data sets. \"Unadjusted data suggests ... temperatures in Australia have only increased by 0.3 degrees over the past century, not the 1 degree usually claimed,\" he stated, even though Australia just had its warmest winter on record. \"Contrary to the breathless assertions that climate change is behind every weather event, in Australia, the floods are not bigger, the bushfires are not worse, the droughts are not deeper or longer, and the cyclones are not more severe than they were in the 1800s,\" he said. \"Sometimes, they do more damage but that\u2019s because there\u2019s more to destroy, not because their intensity has increased.\"", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "COVID-19 RNA vaccines weren\u2019t made with messenger RNA; vaccine RNA cannot be broken down in the body", "evidence": "Covid-19 RNA vaccine, illustration. The vaccine consists of strands of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) encased in a lipid nanoparticle sphere (red) surrounded by a polyethylene glycol coat (violet). The mRNA codes for a mutated version of the viral spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19. When injected into the body the mRNA is taken up by the body's cells, which manufacture copies of the protein. The proteins stimulate an immune response, causing the body to produce antibodies against the spike protein. This means that the body is primed to attack the virus should it be encountered after vaccination, preventing disease. The first RNA vaccine approved for human use, developed against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was approved in the UK on 2nd December 2020.Credit: Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library/ Getty Images The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that helped control the COVID-19 pandemic didn\u2019t come out of nowhere. For decades after mRNA was first isolated in the 1960s, scientists worked to understand how it might help fight disease \u2014 using the body\u2019s instruction manual to replace defective proteins or produce new, helpful ones. [...] Using mRNA, or any nucleic acid, as a drug requires overcoming several hurdles. First, it is easily degraded in the body. If RNA is simply injected into a person, it is quickly broken down before it can get into cells to create proteins. It needs some kind of delivery system.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Drinking bottled water with an acidic pH is bad for your health", "evidence": "Results: The pH values for the tested beverages and bottled waters were found to be predominantly acidic. Ten out of the 14 beverages tested were acidic (pH<7), 2 municipal (or \"tap\") waters were neutral (pH=7) and 2 bottled waters were alkaline (pH>7). The majority of waters tested had a more acidic pH when tested in the lab than the value listed in their water quality reports. [...] Table I and Figure 1 show that most of the waters tested had an acidic pH. Compared with the most acidic non-water beverage (Coke\u00ae), which tested at a pH of 2.24, Ozarka Natural Spring Water\u00ae was the most acidic water, with a pH of 5.16. The following waters had a pH just below neutral (or pH=7): Nestl\u00e9 PureLife\u00ae (6.24), Evian Natural Spring Water\u00ae (6.89), Fiji Water\u00ae (6.90) and Smartwater\u00ae (6.91). Both municipal (or public) water supplies (Houston and Pasadena) had a neutral pH, with Houston's being 7.29 and Pasadena's 7.58. The 2 commercially available alkaline bottled waters evaluated were Evamor\u00ae and Essentia\u00ae, either of which can be purchased online or in specialty grocery stores and guarantee an alkaline pH. Each of these, as evidenced in Table I, was found to have a pH above 7, with Evamor\u00ae testing at 8.78 and Essentia\u00ae at 10.38. Table II illustrates the type of filtration process by which each brand of bottled water is purified, along with the reported TDS.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Highly infectious HIV 'VB' variant makes people ill twice as quickly", "evidence": "A team of UK researchers has discovered that the VB variant of HIV may be more virulent and damaging than other strains of the disease. [...] By examining the genetic mutation patterns in the samples, the team estimated that the VB variant first appeared in the late 1980s and 1990s in the Netherlands, spreading more rapidly than other HIV variants during the 2000s before declining since around 2010. Despite there being widespread treatment in the country for HIV, the strain still spread across the nation quickly. [...] Analysis from the University of Oxford team identified that people infected with the VB variant had notable differences before antiretroviral treatment than people infected with other strains. VB variant patients had a viral load between 3.5 and 5.5 times higher, CD4 cell decline (damage to the immune system caused by HIV) was also twice as fast, increasing the risk of developing AIDS earlier. Finally, individuals with the VB variant showed an increased risk of transmitting the virus to others.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Per FDA guidelines, babies are too small to safely handle the amount of aluminum in childhood vaccines", "evidence": "The aluminum contained in vaccines is similar to that found in a liter (about 1 quart or 32 fluid ounces) of infant formula. While infants receive about 4.4 milligrams* of aluminum in the first six months of life from vaccines, they receive more than that in their diet. Breast-fed infants ingest about 7 milligrams, formula-fed infants ingest about 38 milligrams, and infants who are fed soy formula ingest almost 117 milligrams of aluminum during the first six months of life. [...] Given the quantities of aluminum we are exposed to on a daily basis, the quantity of aluminum in vaccines is miniscule. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been used for decades and have been given to more than 1 billion people without problem. In spring 2000, the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) reviewed aluminum exposure through vaccines and determined that no changes to vaccine recommendations were needed based on aluminum content. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has also reviewed studies and found no evidence of health risks that would require changes to vaccine policy. [...] Although aluminum at high doses can cause a variety of clinical manifestations, the quantity of aluminum in vaccines is too small to cause a direct toxic effect. Indeed, the quantity of aluminum in biological specimens from those receiving aluminum-containing vaccines is indistinguishable from unvaccinated subjects. The concern that aluminum in vaccines might be associated with a rare autoimmune disease called macrophagic myofasciitis has been refuted by previous studies.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "[SARS-CoV-2] is spreading quickly from gas pumps. Shopping carts as well.", "evidence": "In response to the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, many social media posts bear warnings about the virus from unnamed friends and family members working in health fields. One such claim on Facebook, shared more than 16 million times since it was first posted 16 March 2020, states that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, \"is spreading quickly from gas pumps [and] shopping carts as well.\" The claim is partially correct, in that early studies show that SARS-CoV-2 could potentially be spread through contact with contaminated objects[1]. However, there is not yet any direct evidence that this has occurred and the number of people who might contract the virus this way is unknown. [...] The claim that SARS CoV-2 \"is spreading quickly from gas pumps [and] shopping carts as well\" is of \"Neutral\" credibility. One of the characteristics that makes SARS CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, so problematic is its environmental stability, especially on stainless steel and plastics[4]. That means that the virus can potentially be transmitted between people by means of contaminated objects (fomites). The more people touch a particular object the higher the chance that one of those people carried viable SARS CoV-2 on their hands, thus creating a fomite. Clearly, both gas pump handles and grocery carts are frequently touched by many different people, making both suitable fomites that could aid the spread of COVID-19. The following things need to be considered, though:", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.", "evidence": "Share this Story : The tongue: an indicator of stroke? [...] Article content \"Ask the person to stick out his tongue\u2026if it is crooked, if it goes to one side or another, that is also an indicator of a stroke,\" the circulating email states. It also mentions that bystanders can recognize a stroke by asking three questions of someone suspected of having a stroke. [...] The \"stick out the tongue\" manoeuvre is, in my view, not a useful assessment for the lay public. In major strokes, the tongue may be deviated but usually this is in patients with obvious major strokes with a hemiplegia and facial weakness. Isolated tongue deviation is a very uncommon stroke presentation and is often difficult for the lay public to assess and interpret. I would not want a bunch of patients arriving by ambulance because their tongue was deviated.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Apeel contains harmful ingredients", "evidence": "Apeel is an edible coating for fruits and vegetables that protects them from water loss and oxidation, keeping them fresh for longer. The coating is made from monoglycerides and diglycerides, which are recognized as generally safe for use in foods.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The polar bear population has been growing. Polar bears are thriving even where sea ice is diminishing.", "evidence": "We\u2019ve long known that sea ice is an important platform for polar bears to hunt and raise young, but it turns out that the ice itself also carries a valuable energy source. [...] If you\u2019re now picturing massive jaws chowing down on a crunchy icy meal covered in green slime, no, that\u2019s not it. Polar bears do not eat sea ice directly. Instead, researchers found that the majority of polar bears\u2019 diet is made up of critters that ultimately depend on sea-ice algae as a food source. Their study examined polar bears from Baffin Bay, western Hudson Bay, and southern Hudson Bay. [...] Sea ice is already known as important habitat for polar bears. \"But what if we\u2019re not seeing the whole picture, and what if sea ice is more important than we\u2019re giving it credit for?\" says Brown. \"Less sea ice means less habitat, not only for polar bears but, importantly, also for the sea ice microorganisms that form a big part of the very base of the bear\u2019s food chain,\" he says.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "The models predicted about three times the amount of warming in the world we\u2019ve seen since [1988].", "evidence": "Models predict that as the world consumes ever more fossil fuel, greenhouse gas concentrations will continue to rise, and Earth\u2019s average surface temperature will rise with them. Based on plausible emission scenarios, average surface temperatures could rise between 2\u00b0C and 6\u00b0C by the end of the 21st century. Some of this warming will occur even if future greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, because the Earth system has not yet fully adjusted to environmental changes we have already made. [...] Models predict that Earth will warm between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius in the next century. When global warming has happened at various times in the past two million years, it has taken the planet about 5,000 years to warm 5 degrees. The predicted rate of warming for the next century is at least 20 times faster. This rate of change is extremely unusual. [...] The models predict that as the world consumes ever more fossil fuel, greenhouse gas concentrations will continue to rise, and Earth\u2019s average surface temperature will rise with them. Based on a range of plausible emission scenarios, average surface temperatures could rise between 2\u00b0C and 6\u00b0C by the end of the 21st century.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Vitamins C and D are now finally being adopted in the conventional treatment of SARS-CoV-2; Vitamin C at extremely high doses acts as an antiviral drug, actually killing viruses; vitamin D helps the body fight SARS-CoV-2 infection and can cut infection risk.", "evidence": "From your article titled \"Vitamin C and D Finally Adopted as Coronavirus Treatment\" (https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/04/07/coronavirus-treatment.aspx): [...] - \"[V]itamin C at extremely high doses acts as an antiviral drug, effectively inactivating viruses.\" - \"While high-dose vitamin C is new for COVID-19 treatment, it\u2019s been used as a treatment for sepsis since about 2017. The vitamin C-based sepsis treatment was developed by Dr. Paul Marik \u2026. In the interview above, Marik explains how the COVID-19 critical care protocol grew out of his sepsis treatment, as he and other doctors noticed there were many similarities between sepsis and severe COVID-19 infection \u2026.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "\u201c5G plays a part in this \u2018plandemic\u2019\u201d ... The cases of COVID-19 are \u201cdirectly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G\u201d", "evidence": "Different misinformation narratives that imply a causal link between 5G and COVID-19 have spread on social media, some of which are contradictory. Some suggest that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G equipment causes COVID-19, while others state that 5G harms people directly and that COVID-19 is used to hide this fact. We provide a more detailed description of these narratives in Sect. 3.4, but throughout this paper, we consider all such misinformation narratives together. We use the term 5G-COVID misinformation event to refer to the entirety of all communication that imply a causal link between 5G and COVID-19, i.e., all Twitter messages, Facebook posts, news articles, and videos. In addition, we consider all real-world events such as arson attacks that are presumably a direct consequence of this misinformation to be part of the event. Since it is essentially impossible to obtain an incontrovertible proof of causality between misinformation and real-world harm, we include all events where such a causality is highly likely.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus", "evidence": "Polio vaccines were indeed contaminated by SV40 at a point in time, but the claim that SV40 causes cancer in humans is not supported by scientific evidence.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "During the last hundred years the temperature is increased about 0.1\u00b0C because of carbon dioxide. The human contribution was about 0.01\u00b0C.", "evidence": "Though warming has not been uniform across the planet, the upward trend in the globally averaged temperature shows that more areas are warming than cooling. According to NOAA's 2023 Annual Climate Report the combined land and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.11\u00b0 Fahrenheit (0.06\u00b0 Celsius) per decade since 1850, or about 2\u00b0 F in total. The rate of warming since 1982 is more than three times as fast: 0.36\u00b0 F (0.20\u00b0 C) per decade. [...] Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1\u00b0C above 1850-1900 in 2011-2020. [...] The likely range of total human-caused global surface temperature increase from 1850\u20131900 to 2010\u20132019 is 0.8\u00b0C to 1.3\u00b0C, with a best estimate of 1.07\u00b0C [2.01 \u02daF]. Over this period, it is likely that well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs) contributed a warming of 1.0\u00b0C to 2.0\u00b0C, and other human drivers (principally aerosols) contributed a cooling of 0.0\u00b0C to 0.8\u00b0C, natural (solar and volcanic) drivers changed global surface temperature by \u20130.1\u00b0C to +0.1\u00b0C, and internal variability changed it by \u20130.2\u00b0C to +0.2\u00b0C.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cCharcoal absorbs and neutralizes poisons\u201d; charcoal can treat diarrhea and bloating", "evidence": "FULL CLAIM: \"Charcoal absorbs and neutralizes poisons\"; \"If ever I had a baby who had a bit of diarrhea, I\u2019d give a bit of charcoal [...] when I got a black nappy, I knew that my baby was well\" [...] O\u2019Neill\u2019s claim that charcoal can be used to treat diarrhea, even in infants, isn\u2019t substantiated by evidence. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that \"No solid evidence supports claims that activated charcoal helps with [traveler\u2019s diarrhea], bloating, stomach cramps, or gas\". It also added that children shouldn\u2019t be given charcoal. However, O\u2019Neill\u2019s claim that \"charcoal absorbs and neutralizes poisons\" is somewhat accurate, although it exaggerates the effectiveness of charcoal and lacks important nuance. In fact, misunderstandings over activated charcoal\u2019s effects have led it to be wrongly touted as a way to \"detox\". We explain more below.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "\u201cBill Gates explains that the COVID vaccine will use experimental technology and permanently alter your DNA\u201d", "evidence": "Previous studies have demonstrated that RNA vaccines are generally safe. Studies examining the potential integration of nucleic acid vaccines into DNA have shown that RNA from a vaccine does not alter DNA. RNA from a vaccine is also very unlikely to cause autoimmunity, as RNA is short-lived, being quickly degraded by cells after it has been used to make a protein. Therefore RNA does not persist long enough to cause autoimmune disorders, which are chronic in nature. In fact, some nucleic acid vaccines are being developed to treat autoimmune diseases.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Former and Current Prez are using the same set of prez advisors !!", "evidence": "The social media posts suggesting that the same advisors serve both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake are misleading. The individuals appearing in the photos represent the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and were involved in presenting the \"Vision 2030\" document to both leaders. They did not serve as permanent or official presidential advisors. The current president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has appointed only two advisors so far. One of them is the Mr Hulangamuwa, who is seen in both photographs as he was serving as the Chamber`s chairman.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "America\u2019s Most Famous Burger , Owned By China !!", "evidence": "Fact Crescendo has found that the articles attached to the above claim are misleading. China does not own America's most famous burger. McDonald's present headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois, and are managed by Chris Kempczinski.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "The Quality of HappyCow Cheese in SL Market is Lower Than Original Product!!", "evidence": "Product Description Of Happy Cow Cheese Low Fat Round Box 140g Happy Cow Cheese Low Fat Round Box 140g Relish the exceptionally soft and creamy texture of the Happy Cow 8 portion Cheese triangles without added fat. Reduced fat \u2013 62 per cent less fat than the Happy Cow Original. It comes divided into eight portions and is made using the finest ingredients to ensure premium quality.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Ten-Foot-Tall Giant Skull Found In Pahiyangala Cave, Sri Lanka !", "evidence": "Social media claims suggest that a 10-foot-tall giant skull, purportedly 37,000 years old, was discovered in Pahiyangala Cave (also known as Fa-Hien Cave) in Sri Lanka. These claims are primarily based on blog posts allegedly originating from the China-based Xinhua news agency and attributed to Senarath Dissanayake, former Director General of Sri Lanka's Archaeological Department. [...] Located in Kalutara, SouthWest region of Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala (Fa-Hien) cave is one of Southeast Asia's largest natural rock caves. The cave is especially significant for its archaeological significance, with evidence of ancient human activity and artifacts found within its chambers. The artifacts range from 48,000 to 4,000 years old, including 130 bone-arrow tips, the oldest arrow tips found outside of Africa\u201429 bone tools for making bags or clothing, and a handful of ornamental beads. More on this here and here. [...] Based on the lack of credible sources, official denials from relevant authorities, inconsistencies in attributions, and misuse of images, it is evident that the claims of a 10-foot-tall giant skull found in Pahiyangala Cave are unsubstantiated and fabricated.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Climate Change Is A Scam !!", "evidence": "PolitiFact has debunked similar claims about climate change being a hoax or scam in the past. [...] A Facebook post claimed climate change is the \"most significant fraud perpetrated on humanity.\" [...] PolitiFact, \"No, home mortgages don\u2019t prove climate change is a scam,\" April 26, 2021", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Future government led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) would close down all liquor shops-Sajith", "evidence": "A recent report by the English daily newspaper Daily Mirror has stirred up discussions regarding the stance of Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, on the operation of liquor shops and taverns. The report suggests that a future government led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) would close down all liquor shops and taverns, with exceptions made only for those contributing to tourism. [...] While the initial newspaper report suggested a blanket closure of all liquor shops and taverns under a potential SJB government, this clearly misrepresented facts. Premadasa's statements and actions indicate a more targeted approach, focusing on canceling licenses issued without due process and those posing risks to sensitive areas. [...] While it's clear that Sajith Premadasa and the SJB are advocating for stricter regulations on liquor licenses and a crackdown on irresponsible practices in the alcohol industry, the assertion that all liquor shops and taverns will be closed under their government is misleading. Sajith stresses that he would take steps to cancel liquor licenses issued as bribes if he came to power, but he never mentions a total ban on all liquor stores.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Janitha Perera has become the Miss Australia for Miss Universe 2022", "evidence": "Janitha Perera crowned as Miss Universe Australia 2022 [...] Recently, we saw an array of posts on social media claiming she was. Janitha Perera , who is of Sri Lankan origins, had been awarded the Miss Universe Australia 2022 title. But, our research found that although she been selected for the finals that will be held in September, she was not received the prized title. [...] We contacted Miss Universe Australia to get clarifications on viral posts. The event director of Miss Universe Australia 2022 event, Amy Holland, confirmed to us that Janitha Perera was chosen to represent Australia in the national finals, and that it will take place during September 2022. She asked us that you follow Miss Universe's official Instagram page for information about the contest and more.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Modern Graduation Gown Evaluated From Traditional \"Abaya\" Dress of Muslim Women!!", "evidence": "In the most basic terms, Abaya is a loose-fitting robe designed for Muslim women to wear on top of their regular clothes. The term Abaya originated from an Arabic reference for the word cloak, which means a loose garment. [...] As simple as it may seem, Abaya happens to be the most popular dress in the Muslim world. Its popularity is such that nations like the UAE, have constituted Abaya as their national dress. Its popularity can\u2019t give rise to an \"Intriguing\" factor considering how comfortable it is to wear around and how it can be styled to suit a myriad of everyday events and occasions. [...] - The Evolution of Abayas: From Tradition to Trendsetting - From Abayas to Hijabs: A Comprehensive Guide to Styling Islamic Women\u2019s Dress - Modest Long Dresses for Every Season: Embracing Comfort and Fashion - Top Dubai Abayas: Best Designers, Brands, and Dresses for Special Occasions - What is an Abaya: A Comprehensive Guide - Stunning Abaya Traditional Dress for Modern Women - 7 Most Common Types of Muslim Women's Clothing - Ultimate Guide to Elegant and Modest Wedding Dresses", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "SJB and JVP to make an interim government under the premiership of Karu Jayasuriya", "evidence": "This article is written in the context of the SJB and JVP being considered as credible alternatives to the failed politics and unprincipled conduct of national political parties \u2013 UNP, SLFP and the incumbent Rajapaksa family dominated SLPP government. Surprisingly even some \u2018elite\u2019 circles rattled by what\u2019s now going on, consider the JVP as an alternative. The SJB has some traction despite being widely considered a clone of the electorally marginalized UNP. By the same token, SJB\u2019s association with the UNP is a huge advantage to the JVP. [...] The ground reality of whether the SJB and JVP could on their own form a government even with the support of smaller parties will not engage the attention of this article. Similarly, the realpolitik enabling collaboration between the SJB and JVP in forming a government let alone its stability will also not engage the attention of this article. What is apparent is that the country is in for a long period of INSTABILITY and some degree of turmoil. [...] The HYPOCRISY of the SJB and to some extent the JVP is stark in the petitions they filed in the Supreme Court through SJB parliamentarian, Eran Wickramaratne and JVP Political Bureau member, Sunil Handunneththi alleging that the SLPP proposed Finance Bill encourages money laundering.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Indian Rupee Has Become The World`S Fourth Most Recognized Currency", "evidence": "Within that background, we came across viral social media posts that exaggerated India's financial and economic development and claimed that the Indian Rupee had become the World's fourth most recognized currency. But first, let\u2019s take a look at how the claim was shared among social media users. Facebook posts accompanying a short video clip claim that the Indian Rupee (INR) had become the 4th most recognized international currency after the US Dollar, British Pound & Euro to be accepted on Currency Exchange counters across airports globally. The symbol of the Indian Rupee (\u20b9) can be detected on the wall of the counter along with the other three currency symbols, the US Dollar ($), Pound (\u00a3), and Euro (\u20ac). [...] We noticed several posters also created as a result of this video. These posts also say that Indian Rupee has become the fourth international currency after Dollar, Pound, and Euro. In addition, some of the posts suggest that 36 countries, including Russia, agreed to replace the US Dollar with Indian Rupee.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "The Woman Accompanying Dhanushka To Court Is His Lawyer!", "evidence": "Sri Lankan international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been granted bail on sexual assault charges after a court heard he had the support of the Sri Lankan cricket association and government, and sureties totalling $200,000 were accepted. [...] Murugan Thangaraj, lawyer for international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, on claims that people with Sri Lankan names have found the online accounts of the complainant [...] Police say Gunathilaka accompanied the 29-year-old woman to her home, where she had \"only agreed to continued sexual activity if the accused wore a condom\".", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Benjamin Netanyahu Was Named \u2018Killer Of The Year\u2019 By TIME Magazine!", "evidence": "Killer of the year Netanyahu choice of Time magazine deserves salutation of the whole world @POTUS44 @POTUS45 @POTUS @BernieSanders @georgegalloway @PutinDirect @MbSofKSA @trpresidency @MoeedNj @OryaMaqboolJan @SSEHBAI1 @ashoswai @amanpour @FareedZakaria https://t.co/BXFwtxiLv4 \u2014 Danial American (@DanialAmerican) December 24, 2023 [...] Before delving deeper into this narrative, it is essential to clarify that Time Magazine traditionally designates an individual as the \"Person of the Year\" and features their photograph on the cover. Our investigation commenced by scrutinizing news reports using relevant keywords such as \u2018Time Benjamin Netanyahu Killer of the Year.\u2019 However, no credible reports have emerged to corroborate the claim that Time Magazine has bestowed the title \"Killer of the Year\" upon the Israeli Prime Minister. [...] In summary, the photograph circulated by Hamas supporters, asserting that Time magazine declared Benjamin Netanyahu as the \"killer of the year,\" is unequivocally fake. Substantial evidence suggests that the image was likely fabricated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Clip Of Students Watching The Hardship Of Their Parents !!", "evidence": "A clip of students watching the hardship of their parents is edited [...] The video claiming the Japanese students watch their parents\u2019 hardship in class was edited. According to the sources we found, the students in the clip are Chinese, not Japanese. And the original videos and pictures do not connect with watching the parents/adults\u2019 hardship. Title:A clip of students watching the hardship of their parents is edited", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Cadavar Collecting Machines Developed By China !!", "evidence": "A clip showing a robot lifting humans circulating on social media claims to show \"cadaver collecting machine\" developed in China. The video was shared with a caption alleging, \"Developers in China have created and begun testing cadaver collecting machines. According to the designers, this robot with artificial intelligence on board is designed for non-contact collection of infected corpses directly from the streets.\" In the video, a team of uniformed people can be seen monitoring the robot. One particular post garnered 1,55,400 views and 1,551 likes at the time of writing this story. Archives of the post can be accessed here, and here. [...] A rescue robot developed in Japan has been misrepresented as a robot made in China as a cadaver-collecting machine.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Male Population Was Less Than Half Of Female Population According To 2019 UN Report? Here\u2019s The Truth\u2026", "evidence": "Are there more men or more women in the world? The number of men and women in the world is roughly equal, though men hold a slight lead with 102 men for 100 women (in 2020). More precisely, out of 1,000 people, 504 are men (50.4%) and 496 are women (49.6%). For every 100 girls, 106 boys are born, but males have a higher risk of dying than females, both in childhood and at adult ages. So at a certain age, the numbers of men and women even out. In France this occurs at age 25. Beyond this age, women outnumber men and the numerical difference between the two sexes increases with age. In France, eight centenarians in ten are women (in 2020).", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Cardinal Stepping Down As Archbishop Of Colombo!!", "evidence": "Media Spokesman of the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Father Jude Krishantha rejected speculation in some media that Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith had decided to step down from the position of Colombo Archbishop. He said that the he got a number of inquiries from the media fraternity about the speculation that the Colombo Archbishop is to step down from his position. Fr.Krishantha said that there was no truth in these reports and the Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has not taken such a decision.\"We don\u2019t know from where this news has originated. There is no truth in these speculations,\" he said.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "An illuminated swirl over the skies of Iceland!!Alien Invasion?", "evidence": "A massive swirl of bright white light seemingly appeared from out of nowhere in the night sky above the Arctic last week, briefly upstaging a vibrant aurora display that spanned thousands of miles. [...] Aurora photographer Shang Yang captured a stunning photo of the illuminated swirl near the town of Akureyri in Iceland at around 1 a.m. local time on March 5. \"It looked otherworldly against the Northern Lights,\" Shang told Spaceweather.com. The spectacle lasted for around 10 minutes before dissipating. [...] Staiger also predicts that there will be another strong SpaceX spiral above Iceland and other parts of the Arctic when the Transporter-12 mission launches in October this year.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Ravi and Kiriella left the country !!", "evidence": "Ravi has officially left VIXX. Jellyfish Entertainment confirmed the rapper\u2019s departure in an official statement. Kim Wonsik also issued an apology following his military-related scandal. Ravi\u2019s Departure From VIXX Confirmed By Jellyfish Entertainment Jellyfish Entertainment shared an official statement confirming Ravi\u2019s departure from VIXX. \"After careful discussion between Ravi and the agency, it was decided that he will leave the team as of today,\" the statement read. The agency also apologized \"for causing trouble to the fans who support VIXX.\"", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be fatal !!", "evidence": "Posts on Facebook in Sinhala language have been widely shared in Sri Lanka, alleging that consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be fatal. These posts mention a supposed incident where tourists in Chandigarh, India, died after such consumption. [...] Please be cautious and avoid drinking soft drinks immediately after eating mangoes. A few days ago, a group of tourists visited Chandinagar in India. They ate mangoes and then drank cold drinks right away. Unfortunately, they all became very sick, fainted, and tragically died upon being admitted to the hospital. [...] The viral posts claiming that consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be deadly are unfounded and lack scientific evidence. Experts have clarified that while mixing these might cause minor digestive discomfort for some people, it is not lethal. This misinformation appears to have spread internationally without any credible backing.No evidence to prove such an incident really occurred in Chandinagar in India.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "University Of Peradeniya Offers Dozens of Free Online Courses !!", "evidence": "Coursera University Program has given free access to their 4000+ paid courses to University Students and Staff during this period. The University of Peradeniya is now enrolled in the program. You can join until the 31st of July and complete the courses by 30th of September to get their certification for free. The courses are coming from famous Universities around the world. Please see the following link for details: https://www.coursera.org/programs/university-of-peradeniya-on-coursera-upwjj If you are interested in joining the program and following some famous courses and getting the certification without cost, please let us know by filling this form using your University Email ID (@eng.pdn.ac.lk) by 26th of April 2020.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "\"An Important Police Message That Everyone Should Read\" - Released by Sri Lanka Police", "evidence": "Towards a Peaceful environment to live with confidence, without fear of Crime and Violence. Sri Lanka Police is committed and confident to uphold and enforce the law of the land, to preserve the public order, prevent crime and Terrorism with prejudice to none \u2013 equity to all.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Fans Throwing Eggs At The Brazil Team After Their Elimination At FIFA World Cup?", "evidence": "Unrelated & old video shared as fans throwing eggs at the Brazil team after their elimination at FIFA World Cup! [...] After the top-ranked and much anticipated strong Brazil team\u2019s elimination once again in the quarterfinal stages of a FIFA World Cup, a video showing a group of angry fans throwing eggs at a bus is widely circulating on social media, claiming that it shows how angry Brazilian fans welcomed Brazil\u2019s National football team after their elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2022. [...] Title:Unrelated and old video shared as fans throwing eggs at Brazil team after their elimination at FIFA World Cup", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Vokzvagon factory launched in Kuliyapitiya !!", "evidence": "Volkswagen Factory Recently Inaugurated in Kuliyapitiya? Find out the facts\u2026 [...] Below is another post which claimed that the Volkswagen factor had opened in Kuliyapitiya. [...] The Western Automobile Vehicle Assembly factory in Kuliyapitiya is not a Volkswagen factory. This misconception stems from a miscommunication in 2017. The factory is currently focused on assembling Chinese brands and has no connection to the German automobile manufacturer. Therefore, the recently inaugurated vehicle assembly factory is not a Volkswagen factory.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Putin Did Kneel Before Xi Jinping", "evidence": "Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a virtual meeting Friday that their partnership was more important than ever in the face of \"unprecedented pressure\" from the West, as Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine leaves it increasingly isolated on the global stage. [...] Xi echoed Putin\u2019s message of unity, saying that the two countries should \"strengthen strategic coordination\" and \"inject more stability into the world,\" according to Chinese state media Xinhua. [...] Xi had already shown hints of impatience when he last met with Putin in September at a regional summit in Uzbekistan. At the time, Putin conceded Beijing had \"questions and concerns\" over the invasion, in what appeared to be a veiled admission of their diverging views.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "General Shavendra Silva and his wife travelled on a private jet, spending public money during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka !!", "evidence": "Here's what life is like in Sri Lanka in the midst of its economic crisis [...] Economic crisis: Rajapaksa\u2019s departure further enraged protesters, who want both leaders to vacate their roles as the country\u2019s 22 million people struggle to buy basic goods, fuel and medicine. [...] Sri Lanka\u2019s Air Force on Wednesday confirmed Rajapaksa\u2019s departure, saying in a statement: \"Pursuant to the request of the government and in accordance with the powers vested in a President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka air force provided a plane early today to fly the President, his wife and two security officials to the Maldives.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Heartwarming Story Of The Hospitalized Patient And His Feathered Friend !!", "evidence": "Although we have discussed some of the drawbacks, there are many positives. Our feathery friends are frequently incredibly funny and charismatic! [...] You\u2019ll want to find a top-notch doctor for your feathered friend. This can also provide valuable insights into Polly\u2019s care requirements. [...] Do you have any questions about parrot care? Would you like to book an appointment for your feathered friend? Don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to us whenever you need. We are here to assist you at your Rapid City, SD pet clinic!", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Sounds Coming From The Universe, Captured by NASA!!", "evidence": "There\u2019s a new, immersive way to explore NASA\u2019s data of our Universe. NASA has taken observational data from telescopes like NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope and others, and translated it into corresponding frequencies that can be heard by the human ear. A team of scientists, musicians, and a member of the blind and visually impaired community worked to adapt the NASA data. The audio tracks support blind and low-vision listeners first, but are designed to be captivating to anyone who tunes in. [...] For the first time, a spacecraft on another planet has recorded the sounds of a separate spacecraft. NASA\u2019s Perseverance Mars rover used its SuperCam microphone to listen to the Ingenuity helicopter on April 30, 2021 as it flew on Mars for the fourth time. [...] Explore the universe and discover our home planet with NASA through a collection of our sounds from historic spaceflights and current missions. You can hear the roar of a space shuttle launch or Neil Armstrong\u2019s \"One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind\" every time you get a phone call if you make our sounds your ringtone. Or, you can hear the memorable words \"Houston, we\u2019ve had a problem,\" every time you make an error on your computer.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "No matter who comes to power, we will not let them govern - Tharindu Uduvaragedare", "evidence": "In a bold and fiery statement, Mr. Tharindu Uduwaragedara of the Jana Aragala Sandhanaya declared at a recent presidential campaign rally in Minuwangoda that no matter who ascends to power, their plans are to \"set everything on fire\" and \"finish\" the current political system within the next decade. Addressing supporters at the rally, Uduwaragedara asserted, \"Finish it. No matter who comes to power, we will not let you do this. We will not allow this. I say we will take power within the next ten years. We will finish this. Vasantha, Bope, Swastika, Lahiru are in politics. We are on fire in the next ten years. Finish you.\" His remarks were made in support of Nuwan Bopage, the presidential candidate for the Jana Aragala Sandhanaya. The statement reflects the Alliance\u2019s dramatic and confrontational approach to the current political landscape, emphasizing their intent to disrupt and overhaul the system regardless of who wins the upcoming election.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "List of Israeli Products to Boycott!!", "evidence": "The document provides a list of Israeli and supportive country products to boycott and recommends alternate products from other countries. It includes alternatives for over 50 categories of \u2026 The document provides a list of Israeli and supportive country products to boycott and recommends alternate products from other countries. It includes alternatives for over 50 categories of common household and personal care items, foods, electronics, restaurants and petrol pumps. The goal is to replace goods from boycotted countries with comparable products from other nations that are more politically aligned.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Porcupines Don`t Harm Agricultural Crops !", "evidence": "Do Porcupines Harm Agricultural Crops? [...] A post claiming that porcupines are not animals harming the crops was shared among Facebook users. [...] Title:Do Porcupines Harm Agricultural Crops?", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Elon Musk Attended Mukesh Ambani`s Son\u2019s Wedding !", "evidence": "A viral image circulating on social media claims that Elon Musk attended the wedding of Mukesh Ambani's son in Jamnagar, India, wearing traditional Indian attire [...] Lack of mainstream media coverage: There have been no reports in reputable mainstream media outlets about Elon Musk attending the wedding of Mukesh Ambani's son or appearing in traditional Indian attire at the event. [...] In conclusion, there is no factual basis to the claim that Elon Musk attended Mukesh Ambani's son's wedding in Jamnagar, India, wearing traditional Indian attire. The viral image circulating on social media is likely fabricated or AI-generated. It's essential to rely on credible sources and verified information to avoid spreading misinformation.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Around 30,000 children are begging in the streets of Sri Lanka !!", "evidence": "Media outlets, including newspapers, play a significant role in shaping public opinion. Recently, they have reported figures on the number of street children and child beggars in Sri Lanka, notably claiming that around 30,000 children are begging in the streets. These figures have raised concerns and led to investigations into their accuracy. Our aim here is to provide a comprehensive fact-check on the origins and accuracy of these estimates. [...] Explanation 30,000 Street Children Hypothesis: Reports have cited a figure of 30,000 children currently begging in the streets of Sri Lanka, purportedly based on a survey conducted by Peradeniya University. However, the professor attributed these claims, Professor Wasantha Athukorala, clarified to us that this number is a hypothesis he and a few academics formulated based on informal interviews with residents of several cities in Sri Lanka. This hypothesis lacks formal backing through any survey or research conducted by Peradeniya University, rendering it speculative rather than empirically supported. [...] The claims regarding the number of street children and child beggars in Sri Lanka, particularly the assertion of 30,000 children begging in the streets, lack empirical support and are based on speculative hypotheses rather than formal surveys or research. While concerns regarding the welfare of vulnerable children are valid, it is crucial to rely on verified data and evidence-based research when addressing such issues. Efforts to clarify the origins and accuracy of these estimates should continue through transparent methodologies and collaborations between relevant authorities, academics, and organisations dedicated to child welfare in Sri Lanka.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Misleading Claims On DCD Levels In Milk Powder", "evidence": "A letter claimed to be from Medical Faculty Student\u2019s Union of University of Colombo from 2013 has gained lot of traction over the past few days. From our investigation revelated that these posts shared in present day context about DCD contamination in milk power is misleading. Even though ITI had tested Fonterra along with 3 other dairies mid-2013, all subsequent tests done by number of other parties including ITI itself had confirmed that there was no DCD contamination. [...] The article mentioned that an official from Technology and Research Ministry had stated that tests carried out by them had confirmed four brands of imported milk powder were indeed contaminated with DCD (Based on a report by ITI) and two brands of locally manufactured milk powder were free of DCD. Most of other news reports in 2013, had carried similar stories. [...] The official went on to state that there were number of sample tests of Fonterra and other daily brands (both local and foreign) since 2013 and all resulted DCD in permissible levels. The official went on to say that DCD test reports of 2013 are really out of context in current scenario, as no DCD has been detected in milk brands recently. However, along with Ministry of Health ITI continues to test the DCD level in milk powder and annually around 250-300 samples are being tested even in current scenario.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Claims Of Flowers Blooming In The Himalayas Once In 400 Years!", "evidence": "Fact Crescendo found the famous hoax of a 400-year-old blooming flower attached to an artwork that doesn\u2019t resemble any real-life plant. Even though the \u2018Pagoda flower\u2019 does exist, it blooms annually. There isn\u2019t any reported flower that blooms once in 400 years.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Coconut Oil is good. But vegetable oil is bad", "evidence": "Coconut Oil vs Vegetable Oil [...] According to Palak Patel, a chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, swapping coconut oil for vegetable oil is straightforward: one cup of vegetable oil is equal to one cup of coconut oil when cooking and baking. However, when using coconut oil as a substitute for vegetable oil, there are a couple of things to consider and note. [...] Unlike vegetable oil, which contains trans-fat, coconut oil is made of medium-chain saturated fatty acids. Saturated fat is easily digestible, and when ingested, it gets transported to the liver, where it serves as a source of energy for the body.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Before the Aragalaya Gas Prices of Sri Lanka Low and After Aragalaya,Prices Increased !!", "evidence": "The citizens\u2019 rebellion against Mr. Gotabaya exposed the entire Rajapaksa clan\u2019s insatiable thirst for power, and apparent disregard for human life and dignity \u2014 something the Tamil and Muslim minorities knew for long. The Aragalaya revealed both, the fragility of power, and the power of protest, as citizens underwent the country\u2019s worst economic crisis post-Independence. [...] The two months since were rather challenging for the Aragalaya. Many were stunned by the events of May 9, days after which Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Premier. While he took a seemingly conciliatory approach to the protests, even inviting protesters for talks, there was no let-up in the drastic deterioration of the economy. The government had already defaulted on its $50 billion foreign debt. The country had now run out of dollars to import fuel, while existing credit lines dried up. [...] The Aragalaya is unprecedented in Sri Lanka, in its scale, geographic spread, and impact. It brought together Sri Lankans of all ethnic hues and class locations, who were together in their suffering brought upon by the crisis, and in their shared resolve to oust the man who was responsible for it.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The Origins Of \u201cHello\u201d Was Linked To Graham Bell`s Girl Friend!", "evidence": "Social media posts are being spread virally stating that the beginning of the term \"hello\" can be traced back to Graham Bell's time and his girlfriend's name was \"Margaret Hello\". [...] Our investigation reveals that the social media post claiming that the word \"Hello\" term had origins as it was the surname of Alexander Graham Bell's girlfriend is misleading. [...] Title:The Origins of \"Hello\" was NOT linked to Graham Bell's Girl Friend! Find Out the Truth\u2026", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "IOC Requests Against Filling Fuel Tanks To The Maximum Limit, Due To Rising Heat In SL!", "evidence": "Social media is abuzz with viral claims that the Indian Oil Company (IOC) warns people against filling their fuel tanks to the maximum level due to the rise in atmospheric temperature currently being experienced in Sri Lanka. [...] Our investigation found that IOC had not released any advisory statement warning the public against filling their vehicle fuel tanks to the maximum limit. The message was viral a few years ago in India, too. IOC clarifies that they had not issued any such advisory, and it\u2019s perfectly safe to fill the fuel tanks to the maximum level indicated by the manufacturer, irrespective of whether it`s summer or winter. [...] Title:IOC Did NOT Request to Refrain from Filling Fuel Tanks to the Maximum Limit, Due to The Current Hot Weather in SL!", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Is The Train Timing Display At Mt. Lavinia Railway Station Available Only In English And Chinese? Find Out The Truth\u2026", "evidence": "A post with an accompanying photograph claiming to be from Mount Lavinia Railway station was shared as seen below, which had information of long distance train timings only in English and Chinese. The viral posts claimed that Sinhala and Tamil languages had been omitted out. [...] Hence, it is clear that the viral train time display at the Mount Lavinia railway station is not a recent one. We inquired further details from the Mount Lavinia Station Master, the Railway Department and the Mount Lavinia Hotel in order to ascertain the facts. Here is the response that we received: [...] The department also confirmed they had not installed the long distance train time display at the Mount Lavinia railway station and the Mount Lavinia Hotel sponsored it. They also confirmed that the regular train time schedule was in Sinhala and English.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Wasim Akram alleged that the performance of the Sri Lanka cricket team in the Asia Cup final match was suspicious !!", "evidence": "'Sri Lanka cannot be taken easy': Wasim Akram picks his favourites ahead of Asia Cup 2022 final As the Asia Cup final inches closer, former Pakistan superstar Wasim Akram reveals who he believes will lift the trophy between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. [...] Although Akram admitted that The Shaheens would enter the final as the favourites to outperform the Sri Lankans and lay claim to the title of Asia Cup champions, he admitted that it may not be as easy as one would like it to be.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Wearing Masks Will Increase Mortality !!", "evidence": "Little information is available on a global scale. However, an analysis of the socio-economic determinants of Covid-19 mortality across countries demonstrated that a longer duration of mask wearing by the public was negatively associated with mortality52. In this study, the effect of mask wearing is proxied by the delay between the first infected case and a government recommendation on mask wearing by the public. This study finds that \u2019in countries with public policies and cultural norms supporting public mask-wearing, per-capita coronavirus mortality increased on average by just 15.8% each week, as compared with 62.1% each week in other countries\u2019. [...] We also found a statistical negative impact of mask wearing on fatality rates with a longer lag. Here, we consider 14- and 28-day lagged variables for illustration (Table 3). We also document that the mask effects on deaths for 7 days after are not reported since this effect is not significant. This insignificance is a proof of credibility of our results since the mask has no effect on fatalities at a very short run horizon (Placebo test). The mask use effect on fatalities for a very large horizon (42 days) is also not significant.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "US Military Bases Around China! (Map)", "evidence": "And again, the comparison with China\u2019s military presence globally is helpful. China has about eight foreign military bases \u2014 one in Djibouti and some on human-made islands in the South China Sea. This, compared to the 750 U.S. military bases outside the 50 states and Washington, D.C., shows again how misdirected our priorities are, because of this foreign policy that has been, in my mind, hijacked by the military-industrial complex, the people who are making a killing, often literally, off war, and a foreign policy elite that has taken us down precisely the wrong path. [...] And meanwhile, the United States is in the process of encircling China with more and more bases. And this has been a long-standing buildup over years, dating to the Obama administration \u2014 the Trump administration continued it \u2014 and, before it, the George W. Bush administration. There are, of course, also a buildup of bases in recent months in Eastern and Central Europe in reaction to Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. But the buildup in East Asia is one we should be deathly concerned about, I\u2019m sorry to say.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Sri Lanka to gift two female elephants to Pakistan !!", "evidence": "According to our investigation, we were able to find out that the viral story of sending two female elephants from Sri Lanka to Pakistan is misleading. It's based on the irresponsible statement of Sri Lanka's honorary consular of Lahore, and Sri Lankan high commission categorically denied any such preparation and said it had strictly advised to consular general of Lahore not to deliver such statements again.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Geckos are deadly venomous animals !!", "evidence": "It explains that the wall gecko is poisonous and that to chase it out of your home, you should crush garlic with salt and put this mixture in the nooks and crannies of your house. This seems to be the source of the meme. But no evidence is provided for the gecko being poisonous. [...] According to Animal Diversity Web, a database run by the University of Michigan in the US, \"geckos are non-venomous and harmless to humans\".", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Pencil Packing Work-From-Home Opportunities For Nataraj Pencils!", "evidence": "Natraj Pencil packing job Work from Home | Natraj packing job [...] To apply for the Natraj Pencil packing job from home, visit the company\u2019s website or contact their designated recruitment channel. The application process typically involves submitting an online form or completing a brief interview. [...] The Natraj Pencil packing job from home is an excellent opportunity for individuals seeking a flexible and rewarding work arrangement. With no prior experience required, this job is open to anyone with basic dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently. Embrace the convenience of working from home and start earning an income while enjoying a balanced lifestyle.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Any form of vaccination after COVID19 vaccination can be life threatening", "evidence": "From our investigation, it is clear that while there is no scientific basis in the viral claim, anesthesiologists have advised to wait for few days after getting vaccinated, in case of non-emergency surgeries.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Fact Check: German Village Shaped Like A Human Fingerprint ? Find Out The Truth..", "evidence": "(KGTV) - Does a village in Germany resemble a fingerprint when photographed from above?", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Sri Lanka Has the Largest Number of Ministers and Highest Taxes", "evidence": "List of ministries of Sri Lanka The parliament of the Sri Lanka has set of ministers. They are categorized either as the ministers of cabinet and non cabinet. According to the 19th amendment the number of cabinet ministers is limited to 28.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Vegan Leather Is not Sustainable!!", "evidence": "Leather vs Vegan Leather: What\u2019s ACTUALLY More Sustainable? [...] Vegan leather and sustainability [...] Sustainability cons of vegan leather - Its production also tends to be chemical-heavy. PVC, in particular, is extremely polluting and releases hazardous dioxins. PU is the lesser of the two evils, but still derived from fossil fuels - Not biodegradable or, with natural options, only partly. Because vegan leather releases phthalates and toxic particles when decomposing, it can affect the environment and even the health of animals - It tends to be less durable than real leather, so it leads to additional waste when you replace it", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Footage Of Matheesha Getting Blessings From Dhoni !", "evidence": "Our investigation confirms that the assertions of Sri Lankan cricketer Matheesha Pathirana taking blessings from Mahendra Singh Dhoni during a cricket match in the ongoing Indian Premier League are inaccurate. The footage depicts Pathirana simply picking up the marker used by bowlers to measure their distance, which happened to be near Dhoni's feet at that particular time.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Additional 15% Tax Introduced On Women\u2019s Sanitary Napkins?", "evidence": "South Africa is one of the latest countries to get rid of taxes on sanitary products. Starting in April 2019, the 15% tax will no longer have to be paid. In addition, free sanitary pads will be available in public schools. For some women, the added tax made it extremely difficult for them to buy these necessary products.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "A Recent Incident: Mob Destroying President Wickremesinghe`s Banner !!", "evidence": "The viral video claiming that a banner of President Ranil Wickremesinghe was recently destroyed in relation to the upcoming election is misleading. The event shown in the video is most likely from 2022 during the \"Aragalaya\" protests, and no such recent incident has been reported in the Tangalle or Walasmulla areas. As per our analysis, the location is near the Thangalle bus stand and clock tower.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Maggi Noodles in Unhealthy !!", "evidence": "Nestle 'unhealthy' food controversy: Looking back at the Maggi Noodles crisis in India The Maggi Noodles crisis in 2015 emerged as one of the biggest public relation hurdles for Nestle India, which came under fire after laboratory tests found the popular two-minute instant noodles were unsafe and hazardous for human consumption. [...] It was in 2014 when food safety regulators from the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh reported that samples of Maggi Noodles had high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) apart from high lead content above the permissible level. At the time, the labelling on packets of Maggi Noodles indicated that it had no added MSG.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Marian Members Rosa and Subhash got Death Threats !!- Nalin Perera", "evidence": "Marians led by singer, musician Nalin Perera, celebrated their 35th anniversary in the showbiz scene with a grand anniversary gig recently. Band Marians started its musical journey under the leadership of Nalin Perera in 1988 and now has marked it\u2019s acme in the music industry of Sri Lanka winning the hearts of millions both locally and globally. [...] Nalin Perera had a strong need to change the quality of music and he always wanted to deliver new creations to his audiences. This brings \u2018Marians Unplugged\u2019 to the world, a musically rich concert bringing out the best of the talents of all the band members which became a sold-out concert with the first concert itself. The Sri Lankan audience eagerly embraced this new concept and Marians received invitations from organizers from all over the country to conduct more \u2018Marians Unplugged\u2019 concerts in the country. This new concept helped the band reach out to a niche audience who specifically appreciated and enjoyed high quality. [...] \u2018Marians\u2019 current lineup comprises of Nalin Perera \u2013 Founder/Leader and the lead vocals, Prasanna Rosa on lead guitar, Ruwan Fernando on guitar, Jayantha Kandabadage on percussions, Chaminda Silva on Bass, Subash Punyasoma on Drums, Dileepa Mangala on keyboards and Shivantha Fernando on vocals.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Lead Both JVP and NPP Illegally !!", "evidence": "Anura Kumara Dissanayake leads both the National People\u2019s Power alliance, or NPP, and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or JVP. Rooted in Marxist ideology, the JVP was founded in the 1960s with the aim of seizing power through a socialist revolution. But after two failed armed uprisings in 1971 and 1987-89 \u2013 which resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives \u2013 the party shifted toward democratic politics and has remained so for over three decades. [...] In 2019, under Dissanayake\u2019s leadership, the NPP was formed as a socialist alliance with several other organizations. While the JVP continues to adhere to Marxist principles, the NPP adopted a center-left, social democratic platform \u2013 aiming to attract broader public support. [...] As a leader from a Marxist party, Dissanayake will likely pursue policies to reflect collective decisions made by the politburos and central committees of the NPP and JVP, rather than his individual views. He advocates for an economic system where activities are coordinated through a central government plan, emphasizing the importance of \"economic democracy.\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Oatmeal is the highest sprayed crop with pesticides, particularly glyphosate !!", "evidence": "Not only that, but non-organic oats contain the highest amount of pesticide residue than any other crop in the U.S., particularly the cancer-causing herbicide glyphosate. In February 2019, a \"compelling link\" was found between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma [2], and since then, over $10 billion to has been paid out to settle thousands of glyphosate-related cancer lawsuits across the country. The Environmental Working Group tested samples of Quaker Oats products and found that their oats had the most glyphosate per sample, with more than 1,000 ppb in more than 66 percent of the samples. That level of exposure is more than 60 times the safety level set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and that\u2019s just legally speaking. However, legal is not the same as harmless. And unfortunately, more than 200 million pounds of glyphosate is sprayed on crops in the US each year, not just on oats, but on every GMO crop like grain, soy, and corn [3].", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Dilith Jayaweera\u2019s Withdrawal from Presidential Race !!", "evidence": "Dilith Jayaweera as the presidential candidate from the new party 'Sarva Jana Balaya'! Homeland News 28th May Dilith jayaweera Credit: Official Facebook page DILITH JAYAWEERA", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Sajith Violates Election Law by Holding a Welfare Program in a School !!", "evidence": "Sajith Premadasa\u2019s 100th Sakvala school programme. [...] Sajith Premadasa\u2019s \u2018Sakvala\u2019 program which clocked a century last week gives credible evidence that if elected, his will be \u2018a Presidency of service\u2019 as it were; intervening to bring tangible improvements which are both catalyst and multiplier. Manique Mendis puts it best: [...] \u2026The results of the Sakwala program demonstrate that whilst being in the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa is opening doors to opportunity in the lives of children in Sri Lanka.\u2019 (Vistas of opportunity for Sri Lankan children with \"Suhuru\" classrooms | Daily FT)", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "In a letter to AKD, Sijeewa Senasinghe Said The Allegations They Made Against AKD Were Just Fabricated Stories and NOT Realities!!", "evidence": "Let\u2019s get the facts out first. Sujeewa Senasinghe said that he communicated with Arjun Aloysius of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) to obtain information for a book he wrote and published on the Central Bank bond issue. Some of the calls were made AFTER the book came out. Go figure! [...] Sujeewas Senasinghe said that he had no inkling about the donor at the time the money was received. Some of the money however had been received AFTER the elections were done. Go figure! [...] That\u2019s it ladies and gentlemen. This is a circus. A spectacle. Sujeewas Senasinghe; is just one of many and he\u2019s having a ball. The messiahs are pickpockets and brigands. The Promised Land is a cess-pit.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "Kandy Dalada Perahera should be held Without Elephants - Harini Amarasuriya", "evidence": "The Kandy Esala Dalada Perahera (Procession of Kandy) is a grand festival celebrated with elegant costumes and is held in July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Temple of the Tooth or \"Sri Dalada Maligawa\" in Kandy. The Esala Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th century, eight hundred years after the passing away of Lord Buddha. [...] The Kandy Esala Dalada Perahera begins with the \"Kap Situveema\", in which a sanctified young Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus integrifolia) is cut and planted in the premises of each of the four Devales (Temples) dedicated to the four guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and goddess Pattini. [...] On the sixth night, the Kumbal Perahera begins and continues on for five days and then Randoli Perahera begins. After a further five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the pageant ends with the Diya Kepeema, which is the water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, a town a few miles from Kandy. A Day Perahera is held to mark the ceremony.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!!", "evidence": "Therefore, the use of plastic in tea bags has come under scrutiny due to the potential release of microplastics when exposed to heat. As we mentioned earlier, many tea bag manufacturers use nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in their tea bags, which are not biodegradable and can release harmful microplastics when exposed to heat. These microplastics can end up in your drink, and studies have shown that they may pose a risk to human health. [...] Another study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology in 2020 found that plastic tea bags could release up to 16 micrograms of microplastics per liter of tea when brewed at a temperature of 95\u00b0C. These studies highlight the importance of choosing plastic-free tea bags to minimize exposure to potentially harmful plastics. [...] Yes, some tea bags can contain microplastics, particularly those made with plastic materials like nylon or polypropylene. However, The Tea Spot's sachets are made from sugar cane fibers, which are biodegradable, compostable, and completely free from petroleum-based plastic. Therefore, you can rest assured that when you brew our tea, you're not consuming any harmful plastics or microplastics.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "If Ranil Wins,I will be the PM - Ravi", "evidence": "The 2020 Parliamentary Elections of August 6th had around 60 Members of Parliament who were unable to retain their seats in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Around 16 candidates from the United National Party (UNP) who contested the 2020 general elections lost their existing seats in parliament including its leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake, its secretary general Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. Other UNP heavyweights to lose out are Arjuna Ranatunga, Navin Dissanayake, Sandeep Samarasinghe, Ruwan Wijewardena, Palitha Thewarapperuma, Daya Gamage, Lakshman Wijemanne, Vajira Abeywardena, Palitha Range Bandara, Nalaka Kolonne, and V. Maheswaran. A surprise loss in the Colombo District was that of Thilanga Sumathipala (SLPP). Others who failed to win a seat in parliament from the SLPP are Dulith Wijesekara, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Manoj Sirisena, Niroshan Premaratne, S.B. Nawinna, T.B. Ekanayaka, Sumedha Jayasena, Susantha Punchinilame, and Dunesh Gankanda. The Premadasa camp (SJB) too lost a few of their erstwhile candidates.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Udeshika Prabodini, A Female Cricket Player Is Very Poor Financially !!", "evidence": "The claims circulating on social media about Udeshika Prabodini\u2019s financial struggles and her use of public transportation are unfounded. Prabodini\u2019s family is well-equipped with vehicles, and her choice is public transport as she does not favour driving vehicles.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Nutella has the potential to cause cancer !!", "evidence": "The debate around the safety of palm oil, particularly in products like Nutella, highlights the complexities of food safety and regulatory standards. While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other organisations have identified potential risks associated with compounds like Glycidol Ester (GE), 3-MCPD, and 2-MCPD formed during high-temperature refining of palm oil, more research is needed to understand the implications for human health fully.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Trump Plagiarize from \u201cLegally Blonde\u201d !!", "evidence": "The clip attained instant notoriety, in part because it was reminiscent of a scandal that erupted during the 2016 presidential campaign when Melania Trump gave a speech that borrowed heavily from one Michelle Obama delivered in 2008. A number of media outlets joined the Occupy Democrats Facebook page (see meme above) in sharing the Fallon clip under headlines declaring, with varying degrees of sarcasm, that Trump similarly \"plagiarized\" from \"Legally Blonde.\" \"Trump's commencement address casts striking similarities to 'Legally Blonde,'\" noted Daily Mail Online with no detectable sense of irony (nor any apparent inability to discern what color hair Trump's hair is): [...] There is no basis in reality for suggesting that Trump copied any part of his speech from \"Legally Blonde,\" however. Albeit expertly done for comic effect, Fallon's TV montage used a very few cherry-picked moments from different parts of Trump's address to create the impression that the president echoed the Reese Witherspoon character's words:", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Oatmeal is Unhealthy !!", "evidence": "Oats have long had a reputation for being one of the healthier foods you can choose for breakfast. But some people on social media have been calling this claim into question, suggesting that rather than being a healthy staple, oatmeal (and porridge, which is often made using oats) might in fact have no nutritional value whatsoever. However, while these claims have garnered plenty of media attention, there\u2019s little evidence to back them up. Rather, the science overwhelmingly shows that oats can be beneficial for your health in many ways. One line of reasoning used to argue oats aren\u2019t healthy is that eating them can lead to spikes in blood sugar (glucose). This seems to be linked to the rising use of glucose monitors by people who don\u2019t have diabetes. These monitors may depict normal changes in blood glucose, which happen after we eat, as a \"spike\" in blood sugar.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Presidential Election of SL Will Be Held On September 28 or October 5 !!", "evidence": "Colombo, May 9 (Daily Mirror) - The Election Commission formally announced that the 2024 Presidential election will be held on a day between September 17 and October 16. Issuing a notice signed by its chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, the Election Commission said it will call for nominations to hold the Presidential election within the specified timeframe in terms of the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Presidential Elections Act No. l5 of 1981, and that by virtue of the powers vested with the Election Commission to fix the date for the election, it will hold the Presidential election between 17 September 2024 and l6 October 2024.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}
{"claim": "China Has Chosen A Design Inspired By The Palestinian Flag For The Paris Olympics 2024 !!", "evidence": "The claim: Image shows China's Olympic uniform inspired by Palestinian flag [...] \"China has chosen a design of the Palestinian flag for the Paris 2024 Olympics,\" reads the post's caption. [...] The photo was featured in a 2023 issue of Vogue China and doesn't show the 2024 Olympic design. China's uniform for the Paris Olympics is red and white.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Income Tax Refund Of Rs 15,490 Approved For Taxpayers !!", "evidence": "A message on social media claims that an income tax refund of Rs 15,490 has been approved for individual taxpayers. In order to get it, the viral message claim that people need to verify their bank account numbers if these are not correct. The message has also a link to verify the bank account. \"You have been approved an income tax refund of Rs. 15,490/-, the amount will be credited to your account shortly. Please verify your account number 5XXXXX6755. If this is not correct, please update your bank account information by visiting the link below,\" the viral message stated. The viral message turned out to be fake. The central government's nodal agency's fact check department has refuted the viral message. It said that Income Tax has not sent this message. \"A viral message claims that the recipient has been approved for an income tax refund of Rs 15,490,\" PIB said in a tweet, adding that, \"Income Tax has not sent this message.\"", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Salaries for state workers should be increased to Rs. 1000. - JVP", "evidence": "Three trade unions, the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU), Ceylon Workers\u2019 Congress (CWC) and the Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre (JPTUC), are signatories to the current collective agreement. In negotiating the new agreement they have demanded that basic salaries of workers be increased by Rs. 500-1000 a day. [...] \"Workers require at least a Rs. 1,000 salary. They have to deal with leeches and leopards and face the hot sun. They deserve better pay,\" he emphasised. [...] Some plantation workers lamented that life would be difficult for their families, even in the unlikely event that wages were increased to Rs. 1,000. Sivanaiyah Ladchumanan, a 51-year-old labourer, said even the \"reasonable demand\" of a basic wage of Rs. 1,000 would be inadequate to support a family of three as prices of goods, including those for basic needs, had increased significantly.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Russia Declares War Against The USA!!", "evidence": "EXPERT INTERVIEWS \u2014 It\u2019s a warning Russia has issued repeatedly since the first days of its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine: Don\u2019t forget that we are [\u2026] More [...] The Putin doctrine is that whatever is bad for the U.S. has to be supported. Europe can be divided and picked off to isolate the U.S.. Iran is providing critical support for Russia against Ukraine. So is North Korea. Russia is allied to pariah countries that want to overthrow the international order. In effect, Putin has declared war on the west. He is fighting it on several fronts. Rather than just shore up Ukraine, we have to take the fight to Russia. [...] SUBSCRIBER + INTERVIEW \u2013 We say this often, but it really is a pivotal moment in Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine. While Russian troops make small [\u2026] More", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "EMF Radiation From Wi-Fi Routers Effects On Plant Growth And Human Health !!", "evidence": "To understand the impact of such electromagnetic radiations on plants, Capsicum annuum L. var. Pusa jwala was grown in the close vicinity of electromagnetic radiations emitted by Wi-Fi routers. [...] The seed germination in vicinity of Wi-Fi router was reduced to 75% and other growth related parameters like root and shoot length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area index and fresh weight were significantly reduced. In Biochemical analysis, Chlorophyll pigments (Chl. a, b and total chlorophyll) were reduced by 4.8, 7.2 and 5.7 fold respectively and protein content reduced by 1.5 fold under influence of electromagnetic radiations. The product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) (18 fold) and proline content (10 fold) was increased synergistically. The electromagnetic radiations emitted by Wi-Fi router have negative influence on growth and biochemical response in Chilli plants.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Saudi Arabia Is The Only Country Without Rivers !!", "evidence": "The claim that Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world without rivers is incorrect. There are numerous other countries and territories without permanent rivers. While Saudi Arabia does not have any permanent rivers, it shares this characteristic with many other regions across the globe.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Elon Musk Is Giving Away Bitcoin Or Ethereum Freely !!", "evidence": "I received a notification via Twitter that I had been added to Elon Musk\u2019s CryptoCurrency Giveaway list. The scam account that was running this giveaway was named Elon Musk [redacted] with some obscure numbers at the end that I cannot remember. The account also had the same profile picture that the real Elon Musk used, as well. The instructions provided a link to [redacted]. On this website, there was a brief description of how the Tesla marketing team and Elon Musk created an exciting opportunity to further promote cryptocurrency by initiating a giveaway of Bitcoin and Ethereum. On this website, there was also a link to www.medium.com. The rules seemed very simple: you could opt for Bitcoin or Ethereum, and send a minimum amount of either one (0.025 Bitcoin or 0.5 Ethereum), and in turn, would receive double the amount that you sent, within a very short amount of time (minutes). The giveaway was advertised as first come, first serve, and would end after 5,000BTC/100,000ETH was given away. I did some quick investigating and it seemed very legit at the time, with hundreds of comments of fellow people having success and receiving their perspective amounts, with photo evidence.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Letter On Sajith\u2019s Participation In ITN`s Debate With Anura !!", "evidence": "The letter circulating on social media, claiming that opposition leader Sajith Premadasa is ready to attend a debate with Anura Kumara Dissanayake on June 6, is fake. This has been confirmed SJB media secretary, and corroborated by an official letter from MP Nalin Bandara to ITN's chairman.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Elon Musk Has Publicly Stated He Was Shocked From Hearing Hadunneththi`S Allegations", "evidence": "Recently, a series of social media posts emerged claiming that Elon Musk said he was shocked to hear a Sri Lankan politician label him an \"economic criminal.\" These posts prominently feature the logo of \"Dasatha,\" a well-known social media and web news channel. The context revolves around a statement made by Sunil Hadunneththi, a member of the National People's Power (NPP) executive committee in Sri Lanka, who later apologized publicly to Elon Musk. [...] An extensive review of Elon Musk\u2019s social media accounts, including X, revealed no statements or reactions to the alleged comments by Sunil Hadunneththi. [...] Title:Elon Musk Has NOT publicly stated he was shocked from hearing Hadunneththi's Allegations", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Piyumi Wijesekera\u2019s Was Selected to a NASA\u2019s Mars Mission !!", "evidence": "Sri Lankan born NASA scientist Piyumi Wijesekera being chosen for NASA\u2019s simulated Mars journey [...] Sri Lankan born NASA scientist Piyumi Wijesekera has been chosen for NASA\u2019s simulated Mars journey, NASA announced recently. [...] In a powerful inspirational leap for Women in science and a proud moment for Sri Lanka, Piyumi Wijesekera has been selected by NASA to participate in the next simulated Mars mission. This groundbreaking endeavor aims to prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "The humans are carnivorous species !!", "evidence": "Are humans carnivores? You probably think you already know the answer; humans are omnivores. Right? [...] Humans are indeed carnivores. [...] When you think about the word carnivore, what comes to mind? Most people envision a pride of lions hunting zebras in the Serengeti, isolating the weakest member of the herd and savagely ripping its throat with razor-sharp teeth before a bloody feast. In truth, there\u2019s a carnivore a little nearer and dearer to all of us. You only need to look in the mirror to catch a glimpse. Humans are carnivores.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "Biden going to declare and activate the Selective Service Act and begins drafting 20 years old to war!!", "evidence": "Jack Posobiec, a right-wing activist known for promoting the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, recently created a fake video of President Biden announcing a draft to send American soldiers to Ukraine. AI imagines what would happen if Biden declares and activates the Selective Service Act and begins drafting 20 years old to war pic.twitter.com/896Htrtteu \u2014 The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 27, 2023", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Sri Lankan Government Distributing Free Solar Panels To The General Public !!", "evidence": "Soorya Bala Sangramaya is one of the most popular programs the Sri Lankan government launched to promote solar energy in Sri Lanka. This program introduces three types of methods to capture solar energy and convert it into electricity: on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems. And also this project includes three payment schemes named net metering, net plus, and net accounting schemes. [...] As a way to lessen its dependence on non-renewable energy sources, Sri Lanka has been gradually introducing solar energy. Due to the nation's rapid industrialization and urbanization, energy demand has increased, and the government has taken measures to satisfy this demand sustainably. The Sri Lankan government has set a goal of achieving 80% renewable energy generation by 2030 by utilizing solar panels and other renewable energy sources [1]. Sri Lanka has put in place a net metering scheme that allows people to install solar panels and sell any extra electricity they produce back to the national grid in order to encourage the use of solar energy. This method promotes the use of green energy, reduces electricity costs, and adds to the nation's energy supply. [...] However, implementing solar panels in Sri Lanka faces several barriers and challenges, such as high initial costs, payback period time, and more government support. To overcome these challenges, we recommended that the government reduce taxes, provide solar panel installation loans, and continue supporting initiatives such as the Soorya Bala Sangramaya.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Is 5G Radiation Harmful And Lethal For Birds And Humans?", "evidence": "The origin of this claim is as head-spinning as it is instructive, so let's untangle the knot: Does 5G really kill birds, and if not, why are so many people shouting about it online? The first part of this saga is fairly straightforward: No, 5G\u2014the fifth generation of our mobile cellular network\u2014does not kill birds. \"Radio wave emissions above 10 MHz from radio transmission antennas (including cell telephone towers) are not known to harm birds,\" says Joe Kirschvink, a biophysicist at the California Institute of Technology who specializes in magnetics, in an email. [...] The \"5G kills birds\" phenomenon was started by John Kuhles, who according to the fact-checking site Snopes, \"runs several anti-5G conspiracy websites and social media pages.\" In a Facebook post last year, Kuhles claimed that a recent mass die-off of European Starlings in the Netherlands was caused by a 5G antenna test. Despite the fact that the local municipality never named a cause for the die-off, and the fact that the test Kuhles cites happened months before the die-off occurred, other Facebook pages and health blogs nonetheless picked up the post.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "Heated Argument Between Mark Zuckerberg And Elon Musk Over Meta Platforms\u2019 Outage", "evidence": "The Zuckerberg-Musk rivalry continues with the launch of Meta's 'Twitter killer' app Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter owner Elon Musk have long had a rivalry. That's now been put on vivid display with Zuckerberg taking aim at Twitter by launching the new social media app Threads. The war between Facebook parent company Meta and Twitter is heating up. Meta has just launched an app called Threads. It's been called a Twitter killer, putting Twitter on the defensive. It's just the latest instance of a long-running rivalry between the two tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. NPR tech reporter Bobby Allyn joins us now. Welcome.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Drone-Operated Mobile Toilets In China!", "evidence": "Smart mobile toilets at the Beijing 2022's Olympic medals plaza in Beijing, China. /Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design Research Technology has played a major role in China's battle against COVID-19, more so as it hosts the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Smart mobile toilets have been a key feature of the Olympics' closed loop system and Beijing 2022 organizers say they have been an important player in the prevention of COVID-19. [...] Smart mobile toilets at Beijing 2022's alpine skiing and sliding competition venues in Yanqing District, Beijing, China. /Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design Research", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "China Is Not Ready To Amortize SL\u2019s Outstanding Debt!(letter)", "evidence": "China holds roughly 6.2 percent of Sri Lanka\u2019s total central government debt \u2013 some as central government debt (around $670 million) but mostly as debt through state-owned banks like China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank (CDB), totaling around $7 billion. These loans have financed myriad projects: utilities, roads and highways (parts of the Southern Expressway and Central Expressway), ill-conceived ports and airports, vanity convention centers, and telecom towers. Consequently, questions around the value Sri Lanka received for these Chinese loans have lingered over the last decade. [...] Views taken by Chinese officials have changed over the weeks and months following Sri Lanka\u2019s debt default decision. Immediately after the April 12th announcement, China\u2019s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said that \"China has done its best to help Sri Lanka not to default but sadly they went to the IMF and decided to default [\u2026] the debt restructuring definitely will have an impact on future bilateral loans.\" Qi added \u2013 quite controversially \u2013 that \"[c]ountries that colonized Sri Lanka have more obligations to help at this juncture.\" This came on the back of China rejecting a request (made by the Sri Lankan government in March 2022) to reschedule its loans. China instead offered refinancing \u2013 a new $1 billion loan to help repay part of the existing loans.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Tyson Foods Teamed Up With Protix To Create Insect Protein for Humans !!", "evidence": "Tyson Foods teamed up with Protix To create Insect Protein for Animals, not for human consumption! [...] While Tyson Foods' partnership with Protix involves producing insect-based food products, these are intended for animal consumption and not for humans. Contrary to social media claims, there is no indication that Tyson Foods and Protix are collaborating to introduce insects into processed foods meant for human consumption. However, it's worth noting that edible insects can be a sustainable protein source for humans when adequately prepared and regulated. Title:Tyson Foods teamed up with Protix To create Insect Protein for Animals, not for human consumption!", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Zelensky Tell World Leaders To Spend All Their Money On Weapons To Attack Russia!!", "evidence": "Ukraine war: Russian 'evil cannot be trusted', Zelensky tells UN \"Evil cannot be trusted,\" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the UN General Assembly, as he urged the world to unite to end Russian aggression against his country. In a passionate speech in New York, Mr Zelensky said a nuclear-armed Moscow must be stopped from \"pushing the world to the final war\". [...] \"While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after the Russian aggression no-one in the world will dare to attack any nation,\" Mr Zelensky said to world leaders attending the annual General Assembly.", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "An Organized Criminal Group Posing As Government Officials For TIN Registration in Sri Lanka!", "evidence": "Sri Lanka\u2019s tax system has been updated with a new requirement for everyone aged 18 years or more. The Inland Revenue Department of Sri Lanka has introduced a mandate under Section 102 of the Inland Revenue Act for resident persons\u2019 registration. In this blog, we\u2019ll dive into the specifics of TIN registration in Sri Lanka, explaining what this change means for you and guiding you through the registration process. Who Needs to Register for TIN Registration in Sri Lanka? [...] Got questions about the new TIN registration in Sri Lanka? Feeling overwhelmed? Don\u2019t worry, we\u2019re here to help! Our team is dedicated to guiding you smoothly through obtaining your TIN number, and we won\u2019t stop there. We\u2019ll also assist you with opening tax files, calculating your PAYE tax, and handling other tax-related matters. Our experts are here to provide advice and support, aiming to reduce your tax burden effectively. You\u2019re not alone in this journey. Let us help you navigate the complexities of tax registration with ease.", "stance": "insufficient-refutes"}
{"claim": "The research unit of Akuressa Coop, led by NPP, has developed a novel wood apple mixed chocolate product !!", "evidence": "The Akuressa Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) chaired by W. T. K. Rajapaksa won comprehensively at its election yesterday. Of the 58 Co-operative Societies of the Akuressa MPCS, Rajapaksa and his allies backed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led \u2018Committee to Safeguard the Cooperative Movement\u2019 gained 38. Of the 100 representatives elected, 70 are from the Rajapaksa camp. A tense situation arose when the results of the tightly contested election was announced as Rajapaksa and his team made a clean sweep winning all nine seats. [...] Today, the Akuressa MPCS holds assets worth over Rs. 3,000 million including investments in retail outlets, a restaurant, a tea estate and a public transport venture. Rajapaksa said that a hospital was on the cards and a land had already been purchased in this regard.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Beware Of Hoax WhatsApp Message Asking To Register For Free Laptops Offered By The Government\u2026", "evidence": "There are plenty of online hoaxes spread through social media platforms, especially through WhatsApp. At Fact Crescendo, we are always alert for such online frauds. Due to which we came across this WhatsApp message claiming that government was providing free laptop for the youth and requested users to get register to avail this offer. We [\u2026] There are plenty of online hoaxes spread through social media platforms, especially through WhatsApp. At Fact Crescendo, we are always alert for such online frauds. Due to which we came across this WhatsApp message claiming that government was providing free laptop for the youth and requested users to get register to avail this offer. [...] From our more investigation, we can confirm that the message being shared on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms claiming that the government is providing free laptops for youth and requesting to register via and external website link is fake. Government of Sri Lanka has also advised users not to fall for such frauds.", "stance": "supports"}
{"claim": "A Rat Moved On The Space X Falcon 9 Engine On Its Way To Space", "evidence": "A movement, which appears like a mouse scurrying away, on the flaming hot engines of Space X's Falcon 9, has left netizens believing that a mouse accompanied astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on their historical journey to the International Space Station (ISS). [...] The \"mouse\" was spotted by a viewer who pointed out the \"rodent\" scurrying around the rocket's fuselage. Sharing the 23-second long clip on Twitter, the user, who goes by the name Beach Milk, wrote: \"Looks like a MOUSE hitchhiked a ride on Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launch today! The mouse showed a truly amazing ability to withstand heat!\"", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "Climate Change is a tool used for Depopulation!!", "evidence": "Penedo Model-Village, instrument to fight against depopulation against climate change", "stance": "insufficient-supports"}
{"claim": "The CID Arrested The President Of The Kelaniya Student Union At the Airport !", "evidence": "The CID Did NOT arrest the president of the Kelaniya Student Union; but another activist of the same union! [...] On the 26th, the mainstream media, including social media, had reported that Kalum Mudannayake, President of the University of Kelaniya's Students' Union, had been arrested by the Public Complaints Division of the Criminal Investigation Department. [...] Title:The CID Did NOT arrest the president of the Kelaniya Student Union; but another activist of the same union!", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "US Ambassador Julie Chung Has Been Recalled To Washington !!", "evidence": "Nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Ambassador Julie Chung has been the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka since February 2022. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Ambassador Chung has previously held senior positions throughout the Indo-Pacific and Western Hemisphere. Prior to her current role, Ambassador Chung served as the Acting Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. She also has extensive experience in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, including as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan, Deputy Chief of Mission in Cambodia, and Economic Counselor in Thailand. In addition, she has served at the U.S. embassies in Iraq, Colombia, Vietnam, and Japan, and the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. She also served as an advisor on nonproliferation discussions of the Agreed Framework with North Korea while working in the Office of Korean Affairs in Washington. As a child, Ambassador Chung immigrated to the United States from Korea and was raised in Huntington Beach, California. She received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego and an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University and joined the Foreign Service in 1996 in the first cohort of the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship program. Ambassador Chung has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Rank Award and the Secretary\u2019s Distinguished Honor Award, and speaks Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Khmer.", "stance": "insufficient-neutral"}
{"claim": "Bluetooth headphones emit the EMF wave that increases cancer risk !!", "evidence": "This picture, stating the critical harm of wireless Bluetooth, was widely shared on the internet. The picture contains a wireless headphone image beside the image of the human brain, leading the readers to feel that Bluetooth headphones affect our brains. Facebook Post | Archive Another Facebook post about the potential risk of cancer from Bluetooth [\u2026] [...] Another Facebook post about the potential risk of cancer from Bluetooth headphones. [...] The claim that the EMF wave in Bluetooth devices increases cancer risk is misleading since it lacks established evidence about the connection between Bluetooth headphones usage and cancer risk. Moreover, many guaranteed reports and Scientific studies have confirmed that Bluetooth headphones have no links to cancer risk.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "Fox News Tweets that 68% of individuals who used Ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 are suffering from long-term bowel and urinary incontinence.", "evidence": "The claim regarding long-term bowel and urinary incontinence among individuals using Ivermectin for COVID-19 lacks credible evidence and has been debunked by independent fact-checkers also.", "stance": "refutes"}
{"claim": "CCTV Footage Of A Burglary In Sri Lanka", "evidence": "Chilling CCTV footage shows moment Sri Lankan suicide bomber attempted to blow up luxury hotel Chilling CCTV footage shows the moment a Sri Lankan suicide bomber calmly enters a hotel dining room with a bomb. It didn\u2019t go to plan. Chilling CCTV footage has shown the moment a Sri Lankan suicide bomber failed to blow up his original target, the luxury Taj Samudra hotel.", "stance": "insufficient-contradictory"}