Just Because It's Trending Doesn't Mean It's True — Fact checking at the speed of likes since 2015

Have you seen viral posts showing a map graphic with information about tremors felt all around a state? Lead Stories has spotted a number of such posts recently and found that many of them were created using artificial intelligence. The maps do not show real seismic data or official emergency preparedness recommendations, just alarmist clickbait. This article is part of…

Did Supreme Court justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett both disclose "gifts" from the George Soros Foundation? No, that's not true: The claim originated on a Facebook page known for posting satirical content that carries the disclaimer, "Nothing on this page is real." The image in the post also bears the same warning label. Lead Stories found no credible…

Did parents go public to complain about child deaths under the nursing care of Lindsay Clancy? No, that's not true: There is no credible evidence that any parents have publicly complained about their children dying while under Clancy's care. As of Sept. 16, 2026, a review of news reports found no such complaints. The claim appeared in a post (archived…

Did Dolly Parton's family deny Taylor Swift's request to headline a tribute concert honoring the late singer? No, that's not true: The story originated from a network of self-described satire websites that place multiple disclaimers on their content saying that nothing they publish is real. As of the time of publication, no tribute concert for Parton had been announced following…

Did California Governor Gavin Newsom's winery receive a state wildfire payout after a 2025 fire? No, that's not true: "The claim is FALSE," Newsom's office told Lead Stories. PlumpJack Group reached a private settlement with Hundred Acre winery, where the fire started, and did not receive state wildfire funds. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the @MrPotatoheadPHD…

Does a viral video claiming to capture a truck pushing car from a railway crossing with closed barriers actually show a real-life situation? No, that's not true: When it was first posted on social media, the clip was marked as containing AI content. An AI detection tool and manual analysis strongly suggested that the video was the product of generative…

Is there proof a photo showing President Donald Trump kissing a woman, possibly his aide Natalie Harp, while golfing is real? Here's what we know: There is no verifiable information, such as a photographer, subjects, date or location associated with the image. Content detectors do not pick up AI signals from the blurry picture. A sharper AI-generated version of the…

Does a real video show aide Natalie Harp grinning behind President Donald Trump while he was speaking at the NATO Leaders Summit in Turkey? No, that's not true: The six-second video circulating on social media was made with AI. Only the first frame of the video is an authentic photo, taken by a New York Times photojournalist. The claim appeared…

Is a protester's claim at a JD Vance campaign event for Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas that Marshall sued his own patients true? Yes, that's true: Marshall is a Republican seeking re-election in the November 2026 midterms. During his decades-long career as an obstetrician-gynecologist, he sued more than 700 patients over unpaid bills, according to a New York Times analysis…

Has "Superman" actor Henry Cavill been announced as the next James Bond? No, that's not true: The account that posted the claim is a parody account. There are no credible reports of Cavill starring in the next 007 film installment as of publication time. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the @DiscussingFake_ account on X on Sept.…

Did former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley say she wants to bring Palestinian refugees to the United States? No, that's not true: Haley called the claim "a total lie" on her official X account. Also, no credible evidence shows that she ever made such a statement or supported that stance. The claim appeared in a post (archived…

Is an image of President Donald Trump appearing to have wetted himself after meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly a real photo? No, that's not true: It's from an AI-generated meme. No officially released images showed such a scene. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on Threads by the @joekillory account on Sept. 13, 2026. It read:…

Did the 'foreign press' report that the Irish president insisted on being seated away from Donald Trump because he was emanating a disgusting 'fecal' like odor? No, that's not true: There are no credible reports that Catherine Connolly refused to sit near Trump during his visit to Ireland over a 'fecal' odor. His visit was covered by U.S. news outlets…

Does a real photo accurately portray Natalie Harp smiling? No, that's not true: A real image has been altered with AI tools to elongate Harp's teeth and expose her gums. A visual comparison between the altered image and the original, as well as readings from AI-generated content detection tools, all demonstrate the image is fake. The claim appeared in a…

Did a real photo from July 14, 1985, recently surface that shows Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein together on a yacht wearing swim briefs? No, that's not true: At least two images surfaced online on Sept. 11, 2026, one with an AI label. Content detection tools from Hive Moderation and OpenAI both determined the images were made with AI. The…

Is the viral selfie featuring Russia's Vladimir Putin surrounded by BRICS leaders an actual photo documenting the group's summit in September 2026? No, that's not true: Three online detectors ruled that it was made by AI. Lead Stories did not find any examples of credible media organizations using the image to cover the summit. The claim appeared in a post…

Does a viral image authentically document President Donald Trump's efforts to clear the rubble at the 9/11 site? No, that's not true: Three online tools said it was generated by AI. In particular, one tool detected an invisible watermark identifying the image's AI origin. The claim appeared in an article (archived here) on patriots.win, published on Sept. 11, 2026. It…

Does a grainy green night vision photo show Osama bin Laden after he was shot and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs? No, that's not true: This image was made by adding bin Laden's face to a still image taken from the movie "Black Hawk Down." This fake image began circulating online shortly after his death was reported. The image appeared…

Did North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un call for Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested in September 2026? No, that's not true: There are no credible news reports that Kim made an announcement calling for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to be arrested. The person who posted this video does not cite a source for his claim that Kim is demanding Netanyahu's…

Does a viral image authentically show the folding iPhone Duo released in September 2026 after three months of use? No, that's not true: Two online AI detectors found evidence of generative AI. Earlier versions of the image shared on social media did not document such pronounced damage from folding. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on X…