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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Trump Officials Cite Dubious Estimates of Medication Abortion Harms

Trump Officials Cite Dubious Estimates of Medication Abortion Harms
November 7, 2025

As justification for a Food and Drug Administration review of a drug used in medication abortion, two Trump administration health officials have referenced an April report from an anti-abortion group that claims to show a far higher rate of serious side effects from the drug than has been found previously. However, the report, which is not peer-reviewed research, didn’t disclose where it got its data and has substantial methodological issues, reproductive health experts say.

Explaining Democrats’ Request to Restore Foreign Aid

Explaining Democrats’ Request to Restore Foreign Aid
November 6, 2025

Q: Did Democrats request funding for “climate resilience” in Honduras, “civic engagement” in Zimbabwe, and “LGBTQI+ democracy grants” in the Balkans, to end the government shutdown?

A: A Democratic proposal would restore almost $5 billion in unused funding for foreign aid that President Donald Trump let expire on Sept. 30. The proposal did not specify which international projects should receive the funds.

FactChecking Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

FactChecking Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ Interview
November 4, 2025

In a lengthy “60 Minutes” interview, President Donald Trump made false and questionable claims about nuclear weapons testing, inflation and military strikes in the Caribbean Sea. He also repeated numerous misleading claims he has made before on a range of topics.

Democrats and Republicans Clash Over SNAP Contingency Funds

Democrats and Republicans Clash Over SNAP Contingency Funds
October 31, 2025

Republicans say funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits — formerly known as food stamps — will run out on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, and there’s nothing they can do about it. Democrats say there’s a contingency fund that could and should continue to fund regular SNAP benefits.

Competing Claims on Who Benefits from ACA Subsidies

Competing Claims on Who Benefits from ACA Subsidies
October 30, 2025

In the shutdown standoff over expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits, Democrats emphasize thousand-dollar premium increases for middle- or “working-class” Americans, while Republicans say people who are well-off unfairly benefit from the subsidies.

Assessing the Facts and Legal Questions About the U.S. Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats

Assessing the Facts and Legal Questions About the U.S. Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats
October 30, 2025

At least 61 people have been killed in 14 U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since early September. Here, we will address what is known about the targets of the strikes, the trafficking of illicit substances from South and Central America to the U.S., and what experts are saying about the legality of the Trump administration’s escalation of the war on drugs.

Pritzker’s Inaccurate Pushback on Chicago Murder Rate Claim

Pritzker’s Inaccurate Pushback on Chicago Murder Rate Claim
October 29, 2025

Defending Chicago in a recent Fox News interview, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said it was “not in the top 30” of “big cities” with the highest rates of murder. But in 2024, Chicago had the 15th highest murder rate among U.S. cities with at least 250,000 residents, according to FBI data. It ranked higher if limiting to cities with even larger populations.

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs
October 28, 2025

An ad campaign from the government of Ontario featured audio of former President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs on foreign goods. The video rearranges what Reagan said in a 1987 radio address, and it ignores some of the context. But it does not alter the former president’s sentiments, contrary to President Donald Trump’s claim that Canada “lied.”

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics
October 22, 2025

Q: Is President Donald Trump paying in full for the new ballroom at the White House, and what is the cost?

A: The White House said Trump and “other patriot donors” would pay for the ballroom, which the president estimated would cost $300 million. So far, $200 million has been pledged, according to the White House, which did not say how much the president would donate. Democratic leaders and ethics experts have questioned the project and what influence donors would have on federal policies.