# Donald Trump    2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting    Not Necessarily The News    AI-generated Content    Pete Hegseth   

Bethania Palma

Bethania Palma is a journalist from the Los Angeles area who started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and has covered everything from crime to local government to national politics. She has written for a variety of publications as a staffer and freelancer, including the Los Angeles News Group, the LAist, LA School Report, the OC Weekly and Raw Story. She earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California at Irvine and an M.A. in history from California State University at Northridge. When researching bizarre phenomena, she's holding out for the day when the conclusion will be, "Aliens did it."

Were 2020 California Wildfires Started by 'Direct Energy Weapons'?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 19, 2020

The claim that laser beams have been used to ignite wildfires has been online since at least 2018.

Read More


How Did Hunter Biden's Laptop Allegedly Go from a Repair Shop in Delaware to the New York Post?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 15, 2020 (Updated: March 17, 2022)

News reports identified the hard drive's source as a computer repair shop owner in Delaware.

Read More


Bleached Halloween Pumpkin Post Sparks Vitriolic, Misinformed Backlash

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 13, 2020

Please remember to check your facts before piling on to the social media hate fest.

Read More


Did California Republicans Set Up Fake Ballot Drop Boxes?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 12, 2020 (Updated: May 3, 2021)

Election authorities initially said unauthorized drop-boxes for mail-in ballots violate state la ...

Read More


Did Pence Dismiss the Idea of Systemic Racism?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 9, 2020

During a debate with Sen. Kamala Harris, the vice president made some conflicting statements abo ...

Read More


No, Kamala Harris Didn't Tweet, 'We Need to Focus on Defunding the Police'

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 6, 2020

The tweet boosted a false claim about the 2020 Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Read More


Texas Legal Filing To Block Early Voting Offers Little Evidence of 'Illegal Ballot Harvesting' Scheme

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 5, 2020

The writ, filed by Republicans, accuses Democratic officials of violating the state's election laws.

Read More


No, Biden Didn't Wear a 'Wire' or 'Smart' Contact Lenses During 1st Debate

Written by: Bethania Palma

Oct. 1, 2020

Conspiracy theories about high-tech devices rocketed across social media after the first preside ...

Read More


Did 'Portland Sheriff' Endorse Trump?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 30, 2020

The Multnomah County sheriff tweeted his own fact check of this claim during the September 2020 ...

Read More


Viral Video Spreads Unfounded Claim About Rep. Ilhan Omar and Voter Fraud

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 29, 2020 (Updated: Oct. 19, 2020)

Omar is a frequent target of disinformation campaigns.

Read More


Did Biden Call Trump 'Xenophobic'?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 26, 2020

The Democratic presidential nominee's critique of the incumbent came amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Read More


9 Discarded Military Ballots Found in Pennsylvania Raise Questions

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 25, 2020

A decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to make details public in an ongoing investigation ...

Read More


Did Trump Halt Federal Diversity and Anti-Racism Training?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 24, 2020

Trump's rhetoric on race has earned him scathing criticism, but his directive on diversity train ...

Read More


Did Trump Say Wildfires Are Caused by Exploding Trees?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 19, 2020

Trump made a comment about trees and wildfires during a visit to fire-ravaged California.

Read More


Did Trump Say the Military Had No Ammunition When He Took Office?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 17, 2020

A claim made by President Donald Trump has actually been on the internet for years.

Read More


'A Giant Middle Finger to the Entire System': Trans Anarchist Satanist Runs for Sheriff

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 17, 2020

... as a Republican.

Read More


Allegations of Mass Hysterectomies at ICE-Contracted Facility Spark Outrage

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 16, 2020 (Updated: Sept. 21, 2020)

Most of the whistleblower complaint dealt with general medical negligence at a Georgia facility, ...

Read More


Did Biden Twice Vote To Tax Social Security While in the Senate?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 14, 2020

A meme circulating on social media lacked historical context.

Read More


Did the Trump Administration Withhold Money from FDNY 9/11 Health Fund?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 14, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for a cash-strapped New York City to front the costs of ...

Read More


Is 'Antifa' Setting Wildfires in Oregon?

Written by: Bethania Palma

Sept. 10, 2020 (Updated: Sept. 17, 2020)

Law enforcement pleaded with social media users to stop spreading such hoaxes.

Read More


Page: 38


Source code