europe_socialism_free_stuff

Is a Meme About Taxes Europeans Pay for Their ‘Free Stuff’ Accurate?

On December 18, 2018, a Facebook user shared this meme about tax and purported socialism in several European countries: In addition to a chart listing purported figures for Germany, England, Italy, and Greece, its text read: JUST WANTED TO SHOW ALL OF YOU WHO THINK SOCIALISM IS THE WAY TO GO. THIS IS HOW MUCH PEOPLE …

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katrina_pierson_john_mccain

Did Trump Adviser Katrina Pierson Appear to Scold the Late John McCain for His Silence on Dossier?

A December 20, 2018 tweet from political operative Katrina Pierson was widely examined and commented on when its syntax made it appear that Pierson was chiding Sen. John McCain — who died the previous August — for his silence: Since everyone is just now realizing his staffers role in the #RussiaHoax We have been asking questions! John …

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glitter_bomb_staged

Is a Viral ‘Package Thief vs. Glitter Bomb Trap’ Video Real?

On December 17, 2018 YouTube content creator and former NASA engineer Mark Rober shared a video called “Package Thief vs. Glitter Bomb Trap,” which purportedly showed the aftermath of a glitter bomb deployment on unwitting porch pirates who were unable to resist stealing Apple-branded packages from unguarded front entryways: Someone stole a package from me. Police …

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huckabee_clinton_foundation

Is a Mike Huckabee Tweet About the Clinton Foundation Real?

Following news on December 18, 2018 that the Trump Foundation would close, a tweet attributed to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in which he appeared to think that the Clinton Foundation was closing circulated in screenshots on social media. In the tweet, Huckabee was sharing and commenting on a December 18, 2018 tweet shared by …

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gas_pump_arrow

Does the Arrow on a Car’s Gas Gauge Indicate Which Side Has the Fuel Tank?

A tweet published in December 2018 reiterated a long-circulating purported “life hack,” in which an easy-to-miss arrow on a car’s gas gauge indicated the side of the vehicle on which its gas tank was located: How old were you when you realized the arrow on the gas pump in your car shows which side the …

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Did Four Artificially Intelligent Robots Kill 29 Humans in a Japan Lab?

On December 15, 2018, a Facebook user shared what appeared to be a screenshot of an article reporting the shocking news that dozens of Japanese scientists had been killed by rebellious artificial intelligence: An Instagram handle was visible in the screenshot, and that account featured the following post: 4 artificial intelligence robots killed 29 scientists …

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Popeye's "Emotional Support Chicken" box.

Is Popeye’s Offering ‘Emotional Support Chicken’ to Harried Travelers?

On December 18, 2018, a spate of posts and articles about fast food chain Popeye’s new “emotional support chicken” appeared on social media: The move appeared to be a stunt that was either tasty or tasteless, depending on your perspective. Although several general news outlets posted about the Popeye’s product, readers and social media users …

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mueller_manafort

Could Robert Mueller’s Investigation Turn a Profit Thanks to Asset Seizures?

On December 14 2018, documents released by the Department of Justice clocked the cost of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election at over $25 million: The Justice Department’s investigation into Russian election meddling and any ties to the Trump campaign has cost more than $25 million since …

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