&Quot;Federal Reserve&Quot;

Did the World Economic Forum introduce a "mark of the beast" CBDC microchip to "end gun ownership" in the United States? No, that's not true: The United States hasn't announced the implementation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as of this writing, and the hypothetical abolishment of the Second Amendment that allows gun ownership would involve a different process…

Did the World Economic Forum (WEF) say that a central bank digital currency (CBDC) microchip must be "implanted under your skin" to participate in society? No, that's not true: Richard Werner, a German economist and professor who is not employed by the WEF, talked about the possible future use of microchip implants to regulate the availability of CBDC funds and…

Did President Joe Biden announce that the "US dollar will now become cryptocurrency"? No, that's not true: There's no evidence to back that claim. While the president did issue an executive order (EO) on March 9, 2022, on "Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets," it called on government agencies to look at the risks and benefits of digital currencies. Additionally,…

Was OceanGate's Titan, the submarine vessel that disappeared while descending to the wreckage of RMS Titanic, rescued with all passengers alive three days after going missing on June 18, 2023? No, that's not true: In a news conference held June 22, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) found a debris field consistent with the…

Is the federal government launching a new program that will allow officials to control individuals' bank accounts, and have officials of Visa and Mastercard warned about such a program? No, that's not true: The Federal Reserve is simply launching a real-time payment (RTP) system that does not aim to intrude on bank customers' accounts, according to a spokesperson. The claim…

If a bank "switches currency," will that void a mortgage contract? No, that's not true: A mortgage document is a legally binding contract and within it there is a promissory note that requires the borrowed amount be paid and the loan agency to accept that amount, a mortgage expert told Lead Stories. The claim appeared in a video published on…

Is the Federal Reserve's FedNow service now the primary form of currency in the United States? No, that's not true: FedNow is just an instant payment system and will not change the currency infrastructure in the United States. Rather, the service will make it easier to transfer money between entities and financial institutions. The claim appeared in a video (archived…

Did the driver for John F. Kennedy, Secret Service Agent William Greer, turn around and shoot the former president when JFK was assassinated in Dallas in November 1963? No, that's not true: A video posted on social media that makes this claim provides no supporting evidence beyond its grainy images. There also is no proof elsewhere that Greer played a…

Did the Central Intelligence Agency say it killed former President John F. Kennedy? No, that's not true: A video posted on Facebook that makes this claim provides no supporting evidence. There is no evidence elsewhere that the CIA has ever said it played a role in the 1963 slaying of Kennedy. The claim appeared in a post and video on…

Will U.S. dollars printed before 2021 no longer be accepted as legal tender as of January 2023? No, that's not true: A senior spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury Department told Lead Stories that the claim is false. Under current U.S. monetary policy, he said, all bills in circulation since 1914 remain legal tender. The claim appeared in a November 5,…