Aliens

Did Joe Rogan claim scientists have found extraterrestrial life on a planet known as "K2-18 b," as a video on Facebook suggested? No, that's not true: As narration that sounds like Rogan describes the supposed discovery, images cover his face so it's not obvious if the voice is dubbed. There is no evidence the podcast host ever made the comments.…

Does California give away interest-free home loans exclusively to "people who came into this country illegally," bypassing U.S. citizens? No, that's not true: California's AB-1840 bill never proposed such a measure. U.S. citizens who meet specific requirements are already eligible to participate in the California Dream for All program, and the 2024 bill would not change that. The claim appeared…

Has President Joe Biden "secretly flown 320,000 illegal immigrants from Latin American airports to 43 U.S. cities"? No, that's not true: The Biden administration called the claim "categorically false," noting it had publicly announced the immigration program in January 2023. The program includes individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The announcement stated that those granted permission to enter the…

Did United States Marines arrest two United States Customs and Border Protection Patrol agents for accepting bribes from immigrants for entry into the United States on February 19, 2024? No, that's not true: This claim appeared on a website that publishes fabricated content. Also, the United States Marine Corps does not have jurisdiction to arrest customs and border patrol officials.…

Did a video shared on social media genuinely show a UFO that was recorded flying over Sweden? No, that's not true: Lead Stories determined that the original clip shared on Instagram was created as part of a school project by 16-year-old Swedish "3D artist" @qvist_designs. The account holder confirmed to Lead Stories that the video was "fake." A version of…

Did the Russian representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, publicly say "It is important to understand that by supplying weapons to Texas, Russia does not become a party to the conflict"? No, that's not true: A transcript of the United Nations Security Council meeting where Nebenzya purportedly said that shows he said no such thing. That meeting was in…

Does a picture on social media of a tiny skeleton found in Chile's Atacama Desert show an "alien creature from another planet"? No, that's not true: The skeleton in question has been extensively studied. Scientific analysis, including DNA testing, has determined that the mummified body is of human origin and likely represents the remains of a human female fetus with…

Was a video filmed on New Year's Day 2024 at the Bayside Marketplace in Miami showing panicked bystanders running and falling as a mysterious glowing "portal" opened near them? No, that's not true: This video was first posted on TikTok by a Russian-language paranormal-themed channel on May 17, 2023, months before the police response to a New Year's Day 2024…

Was the large Miami police response to the Bayside Marketplace on New Year's Day due to sightings of ten foot tall aliens or shadow creatures which caused people to run away in terror? No, that's not true: A large number of unruly teens in the area caused several disturbances, including shooting fireworks towards people, four teens were arrested, and there…

Was the mechanism of the background check conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to screen potential gun owners changed in a way that now allows undocumented residents to buy and possess guns in the United States? No, that's not true: On December 27, 2023, the bureau, abbreviated as the ATF, categorically denied such a change. The…