On December 12, 2018, the Federalist Papers Project — a known purveyor of corrosive disinformation — published “Migrants DEMAND $50,000 Each to go Home, Or Else …” (filed under “opinion”), an article littered with racist imagery and calls for violence: If you needed any more proof that the migrant caravans at our Southern border are NOT what …
Did ‘Migrants’ Demand $50,000 Each to Leave the United States? Read More »
On November 18, 2018, after destructive wildfires tore through northern California, the following image was shared to Facebook: Its caption read: A rattlesnake frozen in death during the California wildfires. His last defiant act was to strike at the flames that consumed him. RIP dear snake. This particular image (inaccurately) featured a location of “Paradise …
Is This a Real Photo of a Rattlesnake That Died in a Wildfire? Read More »
When the meme below appeared on Facebook via the page The Pink Shorts Movement on November 28 2018, we were skeptical: The text read: DID YOU KNOW: Airbags deploy between 100 & 220 MPH. If you ride with your feet on the dash, you may send your knees through your eye sockets if the airbag …
Can Airbags Send Your Knees ‘Through Your Eye Sockets’ When Deployed? Read More »
On December 10 2018, shortly after accused Russian intelligence asset Mariia Butina reportedly entered a plea deal with prosecutors for working as an unregistered agent of a foreign power, the Facebook page “Occupy Democrats” shared the following photograph showing Butina with Donald Trump, Jr.: Text overlaying the image read: Whatever you do, DON’T share this embarrassing newly-obtained …
Does a ‘Newly Obtained’ Photograph Show Donald Trump, Jr. with Accused Spy Maria Butina? Read More »
On December 9, 2018, the Facebook page “Unbelievable facts” shared the following meme, which held that nearly ten percent of Americans genuinely believed that chocolate milk was produced by brown cows: Users interested enough to go Googling for the provided citation at Unbelievable facts blog could locate the same meme, which featured a red button …
Do Nearly Ten Percent of Americans Think Chocolate Milk Comes from Brown Cows? Read More »
On December 3 2018, a Facebook user named Danny Rice shared the following image and caption (archived here): Please pray for us our Toys For Tots storage container were broken into and our toys taken! We have over 1,500 families to serve on the 15th please pray The post appeared with only a photograph of …
Is a Facebook Post About Stolen ‘Toys for Tots’ Christmas Gifts Legitimate? Read More »
On December 7 2018, the Facebook page Change The Ref shared this meme (text below): FACT: MORE AMERICANS HAVE DIED OF GUN-RELATED INCIDENTS IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS THAN HAVE DIED IN WAR SINCE THE COUNTRY’S FOUNDING. A caption with the image read: #FckThat Fact of the Day: Did you know that more Americans have died …
A highly publicized caravan of people traveling from Central America in order to turn themselves in at the United States border to request asylum — one of many groups who have done so over the years — has been dogged from start to finish by false stories and threats spurred by that disinformation. One large …
From Central America to the United States Border, a Journey of Lies Read More »
On December 7 2018, the Facebook page Dysfuntional Veterans shared the following meme about a man named John “Chickie” Donohue and a Vietnam war “beer run”: The meme read: John “Chickie” Donohue, a merchant marine from New York City snuck into the war zone in Vietnam in the ’60s to DELIVER BEER to his three …
Did John ‘Chickie’ Donohue Pull off a War Zone ‘Beer Run’ in Vietnam? Read More »
On December 5 2018, The Blaze published an article titled “Principal banned candy canes because ‘J’ shape stands ‘for Jesus.’ But that was just for starters.” The item centered on a law firm devoted to “evangelical Christian” interests (Liberty Counsel), its assertion that Manchester Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska had “banned” Christmas items, and its …
Did a Principal Ban Candy Canes Because the ‘J’ Symbolizes Jesus? Read More »
