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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

FairTax, Washington Senate Race and Aqua Buddha

In episode 34 of our podcast, we talk about a popular — and misleading — line of attack from Democrats about the FairTax. Plus, we look at ads in the Washington Senate race and the controversial "Aqua Buddha" ad in the Kentucky contest.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Sales Tax Spin Oct. 20
Toss-ups: Wayward Ads in Washington State Oct. 15
Conway ‘Lying’ About ‘Aqua Buddha’? Oct. 18

Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Senate Race

In episode 33 of our podcast, we talk about Democrats’ evidence-free allegation about the Chamber of Commerce and foreign money. Plus, we look at ads in the Missouri Senate race and explain why dead people got stimulus checks.
For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
 Really?  Oct. 11
Toss-ups: Missouri Mudslinging  Oct. 12
Stimulating the Dead  Oct. 14
 

Alaska and West Virginia Senate Races, and Health Care

In episode 32 of our podcast, we look at ads in the Alaska and West Virginia Senate races, and we debunk bogus claims about the health care law — again.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Murkowski vs. Tea Party, Round 2  Oct. 6
Pataki's Bogus Health Care Claims  Oct. 6
Dust-Up in Coal Country  Oct. 1

Super PAC Ads, Grayson’s Attack and the Stimulus

In episode 31 of our podcast, we look at ads from a conservative "super PAC," a low blow from Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida and false claims that the stimulus failed to create jobs.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Crossroads Jam-Up  Oct. 1
Rep. Grayson Lowers the Bar  Sept. 27
Did the Stimulus Create Jobs?  Sept. 27
 
 

Health Care, Social Security and Vietnam

In episode 30 of our podcast, we look at deceptive ads from a conservative group on the new health care law, misleading spots on Social Security from Democrats, and a false claim about a GOP House candidate and draft dodging.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Misleading Onslaught by 60 Plus  Sept. 17
Social Security: (Mostly) in Their Own Words  Sept. 21
Patriotism Falsely Impugned  Sept. 22
 
 
 

Obama, Ohio Jobs and Bailout Bonuses

In episode 29 of our podcast, we debunk a claim made by President Obama about Afghanistan, dueling ads about jobs in the Ohio Senate race, and an Arizona ad that makes an overblown assertion about executive bonuses and the stimulus.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
'Second Poorest' Nation?  Sept. 13
Bush Years Revisited in Ohio Senate Race  Sept. 10
A Record Jobs Loss?  Sept. 16
Bailout Bonuses Are Back  Sept. 16

Bailouts, Taxes and Deceptive Editing

In episode 28 of our podcast, we look at misleading ads from freshman House Democrats who claim they voted against the bank bailout bill, which passed before they took office. Also, we debunk a chain e-mail about taxes, and we highlight a perfect example of how deceptive editing is used in political advertising.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Democratic Bailout Baloney  Sept. 3
More Bailout Baloney  Sept. 8
Attack on Giffords Comes Up Short 

Corporate and Union Ads

In episode 27 of our podcast, we look at misleading ads from a conservative and a liberal group: Crossroads GPS, a group with ties to Karl Rove, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees labor union. Plus, we tell listeners about a greatly exaggerated claim from the education secretary about high-school dropouts.

For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Misdirection from Crossroads GPS  Aug. 30
AFSCME’s Big, Brazen Attack  Sept.

Mosque Controversy, Stimulus Spin and Blagojevich

In episode 26, we answer readers’ questions on claims about the planned Islamic cultural center and mosque near ground zero. Plus, we document spin from both the vice president and the House GOP leader on stimulus spending, and we fact-check former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appearance on Fox News.
 
For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Questions About the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’  Aug. 26
Spinning the Stimulus  Aug. 24
Sunday Replay  Aug.

‘Privatizing’ Social Security?

In episode 25, we debunk President Obama’s claim that leading Republicans in Congress want to privatize Social Security. Plus, we look at dueling ads from the Pennsylvania Senate race, and we tackle claims related to the controversy over the Islamic center and mosque in New York.

 
For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Obama’s (Latest) Social Security Whopper  Aug. 16
Toomey’s Stimulus Charge Doesn’t Add Up  Aug. 13
DSCC Wrong on Toomey’s Wall St.