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.

More Info

I would like to contribute

$

‘Obama phones’? No, they’ve been around for years

National
By Catharine Richert
October 28, 2009

The latest chain e-mail to land in our in box says

a new program gives free phones to welfare recipients

. But we found the e-mail was glossing over some key details — such as the fact that the program has been around for many years. We rated the claim Barely True.

Our Sources

See item for sources.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Catharine Richert
Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
stated on May 5, 2010 a broadcast of the Ed Show
"Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu received almost $1.8 million from BP over the last decade."
Pants on Fire!
By Catharine Richert • May 14, 2010
Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
stated on May 4, 2010 an interview on CNN
"In the last 10 years we've only had 7,000 barrels of oil spilled in the Gulf ... not counting hurricanes. This well is spewing that amount every day and a half."
Mostly True
By Catharine Richert • May 13, 2010
Harry Reid
Harry Reid
stated on May 11, 2010 a speech on the Senate floor
On Sandra Day O'Connor: "I think one reason she was a good judge is she had no judicial experience" before she joined the Supreme Court.
False
By Catharine Richert • May 12, 2010
J.D. Hayworth
J.D. Hayworth
stated on April 28, 2010 an interview on the Fox Business Network
"Up until two weeks ago, John McCain was a leading proponent of amnesty. Now with me challenging him, suddenly he has changed."
Pants on Fire!
By Catharine Richert • May 5, 2010
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Katrina vanden Heuvel
stated on May 2, 2010 a roundtable discussion on ABC's 'This Week'
"At the moment, energy companies spend 0.25 percent on R&D."
True
By Catharine Richert • May 3, 2010
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
stated on April 21, 2010 an interview on MSNBC's Daily Rundown
 "Congress can tell [the Supreme Court] which cases they ought to hear. We have that authority."
True
By Catharine Richert • April 29, 2010
George Will
George Will
stated on April 25, 2010 a panel discussion on ABC This Week
 "What the Arizona law does is make a state crime out of something that already is... a federal crime."
Mostly True
By Catharine Richert • April 28, 2010
Bob Corker
Bob Corker
stated on April 25, 2010 an interview on ABC's This Week
The Banking Committee voted a 1,336-page bill "out of committee in 21 minutes with no amendments, with the understanding that before the bill came to the floor, we would reach this bipartisan agreement."
Mostly True
By Catharine Richert • April 25, 2010
House Natural Resources Committee Republicans
House Natural Resources Committee Republicans
stated on April 5, 2010 a news release posted on his website.
"Obama did not open new lands to offshore drilling – all of these areas were already open for drilling once Congress and President Bush lifted the moratorium in 2008. Instead, President Obama yesterday announced what areas he would CLOSE to offshore drilling."
Mostly False
By Catharine Richert • April 23, 2010
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan
stated on March 31, 2010 a speech to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
In 2004, "20 percent of U.S. households were getting about 75 percent of their income from the federal government. ... Another 20 percent were receiving almost 40 percent."
Mostly False
By Catharine Richert • April 21, 2010
Richard Shelby
Richard Shelby
stated on March 25, 2010 a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
"The bill reported out of committee sets up a $50 billion slush fund that, while intended for resolving failing firms, is available for virtually any purpose that the treasury secretary sees fit."
False
By Catharine Richert • April 16, 2010
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
stated on April 12, 2010 an interview on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report"
John Paul Stevens is the only Protestant on the U.S. Supreme Court.
True
By Catharine Richert • April 14, 2010
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
stated on March 31, 2010 an announcement at Andrews Air Force Base
On oil drilling
No Flip
By Catharine Richert • March 31, 2010
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham
stated on March 24, 2010 an appearance on the Fox News show "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren
"The average student will be spending $1,700 to $1,800 more during the life of their loan because of this surcharge."
False
By Catharine Richert • March 30, 2010
Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
stated on March 28, 2010 a U.S. Senate primary debate on FOX News Sunday
"The average cost for health insurance in Florida went from about $600 a month for an individual to about $150 a month."
False
By Catharine Richert • March 29, 2010

Crist touts Cover Florida as cost-saving health care for Floridians

Clear
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Load More