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

The woman was protesting in Colombia

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An image of a woman buried up to her neck and drinking a spoonful of water was from Iran and taken just before she was "stoned to death" under Sharia Law.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019

Anti-vaxx claims spreading almost as fast as measles

Facebook posts

Says "combined doses of vaccines" have never been tested.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, April 22nd, 2019

Religion is barely mentioned in the book

Facebook posts

Says Donald Trump wrote in his book, "Being an atheist gives me an edge in every deal. Christians are too moral for business."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, April 17th, 2019

Image used out of context

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A photo shows Muslims laughing in front of a burning Notre Dame.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

Firefighters were already there

Facebook posts

A video clip from the Notre Dame cathedral fire shows a man walking alone in a tower of the church "dressed in Muslim garb."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

He even wrote a post on how he definitely did not say it

Facebook posts

Quotes Thomas Homer-Dixon as saying a windmill will "never generate as much energy as was invested building it."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Friday, April 12th, 2019

From the Middle East, not middle America

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A photo of Muslim women with the words "Down with the USA" written on their hands was taken in Michigan.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Thursday, April 11th, 2019

Not one credible outlet shared the story. Not-A-One

Bloggers

Says Jay-Z set up a $15 million trust fund for Nipsey Hussle’s children.

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Thursday, April 11th, 2019

Population estimates aren't even remotely close to that high

Facebook posts

In 20 years "there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the president."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019

Volunteers would be in the dozens, not thousands

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Says "13,506 Marines have applied for White House duty" since Trump’s inauguration. When Obama was president, "no Marines volunteered" but had to be "assigned."

— PolitiFact Facebook fact-checks on Monday, April 8th, 2019

Recent stories from Samantha Putterman

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.