Is Nate Ward, who confronted Dr. Anthony Fauci, then-director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser over the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, dead? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found Ward alive and still living in the District's eighth ward. "Nate Ward is not deceased, because you're speaking to him right now,"…

Does a video show a guard in Morocco opening a border fence located at Ceuta, a Spanish territory, in July 2026? No, that's not true: The footage was posted online in 2021. According to a Spanish police union, it does show Moroccan people crossing into Ceuta. The claim appeared in a post by @alberto_hispanista on Instagram on July 31, 2026…

Does a screenshot show a post made by a real California congressman, Jack Kimble, that includes an AI-generated image of an idealized American family? No, that's not true: Kimble is a fictional satirical politician, not a real congressman from California. His X account does not have a clearly stated satire disclaimer, but clues are offered in the account's bio. A…

Did Karoline Leavitt say, "It's hard for President Trump to make key decisions on Iran when he doesn't have enough intelligence"? No, that's not true: The White House press secretary never remarked that Trump "doesn't have enough intelligence." The fake quote was published by a humorist on social media. There are no records of her making the comment on the…

Does a video show a migrant crisis in Ceuta, Spain? No, that's not true: The clip was uploaded to social media weeks earlier. Two online AI detectors suggested the presence of generative AI. The claim appeared in a post (archived here and here) published on Facebook on July 30, 2026. It opened: Is this an invasion of Spain? This is…

Did basketball player Sophie Cunningham refuse to apologize for her words about transgender athletes in women's sports and thus get suspended for five games? No, that's not true: This story originated as self-described satire. As of this writing, Cunningham was not suspended. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X by @mcafeenew on July 30, 2026. It opened:…

Did X owner Elon Musk say that he was "trying to do the greatest amount of good with the limited time I have on Earth"? No, that's not true: His account on the social media platform didn't show such a quote. Lead Stories didn't find any credible sources confirming that those were his actual words. The claim appeared in a…

Did Caitlin Clark "clap back" at Angel Reese, knocking her, or a Golden State Valkyries player, to the floor? No, that's not true: This video clip is AI-generated. It was based on a real altercation between Indiana Fever's star Caitlin Clark and the Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun during a May 22, 2026, game in Indianapolis. Real game footage was used…

Did WNBA star Sophie Cunningham say LeBron James "doesn't have the correct genitalia" to discuss transgender women in sports? 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 original post also bears the same warning label. Lead Stories found…

Did President Donald Trump post an O.J. Simpson meme showing former President Barack Obama and first lady Melania Trump riding in the white Bronco together? No, that's not true: Trump posted a meme in 2025 on his Truth Social account showing himself in a police car chasing Obama in Simpson's white Bronco with Vice President J.D. Vance in another police…