Melissa Goldin
@melissagoldin.bsky.social
News Verification Reporter @apnews.com
Previously: @newsguard.bsky.social | [email protected]
apnews.com/ap-fact-check
melissagoldin.com
Previously: @newsguard.bsky.social | [email protected]
apnews.com/ap-fact-check
melissagoldin.com
Most voters don't need to show ID at the polls in New York or California, but they can if they want to: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: It is not illegal for voters to show ID in New York and California
As the leadup to the 2026 midterm elections begins, social media users — among them billionaire X owner Elon Musk, who briefly served as a top advisor to President Donald Trump — have claimed that it ...
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Most voters don't need to show ID at the polls in New York or California, but they can if they want to: apnews.com/article/fact...
There have unfortunately been murders in D.C. in the last six months, despite what Trump says: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Trump gets it wrong claiming no murders in DC for the last six months
In addition to pardoning two North Carolina turkeys at the annual White House ceremony, President Donald Trump discussed his crime-fighting efforts in Washington, D.C., claiming that it’s been six mon...
apnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
There have unfortunately been murders in D.C. in the last six months, despite what Trump says: apnews.com/article/fact...
I had a wonderful time visiting @urochester.bsky.social (my alma mater!) last week to speak about my career, my fact-checking work, and the general state of journalism with fellow alums @jaysunsilver.bsky.social and @classicjpow.bsky.social.
Photos by @lnthompson.bsky.social
Photos by @lnthompson.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I had a wonderful time visiting @urochester.bsky.social (my alma mater!) last week to speak about my career, my fact-checking work, and the general state of journalism with fellow alums @jaysunsilver.bsky.social and @classicjpow.bsky.social.
Photos by @lnthompson.bsky.social
Photos by @lnthompson.bsky.social
Trump has repeatedly claimed that each U.S. military strike on alleged drug boats saves 25,000 lives. Experts say there's no evidence this is true. Read more: apnews.com/article/trum...
FACT FOCUS: There's no proof each strike on alleged drug boats saves 25,000 lives, as Trump claims
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that strikes on suspected drug boats his administration began carrying out in September in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean are saving hundreds of thou...
apnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Trump has repeatedly claimed that each U.S. military strike on alleged drug boats saves 25,000 lives. Experts say there's no evidence this is true. Read more: apnews.com/article/trum...
On Thanksgiving dinner prices: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Trump says Thanksgiving dinner will cost 25% less this year. His numbers are misleading
This is misleading. While Walmart's 2025 meal basket costs about 25% less than the one from 2024, that's because it offers fewer items and different products that make it more affordable.
apnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 PM
On Thanksgiving dinner prices: apnews.com/article/fact...
No, NYC ballots do not prove the 2025 mayoral election is rigged. Here's why: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: New York City ballots do not show proof of election fraud
As voters lined up at the polls Tuesday, social media users claimed that how candidates are listed on New York City ballots is proof that voting is rigged.
apnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM
No, NYC ballots do not prove the 2025 mayoral election is rigged. Here's why: apnews.com/article/fact...
What's really going on in Portland? The picture Trump paints is far from reality. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Trump paints a grim portrait of Portland. The story on the ground is much less extreme
There have been nightly protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland for months, peaking in June when police declared one demonstration a riot.
apnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
What's really going on in Portland? The picture Trump paints is far from reality. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
Republicans are claiming that Democrats shut down the government because they want to give free health care to "illegal immigrants." That's not true. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to 'illegal immigrants'
President Donald Trump and other high-ranking Republicans claim Democrats forced the government shutdown fight because they want to give free health care to immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
apnews.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Republicans are claiming that Democrats shut down the government because they want to give free health care to "illegal immigrants." That's not true. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
No, alleged FBI documents do not prove that 274 bureau agents acted as "agitators and insurrectionists" during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Alleged FBI documents do not prove federal agents incited Jan. 6 Capitol attack
This is false. The alleged FBI documents to which Trump is referring state on page 46 that 274 agents from the FBI's Washington Field Office “responded to” to the U.S.
apnews.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:43 PM
No, alleged FBI documents do not prove that 274 bureau agents acted as "agitators and insurrectionists" during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
Thank you to @kellyruthk.bsky.social for inviting me to speak about misinfo reporting with her class @cuny.edu’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism last night! I really enjoyed answering all of her students’ stellar questions.
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Thank you to @kellyruthk.bsky.social for inviting me to speak about misinfo reporting with her class @cuny.edu’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism last night! I really enjoyed answering all of her students’ stellar questions.
A flood of false and misleading claims has filled social media since Charlie Kirk's assassination on Wednesday. Here are the facts: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Assassination of Charlie Kirk prompts flood of false and misleading claims online
This is false. Utah records say Robinson was registered as a voter, but not affiliated with either political party.
apnews.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A flood of false and misleading claims has filled social media since Charlie Kirk's assassination on Wednesday. Here are the facts: apnews.com/article/fact...
The facts on RFK Jr.'s contentious Senate hearing: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made by RFK Jr. during Senate hearing
Kennedy was answering a question from Sen. Maggie Hassan on whether COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of American lives.
apnews.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The facts on RFK Jr.'s contentious Senate hearing: apnews.com/article/fact...
Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard in cities he says have unchecked crime. Here are the facts: apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump suggests more US cities need National Guard but crime stats tell a different story
apnews.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard in cities he says have unchecked crime. Here are the facts: apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has confirmed that claims he's dead are "fake news." Just FYI. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Dn...
LIVE: Trump announces Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama
YouTube video by Associated Press
www.youtube.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Trump has confirmed that claims he's dead are "fake news." Just FYI. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Dn...
“Mark represented the best of the White House press corps." - AP Executive Editor Julie Pace apnews.com/article/mark...
CBS News' Mark Knoller, veteran White House correspondent, dies at 73
Mark Knoller, a longtime White House correspondent for CBS News, has died at 73. He was known for prolific reporting across eight presidential administrations, including his encyclopedic knowledge of ...
apnews.com
August 31, 2025 at 10:14 PM
“Mark represented the best of the White House press corps." - AP Executive Editor Julie Pace apnews.com/article/mark...
No, there are not 70 million to 100 million noncitizens living in the U.S. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Posts overestimate number of noncitizens living in US by tens of millions
The Trump administration's decision to review the visas of more than 55 million people is leading to false reports on social media for the number of noncitizens living in the U.S., with claims as high...
apnews.com
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 AM
No, there are not 70 million to 100 million noncitizens living in the U.S. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
RFK Jr. has been off the mark in his comments on U.S. dietary guidelines and Froot Loops. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: A look at RFK Jr.'s misleading claims on US dietary guidelines and Froot Loops
The Trump administration is preparing to release new federal dietary guidelines, as is done every five years.
apnews.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
RFK Jr. has been off the mark in his comments on U.S. dietary guidelines and Froot Loops. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
The reality behind Trump's claim that he's ended 7 wars: apnews.com/article/trum...
FACT FOCUS: Trump says he has ended seven wars. That's not accurate
apnews.com
August 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The reality behind Trump's claim that he's ended 7 wars: apnews.com/article/trum...
Don't splurge just yet. apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: No, taxpayers will not receive new stimulus checks this summer
Rumors spreading on social media claim the U.S. government will soon be issuing stimulus checks to taxpayers in certain income brackets.
apnews.com
August 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Don't splurge just yet. apnews.com/article/fact...
Reposted by Melissa Goldin
Experts say it's unclear what exactly Trump is calling for. Changes to the 2030 census? A mid-decade census? If the latter, will it be used for a mid-decade change in the divvying up of congressional seats based on the population count? apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump seeks to change how census collects data and wants to exclude immigrants in US illegally
President Donald Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to change how the Census Bureau collects data, seeking to exclude immigrants in the United States illegally.
apnews.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Experts say it's unclear what exactly Trump is calling for. Changes to the 2030 census? A mid-decade census? If the latter, will it be used for a mid-decade change in the divvying up of congressional seats based on the population count? apnews.com/article/trum...
RFK Jr. claimed that mRNA vaccines are ineffective against "viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract." Scientific evidence says otherwise. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: RFK Jr.'s reasons for cutting mRNA vaccine not supported by evidence
His claim is contradicted by scientific evidence. Countless studies show that vaccinated individuals fare far better against COVID-19 infections than those who are unvaccinated, while others have esti...
apnews.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
RFK Jr. claimed that mRNA vaccines are ineffective against "viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract." Scientific evidence says otherwise. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
Reposted by Melissa Goldin
How do fact-checkers select the claims to check? How should we develop a 'harms-based' approach and defend freedom of speech?
Great to work with friend & colleague @mrdudders.bsky.social on this piece for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Feedback welcome
www.poynter.org/ifcn/2025/sp...
Great to work with friend & colleague @mrdudders.bsky.social on this piece for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Feedback welcome
www.poynter.org/ifcn/2025/sp...
Spotting the harmful needles in the haystack: How fact-checkers select what to check - Poynter
From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses and media reporting, Poynter helps journalists sharpen skills and elevate storytelling throughout their car...
www.poynter.org
August 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
How do fact-checkers select the claims to check? How should we develop a 'harms-based' approach and defend freedom of speech?
Great to work with friend & colleague @mrdudders.bsky.social on this piece for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Feedback welcome
www.poynter.org/ifcn/2025/sp...
Great to work with friend & colleague @mrdudders.bsky.social on this piece for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Feedback welcome
www.poynter.org/ifcn/2025/sp...
Thank you to JEF Latvia for inviting me to speak about misinformation and media literacy at the Mediawise conference in Riga last week! It was a joy to meet so many passionate young folks and learn all about Latvia.
August 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Thank you to JEF Latvia for inviting me to speak about misinformation and media literacy at the Mediawise conference in Riga last week! It was a joy to meet so many passionate young folks and learn all about Latvia.
Trump claimed he's cut drug prices by more than 100%. But that would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Trump says he's cut drug prices by up to 1,500%. That's not possible
Days after he sent letters instructing top pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a “most favored nation” pricing model for prescription drugs, President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he had cu...
apnews.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Trump claimed he's cut drug prices by more than 100%. But that would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
Data has not determined the impact of cashless bail on crime rates, despite what Trump says. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...
FACT FOCUS: Trump claims cashless bail increases crime, but data is inconclusive
Data has not determined the impact of cashless bail on crime rates. But experts say it is incorrect to claim that there is an adverse connection.
apnews.com
July 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Data has not determined the impact of cashless bail on crime rates, despite what Trump says. Read more: apnews.com/article/fact...