Bill McCarthy
@billmccarthy.bsky.social
Senior digital investigation journalist covering online mis- and disinformation for AFP • Formerly with PolitiFact and the Raleigh News & Observer • Duke alum • “The internet folks” - Stephen Colbert
https://factcheck.afp.com/Bill-MCCARTHY
https://factcheck.afp.com/Bill-MCCARTHY
Right-wing influencers amplified a fake Islamic State group statement about Zohran Mamdani's election.
The fabricated message had not appeared on official IS channels and did not resemble the group's authentic communications, multiple experts told me.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The fabricated message had not appeared on official IS channels and did not resemble the group's authentic communications, multiple experts told me.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 10, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Right-wing influencers amplified a fake Islamic State group statement about Zohran Mamdani's election.
The fabricated message had not appeared on official IS channels and did not resemble the group's authentic communications, multiple experts told me.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The fabricated message had not appeared on official IS channels and did not resemble the group's authentic communications, multiple experts told me.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Here is an @afp.com interview with Blair from 2020: www.france24.com/en/20200216-...
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Here is an @afp.com interview with Blair from 2020: www.france24.com/en/20200216-...
My team @factcheck.afp.com previously debunked these claims: factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My team @factcheck.afp.com previously debunked these claims: factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
US President Donald Trump shared a made-up headline about Barack Obama that originated with "America's Last Line of Defense," a network of satire sites run by internet troll Christopher Blair, who has said his fictional stories are intended to dupe and mock conservatives.
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
US President Donald Trump shared a made-up headline about Barack Obama that originated with "America's Last Line of Defense," a network of satire sites run by internet troll Christopher Blair, who has said his fictional stories are intended to dupe and mock conservatives.
A Texas Republican running for US Senate fell for a hoax about a noncitizen allegedly traveling to New York City to vote illegally for Zohran Mamdani.
The X user behind the hoax had said it was a joke based on someone else's ballot photo.
6/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The X user behind the hoax had said it was a joke based on someone else's ballot photo.
6/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A Texas Republican running for US Senate fell for a hoax about a noncitizen allegedly traveling to New York City to vote illegally for Zohran Mamdani.
The X user behind the hoax had said it was a joke based on someone else's ballot photo.
6/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The X user behind the hoax had said it was a joke based on someone else's ballot photo.
6/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
This video of a person tearing down American and United Nations flags has nothing to do with Zohran Mamdani's election this week as New York City mayor.
The clip is from a pro-Palestinian protest in 2023.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The clip is from a pro-Palestinian protest in 2023.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This video of a person tearing down American and United Nations flags has nothing to do with Zohran Mamdani's election this week as New York City mayor.
The clip is from a pro-Palestinian protest in 2023.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The clip is from a pro-Palestinian protest in 2023.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Kari Lake and other Arizona Republicans suggested this video showed fraud or ballot tampering.
Per the county, it was just a bipartisan team of badged election workers following standard protocols to retrieve, secure and transport votes for counting.
5/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Per the county, it was just a bipartisan team of badged election workers following standard protocols to retrieve, secure and transport votes for counting.
5/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Kari Lake and other Arizona Republicans suggested this video showed fraud or ballot tampering.
Per the county, it was just a bipartisan team of badged election workers following standard protocols to retrieve, secure and transport votes for counting.
5/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Per the county, it was just a bipartisan team of badged election workers following standard protocols to retrieve, secure and transport votes for counting.
5/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Another viral X post -- this one shared repeatedly in Elon Musk's "Election Integrity Community" -- falsely claimed to show "suspicious" Democrats "carrying around ballots in a taxi."
The video is from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
4/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The video is from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
4/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Another viral X post -- this one shared repeatedly in Elon Musk's "Election Integrity Community" -- falsely claimed to show "suspicious" Democrats "carrying around ballots in a taxi."
The video is from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
4/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The video is from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
4/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Elon Musk and Eric Trump drove a misleading narrative that New York City's "scam" ballots were formatted to boost Zohran Mamdani.
In reality, he and Curtis Sliwa were listed twice because they were endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
3/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
In reality, he and Curtis Sliwa were listed twice because they were endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
3/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Elon Musk and Eric Trump drove a misleading narrative that New York City's "scam" ballots were formatted to boost Zohran Mamdani.
In reality, he and Curtis Sliwa were listed twice because they were endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
3/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
In reality, he and Curtis Sliwa were listed twice because they were endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
3/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
In the leadup to and on Election Day, conservative accounts falsely claimed a New York City man admitted to casting six illegal votes for Zohran Mamdani.
But the video causing cries of "fraud" originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme.
2/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video causing cries of "fraud" originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme.
2/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
In the leadup to and on Election Day, conservative accounts falsely claimed a New York City man admitted to casting six illegal votes for Zohran Mamdani.
But the video causing cries of "fraud" originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme.
2/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video causing cries of "fraud" originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme.
2/
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
This post shared repeatedly in Elon Musk's "Election Integrity Community" on X claims to show "suspicious" Democrats caught "carrying around ballots in a taxi."
But the video is, in fact, from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video is, in fact, from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
This post shared repeatedly in Elon Musk's "Election Integrity Community" on X claims to show "suspicious" Democrats caught "carrying around ballots in a taxi."
But the video is, in fact, from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video is, in fact, from Quebec during Canada's elections in April.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
In what became a prevailing false narrative on Election Day, Elon Musk and others suggested NYC ballots were deceptively formatted to boost Zohran Mamdani.
But Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
u.afp.com/FusionVoting
But Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
u.afp.com/FusionVoting
November 5, 2025 at 4:04 AM
In what became a prevailing false narrative on Election Day, Elon Musk and others suggested NYC ballots were deceptively formatted to boost Zohran Mamdani.
But Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
u.afp.com/FusionVoting
But Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two parties, per state election law.
u.afp.com/FusionVoting
A video DHS posted last month claimed at one point to show harrowing footage taken "in Portland, Oregon, as Antifa terrorists have surged against federal facilities."
As it did, it showed two clips from September anti-ICE protests in a suburb of Chicago.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
As it did, it showed two clips from September anti-ICE protests in a suburb of Chicago.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
November 3, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A video DHS posted last month claimed at one point to show harrowing footage taken "in Portland, Oregon, as Antifa terrorists have surged against federal facilities."
As it did, it showed two clips from September anti-ICE protests in a suburb of Chicago.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
As it did, it showed two clips from September anti-ICE protests in a suburb of Chicago.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
A TikTok video viewed 3.6 million times claims to show Hurricane Melissa devastating Jamaica.
But the video was posted before Melissa even made landfall, and the scenes in the compilation are all from past storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video was posted before Melissa even made landfall, and the scenes in the compilation are all from past storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A TikTok video viewed 3.6 million times claims to show Hurricane Melissa devastating Jamaica.
But the video was posted before Melissa even made landfall, and the scenes in the compilation are all from past storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
But the video was posted before Melissa even made landfall, and the scenes in the compilation are all from past storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Nice of the Washington Post to credit @afp.com's reporting on the White House's misleading "Chicago is in chaos" video in their report outlining further Department of Homeland Security deception. wapo.st/4nuDGwf
October 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Nice of the Washington Post to credit @afp.com's reporting on the White House's misleading "Chicago is in chaos" video in their report outlining further Department of Homeland Security deception. wapo.st/4nuDGwf
The Trump White House is now displaying a "major events timeline" on its official "about the White House" webpage that includes the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and a photo of Hunter Biden smoking alongside entries about the building's history.
October 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The Trump White House is now displaying a "major events timeline" on its official "about the White House" webpage that includes the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and a photo of Hunter Biden smoking alongside entries about the building's history.
An erroneous, AI-generated X Community Note led a flurry of right-wing accounts -- and eventually US Senator Ted Cruz -- to falsely claim that aerial footage MSNBC aired of the "No Kings" protest in Boston was a misrepresented visual from years earlier. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM
An erroneous, AI-generated X Community Note led a flurry of right-wing accounts -- and eventually US Senator Ted Cruz -- to falsely claim that aerial footage MSNBC aired of the "No Kings" protest in Boston was a misrepresented visual from years earlier. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
My latest @factcheck.afp.com:
Ted Cruz falsely accused Democrats of passing off footage from 2017 as the crowd that attended a "No Kings" protest.
But the video aired by MSNBC did, in fact, show people who swarmed Boston Common for the October 18 rally.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Ted Cruz falsely accused Democrats of passing off footage from 2017 as the crowd that attended a "No Kings" protest.
But the video aired by MSNBC did, in fact, show people who swarmed Boston Common for the October 18 rally.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 22, 2025 at 8:28 PM
My latest @factcheck.afp.com:
Ted Cruz falsely accused Democrats of passing off footage from 2017 as the crowd that attended a "No Kings" protest.
But the video aired by MSNBC did, in fact, show people who swarmed Boston Common for the October 18 rally.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Ted Cruz falsely accused Democrats of passing off footage from 2017 as the crowd that attended a "No Kings" protest.
But the video aired by MSNBC did, in fact, show people who swarmed Boston Common for the October 18 rally.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
This video keeps spreading with false claims that it shows ICE agents arresting a 6-year-old girl.
The woman was in fact a 27-year-old who was briefly detained in Washington state in April after police saw her cross a busy intersection in moving traffic.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The woman was in fact a 27-year-old who was briefly detained in Washington state in April after police saw her cross a busy intersection in moving traffic.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 21, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This video keeps spreading with false claims that it shows ICE agents arresting a 6-year-old girl.
The woman was in fact a 27-year-old who was briefly detained in Washington state in April after police saw her cross a busy intersection in moving traffic.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The woman was in fact a 27-year-old who was briefly detained in Washington state in April after police saw her cross a busy intersection in moving traffic.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
This appears to be the photo used to generate the AI video US President Donald Trump posted that portrays hims wearing a crown and piloting a fighter jet that dumps feces on influencer Harry Sisson and other Americans who were protesting him in New York City.
October 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
This appears to be the photo used to generate the AI video US President Donald Trump posted that portrays hims wearing a crown and piloting a fighter jet that dumps feces on influencer Harry Sisson and other Americans who were protesting him in New York City.
Thank you @colbertlateshow.bsky.social for highlighting my @afp.com fact-check investigation into the deceptive White House "Chicago is in chaos" video that misused footage from other US cities.
From now on our team will be known as "the internet folks" and "the people online."
From now on our team will be known as "the internet folks" and "the people online."
October 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Thank you @colbertlateshow.bsky.social for highlighting my @afp.com fact-check investigation into the deceptive White House "Chicago is in chaos" video that misused footage from other US cities.
From now on our team will be known as "the internet folks" and "the people online."
From now on our team will be known as "the internet folks" and "the people online."
Our fact-check of the White House's deceptive Chicago video highlighted in CNN's "Reliable Sources" newsletter:
October 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Our fact-check of the White House's deceptive Chicago video highlighted in CNN's "Reliable Sources" newsletter:
Finally, the images of fentanyl used in the White House's video purporting to show Chicago were taken from b-roll of drugs confiscated in 2023 -- under the Biden administration -- in California and Arizona. (18/18)
October 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Finally, the images of fentanyl used in the White House's video purporting to show Chicago were taken from b-roll of drugs confiscated in 2023 -- under the Biden administration -- in California and Arizona. (18/18)
Multiple scenes in the White House's video purporting to show Chicago were lifted from footage of a June workplace raid executed in Nebraska. (17/18)
October 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Multiple scenes in the White House's video purporting to show Chicago were lifted from footage of a June workplace raid executed in Nebraska. (17/18)