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PolitiFact Live for May 25: Orb edition

National

PolitiFact Live Orb 2 blue — PolitiFact editors discuss fact-checks of President Donald Trump and the worst of the worst fake news stories on the web May 25, 2017.

By Aaron Sharockman
May 25, 2017

By Katie Sanders
May 25, 2017

Watch PolitiFact Live! on Facebook every Thursday at 11:30 ET.

Comment on this week’s episode — featuring a very prominent guest orb — here.

Our Sources

See fact-checks.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Aaron Sharockman

Instagram posts
stated on November 1, 2024 a post

Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer told an Antifa meeting he “made sure” Donald Trump wouldn’t win.

By Aaron Sharockman • November 3, 2024

Threads posts
stated on October 29, 2024 a post

“Joe Rogan says he will not be voting for Trump after having him on the podcast.”

By Aaron Sharockman • November 3, 2024

Viral image
stated on August 5, 2021 a viral image

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

By Aaron Sharockman • August 9, 2021

Facebook posts
stated on June 21, 2021 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.”

By Aaron Sharockman • June 22, 2021

Bloggers
stated on October 7, 2020 a post on Facebook

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

By Aaron Sharockman • October 8, 2020

Jason MIller
stated on October 4, 2020 comments on ABC's "This Week"

Says Joe Biden stays in his basement.

By Aaron Sharockman • October 4, 2020

Facebook posts
stated on August 14, 2020 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.”

By Aaron Sharockman • August 18, 2020

Facebook posts
stated on June 30, 2020 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.”

By Aaron Sharockman • July 1, 2020

Facebook posts
stated on June 24, 2020 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.”

By Aaron Sharockman • June 24, 2020

Facebook posts
stated on June 12, 2020 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.’”

By Aaron Sharockman • June 19, 2020

X posts
stated on February 29, 2020 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.

By Aaron Sharockman • February 29, 2020

Viral image
stated on February 29, 2020 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!!!”

By Aaron Sharockman • February 29, 2020

Amy Klobuchar
stated on December 20, 2019 the sixth Democratic presidential debate

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

By Aaron Sharockman • December 20, 2019

Facebook posts
stated on October 29, 2018 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."

By Aaron Sharockman • October 31, 2018

Bloggers
stated on February 7, 2018 a blog post

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

By Aaron Sharockman • March 30, 2018

Obama raided by the FBI? Not so fast

Clear

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

Says “90% of health care spending treats chronic disease.”

False

By Grace Abels • February 19, 2026

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

New York ranks No. 1 in the nation for individual tax burden.

Mostly True

By Jill Terreri Ramos • February 17, 2026

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts

The Epstein files “expose Ellen DeGeneres” as a cannibal.

Pants on Fire!

By Loreben Tuquero • February 16, 2026

X posts
stated on February 12, 2026 an X post

Savannah Guthrie's husband’s company is listed as a "co conspirator" in the Epstein files, “in case you're wondering why now of all times for (her) mother to be 'kidnapped.'"

False

By Maria Briceño • February 16, 2026

Donald Trump
stated on February 8, 2026 an interview on NBC

Crime in Minneapolis “is down 25, 30% because we’ve removed thousands of criminals from the area.”

Mostly False

By Amy Sherman • February 13, 2026

stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed

“New Yorkers pay 49% more than the national average for electricity.”

Mostly True

By Brooke Johnpier • February 13, 2026

Claudia Tenney
stated on January 16, 2026 a post on X

Said she has led the House effort to build a large Micron semiconductor facility near Syracuse.

Half-True

By Andrew McGurl • February 13, 2026

Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office

"The crime rate now is the lowest it's been since 1900. That's 125 years."

Half-True

By Louis Jacobson • February 12, 2026

Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 publicaciones en redes sociales

“Durante su presentación en el Super Bowl, Bad Bunny le regaló su premio Grammy a Liam Conejo Ramos”, el niño de 5 años que fue detenido por ICE.

False

By Samantha Putterman • February 9, 2026

Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts

An image shows Bad Bunny wearing a dress and burning the U.S. flag.

Pants on Fire!

By Loreben Tuquero • February 9, 2026

Donald Trump
stated on January 27, 2026 remarks at a restaurant in Iowa

“We right now have more factories and plants being built in our country than we've ever had before.”

Half-True

By Louis Jacobson • February 9, 2026

Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 posts

During the Super Bowl halftime show, “Bad Bunny brought Liam Conejo Ramos onto the stage,” the 5-year-old detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.

False

By Samantha Putterman • February 9, 2026

Social Media
stated on February 5, 2026 social media posts

An image shows Jeffrey Epstein “still alive and walking the streets of Tel Aviv,” Israel.

Pants on Fire!

By Loreben Tuquero • February 6, 2026

Gretchen Whitmer
stated on February 2, 2026 a Substack

Under Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, there are “fewer families living in poverty” than under her predecessor.

Half-True

By Amy Sherman • February 6, 2026

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said ‘we’re not cutting science’ or research. NIH grant cuts show that’s wrong

Pants on Fire!

February 5, 2026

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino

Among Somalis in Minnesota, “92% of them don’t work.”

Pants on Fire!

By Amy Sherman, Louis Jacobson • February 2, 2026

X posts
stated on January 31, 2026 an X post

Images show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child with his mother, Mira Nair, and Jeffrey Epstein.

Pants on Fire!

By Maria Briceño • February 2, 2026

Donald Trump
stated on January 21, 2026 remarks

In artificial intelligence, “We're leading China by a lot.”

Half-True

By Loreben Tuquero • January 29, 2026

Jared Moskowitz
stated on January 22, 2026 an X post

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “backlog of unanswered disaster assistance applications has exploded to the largest in its history.”

Mostly True

By Samantha Putterman • January 28, 2026

JD Vance
stated on January 22, 2026 a press conference

"Right now we're focused on Minneapolis because that's where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws."

False

By Amy Sherman • January 28, 2026

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