Topic: Politifact

The Biden administration reportedly used federal funds to subsidize media outlets including Politico, the BBC, and the New York Times. Karoline Leavitt confirmed that $8 million in taxpayer-funded subscriptions to Politico would be canceled, which allegedly caused the publication to miss payroll briefly. The administration is also accused of funding independent fact-checkers like PolitiFact to influence public discourse.

PolitiFact named Donald Trump and JD Vance's claims about immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, as the 2024 "Lie of the Year." The organization stated there was no evidence to support the claims. The hosts argue that other statements, such as Joe Biden's mental acuity, were more deserving of the title.

The hosts review the history of PolitiFact's "Lie of the Year" awards, noting a consistent focus on Republican figures like Sarah Palin and Donald Trump. They criticize the organization as a propaganda tool. They highlight that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was selected in 2023 only after aligning with the Republican party.

PBS NewsHour utilized PolitiFact's Lou Jacobson to deconstruct Donald Trump's claims regarding the U.S. economy and inflation. While Trump claimed zero inflation during his term, auditors pointed to a 1.8% rate, though critics argue this level of fact-checking ignores the broader record-breaking performance of the Dow Jones and 401k plans during that period.

A compilation of media clips asserts that there is "no evidence of wrongdoing" by Joe or Hunter Biden regarding their activities in Ukraine. Outlets like PolitiFact and various news anchors defend the Bidens' integrity, dismissing allegations as "lies and smears." The segment also mentions Hunter Biden's memoir, *Beautiful Things*, which is described by some commentators as a "breathtaking" demonstration of his character.

Admiral Brett Giroir of Health and Human Services clarified that the United States did not refuse a functional test from the World Health Organization. Giroir stated the WHO test was a "research grade" diagnostic that had not been submitted to or approved by the FDA. This statement contradicts claims made by Joe Biden and various media outlets regarding the availability of international testing kits.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is caught in a verbal gaffe, accidentally attributing a Trump policy to President Obama. She also appeared on "The View," where host Joy Behar claimed that 95% of Donald Trump's statements are lies, citing PolitiFact and The New York Times. The hosts mock Behar's "moronic" reliance on these fact-checking outlets.

Chuck Todd of "Meet the Press" highlights inconsistencies in Donald Trump's historical stance on the Iraq War, citing a 2002 interview with Howard Stern. While Trump claimed during debates to have fought against the invasion, archival audio shows him offering lukewarm support prior to the 2003 conflict. Todd suggests these contradictions provide ample material for political attack ads.

The 77-cent pay gap statistic is deconstructed as a misleading figure that does not account for "equal work for the same job." Even PolitiFact has questioned the administration's use of the number, yet figures like Al Sharpton continue to propagate it in the media.

The Obama administration is criticized for failing to broadcast healthcare committee meetings on C-SPAN despite campaign promises of transparency. While the Sonia Sotomayor hearings were televised, critical healthcare negotiations remained behind closed doors, a fact tracked by websites like Politifact.

The "Obameter" on PolitiFact.com is used to track President Obama's progress on 500+ campaign promises. The hosts highlight the failure of the "sunlight before signing" promise, noting that bills like S-CHIP were rushed through without the promised five-day public review period. They also question the status of the promised $3,000 tax credit for companies that create jobs.