9/11

Do Pepsi Co. and other food companies use cells from aborted fetuses as ingredients for their products? No, that's not true: The false claim is based on the use of HEK 293 cells -- which were developed decades ago from live-baby birth fetal cells -- in taste research by another company. The cells are and never have been placed into…

Were 13 Uber drivers arrested for alleged sex trafficking in Georgia? No, that's not true: The claim began with a now-deleted tweet that claimed 13 Uber drivers were arrested in Atlanta for sex trafficking. The false claim spread through social media despite a denial from law enforcement agencies. There is no public record of Uber drivers (any number) being arrested…

Did CNN host Brian Stelter say that President Donald Trump is a "destructive cult leader"? No, that's not true: A psychologist who studies cults made the comment while being interviewed by Stelter on CNN's "Reliable Sources" program. Stelter did not repeat it, but questioned the guest about how he could justify and prove the statement. The story originated from an…

Did Israel invent 5G technology, then ban it because of health concerns? No. That's not true: Israel is aggressively pushing the 5G networking service through a tender to incentivize that country's carriers to start rolling it out, according to Reuters. While Israeli companies are actively developing 5G tech, it's not accurate to say that they invented it. The United States…

Did Bernie Sanders say at a Democratic debate that the planet has only eight or nine years before major cities go under water? No, that's not true: What the Democratic presidential hopeful said was that, unless "we get our act together within the next eight or nine years," the rising sea levels would inevitably flood major cities. Instead of saying…

Did CNN break down and finally admit the entire Russian collusion theory was a hoax? No, that's not true: CNN reported that an FBI agent is "under investigation" for altering a document "related to 2016 surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser." But it was not an admission that the "entire Russian collusion theory was a hoax." CNN also noted that…

Should you call 911 when you spot a van that has extra locks on its doors and hatches? No, that's not true: such locks are commonly used by mechanics, maintenance men, construction workers etc. who keep expensive tools in their van and who don't want them stolen overnight when the van remains parked in the street. There is no need…

Was Will Smith diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and rushed to a hospital? No, that's not true: A video produced and posted by Smith of a scheduled medical check up in early November 2019 was edited and republished with a click-bait headline that falsely claimed that the actor was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and then rushed to a hospital.…

Did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offer an extra $1 million expense account to any member of congress who votes for the Trump impeachment? No, that's not true: The claim that Speaker Pelosi offered a financial bribe for impeachment support was published as satire by a known and well-labeled satire website. Unfortunately, more than a few readers see the fake headline,…

Did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Democrats that it is "too dangerous" to wait for an election to decide the presidency? No, that's not true: Pelosi's letter to House Democrats on November 18, 2019, warned that relying on the November 2020 election to decide if President Trump should be ousted instead of impeachment hearings to "expose the truth" is a…