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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Obama’s Final Numbers

Obama’s Final Numbers

The numbers are nearly all in now. What they show about what really happened during the eight years that Barack Obama was president is sometimes different from what politicians claimed.

‘Death Tax’ Talking Point Won’t Die

‘Death Tax’ Talking Point Won’t Die

In calling for the repeal of the estate tax, President Donald Trump repeated a popular myth that a farmer’s heirs often have to “sell the farm” in order to pay the tax. In fact, less than 1 percent of the heirs of farm owners are expected to have to pay any estate tax.

No Nationwide Sharia Ban

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.

The Preexisting Conditions Debate, Again

The Preexisting Conditions Debate, Again

Republicans and Democrats are making competing claims on whether the latest GOP effort to repeal the ACA continues to protect those with preexisting medical conditions. Under the Graham-Cassidy bill, insurers couldn’t refuse to sell policies, but they could price plans based on health status in states that allowed it.

Natural Born Bunk

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.

Misquoting FactCheck.org

Misquoting FactCheck.org

To set the record straight, FactCheck.org did not call the allegation that longtime Donald Trump associate Roger Stone had advance notice about hacked Democratic emails “false,” as Stone claimed in a recent op-ed. We said it is “not an established fact.”

Did Air Quality Improve Under Obama?

Did Air Quality Improve Under Obama?

EPA head Scott Pruitt criticized former President Barack Obama for leaving 40 percent of Americans with air quality that doesn’t meet EPA standards. But a report Pruitt’s office cited as evidence said there had been a “major improvement” in air quality under Obama.

Video: Trump’s Job Boast

Video: Trump’s Job Boast

In this week’s fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper and FactCheck.org highlight a claim that President Donald Trump made about the nation’s job growth.

Trump’s Tax Plan and ‘the Rich’

Trump’s Tax Plan and ‘the Rich’

In promoting his plan to overhaul of the nation’s tax system, President Donald Trump claimed “the rich will not be gaining at all with this plan.” But the tax proposal his administration outlined in April would heavily benefit high-income taxpayers, and Trump hasn’t revealed any changes to it.

Fake Mike Pence Abortion Quote

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.