The hottest Fact-checking Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

A Note on a Correction from Jon and Zach

After Babel • 5259 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
📰 News Fact-checking
  1. A guest post was removed after it was found to contain inaccuracies.
  2. The publication says it values rigorous research and admits its editorial process failed to properly vet the piece.
  3. They acknowledge the mistake, thank readers who pointed it out, and signal a commitment to improve editorial standards going forward.

Are These 50 Experts Real People?

The Honest Broker • 8178 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
📰 News Fact-checking
  1. Journalists tried to verify 50 experts who were cited over a thousand times but couldn’t find them, and many of the accompanying photos look AI‑generated.
  2. These apparently fake or untraceable experts are appearing in prestigious newspapers and major online platforms, not just fringe outlets.
  3. This may be just the tip of the iceberg and could signal a dangerous erosion of trust in expertise and journalism, with no obvious path back to safety.

Fact-Checking Glenn Kessler

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 9476 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Glenn Kessler, a fact-checker for the Washington Post, critiqued Tulsi Gabbard's views on U.S. intelligence regarding Russia's influence in the elections. He believes that investigations showed Putin had a clear preference for Trump.
  2. Kessler's statement about 'careful investigative work' lacks specific details but implies that thorough investigation led to the conclusion about Putin's intentions.
  3. Recent reports from the House Intelligence Committee provide new context and information about the intelligence community's assessment from 2017, which may challenge Kessler's claims.
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More Misleading News

David Friedman’s Substack • 251 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
📰 News Fact-checking
  1. Headlines often exaggerate or simplify stories, turning speculative or partial findings into sensational claims that overstate the evidence.
  2. Speculative wording and single-data examples aren't proof; readers should look for context, source data, and alternative explanations before treating a claim as fact.
  3. Early reports and headlines can change as evidence is confirmed or disproven, so initial impressions — like naming a 'person of interest' — aren't always accurate.

Meta's Content Moderation Turnabout

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2443 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has decided to stop using 'fact checkers' to manage content. They believe this approach has led to too much censorship and frustration among users.
  2. A key issue in democracy is the need for accurate information while facing challenges in understanding the world. People often rely on biased or second-hand information for decision-making.
  3. The struggle for truth and reliable information is complicated by various viewpoints. Finding a balance between expertise and public freedom of expression is essential for a healthy democracy.

Who fact-checks the fact-checkers?

The Free Mind • 1277 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📰 News Fact-checking
  1. The US Energy Department and the FBI suggest the Covid-19 virus likely leaked from the Wuhan lab.
  2. Specialized scientific knowledge is not necessary to observe the possibility of the Covid-19 virus originating from the Wuhan lab.
  3. Access to the full post archives and more content is available through a 7-day free trial on The Free Mind.

The rise and fall of "fact-checking"

Silver Bulletin • 824 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Facebook is getting rid of fact-checkers because they were seen as biased. They will be replaced with a community notes system, letting users help decide what is true.
  2. Fact-checking has always been part of journalism, but it became a separate role after the 2016 election. Many thought it was necessary to fight misinformation, but it also created trust issues.
  3. There are concerns that community-driven fact-checking might not work well on a large platform like Facebook. The idea is that everyone should be checking facts, not just a few designated people.

NY Times Opinion Page is a Fact-Challenged Disaster

The DisInformation Chronicle • 840 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. The New York Times' opinion page is facing criticism for not sticking to strong journalism standards anymore. Many believe it prioritizes narratives over facts.
  2. Recent articles in the Times show a lack of thorough fact-checking and reliance on questionable information. This has led to misleading claims being widely shared.
  3. There are growing concerns about the connections between writers at the Times and big industries, especially in how they report on issues like healthcare and the opioid crisis.

Anatomy of a Fact Check

Machine Learning Everything • 459 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Fact checks can be biased in what they choose to examine and how they define the claims. This means they may not always provide a clear or balanced picture.
  2. In a recent case, an 11-year-old was arrested, but it was for violent disorder and not for posting mean tweets. This shows how information can get misinterpreted.
  3. There are indeed laws in Britain against sending offensive messages online, highlighting that some people can face serious consequences for their posts, even if it seems extreme.

Further Confirmation the New York Times Peddles Lies

The DisInformation Chronicle • 355 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Be skeptical of what you read in major media, like the New York Times. It's important to question the facts presented to you.
  2. Some writers may ignore the reality of significant issues, such as inflation, which can lead to misleading conclusions.
  3. It's crucial to look closely at the evidence behind claims, particularly in areas like science and public health, as not all information is based on strong evidence.

Melville in Jeopardy!

All Visible Objects • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
📚 Literature Fact-checking
  1. Melville and Moby-Dick have been featured on Jeopardy since the very beginning, with various trivia related to the author and his works cropping up in clues and questions.
  2. Contestants on Jeopardy have a high success rate in answering Melville-related questions, showing a strong familiarity with the author and his famous novel, Moby-Dick.
  3. Jeopardy includes a wide range of Melville-related topics in its questions, covering not only Moby-Dick but also other works like Billy Budd, Bartleby, and even including deep cut references to Melville's life and lesser-known works.

Twitter Makes Journalism And Academia Look Terrible

Dilan’s Newsletter • 58 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
📰 News Fact-checking
  1. Twitter can lead to journalists spreading inaccurate information when rushing to provide quick hot takes.
  2. Journalists and academics engaging in Twitter fights with insults and profanity can harm their professional reputation.
  3. Academics on Twitter may misrepresent their expertise, leading to a loss of trust in academic institutions.

The independent truth service

Gray Mirror • 76 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter need to create independent truth services. This would help them figure out what information is reliable and what isn't.
  2. Currently, our trusted sources of truth, like newspapers and universities, are becoming less reliable. We need better systems to ensure that the truth is accurately represented.
  3. Building a solid and powerful truth signal can change how we see and understand facts. If we create a strong, trustworthy source of information, it could help improve the way people perceive what's true.

FACT CHECK: No, President Biden Didn’t Call Donald Trump Supporters “Garbage”

Proof • 68 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. President Biden did not insult Donald Trump supporters by calling them 'garbage.' Instead, he was criticizing a specific comment made by a Trump supporter.
  2. The media and Trump used Biden's words out of context to create confusion and controversy. This shows how misinformation can spread easily.
  3. It's important to fact-check statements and understand the context behind what politicians say, especially during election times.

URGENT: Free speech wins at Meta

Unreported Truths • 42 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Fact-checking
  1. Meta is stopping its efforts to censor posts about immigration and gender. This change is being framed as a return to free speech on the platform.
  2. The debate around fact-checking is ongoing. It often shows how opinions can differ on what is true, rather than just stating hard facts.
  3. Zuckerberg aims to bring back civic content to Facebook because people want to see all sides of an issue, and just sharing fun content isn't enough.