Your hourly fact checks

All English Fact Checks

Altered Image: A screenshot shows aMay 11 piece published by The Guardian in which columnist George Monbiot says hecaught COVID-19 23 times despite “dozens of boosters.” Social media users are sharing the purported screenshot, suggesting it shows a real column.“I’ve caught Covid for the 23rd time despite having had dozens of boosters (I’ve lost count). Thank heavens for the vaccine,” reads the headline in the image, which is made to appear as a screenshot of a column dated May 11 on the Guardian website. The supposed column is attributed to Monbiot. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Barely-True: House Speaker “Kevin McCarthy has quietly implemented a pay raise for members (of Congress) that could be $30,000+ per person. It circumvents the Constitution by instead reimbursing their rent, utilities, & meals.” The U.S. House of Representatives changed its reimbursement rules. For the first time, lawmakers can be reimbursed for expenses related to living in Washington, D.C., similar to the way private-sector employees are reimbursed when they’re out of town on business. But the change did not affect base pay.House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was not solely responsible for the change. It was set in motion when Democrats controlled Congress and advanced through two committees with strong bipartisan support.The U.S. Constitution’s 27th Amendment bars lawmakers from passing a law to raise their own pay. But the reimbursement rules change wasn’t a law, and experts say it’s unclear whether the newly allowable reimbursements would qualify as compensation prohibited by the amendment. (Source: PolitiFact)