&Quot;Walmart&Quot;

Was a post on Substack the real letter of explanation by Luigi Mangione, the man who has been arrested in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? No, that's not true: A Substack spokesperson told Lead Stories the post was removed for violating the website's guidelines, "which prohibit impersonation." The taken-down post was a long story about a mother's illness…

Are paid subscribers of Walmart+ the only customers who can use the self-checkout lanes at all U.S. Walmart stores as of December 6, 2024? No, that's not true: Self-checkout lanes are not exclusively and universally reserved for only Walmart+ members all of the time. Walmart representatives told Lead Stories that some stores "may adjust the use of staffed and self-checkouts…

Did Walmart donate $3.5 million to President-elect Donald Trump and Republican campaigns while giving nothing to Democrats ahead of the 2024 election? No, that's not true: Walmart's political donations come from an employee-funded political action committee, not the Walmart corporation. Public records show that while this committee supports both Republican and Democratic candidates, it didn't donate to either major party's…

Have Visa, Etsy, Adobe, Android, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Mastercard, McDonald's, CVS Pharmacy, Home Depot and Walmart all stopped posting on Twitter, now called X? No, that's not true: There is no indication that the accounts named in this list have, in a coordinated fashion, stopped posting on the social media platform. Some of the accounts have not been very…

Did Walmart announce that "starting June 3rd all U.S. store locations will go back" to 24-hour shopping? No, that's not true: There was no announcement like this made by Walmart. The news page on the Walmart corporate website at the time of writing -- June 4, 2024 -- does not show any announcement or news about all Walmart stores in…

Do photos circulating on social media prove that pro-Palestinian college protesters in the U.S. are using largely identical tents? No, that's not true: While there is an abundance of green tents at the nationwide protests, images from multiple campuses show a broad variety of tents in the encampments. The green tents are sold at Walmart nationwide. The claim about lookalike…

Does sodium bicarbonate in bottled water pose significant health risks? No, that's not true: This element is commonly known as baking soda, which is chemically salt. The Food and Drug Administration considers sodium bicarbonate safe to be used in food. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Instagram on March 2, 2024. It opened: What are your thoughts…

Is it possible for recipients of Angel Tree, a Salvation Army program that allows a donor to buy the items on the Christmas list of a child or a senior adult, to return their gifts to any Walmart location in exchange for a Walmart gift card? No, that's not true: The Salvation Army told Lead Stories that Angel Tree distributions…

Does a "universal health program" give away $2,000 IRS checks each month to those who are enrolled in a "free health plan" that only requires a person's name? No, that's not true: The IRS told Lead Stories that such a promise is a scam. No credible resources had information about the purported incentive. The claim originated in a post (archived…

Was "Justice Engoron," the judge who is overseeing former President Donald Trump's civil trial, drinking from a Tanqueray gin bottle during a hearing? No, that's not true: The bottle seen on Judge Arthur Engoron's bench is a bottle of Mountain Valley Spring water, as sold at Walmart and other outlets. The label and lid on the bottle match the green…