Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Viral Chart Distorts Human Trafficking Statistics

Viral Chart Distorts Human Trafficking Statistics

A popular bar graph on social media claims to show that the number of human trafficking arrests skyrocketed under President Donald Trump, compared to those under former President Barack Obama. But the chart misleads by using cherry-picked and, in some cases, faulty numbers.

Harris Hasn’t Called Biden a ‘Racist’ or a ‘Rapist’

Harris Hasn’t Called Biden a ‘Racist’ or a ‘Rapist’

Contrary to claims in viral internet posts, Sen. Kamala Harris did not call former Vice President Joe Biden a “racist” or a “rapist.” Rather, she has been critical of Biden’s position on busing to integrate schools and comments he made about segregationist senators, and she has said that she believed women who accused Biden of making them feel uncomfortable.

Mailbag: COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution

A reader sent us a comment about our article on distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The article reviewed the Trump administration’s distribution plans.

Trump Proves Biden Right on USPS Funding, Mail-In Ballots

Trump Proves Biden Right on USPS Funding, Mail-In Ballots

In late June, Joe Biden claimed President Donald Trump “wants to cut off money for the post office so they cannot deliver mail-in ballots.” At the time, we wrote that Biden had no evidence of Trump’s ulterior motive — but now he does. 

Face Masks Don’t Cause Legionnaires’ Disease

Face Masks Don’t Cause Legionnaires’ Disease

A viral social media post is spreading the falsehood that wearing a face mask to slow the spread of COVID-19 could cause Legionnaires’ disease. But Legionnaires’ disease is caused by bacteria that festers mostly in warm, standing water, not in human saliva.

Trump’s Missteps on COVID-19 Mortality

Trump’s Missteps on COVID-19 Mortality

President Donald Trump exaggerated Americans’ comparative success battling the coronavirus, falsely saying in a press briefing that the U.S. per capita death rate is lower than “most” of Western Europe. He also claimed a 9% decrease in COVID-19 fatalities over the past week, but the data do not show such a decline.

FactChecking Sen. Kamala Harris

FactChecking Sen. Kamala Harris

As a former 2020 presidential candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris — now presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate — was on our fact-checking radar this election cycle. Here’s a rundown of the claims we addressed.

Kamala Harris Is Eligible to Serve as President

Kamala Harris Is Eligible to Serve as President

Kamala Harris, former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate, is eligible to serve as U.S. president, contrary to the false claims of viral posts on Facebook. Her mother is from India and her father from Jamaica — but Harris was born in Oakland, California.