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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Ad Misleads on Percentage Increase in Fentanyl Seizures Under Biden

Ad Misleads on Percentage Increase in Fentanyl Seizures Under Biden

The overall increase in fentanyl seized at the southwest border under President Joe Biden is nowhere near as high as a Republican ad misleadingly claims. U.S. border officials seized 13,021 pounds of the drug in Biden’s first full 15 months in office, which is 70% more than the 7,677 pounds seized in Donald Trump’s last full 15 months as president.

Researchers Studying Whether Mouthwashes Can Reduce Viral Load, COVID-19 Transmission

Researchers Studying Whether Mouthwashes Can Reduce Viral Load, COVID-19 Transmission

In a Dec. 8 town hall meeting, Sen. Ron Johnson may have left a misleading impression in saying “standard gargle, mouthwash, has been proven to kill the coronavirus.” In the laboratory, some mouthwashes have been shown to block infectivity or suppress SARS-CoV-2, but studies involving people using mouthwash are not conclusive. Researchers are continuing to study the matter.

Capitol Protesters Were Armed With Variety of Weapons

Capitol Protesters Were Armed With Variety of Weapons

Conservative social media posts misleadingly claim the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was not an “armed” insurrection, citing FBI testimony that no guns were seized from suspects that day. But 23 people have been charged with having deadly or dangerous weapons during the assault — including a loaded handgun found on a man arrested on Capitol grounds.

More Bogus Border Claims

More Bogus Border Claims

During the ongoing family-separation controversy, President Donald Trump and others have made false or misleading statements on several immigration issues.

GOP Convention, Day 2

GOP Convention, Day 2

The speakers went too far in their claims on guns, Benghazi, coal jobs, Keystone and more.

Planned Parenthood Goes on Offense

Planned Parenthood Goes on Offense

A Planned Parenthood ad wrongly implies that New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte supports shutting down the government in order to defund Planned Parenthood. She doesn’t. The ad also exaggerates the potential impact of a shutdown.

Mistaken Tax Facts

Mistaken Tax Facts

In an ad attacking a Republican senator, the League of Conservation Voters claims the average Wisconsin family pays $7,500 a year in federal income tax. Not so. The tax would be $724 for the family shown in the ad with the income specified by the league.

Obama-Rouhani Photo Is Not Real

Obama-Rouhani Photo Is Not Real

A word of caution to ad makers: Don’t believe everything you see online, even images “in circulation widely on the internet.”

Toss-ups: Wisconsin

Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin is attacking his Republican challenger for denouncing taxpayer aid to businesses after accepting a government subsidy for his own firm. GOP challenger Ron Johnson says Feingold’s ad is “wrong” …