Were 4,500 Syrian Refugees Relocated to a Michigan Town?
How two separate blogs used Menominee as the setting for the same brand of xenophobic “satire.”
Disinformation
Did Obama Order ‘Behavior Experiments’ on Americans?
A program that helped U.S. troops with their finances was painted as something more sinister online.
Did the FDA Approve a Heroin-Based Vaccine for Kids?
The FDA has approved a heroin-based vaccine for children to eradicate chicken pox.
Does Planned Parenthood Sell Body Parts for Profit?
A series of heavily-edited videos that fueled anti-abortion conspiracies have been roundly debunked.
‘The True Military Record of John McCain’
A viral email that claims to tell about “the true military record of John McCain” argues that the Arizona senator isn’t a true war hero.
Did a Russian Scientist Grow a ‘Frankenstein Baby’ in a Lab?
True to form, the junk blog’s tale was creepy, unnerving — and completely made-up.
Did Obama Issue an Executive Order to Strip Texas of Statehood?
A blog devoted to satire saw easy pickings with this bit of right-wing paranoia.
Hillary Clinton’s “Broomstick One”
Chain emails provided for ready-made (if bottom-tier) “jokes” about the former senator and former Secretary of State.
Did Texas Deploy the State Guard to Stave Off an ‘Obama Takeover’?
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed the State Guard to prevent a take over of the state by President Obama as a joint military exercise called Jade Helm 15 got underway.
Did ABC News Ban Talent From Wearing Flag Lapel Pins?
Rumors that the network has banned American flag pins have been swirling ever since the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001.