The premiere edition of our podcast features a look at the factual malpractice that took place during the president’s nearly daylong health care summit.
You’ve Got False Mail
If you live in Connecticut and are a registered Republican, you may have received a mailer or two from former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon attacking her opponent in the state’s GOP Senate primary, former U.S. Rep. Robert Simmons. But some of the mailers’ claims are false.
In one mailer, McMahon claims Simmons cosponsored cap-and-trade legislation that will “cost the average American family more than $1,700 a year.”
First, Simmons did not, as the mailer implies,
March 2, 2010
Chile’s population is 16.6 million.
Source: CIA World Factbook
March 1, 2010
March 1, 1692, marked the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials.
Source: Library of Congress
February 28, 2010
The last time the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team won the gold medal was in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Source: U.S. Olympic Committee/Associated Press
February 27, 2010
Feb. 28 is the deadline for individuals and corporations to donate to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti and claim those contributions on 2009 tax returns.
Source: IRS.gov
Summit Extras: Medical Malpractice
Yesterday we filed our lengthy report on the Blair House health care summit. But there were a few claims we didn’t have a chance to investigate, such as this exchange on medical malpractice.
A key Republican proposal for any health care overhaul effort is so- called "tort reform" that would limit the potential liability awards in medical malpractice cases. We found at least a dozen references to it throughout the transcript of yesterday’s session. Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner asked: "Why can’t we do something about the biggest cost driver,
February 26, 2010
The highest medal count for the United States in the Olympic Winter Games is 34, which the U.S. team attained in 2002 in Salt Lake City.
Source: U.S. Olympic Committee
Health Care Summit Squabbles
We tuned in to watch the president’s health care summit at Blair House today — all six-plus hours of it. And we weren’t surprised to hear some factual missteps in the discussion: Sen. Lamar Alexander said premiums will go up for “millions” under the Senate bill and president’s plan, while President Barack Obama said families …
February 25, 2010
In the first Olympic Winter Games, in 1924, the Canadian hockey team won all five of their games and outscored their opponents 110 to 3.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee