The Power of Fact Checking!!!

[phkrause]

How many immigrants in the US illegally live in Minnesota vs. Florida or Texas? Breaking down the data

Census data does not lie.

Claim:

About 130,000 people without legal immigration status reside in Minnesota, as opposed to 2.1 million in Texas and 1.6 million in Florida.

Rating:

Mostly True

Context

The numbers were accurate according to credible population estimates, but they reflected conditions in 2023. That was the most recent data available as of this writing. Furthermore, any statistics attempting to depict the number of people living in the country illegally are estimations; they are likely undercounts due to people not reporting their situations truthfully or at all.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/undocumented-immigrants-texas-florida-minnesota/?

Trump claims he's ended 8 wars. Here are the facts

While speaking to a crowd at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump asserted he had "settled" more than 8 wars.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/01/23/trump-ended-8-wars-claim/?

[phkrause]

Was Alex Pretti fired from nursing job for misconduct? Here's the truth

Claim:

Alex Pretti, the victim of a fatal U.S. Border Patrol shooting in January 2026, was fired from his job as an intensive care unit nurse over allegations of misconduct.

Rating:

False

After 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti died at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents on Jan. 24, 2026, numerous social media users claimed he had been fired from his job over allegations of misconduct.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-pretti-fired/?

Is Evan Kilgore the Border Patrol agent who killed Alex Pretti? Here's the truth

Claim:

The federal agent who shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026, is named Evan Kilgore.

Rating:

False

On Jan. 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American citizen and ICU nurse, died at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Videos of the killing shared across social media showed federal agents firing at least 10 shots at Pretti over the course of five seconds.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-pretti-shooting-evan-kilgore/?

Minnesota law lets licensed gun owners carry loaded firearms at protests, despite Trump officials' claims

Claim:

In Minnesota, licensed gun owners are permitted to carry a loaded firearm at a protest.

Rating:

True

After 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis, some members of President Donald Trump's administration painted Pretti as a violent instigator because he was carrying a loaded gun while protesting.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/minnesota-gun-laws-protests/?

Was Tom Homan Obama's 'ICE chief' who received award for deportations? We inspected

Claim:

Tom Homan, U.S. President Donald Trump's "border czar," served as former President Barack Obama's "ICE chief," where he was honored for large numbers of deportations.

Rating:

Mixture

What's True

During the Obama administration, Homan held senior leadership roles in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He first served as an assistant director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, a division of ICE, then as the deputy executive associate director of ERO and finally as the executive associate director of ERO. In 2015, Homan received the Presidential Rank Award for distinguished service alongside 42 other government executives.

What's False

The title "ICE chief" does not officially exist. Snopes interpreted it as referring to the highest position within ICE, the director. Homan served as ICE director only under President Donald Trump. He did not hold that position during the Obama administration.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tom-homan-obama-ice-award/?

ps:Also what's interesting about this, is we didn't have all this violence in the deporting of illegal immigrants!! Many complained but no one was killed!!

Does TikTok's new terms of service allow app to track sensitive info like immigration status?

A review of the app's former privacy policy revealed it has tracked this information for a while.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/01/28/tiktok-gender-immigration-tracking/?

 

 

 

[phkrause]

Real videos show confrontation between Alex Pretti and federal officers days before his death

Pretti's family has confirmed the authenticity of the footage, which allegedly shows him kicking a vehicle being driven by federal agents.

Claim:

Footage authentically shows a confrontation between Alex Pretti and federal immigration agents 11 days before he was killed on Jan. 24, 2026.

Rating:

True

Following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026, new footage (archived) surfaced allegedly showing an altercation between Pretti and federal agents 11 days before his killing.

 

For example, a conservative strategist shared a video on X, writing:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-pretti-car-video/?

Beware supposed Trump post claiming 'Melania' movie will be mandatory viewing in history classes

"Any universities that REFUSE to teach this MASTERPIECE will unfortunately see their funding DISAPPEAR," Trump allegedly wrote.

Claim:

An image authentically shows a Truth Social post from U.S. President Donald Trump announcing that "Melania," a documentary about his wife, would be mandatory viewing in all history classes.

Rating:

Fake

A rumor spread online in late January 2026 that U.S. President Donald Trump made a post on social media announcing that the movie "Melania," a documentary about his wife, would be "mandatory viewing in ALL history courses."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-post-about-melania-movie/?

Minnesota authorities used LRAD sound weapon on anti-ICE protesters. But that's not the full story

In extreme cases, sonic weapons can cause nausea, dizziness, and even permanent damage. In this case, officials used it to declare unlawful assembly.

Claim:

In January 2026, Minnesota State Patrol used a Long Range Acoustic Device on anti-U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement protesters in an "unlawful assembly."

Rating:

True

Context

The LRAD is capable of inflicting bodily harm including nausea, dizziness and even organ damage and permanent hearing loss in extreme cases. However, the Minnesota State Patrol claimed it did not use the device in a "deterrent setting" — meaning it was used only to make the announcement of unlawful assembly (and not as a sonic weapon with intent to cause bodily harm). Some internet users incorrectly claimed it was ICE or the National Guard that operated the LRAD. That was incorrect; it was the Minnesota State Patrol.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/minnesota-police-lrad-protesters/?

Charlie Kirk once said 2nd Amendment is for citizens to 'defend themselves' against tyrannical government

Kirk's 2018 post about the Second Amendment resurfaced following the fatal shootings of citizens at the hands of federal agents in 2026.

Claim:

Turning Point USA CEO and cofounder Charlie Kirk once said: “The 2nd amendment is not for hunting, it is not for self protection. It is there to ensure that free people can defend themselves if god forbid government became tyrannical and turned against its citizens.”

Rating:

Correct Attribution

In late January 2026, a claim circulated online that Turning Point USA CEO and cofounder Charlie Kirk once said that the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment was "not for hunting" or "self protection," but rather "to ensure that free people can defend themselves" from a tyrannical government.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-2nd-amendment-tweet/?

Container ship in Port of Tacoma raises questions about rumored Renee Good tribute

A photo appeared to show a ship in Tacoma's port loaded with red and green containers spelling "renee."

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/01/29/renee-good-tacoma-container-ship/?

 

 

[phkrause]

Epstein files mention cannibalism, 'ritualistic sacrifice.' That's not the full story

Some accusations stemmed from an FBI interview with a unidentified man. There was no credible evidence to support them.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/epstein-cannibalism-ritualistic-sacrifice/?

DOJ briefly published Epstein document with unsubstantiated claim that Trump hosted 'calendar girl' parties

Claim:

In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice published, and then removed, a document that contained allegations that President Donald Trump hosted "calendar girl" parties where late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein would bring children to be auctioned off and Trump would "measure" their genitalia.

Rating:

True

Context

Snopes verified that the DOJ published and then removed this document, and we did not investigate the legitimacy of the accusations themselves. The allegations stemmed from an unverified, anonymous message to the FBI. They were unsupported by any credible evidence.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-calendar-girl-parties/?

Was Minneapolis officially nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?

Claim:

The city of Minneapolis was officially nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Rating:

True

In late January and early February 2026, people on social media asserted (archived) that the city of Minneapolis had been officially nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. By then, the city and its metro area had been the focus of a federal immigration operation by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for more than a month.

 

According to one Reddit post (archived), "The people of Minneapolis have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The first time a city's population has ever been nominated."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/nobel-peace-prize-minneapolis/?

[phkrause]

Yes, Kid Rock sang 'I like 'em underage' and 'some say that's statutory' in 'Cool, Daddy Cool'

Claim:

Musician Kid Rock sang "I like 'em underage" and "some say that's statutory" in the song "Cool, Daddy Cool."

Rating:

True

In early February 2026, online users shared a rumor claiming that, decades earlier, musician Kid Rock released a song with lyrics that included "I like 'em underage" and "some say that's statutory but I say it's mandatory." Users claimed the lyrics appeared in the song "Cool, Daddy Cool," which was used in the 2001 part-animation, part-live-action film "Osmosis Jones." Snopes received reader mail highlighting the matter.

 

The claim circulated in the days after Turning Point USA announced (archived) Kid Rock would perform in the conservative organization's "All-American Halftime Show," an event competing with the Super Bowl's official halftime performance, which was set to be headlined by Spanish-language rapper Bad Bunny.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/kid-rock-underage-statutory/?

[phkrause]

Trump's Truth Social account posted, then deleted racist video of Obamas as monkeys

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the clip "an internet meme." It disappeared from the president's profile hours later.

Claim:

A post on U.S. President Donald Trump's Truth Social account in February 2026 depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.

Rating:

True

Context

A short clip of Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as monkeys briefly appeared during another, unrelated video on Trump's Truth Social profile. The clip of the Obamas came from a longer video that portrayed Trump as king of the jungle and various Democratic politicians as other animals. A White House spokesperson said a staffer, not the president, posted the video "erroneously." Snopes could not independently verify this.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-obama-monkeys-video/?

ps:Truly sick!!

[phkrause]

67 people died in ICE custody during Obama's presidency. That's not the full story

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is required by law to report whenever a detained person in its custody dies.

Claim:

During former U.S. President Barack Obama's eight years in office, 67 people in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement died.

Rating:

True

Context

The claim appeared alongside posts questioning the protests and outrage against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies, asking why there were no protests when people in ICE custody died during Obama's presidency. There were anti-ICE protests during Obama's presidency, albeit smaller and less-publicized. The posts also did not acknowledge that at least 74 people in ICE custody have died during Trump's five years in office, as of publication.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ice-obama-67-deaths/?

ps:Of course there's always something left out of what he says so it seems he's telling the truth when in reality there's some truth but when put together it's actually many lies with a bit of truth!

Octavia Butler used 'make America great again' in book years before Trump, but she didn't coin phrase

A presidential character in the author's 1998 "Parable of the Talents" was inspired by Ronald Reagan, who used the campaign slogan in 1980.

Claim:

The science fiction writer Octavia Butler wrote about a fictional president who used the phrase "make America great again" in her 1998 book "Parable of the Talents."

Rating:

True

Context

The character who used the phrase in Butler's book was inspired by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who used the slogan himself in 1980 when running for the White House. President Donald Trump would later go on to adopt the slogan in the mid-2010s.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/octavia-butler-make-america-great-again/?

ps:As usual he takes credit for something others before have already done! At least Reagan had some morals!!

[phkrause]

What we know about Epstein death announcement dated day before he died

The Department of Justice announced Epstein's death on Aug. 10, 2019, but files released in 2026 included a statement about that death dated Aug. 9.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/02/10/epstein-press-release-aug-10/?

Did NBC edit footage of Vance getting booed at 2026 Winter Olympics? We investigated

Though boos were audible during Vance's appearance in Milan, some online users alleged the network masked the reaction in its broadcast.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/02/11/nbc-vance-booed-olympics/?

25 Epstein files claims we've investigated since their public release

Snopes has fielded dozens of claims after the DOJ began releasing redacted case files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

https://www.snopes.com/collections/epstein-files-claims/?

[phkrause]

Did ICE find more than 3,000 missing children in Minnesota? Unpacking Trump admin's claim

Rather than "missing" children, it was more likely a matter of missing paperwork.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/02/24/ice-located-3k-missing-kids/?

[phkrause]

Does Project 2025 call for privatizing TSA?

A number of recommendations from the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for a new federal government are mirrored in Trump administration policies.

Claim:

Project 2025, a blueprint for reshaping the federal government by conservative nonprofit The Heritage Foundation, aims to privatize the Transportation Security Administration.

Rating:

True

In late March 2025, a rumor circulated online that Project 2025, conservative nonprofit The Heritage Foundation's blueprint for reshaping the federal government, aimed to privatize the Transportation Security Administration.

 

The claim (archived) circulated as TSA agents worked without pay at U.S. airports while a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security stalled in the Senate.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/project-2025-tsa/?

ps:Well isn't that interesting? Who would've thought that they'd actually do those things??????????

[phkrause]

Iran's president condemns 'insult' to Pope Leo XIV, calls 'desecration of Jesus' unacceptable

Masoud Pezeshkian's post came about 12 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social.

Claim:

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement condemning an insult aimed at Pope Leo XIV and wrote, “the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person.”

Rating:

Correct Attribution

In April 2026, a claim (archived) circulated online that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement condemning an insult aimed at Pope Leo XIV and wrote, "the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person."

 

Social media users shared the claim after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV in a Truth Social post on April 12, calling him "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy." On the same day, Trump shared a since-deleted AI-generated image depicting himself in the likeness of Jesus Christ, drawing significant backlash from people across the political spectrum. 

One Facebook user wrote, "Donald Trump is literally uniting the Catholic and Muslim worlds against him."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-pope-iran-president/?

ps:So the so-called heathen is defending the Pope and Jesus, but the so-called Christian is desecrating Jesus? And so-called Christians are OK with it??????????

[phkrause]

Did Hegseth quote fake Bible verse from Tarantino movie? Separating fact from 'Pulp Fiction'

Hegseth said the lead mission planner for an Iran war rescue operation delivered the prayer to him and told him they use it ahead of missions.

Claim:

A video authentically shows U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivering a prayer at a Pentagon worship service that closely resembled a fictionalized Bible verse from "Pulp Fiction."

Rating:

True

Context

Hegseth did not introduce the prayer as an authentic Bible verse, instead saying he received it from the lead mission planner for the "Sandy One" Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission in Iran. "They call it CSAR 25:17, which I think is meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17," he said.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hegseth-bible-pulp-fiction/?

[Hanseng]

On 5/14/2023 at 4:32 AM, phkrause said:

dedicated to factual reporting.

AP is incredibly biased in their reporting. Whether they are accurate or not, I can't say. I can say, however, that the stories/narratives they produce are their own interpretations of events which are sometimes sharply disconnected from reality. For example, comments on events captured on video do not fit what can be plainly be seen. Rather than just reporting the facts, they use descriptive terms to flavor the story in a way that is almost ALWAYS contra President Trump. Often, they will say President Trump falsely said thus and thus.  They are not arbiters of truth. Based on what I've observed, I'd believe Trump before I'd believe them.  NYT editorials were also  sometimes extremely critical.  I cancelled my subscription. I'm not interested in the opinions of people who view the world as they do. Fox, which appeared favorable to Trump and his administration, is blocked in parts of Asia; consequently AP serves as a primary provider of what is essentially anti U.S. government propaganda.

I very much enjoy seeing Trump's press secretary putting reporters in their place. Hegseth's recent dressing down of the press was great.  The abuses of press freedom in which the American press indulges would not be tolerated in some other countries. Their agencies would be closed and the principals incarcerated.