🧵Thread🧵
The media, focused solely on Trump, haven’t seemed interested in fact checking Kamala Harris. And not for lack of opportunity.
So I decided to. Below are some false and misleading statements from last week’s debate.
I could only fit so many. But give it a read. ⤵️
The media, focused solely on Trump, haven’t seemed interested in fact checking Kamala Harris. And not for lack of opportunity.
So I decided to. Below are some false and misleading statements from last week’s debate.
I could only fit so many. But give it a read. ⤵️
For starters, I think this image typifies how the media treat the two candidates.
Dale’s sentiment here applied broadly to the rest of the media, who had eyes only for Trump.
Dale’s sentiment here applied broadly to the rest of the media, who had eyes only for Trump.
So let’s look at Harris, shall we?
1. She claimed that she was the only one on the debate stage with a plan for the middle class.
That’s the type of claim the media usually says “needs context,” as the Biden-Harris admin has failed the middle class, as even CNN acknowledged.
1. She claimed that she was the only one on the debate stage with a plan for the middle class.
That’s the type of claim the media usually says “needs context,” as the Biden-Harris admin has failed the middle class, as even CNN acknowledged.
2. Harris claimed that Trump intends to implement Project 2025, the latest monster-under-the-bed for Democrats.
Beyond overhyping the details of the project itself, what Harris glossed over is that Trump has denounced the project, repeatedly saying he’s got no interest.
Beyond overhyping the details of the project itself, what Harris glossed over is that Trump has denounced the project, repeatedly saying he’s got no interest.
Surely, fact checkers must’ve been climbing over one another to point out that this connection was bogus, right? That whatever else, Trump had clearly said he isn’t supportive of it?
Well, no. The media mostly ignored the claim, or counterclaimed that really he does support it.
Well, no. The media mostly ignored the claim, or counterclaimed that really he does support it.
If you’re wondering why, I have an idea.
Okay, back to the facts.
3. Harris claimed Trump would ban abortion nationwide.
Again, Trump has repeatedly said he won’t do this. He’s even taken heat for being too liberal on the issue from pro-life folks. But Harris keeps repeating it. And the media keeps ignoring it.
3. Harris claimed Trump would ban abortion nationwide.
Again, Trump has repeatedly said he won’t do this. He’s even taken heat for being too liberal on the issue from pro-life folks. But Harris keeps repeating it. And the media keeps ignoring it.
4. Harris also said that nowhere in the country are there full-term abortions.
This simply isn’t true. As @MaryMargOlohan explains in a recent piece and thread:
This simply isn’t true. As @MaryMargOlohan explains in a recent piece and thread:
https://twitter.com/marymargolohan/status/1833677045248692550
5. Harris said she was tough on immigration, and would hire “1,500 new border patrol agents”
Again, this is one of those claims that, if the political shoe were on the other foot, the press would say “needs context.”
Harris supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings.
Again, this is one of those claims that, if the political shoe were on the other foot, the press would say “needs context.”
Harris supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings.
5 cont. And Harris led immigration for Biden.
Much as she may deny it, I’ve got the receipts. She presided over the disastrous border policies that led to record crossings.
That those facts aren’t front and center in this conversation elides the point.
Much as she may deny it, I’ve got the receipts. She presided over the disastrous border policies that led to record crossings.
That those facts aren’t front and center in this conversation elides the point.
https://x.com/drewholden360/status/1816247920477270428?s=46&t=wMhtJR0xbJf19Mt_IvxMnw
https://twitter.com/drewholden360/status/1816247920477270428
Okay, not a fact check, but Harris bragged about the endorsement of Dick Cheney.
Does anyone else think it’s really weird that the Dems are hyped that the guy who lied us into the Iraq war, whom Dems wanted tried for war crimes, supports their candidate?
Does anyone else think it’s really weird that the Dems are hyped that the guy who lied us into the Iraq war, whom Dems wanted tried for war crimes, supports their candidate?
6. Harris said that Trump would “weaponize” the legal powers of the federal government against his opponents.
Again, this “needs context.” The Biden-Harris admin are doing precisely this to Trump. Isn’t it a touch rich for Harris to try to call it out?
Again, this “needs context.” The Biden-Harris admin are doing precisely this to Trump. Isn’t it a touch rich for Harris to try to call it out?
7. Harris claimed (repeatedly) that she had been “very clear” about her position on fracking.
Look at these screenshots, one from 2019, one from 2024, and tell me this is “clear.”
Look at these screenshots, one from 2019, one from 2024, and tell me this is “clear.”
I mean, the press have even celebrated how she’s pivoted on this topic!
8. Harris bragged about her and Biden’s investment in clean energy. But is that investment going anywhere?
As I fact checked for Biden’s DNC speech, all that money has led to a grand total of 7 new charging stations, a key climate focus.
Not 7,000. Not 700. Just 7. Nationwide.
As I fact checked for Biden’s DNC speech, all that money has led to a grand total of 7 new charging stations, a key climate focus.
Not 7,000. Not 700. Just 7. Nationwide.
9. Harris said “and some died” when describing law enforcement casualties at the Capitol on Jan 6.
Whatever else you think about what happened, law enforcement personal weren’t killed as a result. To imply otherwise is dishonest.
Whatever else you think about what happened, law enforcement personal weren’t killed as a result. To imply otherwise is dishonest.
10. Harris repeated the “very fine people on both sides” lie about Charlottesville.
Even Snopes, no right wing rag, has explained that this isn’t real.
Even Snopes, no right wing rag, has explained that this isn’t real.
11. In a similar vein, Harris accused Trump of saying there’d be a “bloodbath” if he lost the election.
The phrase is pulled, without context, from Trump’s remarks about the auto industry.
To apply it instead to the country is bogus, and maliciously so.
The phrase is pulled, without context, from Trump’s remarks about the auto industry.
To apply it instead to the country is bogus, and maliciously so.
12. Harris claimed that “there is not one member of the…military who is in active duty in a combat zone.”
Even NYT disputed this one. Since they let most of her claims go, I’ll give them the floor:
Even NYT disputed this one. Since they let most of her claims go, I’ll give them the floor:
13. Harris claimed she has a “plan” (again) for bringing down the cost of living.
If so, why hasn’t she implemented it in three years as VP, while her admin has spiked the cost of living with inflation and other failed economic policies?
Lovely time for “context.”
If so, why hasn’t she implemented it in three years as VP, while her admin has spiked the cost of living with inflation and other failed economic policies?
Lovely time for “context.”
Bonus: I can’t not include the most ridiculous aspect of the debate “fact checking”: claims that Trump was wrong to accuse Harris of supporting trans surgeries for detained illegal immigrants.
Problem was, she did.
H/t @guypbenson for this terribly awkward NYT reflection.
Problem was, she did.
H/t @guypbenson for this terribly awkward NYT reflection.
And @time produced one of the most cringe-inducing corrections on record (h/t @TimMurtaugh).
Apparently @sbg1 didn’t get the memo from NYT.
And I can’t not include this “needs context” claim from NYT initially, the ‘context’ being that Trump was right, apparently.
Apparently @sbg1 didn’t get the memo from NYT.
And I can’t not include this “needs context” claim from NYT initially, the ‘context’ being that Trump was right, apparently.
Look, I get the protest that Trump isn’t a beacon of truth. But the American people deserve to know whether what his opponent has to say is actually accurate.
In many cases, it isn’t.
In many cases, it isn’t.
And it’s impossible to ignore how all of this intersects with the media, who regularly repeat these bogus Harris claims as gospel truth.
That they can’t do their “fact checking” with any integrity says a lot about the mission such work actually serves: furthering Dem interests.
That they can’t do their “fact checking” with any integrity says a lot about the mission such work actually serves: furthering Dem interests.
As ever, there’s too much here to fit into a thread. Read the full write up at my newsletter, @Holden_Court, linked here: open.substack.com/pub/drewholden…
@Holden_Court And if you’d like to kick me a few bucks to support the beer fund that supports my sanity by going through all of this, I won’t stop you from doing so. paypal.com/donate/?busine…
@Holden_Court If you needed more evidence that Harris’s claim #12, about the safety of our troops, was a lie: @RepJimBanks has it.
https://twitter.com/repjimbanks/status/1836074357451358609
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
