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.

Gross Domestic Product expenditure of on higher education 39, 43, 46, 52, 59, 284-285, 288, 379 growth in 281 growth in higher education (see also demand) 17-21, 88, 274 Harris report 144, 152, 158, 182 health and safety 171, 235, 277, 303 higher education compact 11- 12, 86, 107-108, 158, 197, 228-229, 235, 253, 282-283, 289, 297-298, 322, 347, 362, 366, 368, 434, 446 [...] Quality Assurance Agency 37, 122, 124, 142-143, 151, 157-161, 163-164, 178-179, 182, 254-255, 259, 262, 308, 356, 367-368, 371, 373, 378-379 quality of higher education 24, 36, 143, 160, 163, 202, 221 rates of return see economic benefits to individual and to society regional role of higher education 1, 251-252, 260, 358, 369, 382, 448, 458 encouraging entrepreneurship 201, 375 engaging in cultural and community development 195-196


Public spending on education as a share of GDP [...] "Data Page: Public spending on education as a share of GDP". Our World in Data (2024). Data adapted from World Bank, Tanzi & Schuknecht. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/total-government-expenditure-on-education-gdp [online resource] [...] World Bank (2023); Tanzi & Schuknecht (2000) – processed by Our World in Data. "Public spending on education as a share of GDP" [dataset]. World Bank, "World Bank Education Statistics (EdStats) 2023"; Tanzi & Schuknecht, "Public Expenditure on Education OECD" [original data]. Retrieved October 9, 2024 from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/total-government-expenditure-on-education-gdp


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."

• That said, Trump did implement several key promises, including installing conservative judges, levying tariffs, moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and pulling out of the Paris climate accord. [...] Raise tariffs on goods imported into the U.S. [...] PolitiFact, Trump-O-Meter index page, accessed Jan. 19, 2021


As he’s campaigned to win back the White House, former President Donald Trump has made a lot of big promises. [...] He would pursue an aggressive trade policy, this time including a 10% tariff on foreign goods. Critics have said this would spike inflation after Trump has hammered Biden over elevated prices. Trump said he would also prevent U.S. investments in Chinese companies; Trump has often singled out China as an economic adversary. [...] Supporters of former President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP)


During his 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed wide-ranging tariffs on imported goods. The specific projected dollar impact on consumers varies. Two estimates we found broadly support Harris’ $4,000 figure; two others show a smaller — though still significant — impact.


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

Many Americans Don't Trust Mail-In Voting. What Can Be Done? [...] Since his rise to the heights of politics nine years ago, former U.S. President Donald Trump has continuously denounced mail-in voting as a concrete example of what he claims is endemic fraud in American elections. Without evidence, he has depicted mail voting as an open portal in many states, an easy way for Democrats, foreign countries, or unauthorized immigrants to shovel millions of fake, election-flipping votes into the electoral system.


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

In the latest wave of cultural clashes, conservative commentator Candace Owens has set her sights on superstar Taylor Swift, vowing to bar her from NFL events in the upcoming season. Owens, known for her outspoken views on social and political issues, labeled Swift as "awfully woke," sparking a fervent debate over the intersection of entertainment, activism, and sports. Owens, a prominent figure in conservative circles, has been vocal about her disapproval of Swift’s public stances on various political and social issues. In a recent statement, Owens declared her intention to rally support for banning Swift from NFL events, citing her perceived influence in shaping public opinion. [...] However, Owens and other critics argue that Swift’s activism has crossed into divisive territory, polarizing audiences and injecting politics into entertainment spaces like the NFL. Owens accused Swift of leveraging her fame to advance a partisan agenda, calling for a reevaluation of her presence in mainstream events.


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

"When it comes to farming and agriculture, we know that there is a direct connection between discriminatory policies within the USDA and the enormous land loss we have seen among Black farmers over the past century," Booker said in a statement about the Justice for Black Farmers Act. [...] Years of discrimination left Black farmers with more debt than their counterparts, and less land and access to credit, contributing to a decline in the number of farmers who are not white. [...] Black farmers sued the USDA in 1997, arguing that racial discrimination led to Black farmers losing out on important federal assistance such as farm loans between 1981 and 1996. The landmark class-action suit Pigford v. USDA was settled for $1 billion, with the main payment being $50,000 to farmers whose claims were accepted with additional debt and tax liability.


Booker’s claim is supported by findings in USDA reports, legal settlements between the department and Black farmers and expert opinion. In 1920, there were about 925,700 Black farmers. In 2017, that number was down to 45,500. Bias in the implementation of New Deal policies and other farm assistance programs meant Black farmers were continually denied opportunities to expand and modernize their farms.


"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."

Francesca Hong stated on May 18, 2022 in a tweet: "In the Wisconsin State Assembly this session, more than 75% of GOP bills received a public hearing. Tony Evers stated on June 13, 2022 in Campaign email: "Wisconsin's archaic abortion ban is older than 20 states." Kelda Helen Roys stated on May 8, 2022 in TV interview: Because of U.S. Senate rules, Democrats need "more than a majority ... to codify Roe vs. Wade." Eric Toney stated on April 14, 2022 in News release: The state crime lab under Attorney General Josh Kaul "is testing significantly less items than former AG Brad Schimel and is still taking longer to test many categories of key items in comparison to Schimel, including DNA." Melissa Agard stated on April 11, 2022 in Twitter: Cannabis reform "is supported by the majority of the residents of our state, including a majority of Republicans." Tony Evers stated on January 13, 2022 in News release: Says he has issued more pardons than "any Wisconsin governor in contemporary history." [...] Francesca Hong stated on May 18, 2022 in a tweet: "In the Wisconsin State Assembly this session, more than 75% of GOP bills received a public hearing.


All men aged 18 to 26 “have been automatically registered in the U.S. Army.”

It’s important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in a sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical, and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces. [...] Men serving in the military on full-time active duty do not have to register if serving continuously from age 18 to age 26. Those attending the service academies do not have to register. However, if a man joins the military after turning 18 or leaves the military before turning 26, he must register. [...] Members of the Reserve and National Guard not on full-time active duty must register.


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

Caitlin Clark Reportedly Signs 8-Year, $28 Million Deal With Nike [...] Although Nike has been sparse on details, The Wall Street Journal has reported the athletic giant’s deal for Caitlin Clark is worth up to $28 million over eight years. [...] More details have surfaced about WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark’s reported signature shoe deal and contract with Nike.


"BREAKING: Caitlin Clark Rejects $400 Million Deal From Nike, 'Not With That Kaepernick Clown,’' read a June 21 Facebook post. It included an image of Clark and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. [...] News, "Caitlin Clark Rejects $400 Million Deal From Nike, ‘Not With That Kaepernick, (archived), June 21, 2024 SpaceXMania, "Breaking: Caitlin Clark Turns Down Massive Nike Endorsement Worth $400 Million, "Never In A Million Years With That Kaepernick Clown" (archived), June 19, 2024


This claim originated on a satire site. In April, it was widely reported that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark was expected to enter a lucrative contract with Nike.


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

AB 1955, known as The Safety Act, was introduced by Assemblyman Chris Ward, along with the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, on Wednesday, according to a report by KMPH in Fresno. The bill was introduced following reports of students being outed by school staff, sometimes leading to familial rejection or even violence. "I am proud to stand up for our LGBTQ youth and introduce #AB1955 The SAFETY Act," Ward wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday. "Teachers should not be the gender police and violate the trust and safety of the students in their classrooms. This bill will ensure all students have a safe and supportive environment to learn, regardless of their gender identity." Supporters of the bill argue that outing students without their consent can lead to severe mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, and in extreme cases, homelessness or self-harm. Advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Equality California have voiced strong support for the measure.


One social media user said in a June 16 Instagram video the bill "would allow schools to secretly, socially and perhaps medically transition your child without your knowledge and consent." [...] An Instagram video says a proposed California law would let schools "secretly, socially and perhaps medically transition your child without your knowledge and consent." The claim misstates what Assembly Bill 1955 would do. The law would ban any school district or governing body from enacting or enforcing policies that would require teachers and other school staff to share information about students’ sexual orientation or gender identity with others, including parents, without students’ consent.


California’s Senate passed Assembly Bill 1955, which blocks school districts from enacting policies that require staff to notify parents about students’ sexual orientation or gender identity. To become law, the bill would have to pass the state’s Assembly and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill says schools should be supportive and affirming of students; it doesn’t require school staff to encourage or assist in a child’s gender transition, legal experts said.


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

What Caitlin Clark and Iowa's win over LSU and Angel Reese means for the growth Olympic women's basketball [...] Olympic Membership | Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now! [...] UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards played for Canada at the Games in Japan and her coach, Geno Auriemma, led the Rio 2016gold-medal winning women’s U.S. team. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was invited to be a part of the U.S. women’s training camp, which makes her eligible to be named to the U.S. team headed to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.


Canada Basketball confirmed that American basketball star Caitlin Clark has not joined Canada’s Olympic women’s basketball team. The image of Clark wearing the Canadian jersey appears to be edited.


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

There is evidence that three team captains — from Germany, England, and Denmark — wore rainbow or pro-LGBTQ+ armbands during this tournament, which included 24 teams. Germany’s captain, Manuel Neuer, was briefly investigated by the Union of European Football Associations for his rainbow armband. Cristiano Ronaldo was among many other captains who wore normal armbands.


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

FACT CHECK: Trump Touts Low Unemployment Rates For African-Americans, Hispanics [...] African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 [...] Trump is right that African-American unemployment hit a record low in December. The unemployment rate for black Americans is currently 6.8 percent, the lowest level recorded since the government started keeping track in January 1972.


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

Joe Biden stated on July 13, 2024 in a statement to the media "The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of." Social Media stated on July 13, 2024 in social media posts Donald Trump staged the shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Instagram posts stated on June 30, 2024 in an Instagram post The city of San Francisco posted street signs warning that "stolen goods must remain under $950." Viral image stated on June 18, 2024 in a Facebook post "Justin Timberlake allegedly had traces of molly, poppers, Truvada, and coke in his bloodstream following his DWI arrest in New York." Donald Trump stated on June 15, 2024 in remarks in Detroit Crime statistics "no longer include data from 30% of the country including the biggest and most violent cities." Joe Biden stated on May 24, 2024 in a campaign email "The last administration oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded." Load more [...] Donald Trump stated on June 15, 2024 in remarks in Detroit Crime statistics "no longer include data from 30% of the country including the biggest and most violent cities."


The feds for years had announced the change was coming, but many agencies did not switch in time to submit data, including the New York City Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department — the nation’s two largest. Some entire states, including California and Florida, sent virtually no data. To make up for the data holes, the Justice Department created new estimation methods that use data from agencies that did submit to the FBI to fill in the blanks for the rest of the country. In some cases, the FBI didn’t even have enough information to make an estimation. Here are a few examples of what the FBI could not include in its 2021 crime report: [...] This problem could persist for years, as upgrading reporting systems has proven expensive and complicated for police agencies. The Los Angeles Police tried for years and had to start from scratch. The San Francisco Police Department previously told The Marshall Project that they don’t plan to send crime data to the FBI until 2025.


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

QUICK LOOK - The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals found the COVID-19 mandates imposed by the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine unconstitutional on May 7th. [...] The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the University of Colorado’s expansive COVID-19 vaccine mandate unconstitutional earlier this month, calling it "religious animus." [...] The plaintiffs argued Anschutz violated their First Amendment rights by selectively denying their religious objection to the COVID-19 vaccine.


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

Apple doesn’t charge a fee to use its popular FaceTime feature on iPhones, iPads and Macs, and has not announced plans to start charging users.


The claim: Apple plans to start charging users for FaceTime [...] "Apple is really about to start charging us to use the FaceTime feature, wild," reads the post. [...] No evidence Apple to start charging FaceTime users


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

On June 7, 2024, Esspots.com published an article positing that Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, had advised his team not to participate in Pride Month activities, the monthlong commemoration of the LGBTQ+ community. According to the article, Tomlin called the festivities "woke crap," adding that it had "no place in our team activities." The article began as follows: [...] In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the sports and social communities, Steelers' Coach Mike Tomlin has directed his team not to participate in Pride Month activities, calling it "woke crap." This decision has sparked a heated debate, drawing sharp reactions from fans, advocacy groups, and fellow athletes.


In July 2022, the website The Dunning-Kruger Times published an article holding that Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin had forbidden his players from taking a knee in protest against social injustice before NFL games: [...] Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has issued a mandate to all of his players for the upcoming season: there will be no kneeling on the field. Tomlin’s statement came as a shock to the team, since the Steelers have been the team with the largest number of unpatriotic kneelers since the crisis began in 2017. [...] In the past Tomlin has expressed support for his players who choose to kneel to protest social injustice. "Our position is simple: We're going to support our players and their willingness to participate in this -- whether it's statements or actions," he told reporters in 2020.


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

No, Texas Constitution doesn't bar Trump from running for president | Fact check The claim: Texas Constitution prohibits Trump from running for president [...] "Trump can't be on the Texas ballot because of our state constitution," The X post's caption says.


The post wrongly states that Texas’ constitution would knock Trump off the ballot. [...] "Trump can and will be on the ballot in Texas," Taylor said. [...] A Threads post said, "Trump can’t be on the Texas ballot because of our state constitution."


Hamburger chain Fuddruckers has denied rumors that it is closing all its locations. [...] Another news post by The U.S. Sun revealed that social media buzzed on May 23, 2024, with the phrase "Fuddruckers closing all locations." The uproar originated from a now-removed TikTok post asserting Fuddruckers' complete closure in 2024. The video also claimed similar fates for chains like Pizza Hut and Applebee's. With over 50 locations spanning the US, Mexico, and Canada, Fuddruckers' purported shutdown garnered attention. However, it's important to note that while Fuddruckers isn't shuttering all outlets, it has indeed closed some in the past year.


"Restaurants closing in 2024," the May 22 post says. "Fuddruckers is expected to close ALL locations by the end of the year. Old Country Buffet is closing ALL remainder locations. IHOP is closing 100 locations." Other Facebook posts include as many as 24 restaurant chains, and these claim definitively that Fuddruckers, a hamburger chain, is "closing ALL locations." [...] Some of the information in these posts is accurate; some of the most dramatic claims, such as Fuddruckers closing all its locations, aren’t.


Joe Biden stated on July 13, 2024 in a statement to the media "The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of." Social Media stated on July 13, 2024 in social media posts Donald Trump staged the shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Instagram posts stated on June 30, 2024 in an Instagram post The city of San Francisco posted street signs warning that "stolen goods must remain under $950." Viral image stated on June 18, 2024 in a Facebook post "Justin Timberlake allegedly had traces of molly, poppers, Truvada, and coke in his bloodstream following his DWI arrest in New York." Donald Trump stated on June 15, 2024 in remarks in Detroit Crime statistics "no longer include data from 30% of the country including the biggest and most violent cities." Joe Biden stated on May 24, 2024 in a campaign email "The last administration oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded." Load more [...] Joe Biden stated on May 24, 2024 in a campaign email "The last administration oversaw the largest increase in murders ever recorded."


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

NFL Team Kansas City Chiefs Refuses To Participate In Pride Month - Satire (screen capture) [...] Breaking: NFL Team Kansas City Chiefs Refuses To Participate In Pride Month, "It's Extremely Woke" In a surprising and controversial decision, the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the NFL's most prominent teams, have announced that they will not be participating in Pride Month celebrations this year. The team has stated that they find the event "extremely woke," sparking a widespread debate and drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.


Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month along with President Biden’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his stance on abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.


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

FACT CHECK: Did HarperCollins Omit 64,575 Words In The NIV And ESV Bibles? A post shared on Facebook claims HarperCollins removed 64,575 words in the NIV and ESV Bibles after acquiring the publishing rights. [...] "NIV was published by Zondervan but is now OWNED by Harper Collins, who also publishes the Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. The NIV and ESV has now removed 64,575 words from the Bible including Jehovah, Calvary, Holy Ghost and omnipotent to name but a few," the post reads, in part. "The NIV and ESV has also now removed 45 complete verses." (RELATED: Photo Shows 3d Model Of Taylor Swift, Not Biblical Figure Eve Created By Princeton Scientists)


I’m sure you know that New international version (NIV) was published by Zondervan but is now OWNED by Harper Collins, who also publishes the Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. The NIV and English Standard Version (ESV) has now removed 64,575 words from the Bible including Jehovah, Calvary, Holy Ghost and omnipotent to name but a few… The NIV and ESV has also now removed 45 complete verses. Most of us have the Bible on our devices and phones. THE SOLUTION: If you must use the NIV and ESV, BUY and KEEP AN EARLIER VERSION OF the BIBLE. A Hard Copy cannot be updated. All these changes occur when they ask you to update the app. [...] Where the memes will tell you that modern translators are removing verses from the Bible, it’s far more likely that the KJV’s translators were working off of manuscripts that added verses to the Bible. Therefore, even though those verses have been printed in the Bible for hundreds of years, we’re likely better off without having them.


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

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., didn’t quote Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., accurately. Swalwell posted that Graham said Trump plans to deport legal immigrants, but Graham said Trump plans to deport immigrants in the U.S. "illegally," not "legally."


All right. Senator, let's – let’s move on to immigration. If reelected, Donald Trump has said he's willing to build migrant detention camps and deploy the U.S. military to deport the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country. It would be the largest deportation operation in American history. Do you support that plan? [...] Senator, here's what you said about Donald Trump's mass deportation proposals in 2016. Take a look. I don't think it's reasonable to say you're going to round up and deport 11 million people. I don't think it's a plan that works. I don't think that's a realistic policy.


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

By — Amna Nawaz Amna Nawaz By — Shrai Popat Shrai Popat Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/biden-uses-executive-privilege-block-gop-access-to-special-counsel-interview-audio Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio President Biden used executive privilege to deny House Republicans access to audio from his interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The October 2023 interview centered on the president’s handling of classified documents. Republicans requested the audio and planned to hold Attorney General Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to provide it. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Carrie Johnson. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Amna Nawaz: President Biden today used executive privilege to deny House Republicans access to audio recordings from his interview with special counsel Robert Hur.The October 2023 interview centered on the president's handling of classified documents. Hur's report described the president as a — quote — "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."House Republicans, including Representatives Jim Jordan and James Comer, requested the audio and planned to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to provide it.Earlier today, Garland addressed the matter.


Joe Biden-Robert Hur interview audio wasn’t leaked; it’s a deepfake, DOJ and experts say [...] Audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur has not been released by the Justice Department. One reason the Justice Department cited: fear it would be used to create deepfake. [...] Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have threatened to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for refusing to release an audio recording of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview of President Joe Biden in a classified documents case.


The Department of Justice doubled down on its decision to not release the audio files of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur to House Republicans, stating that Republicans have not established a legitimate legislative purpose for demanding these recordings, in a new letter obtained by CNN. The letter from DOJ Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte to House Oversight Chair James Comer and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sets up a showdown with Republicans who have continued to threaten holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for not releasing the audio recordings of the interviews Hur conducted with the president and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer. [...] Uriarte argued that DOJ has extensively cooperated with the committees, noting that the department has already turned over the transcripts of the interviews Biden and his ghostwriter had with the special counsel, which would address Republican allegations made about the president as part of their impeachment inquiry.


“Wage increases have exceeded” the cost of inflation.

If Your Time is short • From July through November 2022, monthly wage increases exceeded monthly inflation increases. [...] In July, August, September, October and November 2022, monthly wage increases exceeded monthly inflation increases, albeit narrowly in September and October. [...] He’s correct that in July, August, September, October and November 2022, monthly wage increases exceeded monthly inflation increases, though narrowly for two of those months.


Looking at the duration of Joe Biden’s presidency and using the standard measures for comparing inflation and wages, inflation has increased 19.3% since January 2021 while wages have risen 16.1%. When considering other time periods — compared with a year ago, compared with two years ago and compared with the month before the pandemic — wages have increased faster than inflation.


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

This claim originated on a self-described satire page.


In a move that has reverberated throughout the entertainment industry, veteran actor James Woods has officially left Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s 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’ 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’ departure from Hollywood to join Mel Gibson’s non-woke film studio is more than just a career pivot—it’s 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’ career and the broader cinematic landscape.


Kyle Rittenhouse’s mother is 49, not 38, as some social media posts have claimed [...] Kyle Rittenhouse’s mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, is 49, not 38. [...] New York Post, Kyle Rittenhouse’s mom blasts Biden, claims he ‘defamed’ her son, Nov. 12, 2021


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

This claim originated on a self-described satire site.


Joe Biden wants “to quadruple your taxes.”

President Joe Biden is proposing a tax increase of roughly 7% over the next decade, which is far lower than the 300% increase that former President Donald Trump claimed. About 83% of the proposed Biden tax increase would be borne by the top 1% of taxpayers, a level that starts at just under $1 million a year in income. Taxpayers earning up to $60,400 would see their yearly taxes decline on average, and taxpayers between $60,400 and $107,300 would see an annual increase of $20 on average.


Donald Trump wants to terminate the Affordable Care Act.

Instead of terminating the Affordable Care Act, former President Donald Trump is now promising to make it "much better, stronger and far less expensive" if he wins the presidential election in November. "I’m not running to terminate the ACA as crooked Joe Biden says all over the place," Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social on Thursday, echoing a message he posted last month. "We’re going to make the ACA much better than it is right now and much less expensive for you." [...] Trump also signed a bill effectively eliminating the individual mandate, which required most Americans to have health insurance or face a penalty. And his administration supported a major court challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s constitutionality, leaving it to a coalition of Democratic attorneys general to step in to defend it. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the challenge, keeping the law in place.


"MAGA Republicans have tried to get rid of the Affordable Care Act more than 50 times, and Trump is still determined to do it," Biden said May 19 in Detroit. "In his words, he wants to ‘terminate’ the Affordable Care Act, which would deny 3 million Black Americans health insurance, deny protections for preexisting conditions for millions more Americans. But we’re going to deny Trump." Biden has made similar statements in speeches, interviews and ads and has featured clips of Trump calling the ACA, also known as Obamacare, a "disaster" and saying that Trump "wants to terminate it." Former President Barack Obama signed the ACA into law in 2010. [...] Biden said Trump wants to terminate the Affordable Care Act.


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

This rumor is unfounded. Walmart isn’t resuming 24-hour operations.


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

Ukraine’s presidential election would have been held in March, but Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in November that elections would not take place. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine has operated under martial law. Ukraine’s law prohibits elections during martial law. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made no announcement about suspending Ukraine’s elections. He referred to Ukrainian elections in a May 14 speech, saying the U.S. is working with Ukraine to strengthen its election infrastructure for when Ukrainians agree conditions allow for elections.


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made no announcement about suspending Ukraine’s elections. He referred to Ukrainian elections in a May 14 speech, saying the U.S. is working with Ukraine to strengthen its election infrastructure for when Ukrainians agree conditions allow for elections. [...] One social media user, who was critical of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent Ukraine visit, said Blinken, during his trip, "announced that they were going to suspend elections in Ukraine." [...] An Instagram post’s claim that Blinken announced on a recent visit that Ukraine was suspending its elections ignores that the elections would have already taken place in March and that Zelenskyy announced in November they would not take place because of martial law.


Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Ukraine PRESS STATEMENT MATTHEW MILLER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Ukraine today to meet with senior Ukrainian officials and demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy, especially in the face of Russia’s aggression. While in Ukraine, Secretary Blinken will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister … [...] Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Ukraine Conference Session 1


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

The FBI’s violent crime rate for 2022, the last year officially available, was 370 violent crimes per 100,000 population. Since 1972, only two years have had a lower violent crime rate: 2014 and 2019. Preliminary estimates for 2023 show the violent crime rate continuing to fall. If that is replicated in the final FBI data, 2023 will become the lowest year for the violent crime rate in 50 years.


The violent crime rate reached a 50-year low in 2023, according to a report from the Council on Criminal Justice. The number of murders in America fell by over 12 percent — the largest decline in our history — according to AH Datalytics. Our murder rate is now lower than it was in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Most People Don’t Know Crime Is Down [...] Last fall, the Guggenheim Foundation sponsored a study that forecasted crime rates into 2024 and beyond. The researchers predicted "very modest increases" in violent crime, which would plateau in 2025. Meanwhile, property crime would continue dropping.


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

We searched Google and reviewed "The View" hosts’ social media posts for evidence that the hosts had recently been fired from the show and came up empty. We contacted spokespeople for "The View" and The Walt Disney Co. and received no response. (The Walt Disney Co. owns ABC.) We also found no reputable news organizations reporting that entrepreneur Elon Musk had acquired ABC.


FACT CHECK: Did Elon Musk Acquire ABC And Fire Entire Cast Of ‘The View’? A post shared on Facebook claims Tesla CEO Elon Musk acquired ABC and fired the entire cast of talk show "The View." [...] "Elon Musk Fires Entire Cast of ‘The View’ After Acquiring ABC," the post reads, in part.


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

This story originated on a self-described satire site.


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

Latest Fact-checks in Science X posts stated on September 29, 2024 in X posts: A biolab caught fire in Georgia right before the 2024 election. Facebook posts stated on September 20, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: Bill Gates dijo que "estamos tomando cosas que son ya sabes organismos genéticamente modificados y los estamos inyectando en los brazos de niños pequeños" en el contexto de las vacunas. Instagram posts stated on June 18, 2024 in an Instagram post: The Gates Foundation "awarded $9.5 million to UW-Madison to make H5N1 bird flu transmissible to humans." Threads posts stated on June 18, 2024 in a post: CERN scientists admit they "accidentally" ended the world in 2012 while performing experiments into the Higgs boson particle. Facebook posts stated on May 20, 2024 in a video: Footage "shows a completely flat horizon proving the flat Earth and completely destroying the globe theory." Instagram posts stated on May 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: Bird flu in the U.S. is a "scamdemic" timed to coincide with the 2024 presidential elections "by design." Tucker Carlson stated on May 9, 2024 in an Instagram post: Lyme disease became endemic because of U.S. government bioweapons labs. [...] Instagram posts stated on May 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: Bird flu in the U.S. is a "scamdemic" timed to coincide with the 2024 presidential elections "by design."


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


Story about US Olympic committee inviting Lia Thomas to try out for men’s team is fake [...] "U.S. Olympic committee says Lia Thomas is welcome to try out for the men’s team," reads text in an image labeled "news" that’s being shared on social media. [...] The post included a link in the comments that led to a website called "Freshstoryes." A May 11 post’s headline there said, "US Olympic committee says Lia Thomas is welcome to try out — for the men’s team."


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

We found no evidence to support this claim.


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

Fact check: Democrat says Biden's tariffs on China will 'hit every family' [...] "Tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans, and this tax increase will hit every family," Polis wrote as he reshared Biden’s post. Experts say the tariffs could amount to a tax increase on many Americans. But they add that the notion that "every" American family will be hit is likely exaggerated.


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

RFK Jr railing against 'racially rancid' voter ID laws in unearthed writings [...] The material reviewed by Fox News Digital was published throughout 2008 in the run-up to that year's presidential election, and included Kennedy referencing voter ID laws as "racially rancid," and claiming voter fraud was "non-existent." [...] Original article source: RFK Jr railing against 'racially rancid' voter ID laws in unearthed writings


Former President Donald 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." [...] During Trump’s presidency, the U.S. lost a net 2.7 million jobs. [...] Pelosi said Trump had the worst jobs record of "any president." Hoover almost certainly fared worse, and we don’t know about earlier presidents, who served before reliable records were kept.


He is also asking Americans to treat the last six months, the most devastating and sudden recession in recorded history, as an asterisk to his record. But, the current recession is arguably more tied to his direct decisions than any recession in history. At every decision point, President Trump has taken positions that ensured this recession would be deeper and more prolonged. Every president faces profound tests, but none have failed theirs at the magnitude that he has. [...] - Trump is the worst jobs president in recorded history, currently presiding over a loss of 6 million jobs from when he took over. In fact, he is on track to be the only president to have actually lost jobs over his term. [...] - The week ending March 28 saw close to 7 million Americans file for unemployment, the highest weekly number of unemployment claims in recorded history, reaching nearly seven times higher than the highest figure recorded before Trump’s presidency.


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

It’s wrong to say that coronavirus relief legislation didn’t support ordinary small businesses. The CARES Act included the Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to support smaller employers. Among the loans made with the first $350 billion of the Paycheck Protection Program, three-quarters of those loans were made in the smallest loan size category, one that would support a business of roughly seven to 10 people. In addition, singling out Trump for problems with how coronavirus relief efforts ignores that the efforts were also backed by virtually all congressional Democrats.


Financial reform enacted through the Dodd-Frank Act has made a lot of necessary progress since the crisis. U.S. banks have more substantial loss-absorbing capital cushions, increasingly rely on stable sources of funding, undergo rigorous stress testing, and plan for their orderly failure. President Trump’s intent to dismantle these reforms only helps Wall Street’s bottom line—ignoring the memory of every family who lost their home, every worker who lost his or her job, and every consumer who was peddled a toxic financial product.15 [...] The fact that President Donald Trump and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling are well on their way to choosing Wall Street over Main Street and letting Wall Street choose its own rules is not surprising, but the lack of subtlety is striking. The provisions in the Financial CHOICE Act show a malicious disregard for the lessons learned in the financial crisis. Erasing the progress made on financial stability, consumer protection, and the concentration of economic power on Wall Street would make the real economy far more vulnerable to the daily ravages of the worst financial practices, as well as to another serious financial crisis and ensuing recession. Lack of accountability would grow worse, not better, devastating the societal fabric of trust that deeply needs to be rebuilt. Too many workers lost their jobs, too many families lost their homes and wealth, and too many consumers were wronged for the United States to go back to those precrisis ways.


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

Wisconsin Senator Kelda Roys is correct when she asserts that gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch "worked with Scott Walker to sign five abortion restrictions into law that took away services and threatened doctors with prison time for providing safe and legal abortions."


Kelda Helen Roys stated on February 1, 2024 in Public appearance: Minnesota incarcerates "about a third of what Wisconsin does." Kelda Helen Roys stated on April 26, 2023 in Twitter: Infertility is treated differently than other issues and "often excluded from insurance coverage" Kelda Helen Roys stated on May 8, 2022 in TV interview: Because of U.S. Senate rules, Democrats need "more than a majority ... to codify Roe vs. Wade." Kelda Helen Roys stated on September 28, 2021 in Email: Says gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch "worked with Scott Walker to sign five abortion restrictions into law that took away services and threatened doctors with prison time for providing safe and legal abortions." Kelda Helen Roys stated on May 2, 2018 in a cable interview: Says "political interference" from Scott Walker’s administration has led to "gagging (DNR) scientists so they can no longer comment on proposed legislation" and "we’re letting polluters write their own permits." Kelda Helen Roys stated on July 19, 2018 in a TV ad: "In Wisconsin, abortion is still a crime." Kelda Helen Roys stated on April 18, 2018 in a tweet and campaign event: Wisconsin lost "almost 4,000 manufacturing jobs in 2017." [...] Kelda Helen Roys stated on September 28, 2021 in Email: Says gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch "worked with Scott Walker to sign five abortion restrictions into law that took away services and threatened doctors with prison time for providing safe and legal abortions."


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

The claim: States will send free baby formula to those who call Similac or Enfamil’s customer service [...] Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that states will send people free baby formula if they call Similac or Enfamil’s customer service. Neither of the phone numbers included in the claim indicate any such thing, and Similac officials have confirmed there is no such program. - Karen Twigg May, May 18, Email exchange with USA TODAY - Similac, accessed May 17, Customer service phone line recording - Lead Stories, May 17, Fact Check: NO Evidence Similac, Enfamil Will Send Free Baby Formula To Parents - PolitiFact, May 17, No, you can’t get free baby formula from your state by calling these numbers


Formula manufacturers will often send coupons and free samples if you sign up for these perks. For example, the Similac Strong Moms and Enfamil Family Beginnings programs will each send you $400 worth of benefits (formula samples, coupons, and more). While you’re at it, your doctor or baby’s pediatrician may also have formula samples you can try at home for free. [...] If you find yourself in urgent need of an essential item (food, diapers, child care, etc.) and don’t know where to turn, call 2-1-1. This number will connect you with staff and volunteers who can direct you to various resources in your area. You can find anything from help paying your bills to finding food to getting much-needed baby items, healthcare, and more. You can also call 2-1-1 for support with domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, homelessness, or any other crisis situation. Can’t call? You can search for your local 2-1-1 organization and text or search for resources online.


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

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd before his death, was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter. [...] State charging documents allege that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd became non-responsive based on law enforcement review of body-worn camera video. [...] Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced.


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

REP. MATT GAETZ, (R) FLORIDA: Kevin McCarthy is going to get his wish. I don’t think the adult in the room would allow America to sit atop a $33 trillion debt facing $2.2 trillion annual deficits. I don’t think the adult in the room would allow $8 trillion of this debt to come into refinancing at a higher level without serious spending cuts. And I don't think the adult in the room would lie to House conservatives. And that is exactly what Kevin McCarthy did. [...] I do not believe that we will ever reduce spending if the manner of negotiation is just, what is the condition or the ornament that we're going to hang on to a continuing resolution. Since the mid-90s this government has been ruled by continuing resolution or omnibus bill. That's why we're $33 trillion in debt. [...] Joe Biden and his administration increased spending by over $5 trillion in just two years. And as Matt pointed out, our national debt is $33 trillion. It's unsustainable.


However, in the 1990s we began to test our luck, not to mention that of the countries we told to follow our example, and we continue to test that luck. We have put ourselves deep in debt, not to finance productive investments but, rather, to finance wasteful projects: in the 1980s empty office buildings; in the 1990s fiber-optic systems that will not see light for years, and software that has interfered with business productivity rather than enhancing it; today a tax cut that disproportionately benefits the rich, fueling a consumption extravaganza that, though it may have prevented a greater slowdown, has not provided the foundations for future economic growth. It is still not clear how much of the private so-called investment of the 1990s was sheer waste; but even if we consider that only a fraction of the erosion in stock values is attributable to bad investments, the figure must be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.


Continuing resolutions keep the government functioning but permit the appropriations process to drag out for weeks or months past its theoretical deadline. Between fiscal 1998 and 2023, there have been an average of 113 days – or almost four months – between the start of each fiscal year and the date that year’s final spending bill became law. In the most extreme case, the final spending bill for fiscal 2017 didn’t become law until May 2017, more than seven months into the fiscal year. Rather than pass individual spending bills as envisioned in the 1974 budget law, Congress has increasingly resolved its annual spending disputes by using omnibus bills – which bundle several appropriations measures into a single, giant law – or full-year continuing resolutions. The first such omnibus measure was passed in 1950 as a one-off experiment, and the tactic was used a couple of times in the mid-1980s. However, omnibus bills have become much more frequent in the past two decades. In all but two fiscal years since 2007, in fact, all or nearly all of the regular appropriations bills were combined into such after-deadline package deals.


Poll watchers in Philadelphia prevented from entering polling places.

"Today there was a big problem," Trump said on the debate stage. "In Philadelphia they went in to watch. They’re called poll watchers. A very safe, very nice thing. They were thrown out. They weren’t allowed to watch. You know why? Because bad things happen in Philadelphia, bad things." [...] The woman told The Inquirer she had been hired by the Trump campaign to monitor the West Philadelphia site and calmly stated she had a right to be inside. Once again: She did not. No poll watchers in Pennsylvania will be allowed until Nov. 3. [...] Trump said poll watchers were "thrown out" of a polling place in Philadelphia. But the incident we witnessed, and any others that occurred Tuesday, took place at satellite offices, not at traditional polling places. And they involved self-appointed observers, not licensed poll watchers.


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

A radical increase in Black homeownership is needed to see progress in bridging Black and White homeownership and wealth inequality. One of the defining factors of economic well-being for individuals and families is household net worth or wealth, but not all families are equal. Decades of racial injustice and economic inequality have led to persistent disparities in wealth, specifically for people of color. One of the foundational steps in building wealth is homeownership. Today, the homeownership rate for African Americans[1] is approximately 42% – 45%, essentially unchanged from the rate decades ago and widening over the last a few years. This report highlights historic Black homeownership rates, and underscores the need to significantly increase homeownership rates for Black Americans. We believe reaching a 60% Black homeownership rate will address significant barriers to housing access and wealth creation for the African American community. [...] While Black homeownership has fluctuated over the past 40 years, the homeownership rate for Black Americans has still significantly lagged behind their White and Asian counterparts. Shockingly, Black homeownership rates remained relatively unchanged during the mid-’70s to early ’80s. Since 1980, the homeownership gap between high-income Black and White Americans, in particular, was marginally narrowed; however, the homeownership gap among low- and moderate-income (LMI) Black and White households remained relatively constant, and widened after the late 1980s, thus widening the gaps in wealth and asset generation between Black and White Americans.


More than half a century after the Fair Housing Act was signed into law in 1968, not only is the homeownership gap between white and Black Americans wider than it was in 1960, the homeownership rate of Black Americans is expected to be lower (40%) in 2040 than it was in 2020 (41%), according to a study by the Urban Institute, a Washington-based research organization focused on upward mobility and equity. Though some of the structural and systemic issues may have been alleviated after the passage of the Fair Housing Act, issues including financial education and awareness can still limit homeownership for lower-income households (a disproportionate share of whom are Black and Hispanic) or trap them into exploitative transactions. [...] Nancy Hite-Norde, 66, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Westchester County, says the low homeownership rate among Black families is a good barometer of the treatment of Black people in this country.


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

No, private insurance doesn’t provide 'better coverage' than Medicaid [...] But the other portion of his claim is more unique. Does private insurance really provide "better coverage" to the individual than Medicaid? [...] Born said in an interview that "private insurance gives … better coverage" than people would get under a Medicaid expansion.


Born asserts cost shouldn’t be factored in to whether Medicaid or private insurance offers better coverage. But the cost of premiums, deductibles and copays are a fundamental part of everyone’s health insurance decisions. And studies show cost is one of the biggest reasons many low-income people don’t get needed care. Born’s claim also ignores the tens of thousands of uninsured who would be able to get largely free coverage through an expanded Medicaid. And experts say access to health care providers is generally similar between Medicaid and private-sector plans, though some specialists are more difficult to find under Medicaid.


Quotes Joe Biden as saying, “The things I did while in elected office should not be made public while I am seeking a higher public office.”

A Facebook post claims that Biden said on the show that whatever he did in the past shouldn’t be made public while he runs for president. The post reads: "‘The things I did while in elected office should not be made public while I am seeking a higher public office’ — Joe Biden this morning on MSNBC…" [...] A Facebook post claims Biden went on MSNBC and said, "The things I did while in elected office should not be made public while I am seeking a higher public office."


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

The best-known power of the Supreme Court is judicial review, or the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution, is not found within the text of the Constitution itself. The Court established this doctrine in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803). [...] Before the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment (1869), the provisions of the Bill of Rights were only applicable to the federal government. After the Amendment's passage, the Supreme Court began ruling that most of its provisions were applicable to the states as well. Therefore, the Court has the final say over when a right is protected by the Constitution or when a Constitutional right is violated. The Supreme Court plays a very important role in our constitutional system of government. First, as the highest court in the land, it is the court of last resort for those looking for justice. Second, due to its power of judicial review, it plays an essential role in ensuring that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power. Third, it protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution. Finally, it sets appropriate limits on democratic government by ensuring that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm and/or take undue advantage of unpopular minorities. In essence, it serves to ensure that the changing views of a majority do not undermine the fundamental values common to all Americans, i.e., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law.


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

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley wants to raise retirement age, limit benefits for some, to save Social Security Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina who is vying to be the Republican nominee for U.S. president, took a step into the often taboo topic of Social Security and said she would raise the retirement age in a move to save the entitlement program. [...] Haley's comments double-down on her thoughts from a month ago, when she told Bloomberg that "65 is way too low" of a retirement age and any new retirement age would need to be increased in relation to the average U.S. lifespan.


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

More in this seriesThroughout the spring of 2018, as the number of family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border exploded, President Donald Trump's administration insisted that the government took thousands of kids from their parents because the families had committed a federal crime. [...] Spokesmen for ICE and Customs and Border Protection declined to comment, citing pending litigation. But the court documents in a case called Ms. L vs. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) show that this happened to dozens of others. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in February, mentions at least 40 other examples of families who were separated at the border, even though they weren't prosecuted for crossing illegally. Ms. L and her young daughter presented themselves to border agents at a bridge between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego last year and were separated anyway. [...] In past statements, the government has claimed it would only separate families at ports of entry if it's not sure of the familial relationship, or is worried about issues like child abuse.


Trump didn't say ‘good’ in reference to family separations; he said ‘go ahead’ to debate moderator [...] "If you heard Trump say ‘good’ about the kids being separated from their parents, and you still plan to vote for him, you’re inhuman," says an Oct. 23 post from a Facebook page called Close the Camps. [...] Did Trump really say that separating families at the border is "good?"


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

Lego: MRI toys donated to hospitals to help kids feel less nervous - Published - comments The Lego Foundation - part of the Lego company that does charity work - has announced that it will donate 600 new MRI scanner toys to hospitals. [...] LEGO employee Erik Ullerlund Staehr and Odense University Hospital in Denmark, first came up with the idea for the MRI scanner toy in 2015, and now it is being sent to children's hospitals all over the world.


A Lego employee and physicians at a Danish hospital first developed a Lego model of a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, machine, in 2015 to help children understand the procedure and feel comfortable before their exams. After a successful pilot program, Lego said in 2022 that it would donate 600 model MRI scanners to hospitals worldwide.


Going to the doctor can be a scary experience filled with uncertainty and apprehension, especially for a young child. Now, imagine that same child is also expected to lie still in a foreign, constricted cylinder as it continuously generates loud sounds. Every child who needs an MRI scan experiences this. Their uneasiness with doctors only worsens. To try to prepare children for entering an MRI machine and to lower their overall anxiety, LEGO has built an MRI replica to be used in preprocedural explanations. This MRI scanner model, imagined by LEGO worker Erik Ullerlund Staehr, is expected to be distributed amongst hospitals around the world. The model consists of two parts: an MRI scanner, able to open and demonstrate how real MRIs look and function, and a separate room, showing where the scan results from the MRI are read by doctors (Leow et. al., 2022). [...] Leow, M. (2022, January 28). Lego donates MRI scanner kits to hospitals to comfort kids about the process. DesignTAXI.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://designtaxi.com/news/417537/LEGO-Donates-MRI-Scanner-Kits-To-Hospitals-To-Comfort-Kids-About-The-Process/


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

Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) [...] The Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, is a multistate partnership that utilizes a sophisticated, secure data-matching tool to improve the accuracy and efficiency of state voter registration systems. ERIC is owned, managed, and funded by participating states and was formed in 2012 with assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts. [...] ERIC uses advanced technology to compare information on eligible voters from official data submitted by member states, such as voter registration rolls and motor vehicle records, as well as U.S. Postal Service addresses and Social Security death records. States then receive reports from ERIC that identify voters whose records might no longer be up-to-date, because they have moved, changed their names, or died.


Formed in 2012, the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) grew to include 33 states and D.C. It identified 12.5 million people who moved to a different state from the ones in which they were registered to vote as well as almost 600,000 deceased voters still on the rolls. The database worked excellently, before fringe blogs started calling it part of a plot funded by George Soros to boost Democratic registration. ERIC, whose operating costs are paid entirely by member states, received some seed funding from Pew Charitable Trusts, which previously received support from a foundation backed by Mr. Soros, but he has never been directly involved. [...] Some GOP secretaries of state who pulled out of ERIC had publicly defended it quite recently. In February, Iowa’s Paul Pate called it "a godsend" and Ohio’s Frank LaRose described it as "one of the best fraud-fighting tools that we have." Both announced on March 17 that their states would withdraw. American Oversight, a left-leaning activist group, filed Freedom of Information Act requests, and two lawsuits, to obtain thousands of pages of emails from states that pulled out. These documents reveal employees privately acknowledging ERIC’s importance and the lack of adequate alternatives. One email showed Mr. Ashcroft’s chief of staff dismissing a blog post about the Soros connection as "horrible and misleading." Ohio’s then-director of elections emailed ERIC’s executive director when Ohio withdrew to say: "I really worked as hard as I possibly could to avoid this."


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

You can’t make this up: New York state hospitals reporting thousands of fungus lung infections due to wearing a mask. [...] For one, the fact-checking site PolitiFact spoke with health officials in New York who say hospitals did not report thousands of lung infections. [...] Dora Anne Mills, the chief health improvement officer for Maine Health and former CDC director, says regular wearing of masks or fabric facial coverings does not cause fungal infections.


Is It Time to Wear a Mask Again? [...] Wearing Masks Will Help Keep Economies Open: Johns Hopkins [Video] [...] There are two types of masks used in preventing infections: surgical masks and respirator masks. It’s important to know the difference, and which situations they’re useful in.


A Facebook user shared an image on Sept. 16 with the text, "You can't make this up: NYS hospitals reporting thousands of fungus lung infections due to wearing a mask." [...] New York hospitals have not reported thousands of fungal lung infections from wearing masks, according to Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of public health and epidemiology at Northwell Health, the largest health care provider in New York. [...] Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim New York hospitals reported thousands of fungal lung infections due to wearing masks. No such reports were made, according to health officials in New York. Wearing a mask does not cause fungal lung infection.


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

Sen. Rick Scott said 3 states removed thousands of noncitizens on voter rolls. Here’s what we know [...] Three Republican-led states — Alabama, Texas and Virginia — 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. [...] Here is what we know about the efforts to remove noncitizen voters in three states:


Sen. Rick Scott said 3 states removed 16,000-plus noncitizens on voter rolls. What we know Three Republican-led states — Alabama, Texas and Virginia — say they've taken steps to remove or flag ineligible people on the voter rolls. [...] Here is what we know about the efforts to remove noncitizen voters in three states:


Cases of noncitizens voting are statistically rare. Some noncitizens accidentally end up on voter rolls when applying for drivers’ licenses. [...] Some states look at driver’s license records to see whether any noncitizens also registered to vote. But driver’s license records can be outdated and may not reflect if a noncitizen later became a naturalized citizen. That’s part of why an effort in Texas to find noncitizen voters fell apart in 2019. [...] PolitiFact Florida, "Noncitizen voter purge makes a comeback in Florida," Sept. 12, 2013


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

The bill, called the "Take Pride Act," updated the definition of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in the Minnesota Human Rights Act. It didn’t include pedophiles in these definitions, nor did it give pedophiles legal protections. Legal experts told PolitiFact that laws prohibiting discrimination because of sexual orientation do not protect pedophiles, even if they do not include that specific disclaimer. In Minnesota, an adult who engages in sexual conduct with a minor can be charged with a first-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 30 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $40,000 or both.


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

The United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (commonly referred to as the January 6th Committee) was a select committee of the U.S. House of Representatives established to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack.[1] [...] - ^ Schiff, Adam (July 1, 2021). "Schiff Statement on the Select Committee to Investigate January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol". Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022. [...] - ^ Thompson, Bennie (July 22, 2021). "Thompson Announces Senior Staff for Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol". Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.


H.Res.503 - Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. 117th Congress (2021-2022) [...] There is hereby established the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (hereinafter referred to as the "Select Committee"). [...] (1) To investigate and report upon the facts, circumstances, and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex (hereafter referred to as the "domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol") and relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power, including facts and causes relating to the preparedness and response of the United States Capitol Police and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in the National Capital Region and other instrumentalities of government, as well as the influencing factors that fomented such an attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process.


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’t on the committee at all. [...] Banks claimed in the signature of at least one letter to a federal agency that he is the "ranking member" of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack. [...] House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, "Membership," accessed Oct. 25, 2021


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."

"I don’t know that that saves anything," Wanggaard said of the waiting period. "If somebody’s decided that they’re going to take their life, they’re going to take their life." [...] When asked whether Wisconsin should reinstate the 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases, Wanggaard said no because he doesn’t know "that that saves anything," and "if somebody’s decided that they’re going to take their life, they’re going to take their life." [...] PolitiFact Wisconsin, "No statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence, lawmaker says," April 27, 2015


Yes, waiting periods on gun purchases have been linked to suicide reduction [...] Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "Handgun waiting periods reduce gun deaths," Nov. 14, 2017 CNN, "Handgun waiting period laws save lives, study says," Oct. 16, 2017


No statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence, lawmaker says [...] And a 2012 study by one researcher from the University of Cincinnati and another from Arizona State University found no statistical effects from waiting periods on gun crimes. [...] Wanggaard said, "There’s no statistical evidence that" a waiting period for handgun purchases "reduces violence whatsoever."


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

We propose to put Americans back to work again by restoring real growth without inflation to the United States economy. Republican programs and initiatives detailed in this platform will create millions of additional new jobs in the American workplace. As a result of Mr. Carter's recession, more than eight million Americans are now out of work.


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

In the last five months, Israel’s unparalleled attack and siege on Gaza have resulted in a dire humanitarian catastrophe, with over 75% of the population displaced and forcibly relocated to southern Gaza. Gaza’s residents are experiencing the highest levels of hunger, with parents scavenging through garbage heaps to nourish their children, skipping meals, and even resorting to eating animal feed to stay alive. Every day, children, women, and men across Gaza are killed by Israeli military attacks, as well as by starvation, scarcity of clean water, inadequate access to medications and healthcare services, and the absence of basic hygiene conditions. The situation is particularly grave in the northern Gaza Strip, where 300,000 people are experiencing severe malnutrition – which has already resulted in the deaths of dozens, primarily children. According to UN and Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) reports, over two million people in Gaza face crisis levels of food insecurity, with over a million suffering from "catastrophic" food insecurity – the most severe phase in the IPC index. Twenty-seven children have already reportedly died of malnutrition and dehydration. The toll is expected to increase, with numerous children facing enduring consequences on both their physical and mental development. Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the disaster in Gaza as the worst hunger crisis ever recorded by the IPC—"anywhere, anytime." Since its establishment in 2004, the IPC has declared a famine only twice: once in Somalia in 2011 and then again in South Sudan in 2017.


A March report compiled by organizations that evaluate global food emergencies said 677,000 people in Gaza face "catastrophic" food insecurity, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system. We found no instances in which more people have been classified as experiencing "catastrophic" hunger or famine conditions in any one location since the 2004 creation of the tracking system. The classification system is not used in all countries and sometimes the data used to track food insecurity is unavailable or incomplete. Learn more about PolitiFact’s fact-checking process and rating system.


The WFP warned in early December that the "catastrophic hunger crisis" in Gaza which "already threatens to overwhelm the civilian population" will only intensify. [...] The Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed that the entire population of Gaza – about 2.2 million people – is facing high levels of acute food insecurity or worse, with one in four households facing catastrophic conditions. The IPC said it is the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity the initiative has ever classified for any given area or country.


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

The report, which explored "the role of technology and the future of globalization," presented four possible future scenarios of how the world might evolve, including one in which an influenza pandemic and lockdowns occurred. The scenarios were hypothetical. They weren’t predictions or plans.


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

Who Are Antifa, and Are They a Threat? [...] To add to the confusion, there was significant disinformation and a proliferation of fake accounts on social media platforms. For example, Twitter shut down several accounts that it said were operated by a white supremacist group called Identity Evropa, which was posing as Antifa. In one fake account with the Twitter handle @Antifa_US, Identity Evropa members allegedly called for violence in white suburban areas in the name of Black Lives Matters. "Tonight’s the night, Comrades," one tweet noted with a brown raised fist emoji. "Tonight we say ‘F--- The City’ and we move into the residential areas... the white hoods.... and we take what's ours …" As Twitter explained, "This account violated our platform manipulation and spam policy, specifically the creation of fake accounts. We took action after the account sent a Tweet inciting violence and broke the Twitter Rules." More broadly, extremists flooded social media with disinformation, conspiracy theories, and incitements to violence—swamping Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms.


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

This declaration is made all the more absurd by the fact that there wasn’t a war going on while Davis held the office and was being all fabulous. This is kind of like saying Jefferson Davis was the best fireman the country ever had, although he never went to a fire. [...] I completely agree here with the author on the Jefferson Davis writings…. both at the beginning and the end of the works Foote tried to set Davis up as a figure from a Shakespearean tragedy. Nonsense!


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


I’m not sure that AOC was ever strongly attached to the label or identity of "socialist" to begin with. According to Take Up Space, AOC only joined the Democratic Socialists of America in early 2018, "around the same time she was seeking its endorsement." The book also notes that AOC said: [...] Young people today tend to reject capitalism in favor of socialism. But socialism can’t just be a negative rejection of capitalism in rhetoric and a synonym for a kind of generic "progressivism" as limited by the Democratic Party. As AOC said in a 2020 interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, "We don’t have a left party in the U.S. The Democratic Party is not a left party." Just as the Democratic Party is not a left party, the DSA is not a political party. We have to build an independent working-class party. The work of building this working-class movement includes supporting a third-party leftist candidate for president, such as Jill Stein, Claudia De la Cruz, Cornel West, or Joseph Kishore.


Frances Fox Piven, a political scientist and a former D.S.A. board member, told me that, while these terms are fuzzier than they once were, "socialism," in the practical politics of the young, describes above all a disgust with widening inequality. "When people say they are ‘socialists,’ they are reacting against unrestrained capitalism," she said. "I don’t know that it has much meaning beyond that. There are volumes written about the historical, theoretical work by socialists and their critics, but I don’t think that that’s what’s moving these young people. They are moved by the idea of an economic system that is tempered, constrained, and restrained by democratic values. There were a lot of debates in the seventies and eighties between Maoists and theoretical socialists, some of whom were a little crazy. That has nothing to do with what’s happening now." Michael Kazin, a co-editor of Dissent and a D.S.A. member, agreed: "The radical left’s major influence in American history is to push liberals, progressives, to the left. And that is going to be the impact. I don’t believe we are going to have a socialist transformation of America in my lifetime."


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

Donald Trump has called out New Zealand for its recent Covid-19 outbreak, saying the places the world hailed as a success story is now facing a "big surge" in cases. [...] "Big surge in New Zealand, you know it’s terrible, we don’t want that, but this is an invisible enemy that should never have been let to come to Europe and the rest of the world by China." [...] New Zealand’s government has described the outbreak as contained and manageable, and has chosen not to place the country or even Auckland in full, level 4 lockdown. The outbreak is currently limited to a single cluster of related cases, which as of Tuesday numbered 69.


‘We don’t want that,’ Trump says of New Zealand after country reported nine new COVID-19 cases [...] RNZ, "Donald Trump refers to 'big surge' of Covid-19 in New Zealand," Aug. 18, 2020 [...] More by Bill McCarthy ‘We don’t want that,’ Trump says of New Zealand after country reported nine new COVID-19 cases


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

The claim: Document shows Bath & Body Works products are not recommended for use while pregnant [...] Did you know that Bath & Body works products are actually not recommended to use while pregnant? Straight from their safety data sheet it reads "suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child" and, "may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure." Imagine how harmful they are to our pre-teen and teenage daughters? NO WONDER we have so many women struggling with infertility, hormone disruptions, migraines, thyroid complications… I could go on and on!!! [...] We rate FALSE the claim that a document shows Bath & Body Works products shouldn't be used while pregnant. The document on which these viral claims are based only addresses an air freshener and is a warning for employees at chemical manufacturing facilities, not for consumers. The document does not warn of pregnancy risks for consumers who use Bath & Body Works products.


I had a gc for bath and body works and I just brought a ton of lotion. are they safe to use during pregnancy? I wasn't given a list of body or hair products not to use. [...] We live in such an alarmist culture about pregnancy it seems like nothing is safe. [...] Track your pregnancy on our free #1 pregnancy & baby app


Taking a bath while pregnant can relieve stress and muscle tension, but it’s important to keep an eye on the temperature. [...] - Not enjoying baths during pregnancy? Try a warm foot bath for another safe option for relaxation and stress relief. [...] - If you love your pregnancy baths, consider talking to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of a water birth.


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

The players turned in order to face the U.S. flag during the anthem.


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

PWBM estimates that H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, as written would increase spending by $2.1 trillion over the 10-year budget window and revenue by $1.8 trillion, for a 10-year deficit of $274 billion. [...] H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act: Budget and Macroeconomic Effects On November 3, 2021, the House Rules Committee released legislative language for the Build Back Better Act. In this analysis, PWBM analyzes the macroeconomic effects of the legislation, building on our conventional estimate of the budgetary effects of the bill.


As currently written, the Build Back Better bill would add about $158 billion to deficits over 10 years. Major spending would go to child care and child tax credits, among other things. Republicans asked the Congressional Budget Office to estimate what would happen if temporary programs in the bill were extended through all 10 years. The bill being considered in the Senate sets time limits on those programs. It would be up to a future Congress to determine whether to change those limits.


"The Build Back Better Act is fiscally responsible," Mr. Biden said in a statement. "It reduces the deficit over the long-term. It's fully paid for by making sure that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations begin to pay their fair share in federal taxes. It keeps my commitment that no one earning less than $400,000 a year will pay a penny more in federal taxes. Leading economists and independent experts on Wall Street have confirmed that it will not add to inflationary pressures. Instead, it will boost the capacity of our economy and reduce costs for millions of families." [...] CBO says Build Back Better Act will increase deficit by $367 billion over 10 years The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Thursday released its much anticipated cost estimate of President Biden's signature social spending plan, Build Back Better. The analysis — commonly referred to as the CBO score — said passage of the legislation would increase the deficit by more than $367 billion over ten years. But the estimate does not include the revenue that could be generated from increasing IRS enforcement.


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

Multiple medical experts said the blood test results featured in the video to support this claim didn’t come close to showing an immune system that has crashed. This wasn’t observed in the COVID-19 vaccine trials where blood counts were obtained, experts said.


The second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine induces a powerful boost to a part of the immune system that provides broad antiviral protection, according to a study led by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine. [...] "The second shot has powerful beneficial effects that far exceed those of the first shot," Pulendran said. "It stimulated a manifold increase in antibody levels, a terrific T-cell response that was absent after the first shot alone, and a strikingly enhanced innate immune response." Unexpectedly, Pulendran said, the vaccine — particularly the second dose — caused the massive mobilization of a newly discovered group of first-responder cells that are normally scarce and quiescent.


Dominion Voting Systems technology has never been used in Myanmar, according to the company. Voters in Myanmar used paper ballots. We found no evidence to support this claim.


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

President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court President Donald Trump named U.S. appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, picking from a list of candidates that included U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. [...] Her nomination will kick off what’s expected to be one of the most contentious confirmation battles in recent memory. Republicans say they intend to seat Barrett this year, even though the vacancy on the court opened up less than two months before Election Day. Democrats are determined to fight the nomination, noting that Republicans refused to confirm former President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court in 2016 when a seat came open 269 days from Election Day.


There’s no clause in the Constitution that would prevent President Donald Trump from making a Supreme Court nomination close to Election Day or block Senate Republicans from moving to confirm that nominee, legal experts said. Senate Republicans are moving to fill the Supreme Court vacancy after blocking the nomination President Barack Obama made during the last presidential election year. Some experts said the move seems at odds with some democratic principles underlying the Constitution, such as the idea that there should be consent of the governed.


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

"So Amber Alert works for kids in Baraboo but not Black kids in Milwaukee," one Facebook post stated July 6. The text was accompanied by a "thinking" emoji. [...] A widely shared Facebook post said Amber Alerts are issued for white kids, "but not Black kids in Milwaukee." It grew out of concerns in the Black community that missing children are not taken serious enough in Milwaukee. But the data actually shows a disproportionate high number of alerts — based on population — have been issued precisely for Black children in Milwaukee.


AMBER Alerts have helped bring home nearly 1,000 children since their inception in 1996. In 2018, 155 cases of the 161 issued alerts resulted in recovery. [...] Why are AMBER Alerts not issued for all missing children? [...] But just because an alert isn’t issued for a child doesn’t mean authorities aren’t using other tools to investigate, Crosby told the news station.


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

"Ron Johnson has voted against funding for law enforcement and recently opposed a plan to recruit and train new officers," the Barnes campaign said in a Sept. 2 news release. [...] So, did Johnson vote "against funding for law enforcement" and recently oppose "a plan to recruit and train new officers?" [...] Barnes campaign, news release, "FACT: Sen. Ron Johnson Has Voted Against Funding and Resources for Law Enforcement" Sept. 2, 2022


“Caitlin Clark declines $1 million offer from ABC to appear on ‘The View.’”

This claim originated on a self-described satire site.


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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation that expands access to health care, including mental health services and substance use disorder treatment, for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before their release from jail or prison. The Reentry Act, which was endorsed by the New York Times editorial board, follows alarming evidence that shows individuals reentering society from incarceration are 129 times likelier than the general population to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release. [...] "In their first two weeks after release from incarceration, ex-convicts are 129 times more likely than the general public to die from a drug overdose. The Reentry Act seeks to tackle the epidemics of opioid overdoses and recidivism after release from prison by resuming benefits for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before they are released to avoid a gap in coverage," said Senator Mike Braun.


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

There is now strong evidence that wearing masks reduces COVID-19 transmission. While many factors can affect the spread of the virus, preliminary findings show that states and counties with mask mandates are seeing lower transmission than those that have only recommended mask wearing. However, these mandates have incited controversy, and government officials have struggled to determine whether and how to enforce them. [...] "Compliance ambassadors" and education campaigns - States and localities that have resisted mask mandates often state that they prefer "education." However, if education is to be effective, it will require actual investment and action. Charlotte’s enforcement plan uses both enforcement actions and education for businesses, with the latter conducted mostly through environmental health inspectors and part-time ambassadors. Las Vegas has also mobilized 100 "compliance ambassadors." In both cities ambassadors can report violations in businesses, but they do not undertake any enforcement actions themselves. In terms of individual mandates, in DeKalb County, Ga., first-time offenders receive a warning, while second-time offenders can attend a COVID-19 education class instead of receiving a fine. Many states and localities have also implemented public awareness campaigns surrounding masking. While health departments may have limited funds and capacity for evaluation of these campaigns, we encourage data-driven approaches wherever possible. Localities that are able to partner with researchers or private firms can share their results broadly to help inform campaigns throughout the country.


"At the end of the day we know mask mandates work," the Oshkosh Democrat said in a Feb. 5, 2021 interview on the Wisconsin Public Television program Here & Now. [...] The study noted that 13 counties with mask mandates and seven counties without mandates also had other mitigation strategies in place, such as limiting the size of gatherings and how many could eat in restaurants. Still, researchers concluded that "strategies related to mask use mandates appear to be important." [...] In a TV interview, Hintz said, "At the end of the day we know mask mandates work.


Rush Limbaugh stated on January 20, 2021 in a radio show segment: Says Joe Biden and Democrats "have not legitimately won" the presidency. Rush Limbaugh stated on December 15, 2020 in a radio show segment: The American Medical Association rescinded a previous statement and now says "hydroxychloroquine is okay" for COVID-19. Rush Limbaugh stated on August 21, 2020 in a radio segment: Says Joe Biden’s Democratic National Convention speech "had to be taped in segments, and the segments had to be edited together." Rush Limbaugh stated on February 24, 2020 in an episode of his radio show: "The coronavirus is the common cold, folks." Rush Limbaugh stated on October 25, 2019 in a statement on his radio show: Says House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump "doesn’t feature the opposition party, it doesn’t feature cross-examination." Rush Limbaugh stated on July 12, 2019 in a "Fox & Friends" appearance: "Somebody in the Obama regime decided to get rid of" the citizenship question in the census. Rush Limbaugh stated on February 17, 2019 in in an interview: "Climate change is nothing but a bunch of computer models that attempt to tell us what's going to happen in 50 years or 30. [...] Rush Limbaugh stated on December 15, 2020 in a radio show segment: The American Medical Association rescinded a previous statement and now says "hydroxychloroquine is okay" for COVID-19.


June 15, 2020 Update: Based on ongoing analysis and emerging scientific data, FDA has revoked the emergency use authorization (EUA) to use hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat COVID-19 in certain hospitalized patients when a clinical trial is unavailable or participation is not feasible. We made this determination based on recent results from a large, randomized clinical trial in hospitalized patients that found these medicines showed no benefit for decreasing the likelihood of death or speeding recovery. This outcome was consistent with other new data, including those showing the suggested dosing for these medicines are unlikely to kill or inhibit the virus that causes COVID-19. As a result, we determined that the legal criteria for the EUA are no longer met. Please refer to the Revocation of the EUA Letter and FAQs on the Revocation of the EUA for Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate and Chloroquine Phosphate for more information. [...] Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19. They are being studied in clinical trials for COVID-19, and we authorized their temporary use during the COVID-19 pandemic for treatment of the virus in hospitalized patients when clinical trials are not available, or participation is not feasible, through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The medicines being used under the hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine EUA are supplied from the Strategic National Stockpile, the national repository of critical medical supplies to be used during public health emergencies. This safety communication reminds physicians and the public of risk information set out in the hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine healthcare provider fact sheets that were required by the EUA.


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

One hundred years is a long time. But is that how long names of some Wisconsin residents have been on the state's voter rolls? PolitiFact Wisconsin puts that claim to the truth o meter. [...] Now, a widely circulated Facebook meme suggests Wisconsin's voters rolls were padded with tens of thousands of voters who registered to vote a century ago. "The claim, the Wisconsin Voter roll has over 120,000 active voters who have been registered to vote for over 100 years, said Greg Borowski with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Now that would make them, well really, really, really old."


One of two things happened in Wisconsin in 2020. One option is that tens of thousands of voter registrations for people born more than a century ago escaped the notice of the state, registrations that were then used to cast illegal ballots in a widespread but undetected scheme to throw the election — until amateur sleuths, digging into the data, discovered all of these suspicious voter registrations and unveiled the whole plot. [...] On Thursday evening, Donald Trump’s "Save America" political action committee shared a news item aimed at reinforcing Trump’s endlessly sprawling and completely diaphanous claims of rampant fraud in the 2020 election. In case you missed it, the message blared a "HUGE" news story: "Wisconsin Election Hearing Reveals 119,283 ‘Active Voters’ Who Have Been Registered For Over 100 Years!" [...] In Wisconsin, there are 119,283 "active voters" who have been registered for over 100 years!


What is Wisconsin's actual registered voter count? According to Wisconsin Elections Commission, there are 3,684,726 active registered voters as of Nov. 1. This figure, as well as denial that the state has more ballots than registered voters, was affirmed by the commission on its official Twitter account. [...] We rate this claim FALSE because it is not supported by our research. The number for registered Wisconsin voters stated by the Facebook image is incorrect and instead is confirmed to be at over 3.6 million as of Nov. 1, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The commission has denied there being more ballots than registered voters. The total votes counted in the state has topped 3.2 million.