Us Tax System

Was the "Keystone" pipeline "just about completed" when President Joe Biden stopped it? No, that's not true: Less than one tenth of the Keystone XL segment of the Keystone system was complete when Biden revoked the permit for Keystone XL by executive order on January 20, 2021. The XL, which is the fourth phase of the Keystone system, had not…

Did all of Germany's close to 30,000 wind turbines and millions of photovoltaic panels suddenly stop working due to harsh weather conditions? And do wind turbines in Germany have to be heated in cold temperatures, taxing the country's energy grid? No, that's not true: Data on Germany's power production during January and February of 2021 shows that renewable energy sources…

Is President Biden about to send $3 trillion to Iran by plane to apologize for the drone strike that killed General Soleimaini last year? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to mislead Trump supporters and Republicans into sharing made up stories that are clearly marked as satire when you actually click…

Does the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine cause full-body convulsions? No, there is no evidence proving that convulsions are a potential side effect of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FDA, does not show any documented…

Did the "Act of 1871" establish the United States as a corporation? No, that's not true: The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871 established a new, unified government for Washington, D.C. It "incorporated" that city, a common legal term by which areas are organized for governance by a single entity. In this case, two cities and a county were…

Was a post's prediction accurate for a 6.0 to 6.5 magnitude earthquake in the San Francisco Bay between October 1 and 2, 2020? No, as anyone in the Bay Area or keeping up with news can testify, that didn't happen. Earthquakes are still unpredictable. While this graphic contains very specific details that give the impression of this being a measured,…

Did Canada on Sept. 8, 2020, criminalize government measures that require the wearing of masks, as well as social distancing, vaccinations, and other protective measures that help thwart the spread of COVID-19? No, that is not true. The national government has made no such declaration. The claim refers to a made-up "Republic of Kanata" that claims to trump the powers…

Did AOC -- U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York -- propose ending Social Security benefits after age 75? No, that's not true: This story is satire from a website that specializes in creating outrageous headlines. Many people share the outrage without even reading the article. Articles from this network are sometimes plagiarized and republished by other websites -- without…

Are bluegill one of the most dangerous fish in North America, related to piranhas and responsible for 500 deaths in the USA annualy? No, that's not true: Bluegill are not related to piranahs and they don't attack people. The claim reappeared in a post (archived here) where it was published by Crystal Bast on July 26, 2020. The only caption…

Did the United Nations order President Trump to "stand down" in Portland? No, that's not true. An article that has gone viral claiming the UN has told Trump to "stop Federal officers from using non-lethal force against 'peaceful protesters'" in Portland is incorrect. The United Nations does not have the power to "order" the United States, or any other nation,…