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Chris Nichols

Chris Nichols

PolitiFact California writer

Chris Nichols is the PolitiFact California reporter for Capital Public Radio. For the past dozen years, Chris has worked as a government and politics reporter at newspapers across California. Most recently, he covered the Capitol for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Previously, he worked at the North County Times in Escondido; the Lodi News-Sentinel and the Sonora Union-Democrat.

chris.nichols@csus.edu

Featured Statements

Latest Fact-Checks By Chris Nichols

Clear
Larry Elder
Larry Elder
stated on August 31, 2021 a CNN interview
“I don’t believe the science suggests that young people should be vaccinated. I don’t believe that young people should have to wear masks at school. I’m not sure the science is settled on that at all.”
False
By Chris Nichols • September 11, 2021
Larry Elder
Larry Elder
stated on August 19, 2021 a tweet
“California voters to be able to download ballots at home for recall election, sparking security concerns.”
Mostly False
By Chris Nichols • August 27, 2021
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
stated on June 1, 2021 an interview on MSNBC
"Sadly during the course of the pandemic one-third of our small businesses have closed."
Mostly True
By Chris Nichols • June 7, 2021
John Cox
John Cox
stated on May 4, 2021 a campaign press conference
California Gov. Gavin Newsom “just let 76,000 inmates out of jail."
False
By Chris Nichols • May 5, 2021
Kevin Kiley
Kevin Kiley
stated on April 26, 2021 a tweet
“San Francisco had twice as many drug overdose deaths as COVID deaths last year.”
True
By Chris Nichols • April 29, 2021
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
stated on March 9, 2021 a State of the State Address
“California’s [COVID-19] death rate has remained one of the lowest per capita in the nation: 134 deaths per 100,000, compared to 158 nationally, 153 in Texas and 247 in New York.”
Half-True
By Chris Nichols • March 10, 2021
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa
stated on March 2, 2021 a constituent email.
Voting-rights legislation proposed by Democrats in Congress called H.R. 1 “would force states to restore the voting rights of convicted felons—including violent felons convicted of murder or rape.”
Half-True
By Chris Nichols • March 4, 2021
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
stated on February 15, 2021 a tweet
“So California is requiring signature verification for Gavin Newsom’s recall, but didn’t require it for the mail in ballots.”
Pants on Fire!
By Bill McCarthy, Chris Nichols • February 16, 2021
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy
stated on February 9, 2021 a press release
Raising the national minimum wage to $15 per hour “would destroy up to 3.7 million jobs.”
False
By Chris Nichols • February 11, 2021
Bloggers
Bloggers
stated on January 28, 2021 a blog
Facebook tried to “shut down” the campaign to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
False
By Chris Nichols • February 2, 2021
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Latest Articles By Chris Nichols

CA Recall Misinformation Guide
Kevin Faulconer campaign photo
Newsom recall campaign
fourplex in east Sacramento
Police in Capitol
Voters in Las Vegas, Nevada, AP photo
Voting at Kings arena Sacramento
2020 CA ballot photo
Santa Rosa wildfire
Voter at CA polling place
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