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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.

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PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Evidence Shows Most of the Men in Famous 'Declaration of Independence' Painting Were Slaveholders

In a viral tweet, a Chicago documentary filmmaker used red dots to indicate 34 of the 47 founding fathers depicted in the painting held slaves. That checks out.
Sep 10, 2019 11:00 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Lightfoot Stretches the Numbers on Downstate Public Safety Pension Funds

Chicago’s mayor said she hopes to raise a “call to arms” on the condition of local pensions across Illinois. To underscore her point about the need for action, she cited a heavily inflated figure.
Sep 8, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Does Science Say Time Is Running Out to Stop Climate Disaster?

Congressman Sean Casten claimed most climate scientists agree the planet will face an irreversible ‘worst case scenario’ if climate change isn’t tackled within the decade. That oversimplifies a more nuanced consensus among experts.
Sep 1, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Are Handguns Used to Commit Nearly All Murders?

Following recent mass shootings, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger voiced his support for certain forms of gun control. Asked if he’d back an assault rifle ban, however, he cited a statistic that stretches the facts.
Aug 15, 2019 4:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Ivanka Trump Conflates Chicago Gun Violence Statistics

In a Tuesday tweet, the president’s daughter and advisor misstated the context and location of shootings in Chicago over the weekend.
Aug 7, 2019 6:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Ives Falsely Claims Primary Foe Did Not Publicly Oppose Illinois Abortion Bill

Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives says ex-Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti did not denounce a controversial bill signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner that expanded public funding of abortions.
Aug 1, 2019 1:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Has Trump Encouraged an Unprecedented Number of Migrants to Seek Asylum at the Border?

U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin says the president’s hardline immigration stance has driven more migrants to seek asylum protections at the border than ever before. There has been a surge, but the Trump connection is far from clear.
Updated: Jul 29, 2019 @ 9:30 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Mendoza’s Comparison of Indiana and Illinois Gasoline Taxes Veers Off Course

While defending Illinois’ recent gas tax hike, the state comptroller claimed Indiana still charges drivers more. Her office now acknowledges that was wrong.
Jul 21, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Pritzker’s Capital Spending Claim Raises Questions Though Parts Track With Past Practices

The Chicago governor contended the bulk of his $45 billion capital plan will flow to Downstate districts. Not all the evidence is in yet to evaluate that.
Jul 14, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: FOP Attack on Consent Decrees Falls Short

The head of the city’s police union claims studies show consent decrees reining in officer conduct are unsuccessful and are often followed by an uptick in crime.
Jun 30, 2019 2:00 PM

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Evidence Shows Most of the Men in Famous 'Declaration of Independence' Painting Were Slaveholders

Fact-Check: Lightfoot Stretches the Numbers on Downstate Public Safety Pension Funds

Fact-Check: Does Science Say Time Is Running Out to Stop Climate Disaster?

Fact-Check: Are Handguns Used to Commit Nearly All Murders?

Fact-Check: Ivanka Trump Conflates Chicago Gun Violence Statistics

Fact-Check: Ives Falsely Claims Primary Foe Did Not Publicly Oppose Illinois Abortion Bill

Fact-Check: Has Trump Encouraged an Unprecedented Number of Migrants to Seek Asylum at the Border?

Fact-Check: Mendoza’s Comparison of Indiana and Illinois Gasoline Taxes Veers Off Course

Pritzker’s Capital Spending Claim Raises Questions Though Parts Track With Past Practices

Fact-Check: FOP Attack on Consent Decrees Falls Short