Tag Archives: Elections

Did Taylor Swift lose $125M after Kamala Harris endorsement?!

Did Taylor Swift lose $125 million in brand deals, after endorsing Kamala Harris against Donald Trump?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Taylor Swift lost $125M after endorsing Kamala Harris!

Right after Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris against Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential election, people started claiming or suggesting that Taylor Swift lost $125 million in brand deals as a result of her decision.

SpaceX Fanclub : Taylor Swift Loses Brand Deals Worth $125 Million After The Big Endorsement

Pamala Trago : Good she needs to be exposed for the demonic influence she is 💯

Sam Ghannoum : Good, you ungrateful singer and movie stars 🔥
Taylor Swift unexpectedly lost $125 million brand contract after a massive advertising campaign. 😂

Truth : Taylor Swift did not lose $125M after endorsing Kamala Harris!

This is yet another example of fake news circulating about Taylor Swift and Kamala Harris, and here are the reasons why…

No evidence Taylor Swift lost brand deals over Kamala Harris endorsement

First, let me just point out that there is no evidence Taylor Swift lost any brand deal over her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Presidential election.

If Taylor Swift actually lost any major brand deal, never mind $125 million worth of brand deals, it would have been widely reported not just by the mainstream media, but also celebrity blogs. It would also have sparked outrage by Swifties – Taylor Swift fans for the uninitiated.

Yet, there has been no credible reporting, not even by hyper-competitive celebrity blogs. Even Taylor Swift fans have not fallen for this hoax. That’s because it never happened.

It was just satire

These claims appear to be based on an Esspots article (archive). Here is an excerpt:

Taylor Swift Loses Brand Deals Worth $125 Million After The Big Endorsement

In what can only be described as a seismic shift in the world of pop culture and product placements, Taylor Swift, America’s sweetheart-turned-political commentator, has reportedly lost brand deals worth a staggering $125 million. The reason? Her latest “big endorsement,” which seemed to hit all the wrong notes with some of her biggest sponsors.

It may not be readily apparent, but if you look carefully, you will see that the Esspots article is labelled as Satire. At the very bottom of the article, it is also stated “NOTE: This is SATIRE, Not Real.”

The graphic used by SpaceX Fanclub (which appears to be linked to Esspots) has a Rated Satire overlay on the upper left corner, and its Facebook post (archive) has a disclaimer – This is Satire.

Esspots said Taylor Swift endorsed a vegan cryptocurrency

While the title and lede appears to suggest that Taylor Swift was “cancelled” by big brands over her endorsement of Kamala Harris, the Esspots article (archive) actually said that it was over her endorsement of a “vegan cryptocurrency”!

Here is an excerpt of the relevant section:

Was it a presidential candidate? A new movement? A cause everyone can get behind? No. In a twist that no one saw coming, Swift endorsed…a vegan cryptocurrency backed by none other than Elon Musk’s second cousin.

Her exact words? “This crypto is the future, and honestly, we need to save the planet—and our portfolios.”

It appears that many people did not bother to read the Esspots article beyond the first 2-3 paragraphs, and jumped to the conclusion Taylor Swift lost $125 million in brand deals over her endorsement of Kamala Harris.

The truth is – the satirical article by Esspots claimed that Taylor Swift just endorsed a vegan cryptocurrency. Needless to say, there is no such thing as vegan cryptocurrency.

Esspots is a satire website

Esspots identify itself as a satire website. If you look at their About Us page, it’s stated clearly that it is dedicated to bringing you “fake news and absurdity”:

Welcome to the US page of Esspots (A Subsidiary of SpaceXMania.com specializing in Satire and Parody News), your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary about the United States of America. Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings at Trump debate?!

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Was Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings during the ABC News debate with Donald Trump?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Kamala Harris caught using audio earrings at Trump debate!

Right after the Harris-Trump debate on ABC News ended, some people started claiming or suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris was secretly using the NOVA H1 audio earrings to cheat!

The Trump Train : BREAKING🚨 It appears Kamala Harris was being coached by using earphones embedded in her earrings during the ABC presidential debate against President Trump.

MJTruthUltra : No way… did Kamala really wear Audio Earrings? Holy crap… they look EXACTLY the same They’re called NOVA H1 Audio Earrings

The Truth : 🚨 KAMALA BUSTED WEARING EARPHONE EARRINGS‼️

NOVA H1 Audio Earrings – the first and only wireless earphones embedded in a pair of pearl earrings on a gold- or silver-plated clip. LOOK AT HER EARRINGS! Busted!

Alex Jones : Look at these Earpieces that look like earrings. Looks a lot like what Cackling Kamala was wearing. What do you think?

Sam O’Leary : That debate was a farce, even with 3 v 1 it looks like Kamala was wearing ‘Audio Earings’ AKA earphones embedded in earrings.

Larry : At the debate against Trump, Kamala Harris made quite the statement with her choice of earrings. Those look a lot like Nova Audio earrings. 🤔

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Truth : Kamala Harris was not using audio earrings at Trump debate!

This appears to be yet another example of fake news created about Kamala Harris, and here are the reasons why…

Kamala Harris was not wearing NOVA H1 audio earrings

Many people are claiming that Kamala Harris wore the NOVA H1 audio earrings during her debate with Donald Trump. That’s not true.

The NOVA H1 audio earrings are pearl earrings that are clipped onto the earlobes. Each earring has an integrated microphone inside the pearl that projects sound into the ear canal.

As you can see from the photos below, the NOVA H1 audio earrings have a thick and solid clip which connects the large stem (containing the electronics and battery) to the microphone inside the pearl.

While the NOVA H1 sports a large pearl, it uses a completely different design than the earrings Kamala Harris wore during her debate with Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris wore Tiffany double hinged pearl earrings

The earrings Kamala Harris wore to her ABC News debate with Donald Trump has a large pearl too, but lacks a thick clip. In fact, her earrings appear to have a double hinge design – the pearl sits on a hinged loop of metal.

If you look at the zoomed-in photo that we provided below, the hinge appears to be hanging freely below her earlobe. The earring Kamala Harris wore does not appear to be clipped onto her earlobe, and is likely attached by a post.

Kamala Harris appears to be wearing the South Sea Pearl Earrings (no longer available online) from Tiffany & Co. It has a similar design to Double Pearl Hinged Earrings, but features 9-10 mm South Sea Pearls and is 18K gold-plated instead of silver-plated.

What is certain is that Kamala Harris was not wearing the NOVA H1 audio earrings.

Kamala Harris wore the same earrings earlier

Kamala Harris is known to favour pearls, and is often seen wearing pearl earrings. In fact, she was seen wearing the same earrings at earlier events. For example:

At NCAA championship teams celebration on the White House South Lawn on July 22, 2024 : Photo
At the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2023 : Photo
At the NBC News “Meet the Press” interview on September 11, 2022 : Photo

In short – Kamala Harris was just wearing a pair of her existing pearl earrings. It wasn’t even a new pair of earrings.

This is just political fake news

Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news to appear, so be wary and skeptical!

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is Operation Lockstep a globalist plot to steal 2024 election?!

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Is Operation Lockstep a plot by global elites to steal the 2024 US Presidential election?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Operation Lockstep is a globalist plot to steal 2024 election!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that global elites are deploying AI terrorists to cancel the 2024 US Presidential election if they fail to elect their selected candidate.

Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

WEF Insider: Elite Deploying ‘AI Terrorists’ To Cancel US Election

The winner of the US election has already been selected by the global elite, according to a WEF insider who warns the elite will spend the next two months doing everything in their power to ensure the selected candidate is “elected.”

According to insiders, it’s called Operation Lock Step and if the elite believe the election cannot be stolen, they are are prepared to unleash AI terrorists to hack the power grid, launch dirty bombs, and throw the world into chaos with a devastating cyber attack.

In August, the WEF posted an article titled Four Global Risks to Look Out For in the Post-Pandemic Era. The dystopian article predicts that whatever the official outcome of the 2024 election, the American people won’t trust the result.

Disturbingly, the article also warns WEF members to prepare for an era of destabilizing shock events in the lead up to the November election.

According to the WEF, citizens heading to the polls in November should be expecting “destabilizing events” including a “cyber pandemic – which is intentional,” the emergence of a “new global extremist group,” and fast-tracked climate change disasters including a sudden sea-level rise that will submerge an island nation.

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Truth : There is no Operation Lockstep plot to steal 2024 election!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

There is no evidence of Operation Lockstep

Let me start by simply pointing out that there is no evidence that Operation Lockstep even exists, much less a WEF insider exposing it.

If such a nefarious plot was ever exposed, it would have been reported widely by the mainstream media all over the world, and resulted in criminal investigations. There would also have been mass outrage, and likely even protests against such a diabolical plot. Yet, none of that happened, because it was all made up!

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article itself did not provide any evidence to back up its claim.

Article was about global risk trends for this decade

The article, which is called “4 global risks to look out for in the post-pandemic era“, is not about the 2024 US Presidential election alone.

It actually details the global risks that Dr. Maha Hosain Aziz believes we should look out for this decade, as is clearly pointed out in the second paragraph:

The following analysis—which is based on a multi-year prediction project with graduate students at New York University and experts at crowdsourced consultancy Wikistrat, where I’m a lead analyst—details the global risk trends to watch this decade.

There is nothing in the article that would describe any nefarious plans by the WEF, or the Rockefeller Foundation, to influence or sabotage the 2024 US Presidential election.

The People’s Voice is known for fake news

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should think twice about sharing anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Are Haitian migrants in Ohio stealing + eating pets?!

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Are Haitian migrants in Ohio stealing and eating pets like cats and ducks?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Haitian migrants in Ohio are stealing + eating pets!

Some people are claiming or suggesting that Haitian migrants in Ohio are stealing and eating pets like cats and ducks!

JD Vance : Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?

End Wokeness : Under Harris and Biden, 20,000 Haitian immigrants were shipped to the town. Now ducks and pets are disappearing.

These claims appear to have started from a post in a private Facebook group on Springfield Ohio crime and information:

Warning to all about our beloved pets & those around us!! My neighbor informed me that her daughters friend had lost her cat,” the user wrote. “One day she came home from work, as soon as she stepped out of her car, looked towards a neighbors house, where Haitians live, & saw her cat hanging from a branch, like you’d do a deer for butchering, & they were carving it up to eat. I’ve been told they are doing this to dogs, they have been doing it at snyder park with the ducks & geese, as I was told that last bit by Rangers & police. Please keep a close eye on these animals.

It then escalated, with some people posting body cam footage of a woman, claiming or suggesting that she was a Haitian who was being arrested for allegedly killing and eating a cat.

Since then, these claims about Haitian migrants in Ohio stealing and eating pets have gone viral on social media, with many right-wing American influencers and politicians sharing or promoting the narrative.

Truth : Haitian migrants in Ohio are not stealing + eating pets!

This appears to be yet another example of fake news being created or promoted ahead of the 2024 US Presidential election, and here are the reasons why…

Springfield police denied reports of stolen pets

The unverified Facebook post claimed that the police and “Rangers” warned about Haitians eating dogs, ducks and geese. That appears to be untrue.

On Monday morning, 9 September 2024, the Springfield Police Division refuted that claim, stating (source) that it has not received any reports about pets being stolen and eaten.

Springfield Police said they were aware of the social media post but that this was “not something that’s on our radar right now.”

Springfield City Manager denied claims pets were harmed by migrants

Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck also debunked claims (source) that Haitian migrants were stealing and eating people’s pets:

In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.

Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents’ homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic.

To be clear – none of those claims on social media were ever backed by actual evidence.

Viral video does not show Haitian migrant eating stolen cat

This bodycam footage is being shared as evidence that Haitian migrants were stealing and eating pet cats in Springfield, Ohio.

The problem is – that video does not show a Haitian migrant, but rather, a 27 year-old American citizen called Allexis Telia Ferrell.

Ferrell was arrested on August 16, 2024 at around 11 PM, for killing a cat by stomping on its head, before proceeding to eat it “in a residential area in front of multiple people”.

In addition, the video was actually recorded in in Stark County in Canton, Ohio – about 170 miles (270 kilometres) from Springfield.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Allexis-Telia-Ferrell-caught-for-killing-or-eating-cat-video-small.mp4?_=1

Viral photo was not taken in Springfield, Ohio

Some people are sharing a photo of a Black man holding a dead Canada goose, and claiming or suggesting that he was a Haitian migrant who killed and stole the goose from a nearby park in Springfield, Ohio.

The problem is – this photo was taken about two months earlier in Columbus, Ohio, by isitmeyourelooking4x who posted it (archive) on Reddit, with the caption – Things you see while driving in CBUS – Yes, it’s a goose.

OP : Somehow 2 months after I took the picture in Columbus it is being attributed to a Haitian in Springfield

Others: : Yes but did you take this photo in Springfield or is it just a load of crap?

OP : Don’t know how many times I have to say I took the picture in Columbus before people understand I took it in Columbus. I have never even been to Springfield

Others : Sorry i didn’t see your earlier comment. But yea this is crazy

OP : Ya. Everything the rightwing pushes are lies.

To be clear – the person who took that photo has never said that the man was a Haitian immigrant, or claimed that the man killed or stole the goose.

Haitian immigrants are not “illegal aliens”

Since 2011, Haitian citizens can remain in the United States and obtain work authorisations, and Social Security numbers, through the Temporary Protected Status.

Therefore, it is broadly untrue that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are “illegal aliens” as Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance and others have claimed.

Haitian immigrants were not “sent” to Springfield, Ohio

Claims or suggestions that Haitian immigrants were “sent” to Springfield, Ohio, by the Biden Administration are also false.

According to The New York Times, several manufacturing plants and warehouses opened in the small city between 2017 and 2020, creating a surplus of jobs that attracted Haitian immigrants.

Soon there were not enough workers. Many young, working-age people [from Springfield] had descended into addiction. Others shunned entry-level, rote work altogether, employers said. Haitians who heard that the Springfield area boasted well-paying, blue-collar jobs and a low cost of living poured in, and employers were eager to hire and train the new work force.

In short – an abundance of work attracted Haitian immigrants to Springfield, Ohio. They were not sent there.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is Trump planning to destroy UN + arrest COVID-19 criminals?!

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Is the Trump team planning to destroy the UN and arrest COVID-19 pandemic criminals?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Trump is planning to destroy UN + arrest COVID-19 criminals!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims or suggests that the Trump team is planning to destroy the United Nations, and arrest globalist criminals for their role in the COVID-19 pandemic!

Here is an excerpt of the (intentionally?) rambling and confusing article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Insider: Trump To ‘Shatter UN Into a Thousand Pieces’ and Arrest COVID Plandemic Criminals

The Trump team is determined to shatter the United Nations into a thousand pieces and arrest globalist criminals in agencies including the World Heath Organization who are understood to be key players in the COVID plandemic.

In a groundbreaking development, the Trump transition team are preparing to authorize officials to arrest elite globalist figures allegedly involved in the perpetration of the COVID plandemic and other crimes against humanity.

The globalist United Nations and its corrupt agencies are being targeted as the head of the snake, with a Trump transition team member warning that an election win in November represents a mandate to stop funding the United Nations and go after the corrupt leadership.

In a shot across the bow at globalist overlords including Gates, Tedros and Schwab, the Trump team member said, “everything changes after November.”:

UN globalists understand the prospect of a Trump presidency means their days are numbered and they are running scared, pulling out all stops to stop Trump from returning to the White House and finishing the job he started.

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Truth : Trump is not planning to destroy UN + arrest COVID-19 criminals!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Trump team did not announce plans to destroy UN

Let me start by simply pointing out that the Trump campaign did not announce any plan to destroy the United Nations.

If the Trump campaign ever mentioned anything about destroying the UN, it would have been reported widely, and criticised by the Democrats as well as people all over the world.

Of course, none of that ever happened. There was no legitimate media reporting, no outrage on social media, no condemnation by the Democrats. Nothing. Zilch. That’s because it was all made up.

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any actual evidence the Trump campaign is planning to destroy the UN if he wins the 2024 Presidential election.

Fact #2 : Trump team did not announce plans to arrest COVID-19 criminals

I should also point out that the Trump campaign did not announce any plan to arrest anyone for the COVID-19 “plandemic” – a long debunked conspiracy theory.

If the Trump campaign ever mentioned anything about arresting people for the being involved in a non-existent “plandemic”, it would have been reported widely, and mocked by the Democrats as well as people all over the world.

Of course, none of that ever happened. There was no legitimate media reporting, no mockery on social media, no ridicule by the Democrats. Nothing. Zilch. That’s because it was all made up.

Unsurprisingly, The People’s Voice article did not provide any actual evidence the Trump campaign is planning to arrest people for being involved in a ridiculous conspiracy theory.

Fact #3 : The People’s Voice is known for fake news

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Recommended Reading

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UN peacekeepers caught smuggling illegal voters into US?!

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Were UN peacekeepers caught smuggling illegal voters into the United States?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : UN peacekeepers were caught smuggling illegal voters into US!

Real Raw News posted an article (archive) which claimed that UN peacekeepers were caught smuggling illegal voters into the United States!

As usual, the article is (intentionally?) long, rambling and confusing, so here is an excerpt. Please feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

They’re Here

According to our source, General Smith last week received a credible tip claiming a UN “humanitarian relief effort,” comprised mostly of French forces, had landed in Mexico City and would shuttle 500 illegals in 10 busses over the border on August 17, then bring them to MVD offices in Nogales, Sierra Vista, and Green Valley. The general’s tipster said Arizona Department of Transportation director Jennifer Toth had staffed the offices with registered Democrats who favored inclusivity and open borders.

Nonetheless, the general sent two Marine platoons to Nogales Thursday afternoon, ordering them to ambush the convoy of illegals and arrest or “eliminate” UN personnel—if they posed an imminent threat or entered the US illegally.

Upon arriving at the crime-ridden border city, the Marines discovered where they believed the incursion would take place. A half-mile northwest of the Nogales-Mariposa Port of Entry, someone had torn down a 20-foot-wide section of the border fence and the razor wire in front of it. A tracked vehicle—a backhoe or crane—had left indentations in the ground.

At 4:00 a.m. Saturday, the Marines spotted three ramshackle buses approaching the gap in the fence. They were jam-packed with illegals and driven by men wearing blue helmets with “UN” stenciled in white on either side.

Marine Hummers armed with .50 machine guns and Mk19 grenade launchers quickly swooped in and formed an impenetrable blockade that prevented the buses from entering the United States. The Marines illuminated the buses with floodlights, blinding the drivers and occupants, and through a loudspeaker, commanded them to reverse course or be fired upon as enemy combatants. The lead bus driver, speaking English with a thick French accent, called out through his own bullhorn, asking permission to approach the Marines to negotiate an equitable resolution.

The unarmed Blue Helmet kept his hands atop his head as he plodded toward the Marines, then explained he had been given explicit and lawful permission to bring 140 “political refugees” into the United States. He even had a permission slip signed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Kamala Harris, Border Czar.

The Marine in charge gestured to the Marine crewing the Mk19 grenade launcher. A second later, the lead bus erupted in a fireball, struck by three grenades. Two more blue helmets emerged from the bus, one racing toward the rear door, the other unslinging his famas automatic rifle. His blue helmet offered no protection against the .50 round that almost cleaved his head off.

Our source said the surviving buses kicked up dirt as they sped from the border.

“We’ve detained indefinitely the UN soldier, a one sub-lieutenant Philip Dubois. He says he knows nothing about plans to interfere in the election. He insists he was escorting political refugees but doesn’t know why he was asked to drive through a big hole in a fence. He also said there were never ten buses, just three, which we’re sure is a lie. And our fear is seven buses got in someplace else. We take border security and voting integrity very seriously,” he said, adding that White Hats will be on guard for further enemy encroachments.

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Truth : UN peacekeepers were not caught smuggling illegal voters into US!

The truth is – this is just another fake story created by Real Raw News, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : UN peacekeepers did not try to smuggle illegal voters into US

This is really silly, but it has to be said – UN peacekeepers did not try to smuggle illegal voters into the United States.

If that actually occurred, it would have been widely reported, and condemned by people on both sides of the political divide, and everyone in between. It would have also sparked criminal and Congressional investigations.

Yet, there has been no legitimate media coverage, not even an outraged Senator or two. That’s because it never happened – it was all made up.

Unsurprisingly, the Real Raw News article offered no evidence to back up its claim, just rambling nonsense.

Fact #2 : US Marines did not kill UN peacekeepers or illegal immigrants

It also has to be said that there is no report of US Marines killing UN peacekeepers, or illegal immigrants at the US-Mexico border near Nogales, Arizona.

If any US official fired their guns into Mexican territory, never mind actually killing people on Mexican soil, it would have been a diplomatic disaster. The Mexican government would have been outraged, and demanded that the US Marines be handed over to them to be charged for murder.

It would also have been widely reported, and condemned by people in the United States and Mexico. Yet none of that happened, because it was all made up.

Needless to say, the Real Raw News article provided no evidence to back up its claim, just rambling nonsense.

Fact #3 : US Marines cannot deploy within the US

It is really silly for anyone to claim that US Marines were sent to defend the border against UN peacekeepers and/or illegal immigrants.

The Posse Comitatus Act prevents federal military personnel from being deployed within the United States, except when expressly authorised by the Constitution, or an Act of Congress.

Generally, only the President of the United States can order the deployment of US federal military personnel and federalised National Guard troops within the United States using the Insurrection Act of 1807.

Even if President Joe Biden was so inclined to send US Marines to help defend the border, he wouldn’t have ordered them to arrest and/or shoot anyone attempting to enter the United States illegally.

Fact #4 : Non-citizens cannot vote in US federal elections

While the number of illegal immigrants trying to enter the United States has increased in the post-pandemic years, they do not pose any political threat, as it is illegal for non-citizens to vote in any US federal election since 1924.

In addition, non-citizens voting in US federal elections can be punished with fines and up to one year of imprisonment, and of course, deportation, since 1996. So it is not surprising to find that non-citizen voting in the US is very rare.

For example, research by the Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 looked at 42 jurisdictions in the 2016 election, and reported that of 23.5 million votes cast, election officials only found about 30 cases of potential non-citizen voting that they referred for prosecution or further investigation.

Fact #5 : Photo shows Nepalese peacekeepers in South Sudan

The photo used by the Real Raw News article does not show UN peacekeepers at the US-Mexico border in 2024.

That photo actually shows Nepalese peacekeepers who just arrived in Juba – the capital of South Sudan to support the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on 2 April 2014 – more than 10 years ago!

Needless to say, those Nepalese peacekeepers were not in South Sudan to smuggle illegal voters into the US!

Fact #6 : Real Raw News is known for fake news

Real Raw News is a fake news website that capitalises on making shocking but fake stories to generate page views and money.

To protect himself from legal repercussions, the owner and writer, Michael Baxter (real name – Michael Tuffin), claims that his articles are “humour, parody, and satire“.

That disclaimer, which is not clearly mentioned in his articles, lets him keep creating fake news to go viral, and generate money.

A March 2018 screenshot of Michael Tuffin, who goes by the pseudonym Michael Baxter

His articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should NEVER share anything from his website. Here are some of his fake stories that I debunked earlier:

Everything posted by Real Raw News should be regarded as FAKE NEWS, until proven otherwise.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Harris-Walz campaign use fake AI crowd photos?!

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Did the Harris-Walz campaign use fake crowd photos created using generative AI technology?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Harris-Walz campaign used fake AI crowd photos!

Some people are sharing photos, which they claim prove that the Harris-Walz campaign got caught using fake crowd photos created using generative AI technology!

Donald Trump : Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she “A.l.’d” it, and showed a massive “crowd” of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST! She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane. She’s a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the “crowd” looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake “crowds” at her speeches. This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING – And they’re even worse at the Ballot Box. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!

Dinesh D’Souza : Check the reflection in the plane. Does this look like a real picture to you?

Catturd : LOL – it’s not even good AI.

Chuck Callesto : BREAKING REPORT: Harris campaign BUSTED using FAKE crowd photo at campaign rally stop..

Blaire White (screenshot) : Kamala Harris using AI to inflate crowds is so INSANE that it’s taken me seeing 5+ examples to believe it.

Laura Loomer : Kamala Harris’s campaign is using AI to manipulate her campaign photos and videos. And it’s all being orchestrated by @MikeNellis, a senior advisor to Kamala Harris who works with Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan as I have previously reported.

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Truth : Harris-Walz campaign did not use fake AI crowd photos!

This is yet another example of fake news about the 2024 US Presidential election, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Airport photo is genuine and was not created by AI

Many people, including former President Donald Trump, falsely claimed that the Harris-Walz campaign faked photos of the crowd that greeted Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The photo is genuine, and is one of the many taken and posted by people who attended the event, which was attended by thousands of people, as well as prominent politicians. It was also live streamed by dozens of news channel.

In addition, Shayan Sardarizadeh of BBC Verify checked the metadata of the original photo, and confirmed that it was taken using an iPhone 12 Pro Max on 7 August at 18:28 local time.

While it is possible that some photos might have been digitally manipulated to make them appear fake, or created by generative AI software, the size of the crowd is indisputable. According to the local news outlet MLive, “about about 15,000 people filled the hangar, the crowd spilling out onto the tarmac.”

Fact #2 : Telephoto lens make the crowd appear closer than it really is

People are pointing to the reflection of Air Force Two’s fuselage and engine cowling, which appear to show the hangar but no sign of any people. That does not mean the photo was created by AI.

For one thing – the photo appears to have been taken using a telephoto lens, which makes the crowd appear much closer to Air Force Two than it really is.

As this video below shows, the crowd was actually located close to the hangar, and a considerable distance away from Air Force Two. Hence, they would not be so obviously seen in the reflection of Air Force Two’s fuselage or engine cowling.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Harris-Walz-Michigan-airport-video-360p.mp4?_=2

Fact #3 : Reflections are “compressed” on curved surfaces

The second reason why you don’t see the large crowds visibly reflected on Air Force Two’s fuselage and engine cowling is because they are curved surfaces, on which reflections would appear compressed.

It may seem silly but let me just point out that the fuselage and engine cowling of Air Force Two are cylindrical. Like funhouse mirrors, shiny cylindrical surfaces distort reflections, and will not reflect an image like a flat mirror.

If you look closely, you can see how the hangar appears compressed vertically – it appears to be very long, but squashed flat, like someone sat on it. You can actually see the crowd in that photo – it just appears as a dark line because its reflection was compressed vertically by the curved surface.

This video, which was created by someone else (sorry, I don’t know who, but will update this article with the correct credit when I identify the creator) recreated the scene using Blender, to show and explain why the crowd’s reflection can be seen in the photo – they just appear compressed.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kamala-Harris-fake-crowd-video-360p.mp4?_=3

Fact #4 : Air Force Two no longer has tail number

Some conspiracists pointed out that the aircraft in the photo lacks a tail number, with some pointing out that Air Force Two should have the tail number 80002.

While generative AI can and do create images with distorted or even missing text, that is no the case with the viral photo of Air Force Two at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The truth is – the US Air Force started removing tail numbers and other individually-identifying markings from its C-32A and C-32B executive and personnel transport jets for operational security reasons.

In fact, when JD Vance – the Republican candidate for Vice President recently walked up to Air Force Two in Wisconsin on 7 August 2024, photos and videos clearly show that it lacked any tail number.

Fact #5 : AI stadium crowd photo was not created by Harris-Walz campaign

The viral stadium photo, which purportedly shows supporters of the Harris-Walz campaign, was created using generative AI software. There are many obvious signs of generative AI in that viral photo, as many people have pointed out.

However, it was not created or shared by the Harris-Walz campaign. It was created and posted (archive) by a parody account on X (formerly Twitter) called Dr. Literaleigh A Pheline 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@Sarcasmcat24).

When American YouTuber and political commentator, Blair White, shared that photo, @Sarcasmcat24 pointed out to her that it was AI-generated:

That’s a photo that I generated with AI

Zoom in a bit, you’ll see that the faces aren’t even well developed.

Yeah, I run a parody account, glad you enjoyed the post! 😜

White has since deleted her post, but many continue to post this fake photo (on the right) and falsely claim that it was posted or created by the Harris-Walz campaign. That’s simply not true.

Fact #6 : This is just political fake news

Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news to appear, so be wary and skeptical!

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Was Tim Walz once hospitalised after ingesting horse semen?!

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Was Governor Tim Walz once hospitalised and had his stomach pumped after ingesting horse semen?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Tim Walz was once hospitalised after ingesting horse semen!

Some people are claiming or suggesting that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was once hospitalised and had his stomach pumped after ingesting horse semen!

Donald Trump Jr. : Big if true

I Meme Therefore I Am : Wait, what?!

Janice Leigh Brown : So all these democrats calling us weird 🙄 Tampon Tim drank horse semen back in 1995 and had to get his stomach pumped 🤔🤣🤔🤣 So yeah 😉 don’t think we are the weird ones 🤔

Assets Magazine : Tim Walz Horse Semen (8th Century Chinese Ritual)

According to reports on X, After ingesting horse semen, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was treated at Hennepin Healthcare Hospital, where doctors performed gastric lavage and provided supportive care to clean his stomach.

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Truth : Tim Walz was never hospitalised after ingesting horse semen!

This is yet another example of fake news about Governor Tim Walz, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : West Point Daily News photo is fake

If Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was once hospitalised, and had his stomach pumped, after ingesting horse semen, it would have been widely reported.

However, this viral claim was based solely on a photo of what appears to be an old clipping from a newspaper called West Point Daily News. Here’s an excerpt:

“Local Man’s Stomach Pumped After ‘Neigh’-borhood Dare Goes Wrong”

Nebraska Man Hospitalized After Unusual OverIngestion Incident

August 30, 1965 West Point, NE

In a bizarre and unprecedented medical emergency, Tim Walz, a local resident of West Point, Nebraska, was rushed to West Point General Hospital last night after reportedly overingesting horse semen. The incident, which has left the community in shock and disbelief, has sparked conversations about the dangers of consuming unconventional substances.

Emergency responders were called to Mr. Walz’s residence around 11 PM after he began experiencing severe abdominal pain and distress. According to paramedics on the scene, Mr. Walz was conscious but in significant discomfort, prompting immediate transport to the hospital.

Dr. Amanda Thompson, the attending physician at West Point General, confirmed that Mr. Walz required a stomach pumping procedure to remove the ingested material.

As shocking as this news report may appear, the photo is fake, and there is no such news report.

Fact #2 : West Point Daily News does not exist

There is no newspaper that goes by the name of West Point Daily News. There is a newspaper called West Point News, but it has never published such an article.

Fact #3 : West Point General Hospital does not exist

There is also no hospital in West Point, Nebraska, called the West Point General Hospital.

Fact #4 : Dr. Amanda Thompson does not exist in Nebraska

Needless to say, there is no evidence of a Dr. Amanda Thompson that works in that non-existent hospital, or in any other hospital in West Point, Nebraska.

Politifact went further – searching on Nebraska’s Health and Human Services Department website for Amanda Thompson. It only found six entries for medication aides, nurse aides, pharmacist interns, and pharmacy technicians, but no doctors with the name Amanda Thompson.

Fact #5 : Tim Walz lived more than 560 km away in 1995

It would be impossible for Tim Walz to be hospitalised in West Point, Nebraska in 1995, because he was living in Alliance, Nebraska – more than 560 kilometres away, at that time.

Fact #6 : Photo of Tim Walz was taken a year later

It is also impossible for a newspaper to use that photo of Tim Walz in an August 1995 report, because that photo was only taken sometime in 1996, while Walz was teaching history and coaching football at the Mankato West High School.

Mankato, incidentally, is in Minnesota, and about 400 km away from West Point, Nebraska.

The fake news creator appears to have taken that old photo of Tim Walz from a KSTP-TV news story on “Tim Walz’s early life in Minnesota”.

Fact #7 : This is just political fake news

Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news to appear, so be wary and skeptical!

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!