A measles outbreak in Texas, resulting in the first U.S. measles death since 2015, prompted Rep. Kim Schrier to criticize HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his history of spreading vaccine misinformation. Kennedy’s dismissive response to the child’s death, stating that outbreaks are common, fueled Schrier’s condemnation. Schrier, a pediatrician, directly blames Kennedy and others for the tragedy, citing their decades-long campaign of disseminating false claims about vaccine safety. This has led to preventable illnesses and deaths, highlighting the severe consequences of vaccine hesitancy.
Read More
Newly appointed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. immediately voiced concerns about the efficacy and safety of SSRIs, a class of antidepressants widely used by Americans. His statements contradict established research showing SSRIs’ positive impact on suicide rates and have drawn sharp criticism. This controversial stance follows Kennedy’s history of promoting vaccine misinformation, a position that starkly contrasts with the views of Senator McConnell, who voted against his confirmation. The confirmation vote itself highlighted a deep partisan divide, with unanimous Democratic opposition and near-unanimous Republican support.
Read More
False claims circulated online alleging that USAID provided over $8 million to Politico. However, official government records reveal USAID only paid Politico $44,000 for subscriptions to E&E News. Over the past decade, Politico received approximately $34.3 million from various federal agencies, primarily for subscriptions to its publications. This misinformation was amplified by prominent figures, including the White House Press Secretary and Donald Trump himself.
Read More
False claims circulated online alleging that USAID funneled over $8 million to Politico. In reality, publicly available records reveal USAID provided only $44,000 for subscriptions to Politico’s E&E News publication. While Politico received over $34 million from various federal agencies since 2014, this primarily covered subscriptions to its publications, a common practice among government agencies and members of Congress. Politico itself refuted these claims as “misinformed” and “flat-out false.”
Read More
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, Elon Musk has heavily engaged with far-right accounts on X, amplifying their narratives. These accounts frequently promote racist, antisemitic, and anti-immigrant views, often focusing on perceived threats to “Western Civilization.” Musk’s interactions include responses to figures like Ted Cruz and Viktor Orbán, as well as obscure, extremist personalities whose posts contain demonstrably false and hateful content. This behavior has led to the reinstatement of a DOGE staffer who had previously posted racist remarks online, showcasing Musk’s apparent disregard for such content. The overall effect is the dissemination of misinformation and hate speech to Musk’s vast audience.
Read More
Trump’s claim of a $500 billion rare earth deal with Ukraine raises serious questions. The sheer magnitude of the figure itself is immediately suspect, especially considering the context of other similarly large, vaguely defined financial commitments Trump has recently touted. It seems highly improbable that such a deal, involving resources of immense geopolitical significance, would be negotiated and essentially finalized without widespread public knowledge or official confirmation from either government. The claim feels more like a rhetorical flourish than a factual statement.
The alleged agreement, if it even existed in any meaningful form, would significantly entangle the US in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and resource extraction.… Continue reading
Elon Musk’s recent call for the closure of Radio Free Europe and Voice of America is perplexing, to say the least. His reasoning, primarily centered on the idea that these organizations are filled with “radical left crazy people” wasting taxpayer money, seems drastically oversimplified and ignores the historical context and global impact of these broadcasting services.
The assertion that nobody listens to these stations anymore is demonstrably false. Throughout history, these broadcasts have been crucial sources of uncensored information in countries with repressive regimes. People in nations under authoritarian rule have risked significant danger to access broadcasts from Radio Free Europe and Voice of America, seeking alternative perspectives to the state-controlled media.… Continue reading
Following a school shooting in Örebro, Sweden, that left ten dead, Elon Musk amplified a false claim that the massacre was ignored by European media and politicians. This misinformation, initially spread via a right-wing account, was swiftly debunked by community notes and numerous replies highlighting extensive media coverage and statements of condolence from several European leaders. The falsehood promoted a conspiracy theory, falsely suggesting the attack was downplayed due to the shooter’s background and media bias. The shooter, identified as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, was found dead at the scene with multiple weapons.
Read More
Users are advised that Internet Explorer 11 is not supported. For the best browsing experience, accessing the site with a different browser is recommended. This is due to limitations in IE11’s compatibility with current web technologies. Optimal functionality and features may be unavailable or impaired while using IE11. Therefore, switching browsers is crucial for a seamless user experience.
Read More
Recent reports of widespread ICE arrests across the US proved to be largely based on outdated press releases. A review revealed that numerous ICE press releases, some dating back over a decade, were manipulated to display a January 24, 2025, update timestamp, artificially boosting their search engine ranking and creating a false impression of recent activity. This tactic, likely employed to stoke fear among immigrant communities, highlights a potential strategy of disseminating misleading information through search engine optimization. Following inquiries from the Guardian, some of the manipulated press releases were subsequently corrected.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood