Skeptics Stack Exchange
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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.

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Do blacks in the US get arrested more often for drug usage despite using drugs at the same rate as whites?

Kyle Kulinski of Secular Talk says in this YouTube video that The studies show that as well. Blacks and whites use drugs at the same rate but black people get arrested way more often for it. Is it true that the proportions of black and white drug…
Sakib Arifin
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Are there vaccine ingredients which may not be disclosed ("hidden", "trade secret", or similar)?

I sometimes encounter people claiming that there are ingredients in vaccines that can be kept secret by the manufacturer. I would be surprised to hear this, because the manufacturers have to conduct studies which show that the vaccine is safe. How…
akraf
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As of February 2019, were US wages rising at the "fastest pace in decades"?

The President of the USA, Donald Trump, told during his "State of the Union address" speech on 5th February 2019, that [...] wages in America are rising at the fastest pace in decades Source: at about 46 minutes on this video from YouTube. Note…
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Is the US federal government still paying Civil War survivor benefits?

I read an article claiming that the US federal government is still paying out a Civil War survivor pension today, over 150 years after the Civil War ended. Is this accurate? In 1924, Mose Triplett, who had served in both the Union and the…
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Will the healthcare premiums of a 64 year old making $26,500 a year grow to $14,600 under the GOP Health Care Plan?

This picture was posted on the Facebook page, The Other 98%. Is this really true? Will the premium be more than half of the income of a 64 year old under the proposed new system? And is the old rate true?
Stewie Griffin
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Did the U.S. Army treat a President's cold using chlorine gas?

Several texts on the history of chemical warfare mention the story that in May 1924 the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) treated President Calvin Coolidge for a severe cold with chlorine. For example: In May 1924 the CWS sealed President…
user22213
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Have China and India more than doubled carbon emissions since 2000 while U.S. emissions have fallen?

The following meme has been shared circa Dec 2019 on social media and several blogs: The text reads: China's Carbon Emission Change Since 2000: +208% India's Carbon Emission Change Since 2000: +155% United States's Carbon Emission Change Since…
Paul Draper
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Does the US Armed Forces refuse to recruit anyone with an IQ less than 83?

In this video, Jordan Peterson claims the following. You can't induct someone into the Armed Forces in the US if they have an IQ of less than 83. He claims that the armed forces needs an accurate predictor of intelligence in order to be able to…
Mason Wheeler
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Did a thief think he could conceal his identity from security cameras by putting lemon juice on his face?

McArthur Wheeler, a man who robbed two banks after covering his face with lemon juice in the mistaken belief that, because lemon juice is usable as invisible ink, it would prevent his face from being recorded on surveillance cameras. Is this…
Rowan Freeman
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Did Donald Trump exclude Muslim countries in which he does business from the recent entry ban?

This image states that: Trump is poised to sign an Executive Order banning entry to the United States from These 7 Muslim contries: Iran, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia Conspicious in their absence, are the 3 Muslim countries with which…
dsollen
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Did more people use the DC Metro transit system on the day of Trump's inauguration than on the day of Obama's second inauguration (in 2013)?

On 21 Jan 2017, the White House called a press conference where the press secretary accused the media of "deliberately false reporting" on two issues of which the number of people attending President Trump's inauguration was one. The inauguration…
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Did COVID-19 take the lives of 3,100 Americans in a single day, making it the third deadliest day in American history?

This image is doing the rounds on Facebook: The image reads: Yes, people die everyday. Yes we know it's not you because you are reading this. Cancer takes approx. 1,600 Americans a day. Heart events take approx. 1,800 Americans a day. Suicides…
dsollen
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Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweet that businesses should stay closed until the November elections?

A friend of mine just forwarded me a screenshot of the following May 20, 2020 (now-deleted) tweet purportedly from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose nickname and Twitter handle is AOC. It's vital that Governors maintain restrictions on businesses…
Yehuda
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Is this pie graph describing US government spending accurate?

This graphic is doing the circuit on Facebook. Is the pie chart an accurate depiction of US government spending? Look closely at this chart of federal spending. Military 57% Education 6% Government 6% Veteran's Benefits 6% Housing &…
dsollen
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Does the Wall Street Journal change headlines based on location?

I found saw a recent image going around on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thebenfergusonshow/photos/a.10150670938916638.382006.95356211637/10154308573296638/?type=3&source=48 The picture shows two copies of the wall street journal that look…
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