The Gazette Fact Checker

Nov 02 2022 76 ep. 25 mins 1.1k

The Gazette Fact Checker Podcast artwork

The Fact Checker team checks statements made by an Iowa political candidate or officeholder or a national candidate or officeholder about Iowa, or in ads that appear in our area. Claims must be independently verifiable. We give statements grades from A to F based on accuracy and context. If you spot a claim you think needs checking, email us at [email protected].

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Grassley Ads Attack Franken for Wanting to Penalize Non-Voters

Nov 02 2022 15 mins

Early voting already is well underway, but the jabs are getting sharper between Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democratic challenger Mike Franken as the race inches to Election Day on Nov. 8.A recent ad attacking Franken containing claims about health care, abortion and support for hiring thousands of IRS agents included one claim that stands out as something voters don’

Bohannon vs. Miller-Meeks Debate: IRS Budget and Oil and Gas Industry Contributions

Oct 09 2022 18 mins

This episode of the Fact Checker Podcast reviews claims made by Christina Bohannon and Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa PBS' September debate. Bohannon's claim accused Marianette Miller-Meeks' big campaign contributions from oil and gas companies made her soft on regulating the industry, while Miller-Meeks went after the IRS' recent budget increase.The Fact Checker team checks stat

How many 2021 deactivated voters are still inactive?

Aug 29 2022 22 mins

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller has criticized Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate for deactivating voters who didn’t vote in the 2020 general election. The Fact Checker team checks statements made by an Iowa political candidate or officeholder or a national candidate/officeholder about Iowa, or in advocacy ads that appear in our market.Claims must be independently verifiable. We g

Did Grassley take $1.4 million from the pharmaceutical industry?

Aug 06 2022 15 mins

Democrat senator Mike Franken said in a July 12 news release that “Since coming to Washington over 40 years ago, [Grassley] has taken nearly $1.4 million dollars from the pharmaceutical industry …” Was he correct in making those claims? The Fact Checker team checks statements made by an Iowa political candidate or officeholder or a national candidate/officeholder about Iowa,

Did Iowa Democrat vote in ‘lock step’ with party?

Jul 25 2022 18 mins

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann recently claimed “Kevin Kinney acts one way at home, but when he goes to Des Moines he votes in lock step with the liberal progressives of his party,” Kaufmann said. "As a sixth-generation farmer, mother and community leader, Sen. Dawn Driscoll has always had her constituents' backs.“ The Fact Checker is going to check the first part of Kaufmann�

Does Ashley Hinson support criminalizing abortions with no exceptions?

Jul 11 2022 18 mins

Liz Mathis, a Democrat challenging GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson for her seat in the U.S. House, recently posted a tweet about Hinson’s support for a “personhood” bill introduced last year, claiming “This Iowa Supreme Court ruling is another step toward Ashley Hinson’s goal of criminalizing abortions even in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk."Our

Joni Ernst says U.S. spending $3M a day to guard border wall materials. Is that true?

Jun 27 2022 17 mins

Six U.S. Senate Republicans, including Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, now have proposed the BUILD IT Act, which would turn over unused border wall materials to southern states who want to continue building the wall. As justification for the bill, Ernst tweeted May 24: “American taxpayers are paying $3 million per day for contractors to guard unused Southern border w

Did Kim Reynolds Want to Jail Teachers and Librarians?

Jun 20 2022 16 mins

On June 7, the Iowa Democratic Party posted an infographic meant to compare Democrat candidate for Iowa governor Deidre DeJear with Kim Reynolds, making a few bold claims. In this episode of the Fact Checker Podcast we evaluate a couple of the claims the Democratic Party made against Reynolds.Claim 1: Reynolds “wanted to jail teachers and librarians.” We give this claim an F.Cl

Are Sen. Joni Ernst's claims about rising gas prices accurate?

Jun 12 2022 15 mins

The rising cost of gas is straining Americans’ budgets and fueling heightened criticism of President Joe Biden. Iowa’s Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is among the critics of Biden’s energy policy.Ernst tweeted May 26 that “within the past two weeks, gas prices have jumped 33%. Some experts are saying the prices will reach $6/gallon by mid-summer. The Biden admin must unleash U.

Does Finkenauer support abortion up until birth?

May 21 2022 16 mins

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s campaign decried Abby Finkenauer for her support of proposed legislation to codify Roe v Wade into law to preserve abortion access nationwide even if the Supreme Court overturns it as a recent leak suggests."Democrats will stop at nothing to ensure their extremist views are enacted into law. Look no further than the bill in front of the U.S. Senate toda