Are Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines associated with an increased risk of serious adverse events of special interest? No, that's not true: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in an email to Lead Stories that the vaccines meet the agency's rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. In addition, the authors of this study created their…

Is Enfamil, an infant formula brand, harming and killing babies during the U.S. baby formula shortage of 2022? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Enfamil poses such a threat to babies. Although there was a widespread baby formula recall in the United States in 2022, Enfamil products were not a part of the recall. The claim appeared…

Did the IRS just begin buying ammunition during President Joe Biden's time in office? No, that's not true: The IRS started buying ammunition, firearms and equipment for its law enforcement divisions more than 100 years ago. It's standard for federal agencies that have many federal law enforcement officers to buy ammunition, firearms and equipment. The claim appeared in an article…

Does 5G cause nosebleeds, cancer in the brain, low sperm count, headaches or insomnia? No, that's not true: A video offers no proof of the claims made about the wireless technology. While the long-term effects of 5G technology are still being researched, numerous public health agencies have determined that it does not present a health risk to people in general.…

Do COVID-19 vaccines reduce breast milk supplies, which has caused the baby formula shortage, and is billionaire Bill Gates behind the whole scheme? No, that's not true: A September 2021 study found that a small proportion of women reported a reduction in their breast milk supply immediately following COVID vaccines but the milk "came back fully within 72 hours after…

Is Bill Gates the "first man to bring computers into this world," and is he worth "trillions and trillions"? No, that's not true: A social media video post purporting to be sharing "the truth about Bill Gates" makes those claim but offers no proof for them or any of the many other claims the narrator makes about Gates or various…

Does squeezing the gas pump at "top speed" put more air in your tank, ultimately overcharging you for less than a full tank worth of fuel? No, that's not true: A representative of the American Automobile Association (AAA) emailed Lead Stories to say that the speed at which a person pumps gas does not impact the cost or amount of…

Does a video show U.S. Capitol Police just opening the gates for rioters on January 6, 2021, so they could attack the Capitol? No, that's not true: Marcus DiPaola, the freelance journalist who shot the video, told Newsweek in a January 7, 2021, story, "They definitely didn't just open the barriers, the pro-Trump rioters made a fist like they were…

Did "Dr. Sebi" cure AIDS? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Alfredo Bowman -- a self-described herbalist who referred to himself as Dr. Sebi even though he received no formal education -- cured AIDS. Although Sebi claimed his list of clients included celebrities such as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, John Travolta and Michael Jackson, many of Sebi's…

Is Bill Gates behind the 2022 monkeypox outbreak? No, that's not true: The claim wildly misconstrues a November 2021 comment Gates made about pandemic preparedness. He was discussing the possibility of simulating a smallpox attack in order to build global readiness. Gates did not mention monkeypox and there is no evidence to support the allegation that he is, in any…