The Poynter Institute

English Español

Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

I would like to contribute

PolitiFact on TV: Dissecting that amazing catch

Florida

Aaron Sharockman

By Aaron Sharockman May 27, 2011

The Truth-O-Meter is not just about the web.

For more than a year, PolitiFact Florida has been taking its fact checks to television through partnerships with Bay News 9 in the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida News 13 in the center part of the state.

We thought you might enjoy this week's installment of the TV Truth-O-Meter segment, which features our item about that amazing (and bogus) catch by Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.

See individual items.

stated on August 5, 2021 in a viral image:

Says there are fewer than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

false

false

stated on June 21, 2021 in a post on Facebook:

Says President John F. Kennedy said, “There are people in Washington, D.C., in positions of power to whom the border is just a nuisance, and I think some of them believe that illegal immigration is a moral good. It is not.”

false

false

stated on October 7, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Shredded Pennsylvania Mail in ballot Applications were discovered in a trailer. The applications were for @realDonaldTrump.”

false

false

stated on October 4, 2020 in comments on ABC's "This Week":

Says Joe Biden stays in his basement.

false

false

stated on August 14, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“As of the last 24 hours this is the protocol regarding masks: Masks should only be used by healthcare workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms like fever and cough.”

false

false

stated on June 30, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

An image from the St. Louis protest is “what MSM (mainstream media) won’t show you. Peaceful demonstrator pointing weapon at homeowner.”

false

false

stated on June 24, 2020 in a Facebook post:

Tennis star Serena Williams wrote that she’s “sick of COVID-19. I’m sick of black vs. white. I’m sick of Democrats vs. Republicans. I’m sick of gay vs. straight. I’m sick of Christians vs atheists. I’m REALLY sick of the media.”

false

false

stated on June 12, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

Says Tim Tebow “kneeled in protest of abortion during the National Anthem in 2012. He was praised by fans as being a ‘model American.’”

false

false

stated on February 29, 2020 in posts on Twitter and Facebook:

Says Sen. Chuck Schumer deleted a Feb. 5 tweet criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to ban some forms of travel to and from China.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 29, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Bernie Logic: Nobody can live on $7 an hour. We must raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also we must raise the tax rate to 52%. $15 an hour * 52% = $7.80. $15 an hour - $7.80 = $7.20. $7.20 an hour!!!”

false

false

stated on December 20, 2019 in the sixth Democratic presidential debate:

Says Pete Buttigieg ran statewide in Indiana and "lost by 20 points."

true

true

stated on October 29, 2018 in a post on Facebook:

"As some of you may know I am the recent $3.4 million lotto winner. I’d like to spread some positivity so I’m sending $1,000 to the first 100k people that share this."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 7, 2018 in a blog post:

"FBI RAIDS OBAMA – Find Massive Secret That Was Hidden For YEARS."

false

false

stated on March 28, 2018 in a blog post:

"Robert Redford Says: Michelle And Barack Obama Should Get Five Years In Prison."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on November 29, 2017 in a post on Twitter:

Says Joe Scarborough is party to an "unsolved mystery" from his time as a congressman in Florida.

pants-fire

pants-fire

Facebook posts
stated on April 12, 2024 in a video:

Filmmaker Mike deGruy died for "exposing the truth."

By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • April 17, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 12, 2024 in a post on Facebook:

“Taylor Swift is doing satanic rituals during her shows.”

By Madison Czopek • April 17, 2024
Viral image
stated on April 13, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Video shows Kelly Clarkson divulging her “weight loss tips.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • April 17, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 14, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Document shows “Stormy Daniels exonerated Trump herself!”

By Sara Swann • April 17, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on April 14, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Videos show “how they celebrated the CERN opening.”

By Loreben Tuquero • April 17, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 14, 2024 in a post:

“Venus Williams forfeits match against trans woman,” saying, “I’m not playing a man.”

By Grace Abels • April 17, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 15, 2024 in a Facebook post:

World Economic Forum founder and chairman Klaus Schwab hospitalized in critical condition on April 15.

By Jeff Cercone • April 17, 2024
Marco Rubio
stated on April 11, 2024 in an interview with Fox News:

“It's very misleading when (President Biden) says (inflation) used to be at 9%. This is compounding. It’s not like it went down from 9% to 3%. This is building month after month. The better way to think about it is that it’s 18%, 19% over the last three years."

By Louis Jacobson • April 17, 2024
Mark Pocan
stated on March 27, 2024 in Public appearance:

“We passed 27 bills last year, which is the fewest since the Depression.”

By Laura Schulte • April 17, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 5, 2024 in Facebook posts:

COVID-19 “vaccine injuries exposed in newly uncovered data.”

By Sofia Ahmed • April 17, 2024