Snopes Daily Debunker - A Pox on thy Meme!

A Pox on Thy Meme! There are many parallels one could make between our current pandemic and the plagues that haunted the Middle Ages and Renaissance. However, one within a viral meme that allegedly quotes a 17th-century diarist seems more prescient than most. The quote tells a story about a tavern full of “gadabouts” who seem to be ignoring social distancing for a chance at sweetmeats and mingling. But the author is not compelled to join them and writes: “A dram in exchange for the pox is an ill bargain indeed.” Just who wrote that passage and when was it actually written? And what even are “gadabouts”? Reporter Dan Evon has the story. Read more

 

Fact Checks Was Ghislaine Maxwell Photographed with JonBenét Ramsey? Not all women with short, dark hair are Ghislaine Maxwell. Unproven   Did California ‘Forbid’ Christians from Singing in Church? Safety guidelines for religious and cultural gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic got the political spin treatment. Mixture   Did Melania Trump’s Dress Feature Drawings by Victims of Sexual Abuse? First lady Melania Trump wore an Alexander McQueen dress to a Fourth of July event. Miscaptioned   Is Dr. Fauci Married to Ghislaine Maxwell’s Sister? Sharing a first name is not the same as sharing an identity. False   Is Beyoncé an Italian Woman Named Ann Marie Lastrassi? This conspiracy theory makes absolutely no sense. False   Did Trump Say Operation Desert Storm Took Place in Vietnam? The president's 2020 Independence Day address wasn't the smoothest of speeches, but neither was it as historically challenged as claimed by some critics. False

 

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In the News Tell-All Book by Trump Niece To Be Released Next Week Publisher Simon & Schuster cited “high interest and extraordinary interest” in the book by Mary Trump titled “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.” Read more   Trump-Connected Lobbyists Reap Windfall in Federal Virus Aid Many of the 40 lobbyists identified by watchdog group Public Citizen either worked in the Trump executive branch, served on his campaign, were part of the committee that raised money for inaugural festivities or were part of his presidential transition. Read more   Facebook Civil Rights Audit: ‘Serious Setbacks’ Mar Progress The audit recommends that Facebook build a "civil rights infrastructure" into every aspect of the company. Read more   COVID-19 Myths Politicians Have Repeated That Just Aren’t True The purveyors of these myths, including politicians who have been soft pedaling the impact of the coronavirus, aren’t doing the country any favors. Read more

 

Staff Pick Are These Petri Dishes Coughed On With and Without a Mask? This visual aid did not involve a person with COVID-19. Read more