Paul Specht

Paul Specht

PolitiFact North Carolina writer

Paul Specht is a correspondent for PolitiFact North Carolina at WRAL. Previously he worked at the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., where he covered state government. Specht joined the N&O politics desk in 2017. Before that, he covered government and development news in and around Raleigh. He graduated from Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., in 2010 with a degree in communications.

pspecht@wral.com

Featured Statements

Latest Fact-Checks By Paul Specht

Clear
stated on January 16, 2026 in an email:
“Trump’s $2,000 tariff dividend is live but you must act.”
False
By Paul Specht • January 23, 2026
Facebook posts
Facebook posts
stated on December 1, 2025 in a Facebook post:
A new North Carolina law “prohibits the use of wireless communication devices while driving.”
False
By Paul Specht • December 4, 2025
Richard Hudson
Richard Hudson
stated on November 24, 2025 in a newsletter:
“This Thanksgiving, turkey prices are at their lowest point since 2000.”
False
By Paul Specht • November 26, 2025
stated on November 17, 2025 in an interview posted to X:
“There’s about 1,400 criminal illegal aliens that, right now, are in North Carolina and Charlotte’s jails that they refuse to turn over to ICE law enforcement.”
False
By Paul Specht • November 24, 2025
Anderson Clayton
Anderson Clayton
stated on October 29, 2025 in a press release:
“North Carolina teachers are already the lowest paid teachers in the south.”
Mostly False
By Paul Specht • November 8, 2025
X posts
X posts
stated on August 16, 2025 in an X post:
“North Carolina has just approved a law permitting foreign doctors to practice without completing U.S. training or licensing exams.”
Mostly False
By Paul Specht • September 16, 2025
stated on September 6, 2025 in an X post:
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper “bears direct responsibility” for the fatal stabbing of a woman on the Charlotte rail system.
False
By Paul Specht, Will Doran • September 12, 2025
stated on June 13, 2025 in an email:
“Democrats have 24 more seats (in Congress) than they would have if illegal aliens were not counted in the census.”
False
By Paul Specht • August 7, 2025
Josh Stein
Josh Stein
stated on June 6, 2025 in an X post:
“Guns are the leading cause of death for children in North Carolina.”
Mostly True
By Paul Specht • August 5, 2025
X posts
X posts
stated on July 8, 2025 in an X post:
Former Gov. Roy Cooper is scheduled to speak at a Winston-Salem coffee shop July 18 at 11 a.m. about the “future of North Carolina.”
False
By Paul Specht, Will Doran • July 10, 2025
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Latest Articles By Paul Specht

CooperBidenRally
CharlotteBorderPatrolProtest
JeffJacksonGrateful
ChimneyRockAP
Border Patrol talking to a group of migrants 06-05-2024
Roy Cooper for lieutenant governor explainer, 7-28-2024
Joe Biden and Hunter Biden in SC leaving church 8-13-22
Charlotte NC skyline
BurrDukeWRAL
COVID vaccine vial
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