The numerals "1" and "6," to be used to spell out "2-0-1-6" during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, are unveiled Dec. 15, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
The numerals "1" and "6," to be used to spell out "2-0-1-6" during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, are unveiled Dec. 15, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The top 10 most viewed fact-checks of 2015

As 2016 approaches, we count down to our most popular fact-check of the past year.

 

• Our 2015 Lie of the Year coverage

• What is the citizenship status of terrorist suspects in the United States?

• Comparing the GOP candidates' ISIS strategies with Obama's

 

The Latest from PolitiFact

Pants on Fire!

A fake quote from a satirical news site

Viral image
Viral image

Says U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho said "African Americans should only be given three-fifths of a vote."

— PolitiFact Florida

Mostly True

After nine years, traffic deaths rising

State Public Service Announcement
State Public Service Announcement

By the end of 2015, more than 1,300 people will have died on Georgia roads. One of out evey four fatalities resulted from drunken driving.  

— PolitiFact Georgia

Mostly True

The list isn't perfect, but data backs him up

Patrick Murphy
Patrick Murphy

"91% of suspected terrorists who attempted to buy guns in America walked away with the weapon they wanted."

— PolitiFact Florida

False

"Existing law" was changed in 2008

Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

"Existing law right now requires 700 miles of double-layered border fencing" on the Mexico border.

— PolitiFact Virginia

Mostly True

A broad estimate

Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

Forty percent of illegal immigrants are "people coming legally on visas and overstaying their visas."

— PolitiFact Virginia

True

Yes, though opted out of Obamacare Medicaid expansion

Scott Walker
Scott Walker

"Here in Wisconsin, we've put in previous budgets more money into mental health services than any governor has in the last 25 years."  

— PolitiFact Wisconsin

Mostly False

Searches were run

Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders

"We didn't go out and take" information from the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Mostly False

You've disappointed your constitutional law professor, Ted

Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

"The Democrats in the Senate last year introduced a constitutional amendment to repeal the free speech protections of the First Amendment."

— PolitiFact Iowa

Mostly True

Toothless, but support nonetheless

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton

Says Bernie Sanders "voted for regime change with respect to Libya." 

Mostly False

It's misleading to call this a cut

Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio

The only budget Ted Cruz "ever voted for in his time in the Senate is a budget that cut defense spending by more than Barack Obama proposes we cut it."  

— PolitiFact Florida

Mostly True

The exact number varies

Rob Wittman
Rob Wittman

"Only nine" coalition nations with the U.S. "are truly actively involved" in fighting the Islamic State.

— PolitiFact Virginia

Mostly False

At most, an act of omission, not commission

Chris Christie
Chris Christie

Says the Obama administration invited "Russia into Syria."

True

Trump earns his first True

Donald Trump
Donald Trump

Says American polling shows Russian President Vladimir Putin has "an 80 percent approval rating."

Half-True

Double digits exist, but not the whole story

Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan

The Affordable Care Act is "making families pay double-digit premium increases."

True

Sick spending

Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders

The United States spends "almost three times per capita what they spend in the U.K." on health care and "50 percent more than they pay in France."

Half-True

Not as dramatic as he makes it out to be

Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley

"Secretary Clinton changes her position on (gun issues) every election year, it seems, having one position in 2000 and then campaigning against President Obama and saying we don't need federal standards."

False

No evidence has emerged

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton

ISIS is "going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists."

Half-True

White House doesn't agree

Ann McLane Kuster
Ann McLane Kuster

Says the Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 would not "pause" the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States.

— PolitiFact New Hampshire

False

Misinterpreting how the Gang of Eight treated refugees

Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

"One of the most troubling aspects of the Rubio-Schumer Gang of Eight bill was that it gave President Obama blanket authority to admit refugees, including Syrian refugees, without mandating any background checks whatsoever."

False

No data backs this up

André Carson
André Carson

"Our larger domestic threat is from racial supremacist groups."