Did a Man Twice Land a Plane on a New York Street on a Bar Bet?
24 April 2019This "hold my beer" story may seem like a work of fiction, but the aerial exploits of Thomas Fitzpatrick are well-documented.
Latest in History
Were Oak Trees Planted at Versailles for the Purpose of Repairing Notre Dame?
22 April 2019The claim has its origins in a thinly sourced Twitter thread that provided no verification for the information it presented as fact.
Did Louis Vuitton Sponsor ‘Human Zoos’ in the 1800s and Early 1900s?
15 March 2019Though they weren't typically billed as such, 'human zoos' were unfortunately a thing during the heyday of Western colonialism.
Was Wall Street Originally the Site of a ‘Border Wall’ Meant to Protect New Amsterdam?
15 January 2019Social media memes compared a defensive wall built along the northern border of New Amsterdam during the 17th century to President Donald Trump's border wall.
Did the SS Warrimoo Exist in Two Centuries at Once?
2 January 2019The SS Warrimoo was reportedly once navigated to a point such that it simultaneously spanned four different hemispheres and two centuries.
Have Two McDonald’s-Containing Countries Ever Been at War with Each Other?
6 December 2018Whether an economic theory involving McDonald's franchises and war literally holds true largely depends on one's definition of "war."
Was the Celebration of Christmas Illegal in the U.S. Until 1836?
18 December 2018A Facebook meme highlighted the Puritan colonists' dim view of December 25 celebrations.
Did FDR’s Vice-President Write an Op-Ed About ‘American Fascism’?
28 November 2018Henry A. Wallace's 1944 piece included a warning regarding the alliance of racists and "deliberate poisoners of public information."
Did Robert Smalls Steal a Confederate Ship to Rescue Himself and Others from Slavery?
21 August 2018A meme accurately recounts the life of a man born into slavery who stole a Confederate ship to rescue fellow slaves, became a war hero, and got elected to the U.S. Congress.
Did Paul Krugman Say the Internet’s Effect on the World Economy Would Be ‘No Greater Than the Fax Machine’s’?
7 June 2018In a 1998 article about the pitfalls of making predictions about technological progress, the Nobel Prize-winning economist questioned the future role of the Internet.
Did Christopher Columbus Seize, Sell, and Export Sex Slaves?
25 May 2018A Facebook meme accurately describes some of Columbus's most brutal practices in the Caribbean.
Was a German Football Club Banned After Failing to Give a Nazi Salute?
25 May 2018News reports of a German football club's getting banned in 1934 after failing to give the Nazi salute are real, but the team's actions were not in protest of the Third Reich.
Latest Fact Checks View all
Is U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib Under Investigation for Election Fraud?
22 July 2019It's hard to find a race in which the winning candidate had less of a need to resort to election fraud.
Did This Car Evade Police By Swerving Under a Moving Truck?
22 July 2019Dashboard cameras have captured some crazy highway driving, that's for certain.
Did UK Conservatives Vow to ‘Cut All Homeless People in Half’?
22 July 2019A laudable goal ... that is, if worded right.
Is This Bill Clinton with Jeffrey Epstein?
22 July 2019Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had relationships with a number of high-profile people, including politicians.
Did AOC Refer to the U.S. and Its People as ‘Garbage’?
22 July 2019The claim was one in a series of incendiary attacks against "the Squad" from U.S. President Donald Trump.