An independent experimental fact-checking site, exploring and advocating ways to make fact-checking better.
“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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“Survey: Republicans Like Obamacare a Lot More if You Call It by a Different Name” –Headline of a Jonathan Cohn article in The New Republic, Sept. 15, 2014 Overview The survey doesn’t say what Jonathan Cohn and The New Republic say it does. The Facts On Sept. 15, 2014 the left-leaning magazine The New Republic published a story by…
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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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“Myth: The United States can’t stay economically competitive if we address climate change.” —The Democratic National Committee, Nov. 27 from its “Your Republican Uncle” website Overview Cutting carbon emissions carries a cost, and the cost tends to make the United States less competitive. The DNC’s rosy picture of the benefits of climate change mitigation ignores many complications. The Facts…
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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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“Myth: Humans can’t do anything to combat rising CO2 levels.” —The Democratic National Committee, Nov. 27, 2014 on its “My Republican Uncle” website Overview We’re not convinced this is something a Republican uncle is likely to say. The Facts The DNC created its “Your Republican Uncle” website to give Democrats the perfect answer to the Republican at holiday family…
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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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“Taking into account all the health insurance expansions initiated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an estimated 20 million Americans have gained coverage as of May 1, 2014.” —The Commonwealth Fund, from “Health Care Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act—A Progress Report,” July 2, 2014 Overview “Gained” gains an expanded meaning? The Facts On July 3, The Commonwealth Fund…
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“(Debbie) Wasserman Schultz said that ‘nearly 60 percent of women who use birth control do so for more than just family planning.’ … The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. We rate it Mostly True.” —PolitiFact Florida’s June 30 rating of a statement by Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz Overview The “Mostly True” rating of Wasserman Schultz…
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