INSIDER
Election officials sue conservative voting group over refusal to produce ballot-harvesting evidence
Read full article: Election officials sue conservative voting group over refusal to produce ballot-harvesting evidenceThe Georgia State Election Board is asking a judge to order a conservative voting organization to produce information to help investigate its claims of ballot trafficking in the state.
Sunday Read: Q&A with new Michigan UIA director: Unemployment claims, frustrations, fraud, more
Read full article: Sunday Read: Q&A with new Michigan UIA director: Unemployment claims, frustrations, fraud, moreMichigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.
Michigan UIA director on unemployment fraud: ‘We’re not going to tolerate the criminal activity’
Read full article: Michigan UIA director on unemployment fraud: ‘We’re not going to tolerate the criminal activity’Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.
Michigan UIA director on unemployment claims: ‘We have appointments’ and ‘phone lines are in a better place’
Read full article: Michigan UIA director on unemployment claims: ‘We have appointments’ and ‘phone lines are in a better place’Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.
UIA virtual appointments offer more accessibility for Michiganders
Read full article: UIA virtual appointments offer more accessibility for MichigandersThe Unemployment Insurance Agency has added a virtual appointment option for customers needing assistance with their claims, including a dedicated link for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing utilizing voice to text closed captioning.
Judge: Suit over false jobless fraud can proceed in Michigan
Read full article: Judge: Suit over false jobless fraud can proceed in MichiganIn an opinion issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson dismissed one plaintiff and three defendants but ruled that the case will move forward. – Michigan residents whose unemployment claims were wrongfully rejected as fraudulent by a computer system can sue the system’s developers and state officials, a federal judge has ruled. In an opinion issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson dismissed one plaintiff and three defendants but ruled that the case will move forward. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which represents the state defendants, is “still reviewing the decision with our clients,” spokeswoman Courtney Covington Watkins said. A similar lawsuit against the state is pending before the Michigan Supreme Court.
US jobless claims rise to 770,000 with layoffs still high
Read full article: US jobless claims rise to 770,000 with layoffs still high(AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)WASHINGTON – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession. Thursday's report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims climbed from 725,000 the week before. A total of 4.1 million people are continuing to collect traditional state unemployment benefits, down 18,000 from the previous week. No single factor fully explains the still-high level of weekly applications for state unemployment aid. In addition, the expansion of supplemental federal unemployment benefits has likely encouraged more jobless Americans to apply for aid.
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate claims on COVID surge, lockdowns, Michigan governor’s boat
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate claims on COVID surge, lockdowns, Michigan governor’s boatWe’ve tested claims about the pandemic in just about every Trust Index report during the late election season. We’ve reviewed information surrounding this topic and confirmed that It’s True. We’ve reviewed information surrounding this topic and confirmed that It’s True. Trump’s claims on COVID mortality rate, excess deathsNext we’re taking a pair of claims from the President at the same time. More fact checks from the final presidential debate:Presidential Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:First Presidential debate fact checks from the Trust Index:
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on race relations
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on race relationsRace and race relations remained a major point of contention during this latest and final presidential debate Thursday night. President Trump ranked 15th out of 20, sitting below President Richard Nixon. Who built cages at the borderFinally, one last one from the President on who built cages for migrant children. “And they said look at these cages, President Trump built them. More fact checks from the final presidential debate:Presidential Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:First Presidential debate fact checks from the Trust Index:
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on health care, farm aid, minimum wage, jobs
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on health care, farm aid, minimum wage, jobsBiden’s claim on private insurance, ObamacareThe Trust Index team is starting with this claim from former Vice President Joe Biden. “Not one single person private insurance will lose their insurance under my plan, nor did they under Obamacare,” Biden said. Trump’s claim on minimum wageNext is one from the President on the effects of a $15 minimum wage. "We’re rebuilding it and we’re doing record numbers 11.4 million jobs in a short period of time. More fact checks from the final presidential debate:Presidential Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:First Presidential debate fact checks from the Trust Index:
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on climate change
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump-Biden final debate comments on climate changeClimate change was the focus of one of the sections during the final presidential debate Thursday night as it was the first time voters were able to hear from both President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on their records and plans to combat climate change. The Trust Index team is labeling this “be careful” because it depends on the number the President is using. Biden on climate change timelineFinally, one more from Biden on the climate change timeline. “We don’t have much time, we’re going to pass the point of no return, return the next eight to 10 years,” he said. More fact checks from the final presidential debate:Presidential Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:First Presidential debate fact checks from the Trust Index:
Trust Index: Separating fact from fiction in Michigan Senate race
Read full article: Trust Index: Separating fact from fiction in Michigan Senate raceDETROIT – We’re separating fact from fiction in one of Michigan’s most contentious and most expensive races. “He believes in no exception,” Peters said of James. As for hiding his plan, James is likely referring to amendments Peters made to congressional financial disclosures after initially not disclosing the state plan. We’re calling this Be Careful because James isn’t exactly correct on how Peters' plan works. James is referring to a statement Peters made in 2018 at a town hall where he said Medicare-For-All is likely down the road.
Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump’s town hall claims on coronavirus
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Trump’s town hall claims on coronavirusIn President Trump’s town hall Thursday night, the coronavirus took center stage as it has during this campaign. First we’re taking a look at a claim the President has made before that’s rating has changed since the first time he said it. Next is a claim the President has been making about the lives he’s saved during the pandemic. We were expected to lose 2,200,000 people and maybe more than that,” the President told one of women who asked a question during the town hall. More Town Hall fact checks from the Trust Index:
Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden’s economic promises, auto jobs
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden’s economic promises, auto jobsFormer Vice President Joe Biden’s town hall Thursday night was largely policy-oriented, especially on matters of jobs and the economy, which is why it’s where we’re starting Biden’s plan for economic recovery. “Wall Street said I will create 18.6 million new jobs, good paying jobs. The GDP will grow by $1 trillion more than under Trump and seven million more jobs than under Trump,” Biden said. “Electric vehicles will save billions of gallons of oil and will create 1 million, not me, Wall Street (says), automobile jobs,” Biden told one audience member. The Biden plan doesn’t offer any specifics on how that would work and skeptics have said the switch over to electric vehicles without federal help could actually cost the industry jobs.
President’s comments on hate groups spark controversy
Read full article: President’s comments on hate groups spark controversyPresident Donald Trump was asked by moderator Chris Wallace if he was willing to take a stand against racist groups including white supremacists. Go ahead.”President Donald Trump: "I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing. President Donald Trump: “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”Chris Wallace/Moderator: “Then do it, sir.”President Donald Trump: “What do you want to call them. Go ahead, who would you like me to condemn?”Chris Wallace/Moderator: “White Supremacists.”President Donald Trump: “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.
Trust Index: Fact-checking crime, unrest claims from first Trump-Biden debate
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking crime, unrest claims from first Trump-Biden debateWe’re fact-checking the claims, starting with one that Biden has been making since late last month on the President’s budget and local police. “The only one defending that his budget calls for a $400 million cut and look for law enforcement assistance,” Biden claimed. Crime rate under ObamaBiden also talked about the record of the Obama administration when it came to the crime rate. Violence during protests, civil unrest claimsFinally, one more from the President about violence during protests and civil unrest. “Look at Oakland, look what happened and look what happened in Baltimore, look what happened.
Trust Index: Fact-checking claims about absentee voting made during Trump-Biden debate
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking claims about absentee voting made during Trump-Biden debateThe issue of absentee voting has become the hot button issue in the weeks leading up to the election. The President has been repeatedly critical of the process, despite voting absentee himself in Florida, and has worked to sew distrust with the processes of certain states, including Michigan. The President had more to test when it came to claims about absentee voting during Tuesday night’s first presidential debate, but we’ll start with this from Vice President Joe Biden. Biden does appear to confuse the director of homeland security with DHS’s cyber security director who said last month election integrity may actually improve with more absentee ballots. According to the findings of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1 percent of the absentee votes were deemed invalid.
Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden-Trump debate claims about economy, Michigan
Read full article: Trust Index: Fact-checking Biden-Trump debate claims about economy, MichiganBoth he and former Vice President Joe Biden made Michigan-specific claims during Tuesday night’s first presidential debate. We ran those claims through the Trust Index to see how factual the statements were. Biden and the economyWe’ll start with the first mention of Michigan from the President. Auto industry claimsHere are two claims from Biden on the state of the automakers and his role in the auto bailout. We’ve tested claims made by both Biden and Trump on the auto industry before.
Michigan UIA clears majority of accounts flagged for further identity verification due to criminal attacks
Read full article: Michigan UIA clears majority of accounts flagged for further identity verification due to criminal attacksLANSING, Mich. – On Friday, the Unemployment Insurance Agency provided an update on unemployment claims related to COVID-19 in Michigan. The agency also announced that it has now cleared a majority of all accounts that were flagged for further identity verification due to criminal attacks. This includes the clearing over 200,000 of the 340,000 active claims with claimants’ benefits resuming within days. In just the last week alone, the UIA has cleared a combined 150,000 active and new claims flagged for identity verification. With an additional 60,000 cleared active accounts announced today, coupled with more than 140,000 announced last week, the UIA has cleared more 200,000 active accounts suspected of fraud.
Record 129,000 Michiganders filed for unemployment last week
Read full article: Record 129,000 Michiganders filed for unemployment last weekLANSING, Mich. – A record 129,000 Michiganders filed claims for unemployment benefits last week amid fallout from jobs lost due to the virus outbreak. The number of applications shattered the previous high of 77,000 in January 2009, during the Great Recession, which hit the state especially hard. With layoffs mounting, a major expansion of unemployment benefits was included in an economic relief bill nearing final approval in Congress. Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency, citing a tremendous number of calls, said this week that people were getting a busy signal and its website was slowing down at times. Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, almost five times the previous record set in 1982.
Truth Test: Bernie overstated super-wealthy's worth and tuition plan exaggerated on Day 1 of the DNC
Read full article: Truth Test: Bernie overstated super-wealthy's worth and tuition plan exaggerated on Day 1 of the DNCJason Carr and FactCheck.org review some of the claims that were made on Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention.