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Explaining What We Know About the Obama Presidential Center Contractor Disputes

Explaining What We Know About the Obama Presidential Center Contractor Disputes
July 13, 2026

Q: Does Barack Obama still owe contractors or subcontractors money for work done on his presidential library in Chicago?

A: Some subcontractors have said they were not paid for their work. The Obama Foundation told us that the construction project manager (Lakeside Alliance) has the “primary responsibility” to “hire and manage all the subcontractors for the project.” The foundation said it has “no outstanding disputed charges” with Lakeside Alliance nor “direct legal agreements or contracts” with subcontractors.

Democratic Lawmakers Question If Trump Is Mystery Recipient of Drug

Democratic Lawmakers Question If Trump Is Mystery Recipient of Drug
July 8, 2026

Q: Is President Trump the anonymous 79-year-old man getting a still-unapproved obesity drug via a Food and Drug Administration program?

A: A news article, and subsequently Democratic lawmakers, questioned whether Trump is receiving the Eli Lilly weight-loss drug, which is reportedly being given to one 79-year-old man. However, the White House has said the unnamed man isn’t the president.

Who’s Paying for the White House Ballroom?

Who’s Paying for the White House Ballroom?
May 14, 2026

Q: Has President Trump asked for a billion dollars for the ballroom?

A: Since the White House announced plans in July for a ballroom, the president has promised to fund its construction without using public money. But in May congressional Republicans proposed $1 billion in federal funding for “security adjustments and upgrades” including at the White House and the ballroom site.

What Do We Know About ‘Birth Tourism’?

What Do We Know About ‘Birth Tourism’?
April 16, 2026

Q: How real is birth tourism?

A: The government doesn’t provide estimates of the extent of so-called birth tourism — pregnant women coming to the U.S. on tourism visas in order to obtain birthright U.S. citizenship for their newborn child. One outside group has estimated it may be more than 20,000 births per year. Some argue it’s not common enough to justify upending longstanding birthright citizenship policies.

The U.S. Treasury Didn’t Declare the Country ‘Insolvent’

The U.S. Treasury Didn’t Declare the Country ‘Insolvent’
April 7, 2026

Q: I read this on FB. Is it true? The U.S. Treasury just declared the U.S government is insolvent.

A: No. That’s the conclusion of an opinion piece that cited a Treasury report showing the government’s liabilities outweigh its assets. But that’s been the case for decades, and unlike an insolvent business, the government can levy taxes.

ICE Officers and Bonuses

ICE Officers and Bonuses
February 5, 2026

Q: Is it true that ICE agents are financially rewarded for the number of people taken into custody?

A: The Department of Homeland Security has said there is no such policy, and an immigration think tank told us it is unaware of any payments per arrest. The Wall Street Journal reported that agents “are rewarded for making arrests” but didn’t say how they are rewarded. Immigration and Customs Enforcement quickly scrapped a proposed program to pay bonuses to speed up deportations.

Experts Raise Doubts About Trump’s Dividend Payment Proposal

Experts Raise Doubts About Trump’s Dividend Payment Proposal
November 14, 2025

Q: Will U.S. citizens receive stimulus or tariff-based checks of $2,000 in November?

A: No checks are being issued. President Donald Trump said he wants to use tariff revenue to give “dividend” payments of “at least $2,000” to “middle-income people and lower-income people.” But no formal plan has been finalized and approved by Congress. Fiscal policy experts say there’s not enough tariff revenue for that. 

Explaining Democrats’ Request to Restore Foreign Aid

Explaining Democrats’ Request to Restore Foreign Aid
November 6, 2025

Q: Did Democrats request funding for “climate resilience” in Honduras, “civic engagement” in Zimbabwe, and “LGBTQI+ democracy grants” in the Balkans, to end the government shutdown?

A: A Democratic proposal would restore almost $5 billion in unused funding for foreign aid that President Donald Trump let expire on Sept. 30. The proposal did not specify which international projects should receive the funds.

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics
October 22, 2025

Q: Is President Donald Trump paying in full for the new ballroom at the White House, and what is the cost?

A: The White House said Trump and “other patriot donors” would pay for the ballroom, which the president estimated would cost $300 million. So far, $200 million has been pledged, according to the White House, which did not say how much the president would donate. Democratic leaders and ethics experts have questioned the project and what influence donors would have on federal policies.

Few Mass Shooters Have Been Transgender

Few Mass Shooters Have Been Transgender
September 17, 2025

Q: Have many of the mass shooters been transgender?

A: The number of transgender mass shooters in the U.S. varies depending on how “mass shooting” is defined, but is relatively small. The Gun Violence Archive, which uses a broader definition, lists five mass shootings by transgender or nonbinary people since January 2013. That’s less than 0.1% of the mass shootings it says happened in that period.