#politifact

[destielmemenews]

PolitiFact

[elfwreck]

Fact-Check on the Presidential Debate

Source:

End result:

Donald Trump: 0 true, 13 false 3 of which are "pants on fire" level

Kamala Harris: 1 true, 5 false only 1 of which is just plain false; the others contain at least some truth

[hornedchick]

PolitiFact is live fact checking the VP debate. Check it out!

[tomorrowusa]

There is an enormous amount of competition for PolitiFact's 2023 Lie of the Year award. But the decision has been made and the dubious honor goes to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As pundits and politicos spar over whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign will factor into the outcome of the 2024 election, one thing is clear: Kennedy’s political following is built on a movement that seeks to legitimize conspiracy theories. His claims decrying vaccines have roiled scientists and medical experts and stoked anger over whether his work harms children. He has made suggestions about the cause of COVID-19 that he acknowledges sound racist and antisemitic. Bolstered by his famous name and family’s legacy, his campaign of conspiracy theories has gained an electoral and financial foothold. He is running as an independent — having abandoned his pursuit of the Democratic Party nomination — and raised more than $15 million. A political action committee pledged to spend between $10 million and $15 million to get his name on the ballot in 10 states.  Even though he spent the past two decades as a prominent leader of the anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy rejects a blanket "anti-vax" label that he told Fox News in July makes him "look crazy, like a conspiracy theorist." But Kennedy draws bogus conclusions from scientific work. He employs "circumstantial evidence" as if it is proof. In TV, podcast and political appearances for his campaign in 2023, Kennedy steadfastly maintained:

Vaccines cause autism.

No childhood vaccines "have ever been tested in a safety study pre-licensing."

There is "tremendous circumstantial evidence" that psychiatric drugs cause mass shootings, and the National Institutes of Health refuses to research the link out of deference to pharmaceutical companies.

Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were discredited as COVID-19 treatments so COVID-19 vaccines could be granted emergency use authorization, a win for Big Pharma. 

Exposure to the pesticide atrazine contributes to gender dysphoria in children.

COVID-19 is "targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."

His off the scale and totally unsupported conspiracy theories are not confined to autism, vaccines, immunity, and COVID-19.

For Kennedy, the conspiracies aren’t limited to public health. He claims "members of the CIA" were involved in the assassination of his uncle, John F. Kennedy. He doesn’t "believe that (Sirhan) Sirhan’s bullets ever hit my father," Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y. He insists the 2004 presidential election was stolen from Democratic candidate John Kerry. News organizations, including PolitiFact, have documented why those claims, and many others, are false, speculative or conspiracy-minded. Kennedy has sat for numerous interviews and dismissed the critics, not with the grievance and bluster of former President Donald Trump, but with a calm demeanor. He amplifies the alleged plot and repeats dubious scientific evidence and historical detail.  Will his approach translate to votes? According to polls since November of a three-way matchup between President Joe Biden, Trump and Kennedy, Kennedy pulled 16% to 22% of respondents. Kennedy’s movement exemplifies the resonance of conspiratorial views. Misinformers with organized efforts are rewarded with money and loyalty. But that doesn’t make the claims true. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign based on false theories is PolitiFact’s 2023 Lie of the Year.

A Reminder: RFK Jr. has been politically disowned by other members of the Kennedy extended family. They do not support his bizarre conspiracy theories and other rantings. He is trying to capitalize on his family name even though he is a disgrace to the heritage of his uncles and father.

Nobody should vote for him thinking that he will bring back Camelot. RFK Jr. is basically an organic Trump without the makeup.

[eyrieofsynapses]

Okay, fact-check: first, it's not a post-conviction meeting, it's a pre-sentencing interview. This has been covered by both USA Today and Politifact. Second, as shitty as Trump is, I can't find any information stating that the drug test is mandatory. This particular claim also isn't substantiated by any fully credible news outlets; it was initially started, as far as I can tell, by Newsweek, which isn't known for reliability. It looks like Stephen Colbert cracked a joke about it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, at least according to a New York Times article (I know not everyone has access, sorry! But I can't find it anywhere else right now):

"“Unlike the vast majority of felons out there, Trump was allowed to do his interview at Mar-a-Lago over a video conference call. Must make the mandatory drug test kind of difficult — hard to get the pee right into the USB port.” — STEPHEN COLBERT"

But, well--comedian. I respect Colbert, but that doesn't mean he fact-checks all his jokes.

However: credible sources (including Reuters, Axios, CBS) are reporting that Trump's pre-sentencing interview occurred via Zoom last Monday on June 10th, which means that if you believe that a drug test is mandatory, you could could draw the conclusion that Trump got around it by not having to attend in person. This is probably how Newsweek came up with it. The actual sentencing isn't until July 11th, by the way.

Re: pre-sentencing interviews:

"A Judge uses a pre-sentence report to help decide the defendant’s punishment for the crime. The pre-sentence report is made by probation officers. The report is made after the conviction and before the date for Sentencing in felony and serious misdemeanor cases. A probation officer (or a social worker or psychologist working for the probation department) interviews the defendant and checks the defendant’s criminal record."

(Source: "Pre-Sentencing Report" from nycourts.gov; there's some more info worth reading too)

I can't find any government websites that cover requirements for drug testing in pre-sentence reports, but I did find an article from a law firm:

"Since the judge can request additional information, they may order a presentence investigation drug test. It’s especially likely when the crime was a drug-related offense."

(Source: "What Is a PSI Report? – Who Writes a Federal PSI & How Is It Used?" from kretzerfirm.com)

As far as I can tell, drug testing can be mandatory in a pre-sentence report, but the judge has to order it specifically. Trump's case doesn't deal with drugs directly or indirectly.

This does not mean that the power to request drug tests isn't abused by judges, nor does it mean that it isn't used to discriminate against defendants. Stay angry about that, because it's fucking wrong and we need to raise awareness to fix the system.

The spread of this claim means that some people on the left are starting to twist the facts, though, which hurts credibility and gives the right-wingers ammo.

What we need to be talking about in regards to Trump's trials is that he hasn't even been sentenced yet. Convicted, yes, but his sentencing isn't due until July 11th. And remember, this is only the Stormy Daniels case--it's not the two election interference cases (one federal, one from Georgia) or the classified documents case. (The Supreme Court gets to decide on whether he can be prosecuted for federal election interference, by the way.) None of them have set trial dates. They may not even go to trial until just before, if not long after, the November election. This case is a black mark on his reputation, but he's also using it to claim martyrdom to his base, and it's not that big in the grand scheme of things.

Look: this sentencing isn't going to do much when it comes to keeping Trump out of office, if anything at all. We can still keep him out, but we're gonna have to work for it. Keep talking about the other cases. Keep voting blue. And don't spread misinformation, because you can't fight effectively when you don't know the facts.

Everyone needs to bring this up. Every TV appearance needs this question answered.

Why is Trump allowed to skip a mandated drug test?

[joe-england]

PolitiFact | What’s behind recent false claims about immigrants and crime?

[volunteerismandanarchy]

PolitiFact has fact-checked Harris 46 times since 2012. About 41% of her claims have landed on our rating scale’s bottom half: Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire!True 5

[evil-fact-checker]

"BREAKING: Voters in Tarrant County, Texas are reporting that the voting machines are flipping their votes from Trump to Kamala Harris," the Oct. 21 X post said.

We found similar viral claims on Facebook and Instagram.

No, Tarrant County, Texas, voting machines are not changing Donald Trump votes for Kamala Harris

If Your Time is short

Only one person out of more than 100,000 voters in Tarrant County has reported having a vote for former President Donald Trump changed to Vice President Kamala Harris when the ballot was printed.

Local election officials said the voting machines are not flipping candidates and suggested the voter made a mistake when selecting preferred candidates.

That ballot was destroyed and the voter was allowed to vote again.

See the sources for this fact-check

More than 2 million voters have already cast ballots in Texas during early voting but, viral social media posts claim voting machines in one county are flipping people’s votes.

"For anyone voting in Tarrant County please triple check your paper ballots when voting!" an Oct. 22 Facebook post said. "Voters are voting for one candidate and the ballot is changing the vote to another candidate." The post included an X post screenshot that made more pointed claims. 

"BREAKING: Voters in Tarrant County, Texas are reporting that the voting machines are flipping their votes from Trump to Kamala Harris," the Oct. 21 X post said.

The claim originated from a voter named James Carpenter in White Settlement, Tarrant County, Texas. Carpenter claims his choice of former President Donald Trump came out changed to Vice President Kamala Harris when a voting machine printed his ballot. He told reporters he raised concerns to poll workers who offered him the chance to spoil his ballot and vote again.

The viral posts purport that multiple people have reported the same issue with their ballots, but so far only Carpenter's account has been reported by local news and addressed by election officials. 

Clint Ludwig, the county’s elections administrator, said in a video statement published Oct. 22 that nearly 102,000 people had cast early voting ballots. Ludwig said his office did not believe the machine changed the voter’s selection and suggested that the voter had made a mistake.

"What we believe to have occurred is that the individual did make a selection on the machine and that selection was printed on their ballot," Ludwig, who did not mention Carpenter by name, said. "When they went to cast their ballot, they checked it and realized that was not the vote that they wanted … He was issued a new ballot and able to vote." 

BREAKING: Voters in Tarrant County, Texas are reporting that the voting machines are flipping their votes from Trump to Kamala Harris

The voters are urging everyone else to check their printed ballots before submitting them.

"Reports were that people who selected Trump on the screen were seeing Harris on the printed ballot." - This is according to Tarrant GOP Chair

This stuff boils my blood. Why does Tarrant County utilize such an obviously vulnerable system? This also shows that it's not just Dominion machines that are corrupt. ALL voting machines are intrinsically evil. We need to go back to voting in person on election day, with human hands as the counting method. So far, we have seen reports of flips like this happening in Tennesee, Georgia, and now Texas. This sets a precedent for us to demand the publicizing of all the machine data and the proprietary software.

It's a good thing we're catching it before the election and NOT after. 🤔

[sparky7u]

Former President Donald Trump closed the Republican National Convention by accepting the presidential nomination and offering a speech that began somber and turned combative.

[destielmemenews]

PolitiFact

[faultfalha]

The first Republican debate on Fox News caused a stir, producing an upheaval among viewers. All of the candidates expressed their views, both right and wrong, in clever and persuasive ways. Some believed that the most right-wing candidates revealed a promising outlook on fiscal policy and foreign affairs, while others found fault with their focus on certain issues. The sides of the debate were like pieces of an incomplete puzzle, each candidate bringing something new to the table, as if conjured by a mysterious force. New grounds were cracked open, old thoughts were re-examined, and bold ideas began to take root. Though no single candidate had the answer, the discussion stimulated by the debate was sure to lead to something far greater than the sum of its parts. The conversation at hand was like a journey, unpredictable and ever-changing, that pushed the boundaries of ideas and opinions. Political enthusiasts saw this moment as a great opportunity, while others saw mere chaos. In any case, the first Republican debate on Fox News was a notable event in the ever-evolving world of politics.

[calicojack1718]

The "Free Speech" Gaslighting Defense Proves the GOP's Intent to End American Democracy

The conservatives of the country are all in for the #GOPDystopia and authoritarianism. The popular defense of Trump in the DC indictment as being a free speech violation is gaslighting and shows how badly they want Trump's authoritarian regime

SUMMARY: This post analyzes the popular conservative defense of Trump’s DC indictment as being a violation of his free speech rights. Such claims are so clearly contrary to reality that they constitute gaslighting and indicate just how widespread conservative disdain for our democracy and rights are. KEYWORDS: Free speech, Gaslighting, Indictment, Trump, #GOPDystopia, Conservatives Happy…

[chubbycaucasianchristiancloseted]

How does mainstream media continue to get this wrong OR are they just lying?

How does mainstream media continue to get this wrong OR are they just lying? PolitiFact’s “Fact check” is far from being “Half True” and should at the very least be “Mostly True”. We also know from pictures and WhatsApp messages that Joe Biden’s claim of never talking to his son about his business dealings is 100% false.

Direct Quotes:

The episode involved his son Hunter Biden’s work on behalf of a Ukrainian energy company at a time when the elder Biden was vice president and a key figure in U.S. policy on Ukraine.

Hunter Biden did hold a directorship for a Ukrainian gas company while his father was vice president. Experts agree that Hunter Biden's acceptance of the position created a conflict of interest for his father. 

The position with Burisma came at a time when the younger Biden had joined with Christopher Heinz (the stepson of then-Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.) and Devon Archer (a Kerry family friend) in a string of investment and consulting firms. Firms run by Biden and Archer "pursued business with international entities that had a stake in American foreign policy decisions, sometimes in countries where connections implied political influence and protection," the New York Times reported.

The Biden campaign told PolitiFact that the vice president learned about his son's role on the board through media reports and never discussed anything related to this company with his son.

A year and a half later, the New York Times published an article that suggested that "the credibility of the vice president’s anti-corruption message may have been undermined" by Hunter Biden’s dealings with the company.

The post said Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion unless the prosecutor -- Shokin – was fired. Biden didn’t just make a threat to withhold aid unless Shokin was sacked -- it succeeded.

We found wide agreement among Ukraine policy experts that Hunter Biden’s decision to become a director for Burisma presented a serious conflict of interest.

The image gets individual pieces of this assertion right -- Hunter Biden was a director of the company, and Joe Biden did leverage U.S. aid to  fire a prosecutor.

[subsidystadium]

The Washington Commanders/Commanders have officially stopped screwing over Richmond, Virginia

The year is 2012. The city of Richmond at this time was dealing with “revenue shortfalls” that “forced (public) schools to cut millions of dollars … forcing scores of layoffs, furloughs and other job cuts”. What better time to help out a billionaire sports owner. That year, the Washington Redskins (Commanders will be used from now on) announced that their training camp would move 100 miles south…