Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [united-states]

Use this tag for questions about claims based in the United States, or limited to the United States.

The United States of America (also referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, the States, or America) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district.

1532 questions
59
votes
1 answer

Did the US Department of Defense produce and release the poster "tweets sink fleets"?

This has been floating around social media recently. If it's not something you recognize it's a play on Loose Lips (might) Sink Ships which was utilized as American propaganda during World War II. On the bottom is a claim that the Defense Security…
Raystafarian
  • 735
  • 5
  • 13
45
votes
1 answer

Are 10% of food stamps put towards soda?

I just came across a video that was also shared on Facebook, that claims that a recent US Department of Agriculture study found that 10% of food stamp purchases go to soda, or $8.5 billion annually. They also say that the #1 item purchased through…
NeutronStar
  • 509
  • 4
  • 7
42
votes
4 answers

Have Antifa members used an inverted red triangle as a symbol?

Facebook recently removed an advert for Donald Trump's re-election campaign that prominently featured an image of an inverted red triangle. Nazi Germany used an almost identical symbol to label communists and other political opponents, and the…
F1Krazy
  • 3,722
  • 5
  • 21
  • 30
39
votes
1 answer

Are Kinder Surprise eggs banned in the US?

I just came across this info-graphic: (source: adsoftheworld.com) Is it true that Kinder Surprise eggs are currently, or previously, banned in the US?
Jamiec
  • 9,005
  • 3
  • 54
  • 64
37
votes
3 answers

Was the Highlands Ranch shooting the 115th mass shooting in the US in 2019

I was reading an article from the BBC about the Highlands Ranch School shooting and they made the following claim This is believed to be the 115th mass shooting in the US in 2019. This was on the 8th May 2019. Is the Highlands Ranch School…
Lady_A
  • 1,420
  • 1
  • 10
  • 17
26
votes
1 answer

Are "bait bricks" real?

I've seen this image shared on social media, original source unknown. Is there clear evidence that piles of bricks have been placed in the path of protestors far away from any construction site in order to induce destructive rioting, and if so, how…
curiousdannii
  • 994
  • 1
  • 10
  • 21
26
votes
3 answers

Were Michael Brown's hands up when he was shot according to grand jury testimony?

Joe Scarbrough blasted the media and the St. Louis Rams for coming onto the field in a silent protest in support of Michael Brown. SCARBROUGH: Yeah, guys came out, hands up don’t shoot for the St. Louis Rams. Here’s a video of it. And what is…
user1873
  • 8,939
  • 42
  • 81
21
votes
1 answer

Has the USA used CS gas at the Mexican border since at least 2010?

CS gas is one particular type of tear gas. The Washington Times claims today: Tear gas used once a month at border under Obama The same tear-gas agent that the Trump administration is taking heat for deploying against a border mob this weekend is…
Common Guy
  • 4,638
  • 6
  • 18
  • 24
19
votes
1 answer

Were Native Americans given blankets intentionally contaminated with smallpox?

I saw a video posted on Facebook where Wendell Pierce accused white men of intentionally infecting natives with smallpox by giving them infected blankets. A cursory read of this paper published by the University of Michigan suggests it's false. Is…
TecBrat
  • 547
  • 4
  • 13
16
votes
1 answer

Do the 3 red stars on Washington DC's flag represent 3 city states?

There seems to be an explanation of the meaning of the stars on Washington DC's flag. There are three cities (city-states) across this planet that share striking similarities and play a crucial role in the global governmental system we have long…
K.judge
  • 253
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
14
votes
1 answer

Did Coke pay the NAACP to paint their opponents as racist?

Several news outlets recently reported Coca-Cola tried to minimize health issues associated with their sugary beverages by paying NAACP to paint their opponents as racist. Why Coke went woke Whistleblower Exposes Coke's Efforts to Paint Opponents of…
merrygosquare
  • 183
  • 6
14
votes
2 answers

Was the Eric Garner grand jury shown the video of his death?

In almost every article I've read about the decision of the grand jury not to bring charges over the death of Eric Garner, it's taken for granted that the jury did see the video footage of his death. Is there any evidence confirming that this…
user56reinstatemonica8
  • 8,930
  • 6
  • 41
  • 51
12
votes
1 answer

Is America "seeing a spike in celibacy fuelled by economics, technology and female empowerment?"

From The Economist: America is seeing a spike in celibacy fuelled by economics, technology and female empowerment. Also from The Economist (emphasis added): Who could have predicted a little over a decade ago, when George W. Bush was splurging…
Barry Harrison
  • 14,153
  • 4
  • 69
  • 101
11
votes
2 answers

Is this the flag of Niobrara County, Wyoming?

I recently encountered this image, stated to be the flag of Niobrara County, Wyoming: It was posted specifically as an "eye hurting flag"; that is, it was noted as especially ugly. I know many strange flags exist, but several elements of this…
Unrelated String
  • 213
  • 1
  • 6
11
votes
0 answers

Do for-profit prisons lobby against early childhood education?

This popular reddit comment claims that for profit prisons "...literally lobby against things like early child education..." I can't find any evidence for or against this claim. I've found many articles against for profit prisons, noting their…
Jeremy Stein
  • 229
  • 1
  • 4
1
2 3