Current Events

Does a real photo accurately depict a notable difference in height between Kash Patel and the FBI agent trainees running with him? No, that's not true: This image has been altered to make Patel appear much smaller than he appears in the original photo. The unaltered image was originally shared by Patel's verified account on X. The claim appeared in…

Does a viral video capture musician David Byrne actually telling singer Ed Sheeran that "it's time to make a musical change"? No, that's not true: The video was not a real recording of the conversation between the two. It originated from an account that splices together unrelated interviews of different people who never actually met or spoke to each other…

Is a mugshot that looks like Jennifer Lopez the real mugshot of a woman arrested for shoplifting in Minnesota? No, that's not true: The mugshot used in a post by the New York Post on X was generated with AI to look more like Jennifer Lopez. Lead Stories obtained the real mugshot of the woman; it is a different photo…

Did Ed Sheeran donate concert tickets to veterans after fans requested refunds over Macklemore's removal from his tour for pro-Palestine statements? No, that's not true: The rumor originated from an account on Facebook that explicitly says that "nothing on this page is real". Lead Stories found zero media coverage corroborating what was shared on social media. The claim appeared in…

Does a video show Ed Sheeran playing a concert alone with a "loop station" after his backing band Beoga quit? No, that's not true: The video footage shows Sheeran in concert on July 1, 2022 at Wembley Stadium in London. Beoga published a statement announcing their departure from the remaining portion of Sheeran's Loop Tour Sept. 15, 2026, and no…

Have you seen viral posts showing a map graphic with information about tremors felt all around a state? Lead Stories has spotted a number of such posts recently and found that many of them were created using artificial intelligence. The maps do not show real seismic data or official emergency preparedness recommendations, just alarmist clickbait. This article is part of…

Did parents go public to complain about child deaths under the nursing care of Lindsay Clancy? No, that's not true: There is no credible evidence that any parents have publicly complained about their children dying while under Clancy's care. As of Sept. 16, 2026, a review of news reports found no such complaints. The claim appeared in a post (archived…

Did Dolly Parton's family deny Taylor Swift's request to headline a tribute concert honoring the late singer? No, that's not true: The story originated from a network of self-described satire websites that place multiple disclaimers on their content saying that nothing they publish is real. As of the time of publication, no tribute concert for Parton had been announced following…

Did California Governor Gavin Newsom's winery receive a state wildfire payout after a 2025 fire? No, that's not true: "The claim is FALSE," Newsom's office told Lead Stories. PlumpJack Group reached a private settlement with Hundred Acre winery, where the fire started, and did not receive state wildfire funds. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the @MrPotatoheadPHD…

Does a viral video claiming to capture a truck pushing car from a railway crossing with closed barriers actually show a real-life situation? No, that's not true: When it was first posted on social media, the clip was marked as containing AI content. An AI detection tool and manual analysis strongly suggested that the video was the product of generative…

Is there proof a photo showing President Donald Trump kissing a woman, possibly his aide Natalie Harp, while golfing is real? Here's what we know: There is no verifiable information, such as a photographer, subjects, date or location associated with the image. Content detectors do not pick up AI signals from the blurry picture. A sharper AI-generated version of the…

Does a real video show aide Natalie Harp grinning behind President Donald Trump while he was speaking at the NATO Leaders Summit in Turkey? No, that's not true: The six-second video circulating on social media was made with AI. Only the first frame of the video is an authentic photo, taken by a New York Times photojournalist. The claim appeared…

Is a protester's claim at a JD Vance campaign event for Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas that Marshall sued his own patients true? Yes, that's true: Marshall is a Republican seeking re-election in the November 2026 midterms. During his decades-long career as an obstetrician-gynecologist, he sued more than 700 patients over unpaid bills, according to a New York Times analysis…

Has "Superman" actor Henry Cavill been announced as the next James Bond? No, that's not true: The account that posted the claim is a parody account. There are no credible reports of Cavill starring in the next 007 film installment as of publication time. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the @DiscussingFake_ account on X on Sept.…

Is an image of President Donald Trump appearing to have wetted himself after meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly a real photo? No, that's not true: It's from an AI-generated meme. No officially released images showed such a scene. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on Threads by the @joekillory account on Sept. 13, 2026. It read:…

Did the 'foreign press' report that the Irish president insisted on being seated away from Donald Trump because he was emanating a disgusting 'fecal' like odor? No, that's not true: There are no credible reports that Catherine Connolly refused to sit near Trump during his visit to Ireland over a 'fecal' odor. His visit was covered by U.S. news outlets…

Does a real photo accurately portray Natalie Harp smiling? No, that's not true: A real image has been altered with AI tools to elongate Harp's teeth and expose her gums. A visual comparison between the altered image and the original, as well as readings from AI-generated content detection tools, all demonstrate the image is fake. The claim appeared in a…

Is the viral selfie featuring Russia's Vladimir Putin surrounded by BRICS leaders an actual photo documenting the group's summit in September 2026? No, that's not true: Three online detectors ruled that it was made by AI. Lead Stories did not find any examples of credible media organizations using the image to cover the summit. The claim appeared in a post…

Does a viral image authentically document President Donald Trump's efforts to clear the rubble at the 9/11 site? No, that's not true: Three online tools said it was generated by AI. In particular, one tool detected an invisible watermark identifying the image's AI origin. The claim appeared in an article (archived here) on patriots.win, published on Sept. 11, 2026. It…

Does a grainy green night vision photo show Osama bin Laden after he was shot and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs? No, that's not true: This image was made by adding bin Laden's face to a still image taken from the movie "Black Hawk Down." This fake image began circulating online shortly after his death was reported. The image appeared…