Samantha Putterman

Contributing writer

Samantha Putterman is a contributing writer for PolitiFact. Previously, she reported for the Bradenton Herald and the Tampa Bay Times. She is a graduate of USF St. Petersburg, where she majored in journalism and media studies.

The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Samantha Putterman

Photo doesn't violate Facebook's standards

Viral image

Says First Lady Melania Trump posted a photo of herself "yesterday" and Facebook took it down.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, December 6th, 2019

A scam

Viral image

Says for every "share" that a photograph of a sick boy gets, Facebook will donate one dollar.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Thursday, December 5th, 2019

Even the address is wrong

Facebook posts

Says people can send Christmas cards to "a recovering American soldier" at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, December 4th, 2019

There is no "Office of Presidential Visits and Vacations"

Facebook posts

Says President Obama used government funds to pay for his personal vacations for the next 20 years and Trump sent him a bill.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, November 25th, 2019

Numbers are from the 1990s

Facebook posts

Says Nike pays factory workers, 80% of whom are women, "20 cents an hour" and has them work "70 to 80 hours a week."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, November 22nd, 2019

Nail polish doesn't even match

Viral image

An image shows Rep. Elise Stefanik flipping off the camera at the impeachment proceedings

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, November 22nd, 2019

Satire without the disclaimer

Bloggers

Says Nancy Pelosi said "Americans are the stupidest people on earth."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Thursday, November 21st, 2019

Distorted paraphrasing

Facebook posts

Says Nancy Pelosi said, "It is dangerous to let the voters decide Trump’s fate."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

Photo dates back to at least 2008

Viral image

Says a photo of a tortured man is U.S. diplomat Chris Stevens, who was killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

Miscaptioned

Viral image

Says a photo shows a pack of wolves walking in a single line in the snow being led by the sick.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

Recent stories from Samantha Putterman

Donald Trump says he spent a lot time with 9/11 responders. Here are the facts

At a Rose Garden event, President Donald Trump said after Sept. 11, "I was down there also, but I’m not considering myself a first responder. But I was down there. I spent a lot of time down there with you." We take a look at the facts.

By Amy Sherman. Published on Tuesday, July 30th, 2019 at 5:33 p.m.

Did Donald Trump pay hundreds of workers to help in search-and-rescue efforts days after 9/11?

Since Sept. 11, 2001, President Donald Trump has faced criticism and backlash for things he has done and said involving that tragic day, but one meme making the rounds on social media paints him as a hero in the days immediately following the attacks.

By Samantha Putterman. Published on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 at 1:34 p.m.

Photo of Covington students in black paint at a basketball game goes viral. Here's what we know

The viral photo of Covington Catholic fans is real. The circumstances may not be what they appear.

By Samantha Putterman. Published on Friday, January 25th, 2019 at 12:01 p.m.

Man behind viral border wall GoFundMe fundraiser also peddled false news

A veteran from Florida started a now-viral GoFundMe fundraiser to help fund Trump's border wall, but his past includes running conspiracy theory news sites often cited for promoting false and inflammatory content.

By Samantha Putterman. Published on Friday, December 21st, 2018 at 2:36 p.m.