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

Another spurious quote

Facebook posts

Quotes Thomas Jefferson as saying "When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, August 19th, 2019

But they will still make you weep

Facebook posts

Says pre-cut onion used to cook the following day "becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, August 16th, 2019

We'd like to downplay random made-up rumors

Facebook posts

Says CNN President Jeff Zucker ordered employees to downplay Bill Clinton’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and make it look like Epstein was "Trump’s partner in all of this."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, August 16th, 2019

They were definitely paid – for being nurses

Viral image

Says a photo of Trump smiling with staff at a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, was staged and the nurses were paid actors.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, August 16th, 2019

Parent company donated to a pro-Trump PAC

Facebook posts

Says every time someone purchases a Bang energy drink, a portion of the money is donated to help re-elect Donald Trump and "goes to the fund campaign for MAGA!"

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Tuesday, August 13th, 2019

He praised the SEALs as a group after it was public knowledge

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Says Joe Biden leaked the names of SEAL Team 6’s families to al-Qaida and that he "cannot be trusted."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, August 12th, 2019

He talked about video games, but not Japan

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Quotes Rep. Kevin McCarthy as saying "there are no mass shootings in Japan because there are no video games there."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, August 12th, 2019

She was talking about the safety of the two procedures

Facebook posts

Says Elizabeth Warren said, "Having an abortion is no different than someone having their tonsils removed."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, August 7th, 2019

Viral image

Old photograph shows a group of women in KKK attire holding a sign that reads "Women of the Democrat Party."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, August 7th, 2019

There hasn't been an increase since 2009

Facebook posts

Says congressional salaries have gone up 231% over the last 30 years...Now Congress is saying they need a $4,500 raise.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, August 7th, 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.