Q: Did players for the Seattle Seahawks burn the American flag?
A: No. A widely circulated picture was altered to make it look that way.
Seahawks Players Didn’t Burn Flag
Debunking Viral Claims
These articles debunk misinformation shared on social media. We also provide resources for readers: an article and a video on how to combat misinformation.
From late 2016 to early 2025, FactCheck.org was one of several organizations working with Meta to debunk misinformation shared on Meta’s social media platforms.
Trump Didn’t Change NFL Tax Status
Q: Did President Donald Trump revoke the National Football League’s status as a nonprofit organization?
A: No. The NFL’s league office voluntarily gave up that status in 2015.
Puerto Rican Teamsters Stories are Bogus
Q: Did a Teamsters strike hinder aid efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria?
A: No. Stories claiming so misrepresented an actual quote from an Air Force colonel.
Fake Letterman Story on Vegas Shooting
Q: Did comedian David Letterman respond to the mass shooting in Las Vegas by tweeting, “End white privilege today”?
A: No. A website that claims to be a safe haven from “fake news” posted that bogus information based on a tweet from a parody Twitter account.
Tackling Fake Football Stories
Q: Did the NFL fine players who protested during the national anthem? Was a player fired for it? Are some players asking the league to host a month of anti-police activism? Will Fox Sports stop airing NFL games?
A: No. Three of those stories were made-up, and one is a gross misrepresentation.
No Nationwide Sharia Ban
Q: Has a judge banned Sharia law across the United States?
A: No. The judge pictured with a bogus headline proclaiming a nationwide ban was the host of a daytime court TV show.
Natural Born Bunk
Q: Have Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Keith Olbermann introduced a bill that would do away with the requirement that the U.S. president be a natural born citizen?
A: No. Pelosi’s office confirmed that she has not, and Olbermann is not even a member of Congress.
False Headline on HIV Blood Donation
Q: Will California allow HIV-positive people to donate blood?
A: No. The Legislature has passed a bill that would reduce the penalties for those, including blood donors, who knowingly expose others to the HIV virus.
A False Headline About Free Tuition
Q: Is Western Kentucky University offering free tuition to black students because of slavery?
A: No. The school does not plan to adopt a resolution passed by the Student Government Association demanding “full and free access” for black students.
Fake Mike Pence Abortion Quote
Q: Did Vice President Mike Pence say, “Allowing rape victims to have abortions will lead to women trying to get raped”?
A: No. That fabricated quote comes from a made-up story published by a “hybrid news/satire” website.