Double Check: Fact Checking Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention
Photo: Lorie ShaullHere's Logically's round-up of fact checks from another big day of political events.
Day 2 of the RNC saw the Republican Party break with tradition by including Mike Pompeo, a serving secreatary of State, speaking from the top of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in a move which was criticised as blurring the line between political and government business. The second day of the RNC was also marked by many more demonstrable falsehoods and clearly misleading statements than either the previous night, or any of the nights of the DNC (both of which generally ranged over a mixed bag of political rhetoric and half truths). Below is a round up of several of our fact checks from Day 2 of the RNC, for more check our fact check library.
Drug overdose deaths decreased in 2018 for the first time in 30 years
MISLEADING
Overall overdose death rates decreased by 4.1% in 2018, but death rates from synthetic opioids increased by 10% in 2018. Deaths rose again in 2019.
Trump is the first president to talk about religious freedom at the UNGA.
FALSE
Other presidents have addressed the United Nations on the topic of religious freedom, including President Barack Obama. He defended religious freedom at the UNGA on September 25, 2012.
NATO is stronger because of Donald Trump.
FALSE
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO, and experts fear that he might try to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance
Joe Biden pledged to raise taxes by $4 trillion.
MISLEADING
Biden wants to increase taxes on high-earning people and on corporations. His tax proposals would increase federal revenues by $4 trillion over 10 years.
Joe Biden threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine unless the Ukrainian Prosecutor investigating the Gas company was fired.
MISLEADING
Joe Biden's efforts to remove Viktor Shokin were part of internationally coordinated efforts towards curbing corruption in Ukraine.
North Korea has stopped conducting nuclear tests or long range missile tests because of Trump
MISLEADING
N.Korea has not conducted nuclear or long-range missile tests since 2018, but reports suggest they have been building up nuclear capabilities.
Democrats tried to ban church services during coronavirus lockdown.
MISLEADING
Both Republican and Democrat-run states deemed religious services 'essential', and both also introduced restrictions on in-person worship.
Joe Biden will increase taxes for everyone.
MISLEADING
Taxes will only be directly raised for households making more than $400,000, though corporation tax rises may also have an indirect impact.
Trump has more strong women in significant positions throughout his administration, far more than any US president ever
FALSE
Trump has a lower percentage of women in his administration compared to former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
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