Newsroom

PolitiFact

The Newsroom runs PolitiFact Illinois, the local arm of the nationally renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking enterprise that rates the truthfulness of statements made by governmental leaders and politicians.

RSS

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Pritzker’s Mostly Correct About Illinois’ Historic Unemployment Spike

Speaking to the challenges the state unemployment system faced when COVID-19 struck, Gov. Pritzker said unemployment claims topped numbers seen during the Great Recession many times over. His estimate is in the ballpark.
Aug 14, 2020 3:30 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: It’s Not Against the Law to Carry a Firearm While Wearing a Face Mask

False claims being shared on social media trace back to a longstanding Illinois prohibition on individuals carrying a firearm while wearing a face covering to conceal their identity.
Jul 9, 2020 6:00 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Attack Ad Wrongly Claims Pritzker Hiked Politicians’ Pay During Pandemic

A TV ad from a local right-wing group says the governor “gave huge pay raises” to politicians this year. While it’s possible state lawmakers could sue to receive an increase, that’s not because of Pritzker.
Jul 3, 2020 6:00 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: No, the Novel Coronavirus Was Not 'Man-Made'

Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford said the novel coronavirus did not occur naturally. In response to our inquiry, she acknowledged she has no proof to back that up.
May 21, 2020 6:00 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: LaHood Overstates Chicago’s Share of Illinois COVID-19 Cases

Arguing his region of the state should be allowed to start reopening, the congressman said Chicago accounts for nearly all cases of the novel coronavirus in Illinois. But data show the city makes up less than half of the state’s total.
May 14, 2020 3:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Pelosi Exaggerates Rauner’s Role in Illinois’ Fiscal Woes

Striking back at President Trump, the House Speaker claimed Illinois got into financial problems because of former Gov. Bruce Rauner. But there are many more fingerprints on the shovel that dug the state into the hole.
May 8, 2020 3:30 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Fallen Behind Other States in Testing for the Coronavirus?

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the state is behind most others when it comes to COVID-19 testing — including all of its neighbors. But data show that while Illinois’ testing rate falls below average nationally, the state is outpacing those that surround it.
Apr 15, 2020 12:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: No, the Coronavirus Did Not Cause the Death Rate to Drop in Chicago

A Facebook post shared over 2,000 times claimed that COVID-19 lowered the death rate in Chicago. But an analysis of cases from the Cook County medical examiner suggests the opposite.
Apr 3, 2020 1:30 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: No, Illinois Isn't Banning Alcohol Sales As Part of Coronavirus Response

False claims that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is halting alcohol sales in Illinois originated on a prank page that is being shared on social media.
Mar 30, 2020 5:30 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Did Pritzker Lack Authority to Postpone the Primary?

It’s difficult to know for sure that Pritzker could not have done anything to delay the March 17 election. But experts told us the governor spoke correctly in describing the limits of his powers under existing law.
Mar 24, 2020 12:00 PM

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Pritzker’s Mostly Correct About Illinois’ Historic Unemployment Spike

Fact-Check: It’s Not Against the Law to Carry a Firearm While Wearing a Face Mask

Fact-Check: Attack Ad Wrongly Claims Pritzker Hiked Politicians’ Pay During Pandemic

Fact-Check: No, the Novel Coronavirus Was Not 'Man-Made'

Fact-Check: LaHood Overstates Chicago’s Share of Illinois COVID-19 Cases

Fact-Check: Pelosi Exaggerates Rauner’s Role in Illinois’ Fiscal Woes

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Fallen Behind Other States in Testing for the Coronavirus?

Fact-Check: No, the Coronavirus Did Not Cause the Death Rate to Drop in Chicago

Fact-Check: No, Illinois Isn't Banning Alcohol Sales As Part of Coronavirus Response

Fact-Check: Did Pritzker Lack Authority to Postpone the Primary?