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** FactCheck.org's Weekly Update
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August 29, 2020
** SciCheck
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Trump, Hahn Mischaracterize Data on COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma ([link removed]) Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
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In a hyped press briefing the eve before the Republican National Convention, President Donald Trump falsely said that convalescent plasma had been “proven to reduce mortality by 35%,” even though the therapy has not yet been shown to be effective for COVID-19.
Trump Touts Misleading and Flawed Excess Mortality Statistic ([link removed]) Posted on Monday, August 24th, 2020
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On six separate occasions, President Donald Trump has claimed that Europe’s excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic is 33% to 40% higher than America’s. But that’s only possible when cherry-picking numbers or ignoring Europe’s larger population.
** FactCheck.org On the Air
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Video: Discussing FactChecking the Democratic Convention ([link removed]) Posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
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FactCheck.org Deputy Managing Editor Robert Farley spoke with WBAL-TV in Baltimore and seven other Hearst TV stations around the country about fact-checking the Democratic convention.
** FactCheck Posts
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Video: FactChecking Trump’s Big Speech ([link removed]) Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2020
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In this video, we review five false, misleading or exaggerated claims from President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech on Aug. 27 at the Republican National Convention.
Trump’s Talking Points ([link removed]) Posted on Monday, August 24th, 2020
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A compendium of the president’s falsehoods and factual distortions that may be repeated during the convention.
** Debunking False Stories
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Posts Distort Facts on Jacob Blake Charges ([link removed]) Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2020
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Posts on social media falsely claim that the man shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “wouldn’t have been shot if he was still in prison for raping the 14 year old.” There’s no evidence he was ever charged with such a crime — let alone convicted and imprisoned. Jacob Blake was charged in July with sexually assaulting an adult woman, but has not been convicted.
Social Media Posts Use Graphic, Unrelated Photos to Smear BLM Protesters ([link removed]) Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2020
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Posts circulating on social media this summer falsely claimed that Black Lives Matter activists were responsible for the beating of five elderly white people shown in the posts’ photos. But the pictures have been online for at least five years — and most early uses identify the photos as originating in South Africa.
Meme Recycles Conspiracy Theory on California Wildfires ([link removed]) Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
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A baseless conspiracy theory on Facebook suggests that the California wildfires were started by a “powerful laser.” The meme spreading the theory uses the same photos that circulated in 2018 to advance a similar claim.
Misleading Claim Swirls Over Pledge of Allegiance at DNC ([link removed]) Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
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The prime-time programming for the Democratic National Convention every night on TV included a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, including the phrase “under God.” Two individual Democratic caucuses omitted those words during daytime meetings — prompting claims that misleadingly suggested they were dropped throughout the convention.
Posts Distort Impact of Biden’s Tax Plan on Middle-Income Earners ([link removed]) Posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
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Facebook posts falsely claim that under Joe Biden, the “tax rate on a family making 75000 dollars would go from 12% to 25%.” Biden’s proposal does not call for a tax increase on those making less than $400,000, though analysts say an increased corporate tax rate could effectively result in a small tax increase for middle-income earners.
False Claims on Corporate Donations to Black Lives Matter ([link removed]) Posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
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Posts on social media repeat an error reported by Lou Dobbs on Fox Business in July, claiming that major corporations were donating large sums of money to Black Lives Matter. The companies have pledged support for racial equality initiatives, but haven’t specified Black Lives Matter as a beneficiary.
** Articles
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Final Night of the Republican Convention ([link removed]) Posted on Friday, August 28th, 2020
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President Donald Trump accepted his party’s nomination in a speech filled with familiar falsehoods.
Republican Convention Night 3 ([link removed]) Posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2020
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The vice president accepted his party’s nomination and then delivered a speech filled with false and misleading claims..
Republican Convention Night 2 ([link removed]) Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020
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The fact-checking fodder included claims about the economy, the Democratic nominee and the president’s actions.
Republican Convention Opening Night ([link removed]) Posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
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On Day 1, Republicans made numerous false and misleading claims on tax cuts, the economy, immigration and COVID-19, among other topics.
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