The first of the back-to-back Democratic debates in July included spin from the candidates on gun violence, Republican tax cuts, climate change, manufacturing jobs and more.
FactChecking the Second Democratic Debate
Person: Bernie Sanders
Posts Twist Facts on Democrats’ Names
Social media posts claim some well-known Democrats are “fraudulent and corrupt” for not using “their real names.” But in some cases, the posts refer to them by an incorrect name, a nickname, a middle name or a maiden name.
Are Wages Rising or Flat?
Parsing the political claims on wages is an exercise in fun with statistics. There are several different ways to measure what’s happened to workers’ paychecks, leading to disparate and conflicting claims, and confusing messages to voters.
Video: FactChecking the Second Debate
In this video, we review some of claims made on June 27 during round two of the first Democratic debate.
FactChecking Round Two of the Democratic Debate
The second of a two-part debate offered a new crop of spin.
The Facts on Medicare for All
Sen. Bernie Sanders says his Medicare for All plan “would provide comprehensive and cost-effective health care for everyone,” while the White House has said it would “mandate a decrease or elimination of choice and competition.” Let’s look at the details of this proposal.
A Misleading Claim About Lawmakers’ Effectiveness
A popular meme takes aim at prominent lawmakers by referencing the number of bills they’ve had passed. But it uses an erroneous number — and omits context.
The Preexisting Conditions Debate Isn’t Over
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said that all of the congressional Republican health care plans had “covered preexisting conditions,” adding that “the debate about preexisting conditions is over.” But the protections in the 2017 plans were not as comprehensive as those in the ACA.
Democratic Medicare Spin
Democratic lawmakers claim the president’s proposed 2020 budget would “ransack” or “slash” Medicare and Medicaid, likening it to an “assault on Medicare” and “the health care of seniors and families across America.” Experts agree the proposed cuts to Medicaid are significant, but many of the Medicare proposals echo those of Barack Obama and wouldn’t directly affect beneficiaries.
Social Posts Spin Sanders Photo
A viral hoax claims that Sen. Bernie Sanders was arrested in 1963 for “throwing eggs” at black civil rights protesters. He was arrested while protesting on behalf of civil rights.