An independent experimental fact-checking site, exploring and advocating ways to make fact-checking better.
“Contrary to Cheney’s assertion, waterboarding was an important charge in a number of the lesser-profile cases.” —Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post Fact Checker, from a Dec. 16, 2014 fact check of former Vice President Dick Cheney Overview In a fact check of the former vice president, the Washington Post Fact Checker muddies the waterboarding. The Facts Former Vice President Dick…
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“[Rudy] Giuliani said, “the conviction rate is almost exactly the same” for whites and blacks who commit murder. … Without statistical data to back up his claim, we rate it False.” —PunditFact, from a Nov. 26, 2014 fact check of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani Overview: Facts and consistency escape PunditFact’s grasp as it overlooks an extensive…
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“Obama said the cost of “health care is now the single-biggest factor driving down” the federal budget deficit. … We rate Obama’s claim Mostly True.” —PolitiFact, from an Oct. 8, 2014 fact check of President Obama Overview The mainstream fact checker PolitiFact exemplifies inconsistency with its fact check of President Obama. The Facts On Oct. 8, 2014, PolitiFact published a…
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Occasionally the mainstream fact checker PolitiFact will publish an article giving an overview of a fact check topic. But two recent fact checks of political attack ads point to the need for one PolitiFact has yet to publish: the relevance of the source of political campaign cash. On March 27, 2014, PolitiFact published a fact check of an ad by…
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PolitiFact published a brief guide to its fact check process recently on Aug. 20, 2014. It wasn’t bad at all. PolitiFact’s PunditFact published a fact check of former Texas congressman Tom DeLay on Aug. 31, 2014. It was pretty bad. How does this happen? How does a solid outline for fact checking claims turn into amateurish and ridiculous fact checks?…
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“(Sen. Bernie) Sanders said, ‘In 1952, the corporate income tax accounted for 33 percent of all federal tax revenue. Today, despite record-breaking profits, corporate taxes bring in less than 9 percent.’” … we rate his claim Mostly True.” —PolitiFact, from an Aug. 28, 2014 fact check of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Overview PolitiFact concocts a “Mostly True” rating for…
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“Virginia Democrats believe they have found evidence showing states that expand their Medicaid rolls are better off than those that reject expansion. … “Barker said hospitals in states with Medicaid expansion have already benefited from a 30 percent drop in uncompensated care. … “The statement is True.” —PolitiFact Virginia, in an Aug. 10, 2014 fact check of Virginia state senator…
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“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.” Henry V, from Shakespeare’s “Henry V” Mainstream media fact checkers have done a lousy job of alerting their readers to Democrats’ deceptive gender pay gap claims. We’ll review the fact checks of the pay gap issue from FactCheck.org, the Washington Post…
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“(Charlie) Crist said Scott’s per-pupil education spending is “about $200 less” than the Crist administration did during the recession. … We rate the statement Mostly True.” —PolitiFact Florida, from a July 18, 2014 fact check of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist Overview PolitiFact Florida’s fact check misleads on Crist’s nearly meaningless claim. The Facts On July 18, 2014, PolitiFact…
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“Alison Lundergan Grimes, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell’s Democratic opponent, released her first attack ad Tuesday.” —The Associated Press, in a July 9, 2014 fact-check story Overview Unnecessary factoid fails to ring true. The Facts On July 9, 2014 the Associated Press published a fact check story written by Adam Beam and Calvin Woodward. The fact check examined two…
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