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FactCheck.org's Weekly Update

November 21, 2020

SciCheck

Paul Misleads on Natural Infection and COVID-19 Vaccines Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

In a tweet, Sen. Rand Paul misleadingly suggested that immunity from “[n]aturally acquired” COVID-19 was better than that from a vaccine. But it’s not known how immunity from the two sources compares — and the entire point of a vaccine is to offer immunity without the risk of getting sick.

FactCheck Posts

The Facts on Trump’s Post-Election Legal Challenges Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2020

For this story, we ignore the tweets and press conferences and look at what the president’s lawyers have been saying in court. Two things stick out: a lack of evidence of voter fraud and a long string of legal defeats and setbacks.

Trump Misinformation on Georgia Ballot Rejections Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2020

The percentage of mail-in ballots rejected in Georgia due to signature issues this year was about he same as in the 2016 and 2018 general elections — contrary to a tweet by President Donald Trump.

Loeffler-Warnock Runoff Starts with Attack Ads Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

About a week after Georgia’s special election headed to a runoff, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Republican, and Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, both launched questionable attacks that the other candidate has disputed.

Twisting the Facts on ‘Dirty Money’ in the Georgia Race Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff’s production company received payments from a Hong Kong media company and Al Jazeera for the rights to air investigative pieces, but a Republican TV ad misleadingly claims Ossoff got cash from “Chinese communists and terrorist sympathizers.”

Opening Ads in the Perdue-Ossoff Runoff Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

In the first TV ads of the runoff campaign that could help decide the balance of the Senate, Republican Sen. David Perdue warned his opponent would “radically change America,” while Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff accused his opponent of downplaying the coronavirus.

Rand Paul Baselessly Says Only Anti-Trump Protesters Arrested at MAGA March Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

Sen. Rand Paul claimed without evidence that only counterprotesters were arrested at the Million MAGA March and its tumultuous aftermath, and that they were solely responsible for the outbreaks of violence there.

Debunking False Stories

Meme Distorts Facts on Annual Death Statistics Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2020

An image circulating on social media erroneously claims that the total number of deaths in the U.S. this year is significantly down compared to previous years. The meme — which implies COVID-19 restrictions weren’t needed — actually uses an incomplete figure for 2020 and makes a flawed comparison.

Bogus Report Claims Philly Mob Boss Stuffed Ballot Boxes Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2020

A dubious website claims without evidence that Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino stuffed ballot boxes for Joe Biden and the Democrats — and would testify about the scheme in exchange for a presidential pardon. Merlino’s attorney denies the claim, which originated on a website operated by a self-described “pro-Trump” political consultant.

U.S. Army Didn’t Seize Election Servers in Germany Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

A congressman and conservative news outlets are spreading the baseless claim that the U.S. Army seized an election software company’s server in Frankfurt, Germany, that could supposedly prove there was fraud in the 2020 election. There was no such seizure — and the company doesn’t even have a server in Frankfurt.

Biden Adviser Didn’t Propose Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine for Food Stamps Posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020

A report from two dozen experts — including a doctor named to President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board — recommended using existing social service programs to connect people with COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The report did not advise requiring vaccination in order to receive such services, as social media posts falsely claim.

Fabricated Claim of Biden Campaign Official’s Arrest Posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2020

A viral tale on social media falsely claims that a campaign official for President-elect Joe Biden was arrested in an illegal ballot-harvesting scheme in Texas. He has not been charged or arrested. The false claim stems from unverified allegations in an unsuccessful lawsuit brought by a group of Republicans.

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