Does a video show U.S. Sen. John Fetterman being arrested after pulling a gun on a person in a car? No, that's not true: The man seen in the clip is not the senator from Pennsylvania but a man in Des Moines, Iowa. According to reports, Des Moines police identified him as Bradley James Ratkovich, who was charged with assault…
Did Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., say Malia Obama got $2.3 million from USAID during the presidency of her father, Barack Obama, and called for an investigation? No, that's not true: The claim originated from a self-described satire network. No credible media reporting confirms the rumor. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on X on June 2, 2026,…
Did Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania switch to the Republican Party, saying, "I'm never gonna be a communist who believes men should use the girls' bathroom"? No, that's not true: The story originated on a Facebook page known for its satirical content, which carries the warning "Nothing on this page is real." The image supporting the claim is also…
Did Oprah Winfrey try to buy Sen. John Fetterman's vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill" for $20 million? No, that's not true: The story originated on a Facebook page known for its satirical content. The image supporting the claim is stamped with a warning label that says: "Satire. EVERYTHING on this page is FICTION." The claim appeared in a post…
Is there a television special called "Seeking the Truth, Finding Justice" about Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre in which celebrities -- from Pope Leo XIV to Barbra Streisand -- invested over $246,000? No, that's not true: There is no evidence of such a TV show or that anyone contributed to making it a reality. The claim is an example of so-called…
Was U.S. Sen. John Fetterman expelled from the Democratic party in early May 2025? No, that's not true: A widely-shared video offered in-depth opinions on the Pennsylvania senator's complex and changing relationship with the party, but no evidence to support the striking claim that he had been "officially kicked out." The video came after a New York magazine feature article…
Did Joe Rogan say "he will not be voting for Trump after having him on the podcast"? No, that's not true: Lead Stories reviewed Rogan's podcasts and public statements in the days after Donald Trump's appearance. Neither subsequent episodes of Rogan's podcast, his social media accounts nor credible news reports included any statements by Rogan that he had decided not…
Did Liz Cheney tweet questioning why people won't get more than $750 for hurricane damage, saying it's because Donald Trump won't let House Speaker Mike Johnson pass a hurricane relief bill? No, that's not true: The X account that originally posted the fake screenshot carries a disclaimer, "This account itself is not a parody but most of the images we…
Did Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman say he'd be voting for Donald Trump? No, that's not true: Fetterman was answering an interviewer's question about why Pennsylvanians who vote for him -- a Democrat -- might also vote for Trump. He used the first person when explaining these voters' mindset, but was not talking about himself. The claim appeared in a post…
Did Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro not go to the 2024 Democratic National Convention? No, that's not true: There are several images and videos of Shapiro at the convention. Also, many news sources have reported on Shapiro's presence at the event in Chicago. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on August 19, 2024, on the official account of Monica…
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