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PeakMetrics / Fact Checks

Politics & government fact checks

Explore claims publishers have checked about politics & government. Read their original ratings and follow the evidence.

12,754 published reviews in this topic

Deutsche Presse-AgenturPolitics & government

Ein Beitrag in sozialen Medien legt nahe, dass Bundestagsabgeordnete während des «Shutdowns light» bevorzugte Möglichkeiten zum Mittagessen hätten. «BUNDESTAGSKANTINE OFFEN», heißt es auf einem Foto bei Facebook (hier archiviert). Darunter steht: «RESTAURANTS GESCHLOSSEN». Weiter heißt es auf dem Bild, das ein Bundestagsgebäude zeigt: «GLÜCK GEHABT. DAS VIRUS HAT KEIN INTERESSE AN ABGEORDNETEN. NA DANN, GUTEN APPETIT».

Publisher’s rating: Alle Kantinen von Arbeitsstätten in Deutschland dürfen auch während des «Shutdowns light» öffnen, der seit Anfang November gilt. Abgeordnete werden nicht bevorzugt behandelt.

The post juxtaposed a claim that the Bundestag canteen was open with the statement that restaurants were closed, suggesting MPs had special access to lunch. The investigation examined the post’s specific subject: whether Bundestag food facilities were open under the restrictions that began in November, and whether that reflected preferential treatment for MPs. The review traced the rules to the agreement between Germany’s federal and state governments on 28 October. The resulting restrictions took effect on 2 November and largely closed the hospitality sector, but the government’s announcement expressly exempted canteens. The review notes that this applied to workplace canteens generally, including those in factories and offices—not just the Bundestag. For the Bundestag specifically, the review cites Berlin’s rules allowing canteens to operate, subject to hygiene requirements. It also reports that the Bundestag administration confirmed two canteens and a cafeteria were open with restrictions, including reduced seating and attendance records; one canteen operated only during sitting weeks. The image omitted a relevant distinction: several Bundestag restaurants, including the Reichstag restaurant and the rooftop restaurant, were closed. The review’s evidence therefore supports that canteen access followed rules applicable to other workplaces, rather than a special exemption for MPs.

Vishvas NewsPolitics & government

புதிய அமெரிக்க அதிபராக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள ஜோ பைடன் ஒரு குழந்தைக்கு முன் மண்டியிடும் புகைப்படம் சமூக ஊடகங்களில் வைரலாகி உள்ளது. அதில் “அமெரிக்க அதிபர் ட்ரம்பின் ஆட்சிகாலத்தில் கறுப்பின அமெரிக்கர் ஒருவர் வெள்ளையின அமெரிக்க போலீசாரால் கழுத்து நெரித்து பகிரங்கமாக கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட கறுப்பின நபரின் மகளின் முன் மண்டியிட்டு மன்னிப்பு கோரினார் அமெரிக்காவின் புதிய ஜனாதிபதி ஜோ பைடன், ” என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

Noticias TelemundoPolitics & government

"¡ASOMBROSO! Más de un MILLÓN de manifestantes llegaron al pantano para apoyar al presidente @realDonaldTrump"

Publisher’s rating: Falso

The claim concerned the size of the pro-Trump demonstrations in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2020. The review identifies the quoted statement as a tweet by then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, posted while supporters were gathering near Freedom Plaza. It says the events took place amid efforts to support Trump’s assertions that he had won re-election. The review reports that McEnany posted her estimate at 11:16 a.m. Eastern, before the marches officially began at noon. The review compared the million-plus figure with estimates from news organizations that covered the demonstrations. Those outlets described attendance in the thousands or tens of thousands, not more than one million. It also checked whether the crowd shown in McEnany’s images could physically fit at the location. Using MapChecking, the review estimated that no more than 135,000 people could fit in Freedom Plaza and nearby streets and sidewalks; it cited a National Park Service maximum capacity of 13,900 for Freedom Plaza itself. The review noted that the images showed substantial space between demonstrators. The review acknowledged that crowd counts are estimates and that Washington police did not provide an attendance figure. Its evidence nevertheless contrasts the claim with contemporaneous media estimates and the capacity of the depicted area. It also notes that McEnany’s images were screenshots from a Fox News broadcast showing demonstrators near Freedom Plaza shortly after 11 a.m.—before the marches officially started. The review found no evidence supporting an attendance figure above one million.

MediaWisePolitics & government

Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed along strict party lines

Publisher’s rating: Not Legit

The review examines the claim that Amy Coney Barrett was the first Supreme Court justice in 150 years to be confirmed along strict party lines. It reports that all 45 Democratic senators and both independent senators who caucused with Democrats voted against her confirmation. Those votes alone might suggest a party-line split, but the review also identifies a Republican senator who broke with her party.

MediaWisePolitics & government

Amy Coney Barrett thinks the ACA is unconstitutional, thinks abortion is always immoral, opposes LGBTQ+ civil rights and would vote to undo marriage equality.

Publisher’s rating: Mixed Bag

The review addresses a claim by U.S. Representative-elect Mondaire Jones that Amy Coney Barrett believes the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, opposes abortion and LGBTQ+ civil rights, and would vote to undo marriage equality. Its account distinguishes Barrett’s stated views from what she had done or would do as a judge. It says she had criticized the ACA but had not called the whole law unconstitutional, and had not yet voted on it; oral arguments on the law had recently taken place at the Court. On abortion, the review reports that Barrett had called abortion “always immoral,” while also saying her personal views would not determine her actions as a judge. On LGBTQ+ rights, it cites her suggestion that Title IX be changed to restrict transgender people’s access to bathrooms and her statement that marriage is between a man and a woman. The review concludes that the evidence supports describing her as personally opposed to abortion and certain LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage, but does not support the claim that she believed the entire ACA was unconstitutional.

FACTLYPolitics & government

Yogi Adityanath’s government arrested vendors selling crackers while Yogi himself was found lighting crackers during Diwali

Publisher’s rating: MISLEADING

The claim compares a video of police arresting a firecracker vendor with footage of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lighting crackers, presenting them as evidence of government hypocrisy during Diwali. The review found that the footage concerned two separate events, so it did not establish that Yogi was lighting crackers during Diwali while vendors were being arrested under the same ban. The review traced the vendor-arrest video to Bulandshahr on 13 November 2020. It says police arrested the vendor for selling crackers despite a ban, and that Yogi subsequently ordered her release and sent sweets and gifts to her daughter. Separately, the review says a search for relevant keywords led to a news article with an image matching the footage of Yogi lighting crackers. That article identified the scene as part of Deepotsav in Ayodhya on 4 and 5 August 2020, commemorating the Bhoomi Puja for the Ram Temple. The review also says a news agency had shared the footage of Yogi lighting crackers on Twitter, and that other news articles reported the same event. Its conclusion is that this footage was from the August Deepotsav, not Diwali, and that the two videos therefore cannot be compared as evidence of the alleged hypocrisy.