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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Russian Rhetoric Ahead of Attack Against Ukraine: Deny, Deflect, Mislead

Russian Rhetoric Ahead of Attack Against Ukraine: Deny, Deflect, Mislead

As Russia amassed troops on the Ukrainian border, Russian leaders repeatedly denied that their country had plans to invade Ukraine. They blamed the U.S., Ukraine and others for the tension, insisting that Russia is a “peaceful country” and that it is “not going to attack anyone.” Here we round up some of their statements during a monthslong misinformation campaign.

Biden Initiative Funds Drug Overdose Prevention, Not ‘Crack Pipes’

Biden Initiative Funds Drug Overdose Prevention, Not ‘Crack Pipes’

The Department of Health and Human Services launched a $30 million grant program in December to help “address the nation’s substance use and overdose epidemic” by reducing the dangers related to drug use. The program doesn’t provide funding for crack pipes, contrary to partisan claims fueled by a flawed assumption.

Biden Stretches Evidence for Universal Pre-K

Biden Stretches Evidence for Universal Pre-K

President Joe Biden has made sweeping claims about evidence that he says supports his universal pre-kindergarten plan. There is plenty of research on specific targeted programs, but there isn’t much on universal programs. And the research that does exist, in many cases, is more nuanced and less optimistic than Biden suggests.

Biden Promise on SCOTUS Nominee Not Unique

Biden Promise on SCOTUS Nominee Not Unique

At a 1980 campaign event, Ronald Reagan promised to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court if elected. President Trump, while running for reelection, announced at a campaign rally that he would appoint a woman. Sen. Susan Collins said President Biden’s campaign promise to appoint a Black woman to the court “isn’t exactly the same.” We review the facts.

Scientist Misleads on COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Vaccine Safety for Children

Scientist Misleads on COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Vaccine Safety for Children

The approved and authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. are effective at preventing severe disease, and experts say the benefits of vaccination for children outweigh any known or potential risk. But social media users have shared video of Dr. Robert Malone misleadingly asserting that the COVID-19 vaccines are “not working” and claiming without evidence that many children “will be hospitalized” and may experience brain damage and infertility due to the vaccines.

DeSantis Misleads on Omicron-Resistant COVID-19 Antibody Treatments

DeSantis Misleads on Omicron-Resistant COVID-19 Antibody Treatments

After the Food and Drug Administration pulled its authorization of two COVID-19 antibody drugs because the treatments are highly unlikely to work against the omicron variant, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida misleadingly claimed the decision had been made “without a shred of clinical data” to support it. There may not be data from patients, but lab studies strongly suggest the treatments will not help omicron-infected people.

Biden’s Numbers

Biden’s Numbers

Statistical measures of the president’s term to date.

Q&A on At-Home Rapid Tests

Q&A on At-Home Rapid Tests

The demand for at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests — sparked by the fast-spreading omicron variant in December — has continued in 2022. With that demand have come questions about the tests’ efficacy, how to use them and where to get them. We answer those queries and more.

FactChecking the Justices’ COVID-19 Claims

FactChecking the Justices’ COVID-19 Claims

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Jan. 7 challenging the Biden administration’s attempts to expand COVID-19 vaccinations. Here we present the facts on some COVID-19 claims made by the justices.

FactChecking Claims About the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

FactChecking Claims About the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was the culmination of months of false claims about election fraud. On that day — and afterward — we debunked false, misleading and unfounded claims related to the events that day.