Meta announced sweeping changes to its content moderation policies, eliminating its third-party fact-checking program in favor of a community-based system similar to X’s “Community Notes.” This shift, driven by CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s stated aim to prioritize free speech and reduce content moderation errors, will affect Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The company cited government pressure and a perceived cultural shift as reasons for the change, and will also adjust content policies on divisive issues. These moves coincide with Meta’s increased engagement with President-elect Trump.
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NewsGuard, a company that assesses the credibility of news websites, is facing significant opposition from the right. This opposition isn’t surprising, considering NewsGuard’s aim is to combat misinformation, something that often clashes with narratives pushed by certain right-wing media outlets. The desire to shut down NewsGuard highlights a deeper issue – a resistance to independent verification of information and a preference for unchecked narratives.
The core argument seems to be that NewsGuard’s ratings stifle free speech and unfairly target conservative viewpoints. However, this argument ignores the crucial role of fact-checking and media literacy in a healthy democracy. The very notion that a news source should be immune from scrutiny because of its political leaning is deeply problematic.… Continue reading
Senator Tommy Tuberville’s claim of paying close to $1 million in Social Security taxes is demonstrably false. Even using the current maximum taxable wage and assuming maximum contributions for 40 years, his total contributions would not exceed $418,128. This figure is a conservative estimate that does not account for lower taxable wage bases and tax rates in previous years. Despite this inaccuracy, Tuberville continues to criticize Social Security, referring to it as a “Ponzi scheme” and expressing skepticism about its solvency.
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President-elect Trump cited statistics on the number of convicted murderers released into the U.S., claiming 13,099 were released in the last three years. However, the Department of Homeland Security clarified that this figure encompasses individuals convicted over the past four decades and many remain incarcerated. Trump also reiterated his plans to end birthright citizenship via executive action and to deport families of undocumented immigrants, echoing the policy proposals of his newly appointed Border Czar. These statements reveal a hardline stance on immigration issues for the incoming administration.
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In a recent “Meet the Press” interview, Donald Trump reiterated his intention to pursue perceived political enemies, though he claimed he wouldn’t directly order his appointees, Kash Patel and Pam Bondi, to do so. Despite professing non-interference, his comments suggested otherwise, leaving room for plausible deniability. While expressing willingness to work with Democrats on the “Dreamers” issue and indicating he wouldn’t fire Jerome Powell, he remained vague on healthcare and abortion access, offering only “concepts” of plans. Trump’s continued denial of the 2020 election results highlighted the persistent challenge of fact-checking him during interviews.
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In a recent NBC interview, President-elect Trump repeated several demonstrably false claims. These included the inaccurate assertion that the US is the only country with birthright citizenship, a claim previously debunked. He also falsely claimed that crime is at an all-time high, his tariffs cost Americans nothing, and that he “saved” Obamacare. Furthermore, Trump reiterated unfounded allegations regarding the 2020 election results and made unsubstantiated statements about migrants, the European Union, and Venezuela.
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A recent UN report reveals a startling truth about social media influencers: a majority share information without verifying its accuracy. This isn’t a surprising revelation to many, but the official confirmation underscores a deeply troubling trend. The report highlights a systemic issue where the pursuit of views, engagement, and ultimately, advertising revenue, trumps the responsibility of disseminating accurate information. The platforms themselves are complicit, knowingly designing algorithms that prioritize virality over truth. This isn’t accidental; it’s a deliberate design choice with consequences far beyond mere annoyance.
The report’s findings directly challenge the very concept of the “influencer.” Many argue that the term is a manufactured title, bestowing undue importance on individuals who often lack the skills or inclination to fact-check.… Continue reading
Social media posts alleging that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is in a coma following a New York Times report of his serious illness, lack credible evidence. While the NYT article detailed Khamenei’s poor health and potential succession plans, no reputable news sources have corroborated the coma claims. These rumors, including circulated images debunked as being from 2014, should be treated with caution. Khamenei was last publicly seen on November 7th.
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Donald Trump’s claim that his political rallies were always packed to capacity was publicly fact-checked during his recent rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. After Trump stated that his rallies were always full, a camera operator telecast empty seats at the stadium where the meeting was held, while News Nation’s Libbey Dean also tweeted photographs of unoccupied seats. The Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign account also posted photographs, comparing Trump’s claim with images of empty stadium sections. Trump supporters leaving the event early have been previously reported by The Guardian.
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Donald Trump being fact-checked by Laura Ingraham during a Fox News interview is certainly a significant moment. The fact that even one of his staunch allies is calling him out on his lies speaks volumes about the extent of those lies. When your own camp starts to question your credibility, it’s an indicator of how far off the rails you have gone.
The sad truth is that Trump and his followers have created a disturbing reality where fact-checking is seen as censorship, truths they don’t like are classified as “fake news,” lies are rebranded as “alternative facts,” and empathizing with marginalized individuals is termed as being “woke.”… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood