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: Newman's Jab at Lipinski's Railroad Record Doesn't Track

Illinois 3rd Congressional District candidate Marie Newman claimed incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski helped put the brakes on a law that prevented trains from blocking crossings. In response to our inquiry, her campaign acknowledged that's not the case.
Jan 19, 2020 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Casten Partly Right About Federal Contribution to New Drugs

Speaking in favor of a plan to lower prescription drug costs and increase funding for public research, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten misstated the timeframe but correctly cited the conclusion of a study on the government’s role in creating new medications.
Dec 22, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

PolitiFact's 2019 Lie of the Year

Donald Trump claimed a federal whistleblower got 'almost completely wrong' the details of Trump's call with Ukraine's president. PolitiFact National names that its Lie of the Year for 2019.
Dec 16, 2019 1:35 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Would Chicago’s Casino Tax Plan Raise City’s Take?

State Sen. Dave Syverson said a proposal to lower the effective tax rate on Chicago’s future casino would require the state to reduce its cut while allowing the city to raise taxes. That doesn’t quite square with the language in the bill.
Dec 15, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Ives Wrongly Calls Casten’s Public Town Halls ‘Invite-Only’

In an attack on Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, the GOP congressional hopeful suggested Casten limits access to his public events. Her own evidence belies that claim.
Dec 5, 2019 3:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Evidence Lacking for Pritzker’s Pension Buyout Claim

The governor said a study estimated the state’s pension buyout program could save up to $25 billion, but his office won’t provide the “proprietary” study.
Nov 24, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Been Losing Population for Nearly a Century?

Speaking about the importance of attracting young people to attend Illinois universities, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has lost population in all but one of the last 95 years.
Nov 8, 2019 1:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Trump ‘Dead Wrong’ About the Change in Murders in Chicago

Trump claimed Chicago has lagged the nation in reducing murders over the last two years. The opposite is true: Chicago’s progress has contributed to and even outpaced the national decline.
Oct 29, 2019 4:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Track with Claim on Illinois Deportations

Illinois’ senior senator said fewer than 20% of individuals deported from Illinois were charged with a serious crime. Federal data supports that, but it comes with a few caveats.
Oct 27, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: No, 30% of the Nation’s Poor Don’t Reside in California

Speaking about Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to tax income at graduated rates in Illinois, Republican state Rep. Mark Batinick criticized another state with a similar tax system, claiming California is home to a third of those living in poverty nationwide. That's way off.
Oct 20, 2019 2:00 PM

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Newman's Jab at Lipinski's Railroad Record Doesn't Track

Fact-Check: Casten Partly Right About Federal Contribution to New Drugs

PolitiFact's 2019 Lie of the Year

Fact-Check: Would Chicago’s Casino Tax Plan Raise City’s Take?

Fact-Check: Ives Wrongly Calls Casten’s Public Town Halls ‘Invite-Only’

Fact-Check: Evidence Lacking for Pritzker’s Pension Buyout Claim

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Been Losing Population for Nearly a Century?

Fact-Check: Trump ‘Dead Wrong’ About the Change in Murders in Chicago

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Track with Claim on Illinois Deportations

Fact-Check: No, 30% of the Nation’s Poor Don’t Reside in California