The Power of Fact Checking!!!

[phkrause]

26 claims about 2026 midterm elections candidates, investigated

As voters head to the polls, we've compiled our reporting on rumors about Talarico, Paxton, El-Sayed and more high-profile candidates.

https://www.snopes.com/collections/midterms-candidates-fact-checks/?

Is gold melting off Trump's regilded horse statues in DC? What we know

We asked the National Park Service to explain the golden drip streaks seen in an image circulating online.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/11/02/gold-melting-trump-horse-statues/?

Did Trump cut down 250-year-old 'grandmother' tree to pave way for border wall?

Claim:

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cut down a 250-year-old cottonwood tree on the southern border in Lochiel, Arizona, to make way for border wall construction.

Rating:

Mostly True

What's True

The Trump administration truly cut down not one but four large, old cottonwood trees on the border in Lochiel, among the many efforts to clear land for border wall construction. Crews cut down three trees on July 27, followed by the fourth on Oct. 5. A widely shared video highlighted the moment crews felled the fourth tree. However …

What's False

… Reported estimates placed the collection of trees anywhere between 100 and 250 years old. A scientist examining a sample of the fourth tree estimated its age at a maximum of 146 years — still a very old tree, though at least a century short of some claims.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-grandmother-tree-border-wall/?

[phkrause]

Did Virginia legalize abortion up to birth? Claim misrepresents Question 1

Claim:

In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, Virginia voters passed a measure allowing abortions to be performed until birth.

Rating:

False

Context

Voters approved Question 1, which places protections for first- and second-trimester abortions in the state constitution. However, it also gives the state Legislature the power to pass some restrictions on abortions in the third trimester.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/virginia-legalize-abortion-birth/?

ps:I wonder who started that lie?????

Musk deleted 'Vote red today!' post after Democrats' midterm gains

Claim:

A screen-recorded video authentically shows an Election Day X post by Elon Musk reading "Vote red today!" that he, or someone managing his account, deleted after Republicans' 2026 midterm election losses.

Rating:

True

The Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections saw major gains for Democrats both in the House and Senate, including key Senate victories in Michigan, South Carolina and Texas. News media outlets reported the results as a sweeping rebuke of President Donald Trump's administration, with vote tallies exhibiting sizable differences from his second-term victory in 2024.

 

In the hours after the election results began coming in, some people began claiming a screen-recorded video showed that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk — who reportedly contributed $474 million to support Republicans in the midterms — had deleted his post from Election Day that read, "Vote red today!"

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-deleted-vote-red-today-tweet/?

ps:He wasted a ton of money!!!!!

[phkrause]

ICE paid $495M for Minnesota prison offered to state for $75M. Here's proof

Claim:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased a vacant, privately-owned prison for approximately $495 million after it was previously offered to the state of Minnesota for $75 million.

Rating:

True

Context

Public records and an email first obtained by KARE 11, a Minnesota news station, indicate ICE purchased the vacant facility for $495.6 million roughly a year after private prison operator CoreCivic offered it to the Minnesota Department of Corrections for $75 million. The Department of Homeland Security and CoreCivic said the price was set through the standard federal appraisal process, which involves independent estimates of the property's value.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ice-minnesota-prison-price/?

Abdul El-Sayed didn't say it's OK if girls see male genitals in their locker rooms

Claim:

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed said that it’s OK for young girls to see male genitals in their locker rooms because they are going to see them on the internet anyway.

Rating:

False

Context

The claim referred to a segment from an extended interview with El-Sayed on "60 Minutes," available to view on YouTube. In it, El-Sayed was asked about parental control over education and the interviewer cited one example being the debate over transgender kids playing sports. In response, El-Sayed made the argument that rather than try to shield kids from things they may not understand, it is a parent’s job to guide them through it. There was no mention of locker rooms or male genitalia, nor was there evidence El-Sayed ever made such a statement.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/abdul-el-sayed-girls-locker-rooms/?

ps:Once again I wonder who started that rumor?????