Q: Was Colin Kaepernick arrested during an NFL game on Sept. 9?
A: No. That story was originally published on a self-described satirical website.
Kaepernick Arrest Story is False
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.
Times Didn’t Say ‘Resistance’ Op-Ed is ‘Fake’
Q: Did the New York Times admit that the anonymous op-ed essay it published was not written by a Trump administration official?
A: No. That claim was made up by a website that trolls conservatives.
Girl in Trump Rally Video Not Related to Pelosi
Q: Was Nancy Pelosi’s granddaughter seen wiping her nose with the American flag?
A: No. The young woman in a video from one of President Trump’s rallies is not Pelosi’s grandchild.
Partisan Site Revives Old Pence Controversy
Q: Was “VP Mike Pence Busted Stealing Campaign Funds To Pay His Mortgage”?
A: He used campaign funds for personal expenses during his run for Congress in 1990, but the Federal Election Commission could not agree on whether he violated campaign finance laws.
False Claim About Kaepernick’s Nike Deal
Q: Did Nike end its new deal with Colin Kaepernick because he made “anti-white” remarks?
A: No. That made-up story was first published by a website that says its work is satire.
Old Spin on Health Care Fraud Bust Returns
Q: Were “412 Michigan Muslims arrested in fed’s ‘largest bust in U.S. history’”?
A: No. Only about 30 of those arrests were made in Michigan, and there is no evidence all of the individuals arrested were Muslim.
Anti-Trump Comment Falsely Linked to Florida Shooter
Q: Did Reddit postings show the shooter in Jacksonville, Florida, was part of the “anti-Trump resistance”?
A: No. The Reddit account in question did not belong to the shooter, David Katz, despite what viral stories said.
Joe Arpaio Not Named to Replace John McCain
Q: Was Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff, appointed to finish John McCain’s term in the Senate?
A: No. That claim is made up — the Arizona governor has not yet named a replacement.
Does Ocasio-Cortez Have ‘Ties’ to Soros?
Q: Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tied to George Soros?
A: Not directly. Her campaign gained momentum from an interview she gave on an internet show that is supported, in part, by a nonprofit that received a grant from an organization that received funding from a Soros foundation.
Clinton’s Emails, Weiner’s Laptop and a Falsehood
Q: Did the FBI wait until after the 2016 election to review the Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop?
A: No. A viral story misinterprets an FBI document and ignores widely reported facts.