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Category: Fact briefs

Wisconsin Watch is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims.

Read more about how Wisconsin Watch checks claims for the fact briefs, and contact us at factbriefs@wisconsinwatch.org

Posted inFact briefs

Does the US use crash test dummies that represent average-size women?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch January 17th, 2025February 17th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

No. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses dummies that are 4-foot-11 and weigh 97 to 108 pounds to represent women.

Posted inFact briefs

In Wisconsin, do you need more proof of ID to vote than to buy a gun?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch January 16th, 2025February 11th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. You need an ID to vote, but not for a private gun sale.

Man in pink long-sleeved shirt holds cellphone at left. Man in suit coat and tie points at right.
Posted inFact briefs

The end of Facebook fact-checking program means it’s up to all of us to spread the truth

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch January 15th, 2025January 14th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Watch’s fact briefs weren’t affected by Mark Zuckerberg’s decision. In fact, they can still be posted to social media to combat misinformation.

Posted inFact briefs

Did Wisconsin taxpayers pay $1.6 million over an abortion restriction law that was ruled unconstitutional?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch January 10th, 2025February 3rd, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. A federal judge ordered the state to pay plaintiffs $1.6 million after blocking a state abortion regulation.

Posted inFact briefs

Does the US have more mass shootings per person than any other nation?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 23rd, 2024February 10th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. Reasons include high gun ownership, cultural factors, sensationalized media coverage, and gaps in mental health care and law enforcement.

Posted inFact briefs

Has research found that armed officers deter school shootings?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 20th, 2024January 31st, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

No. A 2024 RAND report and two experts in mass shootings said they know of no research concluding that the presence of armed officers deters school shootings.

Posted inFact briefs

Does the US import more food than it exports?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 12th, 2024January 13th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. The value of food imported into the U.S. exceeds what is exported.

Posted inFact briefs

Has Wisconsin’s Act 10 union law saved taxpayers billions of dollars?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 12th, 2024January 10th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. The law achieved savings mainly by shifting costs for pension and health benefits to public employees.

Posted inFact briefs

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford try to overturn Act 10?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 3rd, 2024December 3rd, 2024 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. Susan Crawford was among attorneys who sued seeking to overturn Act 10, which effectively ended collective bargaining for most Wisconsin public employee unions.

Posted inFact briefs

Do Wisconsin election officials verify citizenship when a person registers to vote?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch December 2nd, 2024January 8th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

No. But falsely claiming citizenship at registration is a felony, and there’s no evidence of noncitizens voting in meaningful numbers.

Posted inFact briefs

Is there a legal way to get raw milk in Wisconsin?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch November 26th, 2024January 7th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. But only at a farm. Otherwise it is illegal to sell in the state of Wisconsin.

Posted inFact briefs

Does it take six months on average for the US Senate to confirm a president’s nominees?

Avatar photo by Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch November 25th, 2024January 9th, 2025 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Yes. The average number of days has more than doubled under presidents elected since the 1980s.

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