VERIFY is dedicated to helping the public distinguish between true and false information. We gather claims or questions from our audience via social media, text and email, and use multiple sources to clearly and factually provide an answer.
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Here are links to the full stories we featured on TikTok:
Week of April 8
Week of April 1
- Viral images of Border Patrol putting alligators in the Rio Grande are fake
- No, captain of cargo ship involved in Baltimore bridge collapse is not Ukrainian
- No, Aldi does not sell lab-grown bacon
- Los Angeles Times never published ‘10 facts about illegal immigration’ list
- 'Illegal invaders' in Detroit? No, it's Gonzaga's basketball team arriving for the Sweet 16
- No, Biden did not ban religious symbols from a White House Easter egg design contest
- No, the LSU women’s basketball team did not skip the national anthem in protest
- No, Biden did not declare Easter Sunday is now Transgender Day of Visibility
- Yes, total solar eclipses can affect animal behavior
- How to safely take a photo of the total solar eclipse
- How to safely watch the total solar eclipse: 4 Fast Facts
Week of March 25
- No, Pete Buttigieg did not say Francis Scott Key Bridge was racist
- No, this video doesn’t show an ‘alternate angle’ of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
- Yes, spring cleaning can help your mental health
- No, bankruptcy would not get Trump out of paying his civil fraud penalties
- No, Biden’s executive order doesn’t allow ineligible people to vote
- No, Tyson Foods is not hiring ‘illegal immigrants’ while laying off U.S. workers
- Yes, presidential nominees receive intelligence briefings
Week of March 18
- No, stores and restaurants can't deduct customer charity donations from their taxes
- No, Walmart and Target are not charging customers to use self-checkout
- Seasonal allergy treatments: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- No, flags at Buckingham Palace were not recently flown at half-mast
- No, the VA is not providing or paying for medical care for migrants
- No, Biden didn’t completely stop building border wall
- Yes, March is a popular month for vasectomies so men can recover while watching March Madness
No, bankruptcy would not get Trump out of paying his civil fraud penalties - No, flags at Buckingham Palace were not recently flown at half-mast
- Under a proposed Missouri bill, teachers who support a student’s transition could be charged with a felony
- No, billionaires don’t pay average of 8.2% in federal taxes
- Yes, yawning really is contagious
- Yes, gambling losses are tax deductible
- Seasonal allergy treatments: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- No, Israeli citizens don’t get free healthcare, organ donations in the U.S.
- No, the Biden administration is not banning gas cars in the U.S.
- Yes, Roku is forcing users to agree to new terms to continue using their TVs
Week of March 11
- No, the president does not control grocery prices
- No, the VA is not providing or paying for medical care for migrants
- What we can VERIFY about the ‘TikTok ban’ bill
- Yes, the Red Cross has provided maps to migrants traveling towards the U.S. border
- Yes, yawning really is contagious
- Yes, March is a popular month for vasectomies so men can recover while watching March Madness
- Yes, your March Madness bracket winnings are taxable
- No, there has never been a perfect men’s college basketball bracket on record
- Fact-checking 4 St. Patrick’s Day claims
Week of March 4
- VERIFYING claims from President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address
- No, you cannot get a divorce finalized while pregnant in Missouri
- We VERIFY what would happen if Trump or Biden dies or drops out
- No, Dr Pepper is not being discontinued
- Businesses aren’t legally allowed to sell your email after you unsubscribe from their mailing list
- Class action lawsuit that claims pork companies fixed prices of products including bacon, pork chops, is real
- Yes, Wendy’s is planning to implement dynamic pricing in 2025
- No, Google is not sunsetting Gmail
- No, putting a wet phone in rice does not protect it from water damage
- No, the government isn’t sending checks for student loan forgiveness
Week of Feb. 26
- Yes, Wendy’s is planning to implement dynamic pricing in 2025
- No, the U.S. government hasn’t made daylight saving time permanent
- Daylight saving time is not observed in all 50 states
- No, the federal government isn’t sending a fourth stimulus check in 2024
- No, Social Security recipients are not receiving federal stimulus checks in 2024
- There’s no federal no-fly list for pets
- No, filling up your car on a specific day of the week is not a reliable way to save money on gasoline
Week of Feb. 19
- Alabama Supreme Court ruling’s impact on IVF: What we can VERIFY
- No, the photo of Amy Klobuchar and Keith Ellison at a ‘defund the police’ event is not real
- No, personal car insurance doesn’t fully cover rideshare driving
- Claims Idaho passed a bill to ‘give pedophiles the death penalty’ need context
- Immigrant named ‘Sahil Omar’ falsely linked to Kansas City parade shooting, other crimes
- No, taking activated charcoal won't affect COVID-19 vaccines
- How to safely take a photo of the total solar eclipse
- Yes, the House of Representatives can declassify information in its possession
- No, personal car insurance doesn’t fully cover rideshare driving
- Yes, Alaskapox is a real virus
- Yes, there is a treatment for bubonic plague
Week of Feb. 12
- Yes, there is a connection between ‘He Gets Us’ Super Bowl ads and Hobby Lobby
- Viral photo of Jason Kelce dressed as Alan from 'The Hangover' is fake
- Doxxing is a federal crime in certain cases
- No, slapping the inside of a person’s elbow can’t prevent or treat a heart attack
- Yes, some brands of queso fresco and similar cheeses have been recalled for possible listeria contamination
- It’s safe to reheat and eat leftover rice that’s been properly refrigerated
Week of Feb. 5
- Manipulated Grammys video falsely claims to show Taylor Swift holding pro-Trump flag
- Yes, you can file your taxes for free
- No, Disney World is not allowing park visitors to open carry guns
- Yes, the same Girl Scout cookies have different names in different places
- No, homeowners and renters insurance doesn’t typically cover flood damage from hurricanes
- Dog winter safety: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- Health fears about MSG are greatly exaggerated. Here’s what we can VERIFY about the popular additive
Week of Jan. 29
- Caucuses and Primaries: 5 Fast Facts
- No, WWE wrestling is not ending at the end of the year
- Video does not show tanks at the Texas border
- No, Texas is not defying a Supreme Court order by continuing to install razor wire at the US-Mexico border
- Claim about influx of undocumented migrants outpacing American births is misleading
- VERIFYING what Nikki Haley has said about raising the retirement age
- Yes, there is a limit on how much tax-free money a parent can gift their child each year
- Yes, electric vehicles lose range in cold weather
- Yes, the $92 checks from an Apple settlement are legitimate
- Comcast facing multiple class action lawsuits related to Xfinity data breach
- No, presidential candidates can’t do whatever they want with leftover campaign funds
- Yes, Oregon passed a law requiring all eggs to be cage-free. Here's what that means
Week of Jan. 22
- VERIFIED ways to spot AI in political ads
- No, the Eiffel Tower did not recently catch fire
- Do not plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips
- Winter driving safety: 5 Fast Facts
- VERIFYING 5 claims about staying warm and protecting your home from the cold
- Yes, using hot water to defrost a car's windshield can cause cracks
- Yes, electric vehicles lose range in cold weather
- Yes, leaving faucets dripping during freezing weather can help prevent pipes from bursting
Week of Jan. 15
- Yes, electric vehicles lose range in cold weather
- Do not plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips
- Viral video does not show aftermath of Houthi missile striking U.S. ship off Yemen Coast
- Starbucks isn’t changing its name to ‘Vista Coffee’ in order to dodge boycotts
- Despite online warnings, seed oils are safe to consume in moderation
- Yes, peace lilies are toxic to pets
- No, a Sol de Janeiro body lotion sold by Sephora won’t attract spiders
- Scammers are pretending to sell Stanley cups at extremely discounted prices online
- Yes, After School Satan Clubs do exist in the U.S.
- Massachusetts is not proposing a requirement that residents host migrants in their homes
Week of Jan. 8
- Nikki Haley is eligible to serve as president, despite false claims
- Starbucks isn’t changing its name to ‘Vista Coffee’ in order to dodge boycotts
- VERIFYING claims from the fifth Republican presidential debate and Trump’s town hall
- Alaska and United are the only major U.S. airlines that fly Boeing 737 Max 9 planes
Week of Jan. 1
- No, the federal minimum wage isn’t increasing in 2024
- Yes, peace lilies are toxic to pets
- There is no evidence of chronic wasting disease in deer spreading to humans
- Yes, the IRS requires people to report income from stolen property and illegal activities
- No, a federal court didn’t release Jeffrey Epstein’s client list
- No, the government does not give $5,000 gift cards to people who enter the U.S. illegally
Week of Dec. 25
- No, not everyone celebrates the start of the new year on Jan. 1
- Giuliani's bankruptcy does not prevent him from having to pay damages in defamation case
- Skiplagging is not a risk-free way to save money on air travel
- No, the Colorado Supreme Court ruling would not allow write-in votes for Trump in the state's GOP primary
- No, the Catholic Church hasn't changed its stance on same-sex marriage
- No, a candidate does not have to appear on all state ballots to be elected president
- No, Coney Island in New York City is not closing at the end of the year
- Yes, some student loan borrowers need to consolidate their loans by Dec. 31, 2023 to qualify for the one-time adjustment
- No, Tyson Foods did not announce a plan to add insects to food for people
- No, hackers didn't add Amazon locker addresses to Amazon accounts
Week of Dec. 18
- No, the Catholic Church hasn’t changed its stance on same-sex marriage
- No, a presidential candidate doesn’t have to appear on ballots in every state to be elected
- No, alcohol does not make eggnog with raw eggs safe to drink
- No, you won’t get a $6,400 spending allowance from a free health insurance plan
- No, the government does not give $5,000 gift cards to people who enter the U.S. illegally
- Yes, the LensCrafters class action settlement is real
- No, Tyson Foods did not announce a plan to add insects to food for people
- Yes, discounted shipping partner websites like Pirate Ship and Shippo are legit
- Skiplagging is not a risk-free way to save money on air travel
- Yes, warming up your car before driving in cold weather can damage the engine over time
Week of Dec. 11
- Yes, the UN General Assembly has held five emergency sessions in response to Israeli aggression
- No, Tyson Foods did not announce a plan to add insects to food for people
- There’s no evidence linking vaccines to autism
- No, hackers didn’t add Amazon locker addresses to Amazon accounts
- Yes, artificial Christmas trees can trigger allergies
- No, the average body temperature is not 98.6 degrees
- No, drinking alcohol doesn’t help you stay warm in cold weather
- Yes, some snow globes contain a toxic chemical used in antifreeze
- No, cold or rainy weather cannot make you sick
- Debunking 3 common cold myths
Week of Dec. 4
- VERIFYING claims from the fourth Republican presidential primary debate
- What we can VERIFY about claims regarding ‘no-fault divorce’
- No, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy didn’t buy yachts with U.S. aid money
- Yes, it is legal to keep unsolicited packages sent to your address
- How the flu spreads and treatments that work: 5 Fast Facts
Week of Nov. 27
- Yes, Santos is the first member of Congress to be expelled without being convicted of a crime or committing treason
- There's no evidence cranberry juice can treat a UTI, but it could help prevent one
- No, George Santos will not be eligible for congressional retirement benefits
- No, Olive Garden isn’t permanently closing all locations
- No, Wendy’s isn’t closing all of its locations
- Yes, Hobby Lobby stopped selling Hanukkah merchandise
- Yes, a secret biolab was discovered in California
- Apple’s new NameDrop feature doesn’t automatically share your contact info with nearby iPhone users
- Yes, a mystery respiratory illness is spreading among dogs in some states
- Yes, you can now order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government
- Yes, you can bring homemade holiday foods on a plane
- No, a volcano in Iceland will not emit more carbon dioxide than ‘all humans put together’ when it erupts
- No, most postage stamps being sold at a major discount aren’t real. This is a scam.
- IRS changed 2024 tax reporting threshold for payment apps like Venmo, Cash App
Week of Nov. 20
- Yes, a mystery respiratory illness is spreading among dogs in some states
- Claim that Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day needs context
- This year's average Thanksgiving meal is more affordable than last year's
- No, eating turkey does not make you sleepy
- VERIFYING which Thanksgiving foods are safe for pets
- No, George Santos will not be eligible for congressional retirement benefits
Week of Nov. 13
- Images of Walmart self-checkout machines asking for tips are AI-generated
- Yes, a mystery respiratory illness is spreading among dogs in some states
- Yes, AI is allowed in political ads. But that may change soon
- No, this video doesn’t show a Hamas supporter setting a British police officer on fire
- Yes, firefighters can use the Jaws of Life on electric vehicles
- Yes, there is a recall for Tyson dino chicken nuggets
- Yes, schools are experiencing a nationwide milk carton shortage
- Turmeric health benefits: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- No, not all presidential candidates receive Secret Service protection
Week of Nov. 6
- There’s no evidence sex traffickers use tactics in viral warnings to target victims
- Posts claiming Ella Emhoff raised $8 million to support Gaza need context
- VERIFYING claims from the third Republican presidential primary debate
- All USPS vehicles are not required to have license plates
- What we can VERIFY about a video purporting to show an altercation during a pro-Palestine rally at Harvard
- No, not all presidential candidates receive Secret Service protection
- Undocumented immigrants are allowed to vote in local elections in some municipalities
- No, politicians cannot do whatever they want with leftover campaign funds
- Yes, the FDA is warning against using eye drops from several brands due to risk of eye infection
- Most small business owners will have to give the federal government more personal info in 2024
- Yes, the American bird population is in decline
- Yes, giant pandas can survive in the wild without human protection
Week of Oct. 30
- Video claiming to show Hamas faking casualties is a decade old, filmed in Egypt
- Where speaker of the House Mike Johnson stands on 5 issues: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- Video claiming to show Bella Hadid supporting Israel is a deepfake
- No, witches were not burned at the stake in Salem
- No, this viral video doesn't show U.S. marines arriving in Israel
Week of Oct. 23
- No, people don't regularly swallow spiders while sleeping
- No, politicians cannot do whatever they want with leftover campaign funds
- Undocumented immigrants are allowed to vote in local elections in some municipalities
- The flashing headlights gang initiation warning is an urban myth
- No, this video doesn't show a recent Israeli missile strike caught live on camera
- No, this image doesn't show a real tent city for displaced Israelis. It was created with AI
- No, politicians cannot do whatever they want with leftover campaign funds
- Yes, fake spiderwebs and other holiday decorations can pose a danger to wildlife
- Yes, the Israel Foreign Ministry created a YouTube ad with a message for parents
- No, this video doesn't show Qatar threatening to cut off global gas supply
- Yes, the FDA is proposing a ban on chemical hair straighteners with formaldehyde
- No, the United States is not bringing back the draft
- No, mRNA vaccines aren't being added to the U.S. food supply through 'vaccine-tainted meat'
- No, the US isn't permanently ending daylight saving time after November 2023
Week of Oct. 16
- No, California is not banning skittles
- No, this viral video doesn't show the deadly Gaza hospital missile strike
- Claims Rep. Jim Jordan has never passed a law need context
- Yes, Americans evacuated from other countries are legally required to pay back the government
- Yes, all zoo pandas in the U.S. are being returned to China
- How to get rid of bedbugs: 6 Fast Facts
Week of Oct. 9
- There’s no evidence of Hamas training camps in Mexico
- This video doesn’t show Israel trying to create fake footage of Hamas deaths
- No, the U.S. didn't pledge to send $8B in aid to Israel following Hamas attacks
- No, this video doesn’t show Hamas militants parachuting into Israel
- No, U.S. taxpayer money did not fund the Hamas attack on Israel
Week of Oct. 2
- No, the shutdown deal did not include a pay raise for Congress
- No, the speaker of the House does not have to be from the majority party
- Here's what House rules say about Trump serving as speaker of the House — and why they might not matter
- Driver’s licenses and IDs don’t allow undocumented immigrants to vote in federal elections
- Yes, the FDA is considering a ban on menthol cigarette sales
- Can the House pass legislation without an elected speaker? Why the answer is unclear
- No, a viral photo doesn't show Ukraine surrendering
- There’s no evidence that windmills are responsible for killing whales
- What we can VERIFY about ‘Drano bombs’
- Yes, the FTC Fortnite settlement is real
- Yes, the government is sending out free COVID-19 tests again
- Yes, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time
Week of Sept. 25
- Yes, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom can fill Feinstein’s seat with an interim appointment
- There’s no evidence linking vaccines to autism
- USPS doesn’t send unsolicited texts about undelivered packages. Those messages are scams
- No, the warnings about the 'Mexico did it' virus aren’t legitimate
- Hunter Biden’s laptop: What we can VERIFY
- VERIFYING claims from the second Republican presidential primary debate
- No, you won’t have to pay $4.99 a month to use Facebook
- Yes, you are still responsible for paying your student loans during a government shutdown
- What’s open and closed during a government shutdown: 8 Fast Facts
- There’s no evidence that windmills are responsible for killing whales
- Who gets paid during a government shutdown: VERIFY Fact Sheet
- Yes, the FDA is allowing Elon Musk’s Neuralink to begin human trials
- Blue skies, leaf colors and pumpkin spice: 4 Fast Facts about fall
Week of Sept. 18
- No, United Auto Workers are not paid $75 an hour
- Video of a mom tearing down a pride flag isn’t real. It was a skit
- Yes, you can legally bury your loved one at sea
- There’s a possibility of contracting COVID-19 from gas pumps, but it’s not likely
- Yes, you can get the updated COVID vaccine for free. Here’s how
- No, a California bill wouldn’t make it illegal to confront shoplifters
- No, you won’t have to pay $4.99 a month to use Facebook
- No, Joe Biden didn’t visit ground zero as a senator the day after the 9/11 attacks
- Hunter Biden’s laptop: What we can VERIFY
- Florida Surgeon General's claim that updated COVID vaccines weren't clinically tested, including on humans, is misleading
Week of Sept. 11
- Most states don't require home sellers to disclose whether someone has died in the house
- Viral video claiming to show ‘leaked’ night vision footage not from Danelo Cavalcante manhunt
- Yes, there’s a difference between different brands of gas
- No, the U.S. government isn’t planning to recall the dollar
- It’s impossible to predict exactly when and where an earthquake will strike
- Most states don't require home sellers to disclose whether someone has died in the house
- Vicks VapoRub is toxic to consume and should not be used for teeth whitening
Week of Sept. 4
- No, the CDC didn’t say a new COVID strain is more contagious among vaccinated people than unvaccinated people
- No, these videos were not taken during Burning Man
- Yes, a new federal rule would expand who’s eligible for overtime pay
- Yes, a nationwide emergency alert test will happen on Oct. 4, 2023
- Yes, there’s a difference between different brands of gas
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