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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Explaining the Missing Context of Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 Presentation

Explaining the Missing Context of Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 Presentation

On Jan. 6, 2021, about 140 police officers were assaulted during the Capitol riot, and 326 participants — more than 100 armed with weapons — have been charged. But Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson has used recently released video from that day to misleadingly minimize the violence at the riot and to distort the actions of the police.

Posts Fabricate Charge Against Bill Gates in Philippines

Posts Fabricate Charge Against Bill Gates in Philippines

Social media posts make the unfounded claim that the Heinous Crimes Court in the Philippines issued a warrant for Bill Gates’ arrest for “‘premeditated murder’ linked to vaccine roll out.” That court no longer exists, and a spokesperson for Gates told us there is no warrant for his arrest.

Post Distorts History of Presidential Efforts to Fight Child Sex Trafficking

Post Distorts History of Presidential Efforts to Fight Child Sex Trafficking

Efforts to stop child sex trafficking in the U.S. have been underway for decades, led by presidents including Joe Biden. But an Instagram post makes the false claims that former President Donald Trump was the first to “acknowledge that children are being sold for sex in the U.S.” and that Biden “rescinded” a Trump order addressing the problem.

Posts Mislead on Legal Basis for Paying Federal Income Taxes

Posts Mislead on Legal Basis for Paying Federal Income Taxes

The U.S. Constitution established Congress’ right to impose federal income taxes, and the Internal Revenue Service administers the laws that require payment of taxes. Yet social media posts falsely claim there is no law that requires U.S. residents to pay taxes.

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Zelenskyy’s Remarks on U.S. Military Involvement

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Zelenskyy’s Remarks on U.S. Military Involvement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicted that if Russia’s invasion of his country is successful, it will invade nearby NATO countries, triggering a war involving the U.S. military. Some conservative commentators misleadingly claimed that he’d called upon the U.S. to “send their sons and daughters to war for Ukraine and potentially die.”

NTSB Chair Contradicts Posts That Wrongly Claim Trump to Blame for Ohio Train Wreck

NTSB Chair Contradicts Posts That Wrongly Claim Trump to Blame for Ohio Train Wreck

The National Transportation Safety Board’s chair said an Obama-era rule the Trump administration nixed would not have prevented the derailment of a train in Ohio, as some partisan commentators inaccurately claim. The rule requiring a new electronic braking system for certain trains carrying hazardous cargo did not apply to that train.

Multiple Federal Agencies Supporting East Palestine, Contrary to Partisan Claims

Multiple Federal Agencies Supporting East Palestine, Contrary to Partisan Claims

The people affected by the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, do not qualify for direct financial aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But FEMA and other federal agencies have been assisting since the accident there in early February. Social media posts have misleadingly claimed that the federal government has denied aid.

Posts Distort Soros’ Comments on a DeSantis Candidacy

Posts Distort Soros’ Comments on a DeSantis Candidacy

Billionaire George Soros said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis “is likely to be the Republican candidate” in the 2024 presidential race. But social media posts edited Soros’ remarks to falsely claim he endorsed the governor. Soros’ full remarks show that he does not support DeSantis for president and that he hopes for “a Democratic landslide.”

Commentators Push Unfounded Claims About Ohio Train Derailment

Commentators Push Unfounded Claims About Ohio Train Derailment

The derailment of a freight train carrying toxic chemicals in eastern Ohio has sparked a slew of unfounded claims by conservative commentators. There’s no indication that this incident will rise to the level of a “domestic Chernobyl”; it has been covered steadily by the media; federal and state agencies are monitoring air and water quality and its impact on people and animals.