Society

Were treasures from the tomb of Gilgamesh discovered just before the Iraq war and did the U.S. military or Hillary Clinton cover it up? No, that's not true: This video is footage of one of several fake mummy hoaxes that have occurred over the years. In April 2003, there was news about a German team's archeological finds associated with the…

Will people in Los Angeles who have committed violent crimes be "set free" as of May 24, 2023? No, that's not true: A court injunction was scheduled to go into effect in Los Angeles County on May 24, 2023, that reinstated a no-bail policy first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to reduce overcrowding in county jails. However,…

Did a NASA study find that snake plants, a type of houseplant, improve air quality in your home while you sleep? No, that's not true: A public affairs officer for NASA told Lead Stories that NASA has not made this claim and that the results taken from a 1989 study it ran on air-quality factors have been misinterpreted. A 2019…

Did the Golden Globes "ethics board" cancel prominent actress Whoopi Goldberg's Lifetime Achievement Award? No, that's not true: This story originated from a self-described satirical website aimed at trolling conservatives. No corporate statement or credible independent reporting supports the claim. The claim appeared in an article (archived here) published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on January 10, 2023, with the headline…

Can a problem with one tooth cause health issues in another, otherwise unrelated organ as a result of "a link" or "meridian" connecting the two? No, that's not true: This claim derives from an unproven theory that is not backed up by any scientific evidence. The claim comes from a video (archived here), posted on YouTube on April 6, 2016,…

Did Walt Disney World remove "all American flags" and replace them with "the Pride flag" to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights? No, that's not true: As of May 25, 2023, the Walt Disney Company had not announced such a change ahead of LGBTQ Pride Month, the annual June commemoration of the LGBTQ+ rights struggle. The claim…

Did George Soros say "Those who oppose my agenda are white supremacists"? No, that's not true: There is no verifiable evidence or credible source that supports the assertion that Soros said this or that the statement attributed to him is a close paraphrase of something said by the Hungarian-born American financier, philanthropist and activist, who is also one of the…

Does footage related to the 9/11 attack at the Pentagon prove that no airplane struck the building? No, that's not true: The video -- which was published online by the FBI more than a decade ago -- only shows "recovery and investigative operations" at the Pentagon following the attack. Additionally, there are images and a thorough investigation detailed in The…

Is this an advertisement for an entirely underground apartment building in Los Angeles? No, that's not true: This billboard is a promo for an Apple TV show. The URL seen on the billboard leads to a website that tells readers the TV show has been available for streaming since May 5, 2023. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on…

Is there data "pouring in" that "gender change" results in a higher risk of suicide? No, that's not true: The person making the claim offers no evidence that "gender change" increases the risk of suicide. Multiple studies have found the opposite -- gender-affirming surgeries and treatments are associated with lower rates of suicide. An expert in gender-affirming medical care told…

Did Target sell "tuck-friendly" Pride swimsuits as children's items? No, that's not true: Those swimsuits were labeled for adults and were not available in children's sizes. The claim appeared in a post on Instagram on May 17, 2023. Its caption said: We successfully boycotted Bud Light. Now it's Target's turn. The post included a video containing shots of a label…

Did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that AIDS-associated diseases and cancers have increased by 338 times since the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: The CDC says there are no indications that COVID vaccines are causing or contributing to these conditions. The public health agency regularly monitors and reports on health conditions including…

Did the NCAA settle with American collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines for $1.2 million and guarantee her a spot for next year? No, that's not true: This story originated from a self-described satirical website aimed at trolling conservatives. No corporate statement or credible independent reporting supports the claim. The claim appeared in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on May…

Is a vast military exercise called Jade Helm taking place in the United States in the summer of 2023? No, that's not true: A video about Jade Helm reused a 2015 news report. The story appeared in a video published on TikTok on May 17, 2023. A banner on the right side of the frame said: U.S. Military conducting suspect…

Did Jerry Springer, host of "The Jerry Springer Show," have two Black children with a mistress and leave those two children "everything" when he died? No, that's not true: The post making that claim uses footage of Springer playing a role in a performance put on by Tulane University students. Springer has one child, Katie, who is white. Lead Stories…

Did the International Olympic Committee issue a lifetime ban against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas? No, that's not true: This claim is from a satirical website, The Dunning-Kruger Times. There is no evidence the Committee has ruled that she is banned for life from swimming competitions at the Olympic level. The claim appeared in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times…

Was a Florida couple arrested for allegedly selling "golden tickets to heaven?" No, that's not true: There are no credible reports of such an event and the website the claim was published on is known for publishing fake news stories. The claim originated in an article published on March 31, 2015, on the website Stuppid. The article opened: Tito and…

Can black seed oil and one of its main compounds, thymoquinone, cure major diseases, including cancer and diabetes? No, that's not true: While some research suggests that black seed may be useful for certain conditions, there isn't sufficient evidence to conclude that any form of black seed is a cure-all. The claim appeared in a reel posted on Facebook on…

Will a new mRNA universal flu vaccine only be tested on 50 volunteers to "assess the safety" of the experimental shot? No, that's not true: New drugs and medicines in the United States go through rigorous testing and three phases of clinical trials involving thousands of people with different health statuses before the products can potentially be authorized for widespread…

Does a video show a real situation where a person has an implanted microchip in her arm that allows her to buy goods and open her home door lock, then the implant stops working and she is stuck without money or access to her apartment? No, that's not true: Two videos of science fiction content have been combined into one…