The Week in Fact Checks
The Week in Fact Checks: September 1 to 6, 2026
This week’s checks separate a likely but nonfinal Supreme Court finding from a whistleblower claim about employee vetting, while confirming reports on deepfakes, space, entertainment, and a Japan-South Korea business initiative.
The latest checks examine claims spanning climate policy, immigration-related oversight, technology, politics, space, television, and population decline. Several claims were broadly grounded in the record but overstated important details, while others were supported as presented.
The Ohio v. EPA ruling was not a final merits decision
The claim is misleading. In June 2024, the Supreme Court found that the Environmental Protection Agency had likely failed to adequately explain its federal implementation plan under the Clean Air Act. But the decision was an emergency stay, not a final merits ruling that definitively held the plan unlawful.
ICE disclosure concerned employee vetting
The claim is misleading. An ICE whistleblower did allege systemic breakdowns, but the disclosure concerned vetting prospective ICE employees during a hiring surge, not procedures for processing noncitizens.
Deepfake videos of late-night hosts spread online
The claim is true. AI-generated fake videos featuring Jimmy Kimmel and other late-night hosts were reported spreading on social media in late August 2026. The supplied sources largely represent the same NPR report.
The $10 million for Ken Paxton was an ad buy
The claim is misleading. President Donald Trump’s political operation disclosed $10 million in advertising spending supporting Ken Paxton’s Texas Senate campaign. The money was not described as a direct payment to Paxton, and the filing characterized it as an ad buy rather than a campaign contribution.
NASA listed “Chasing the Moon’s Shadow” as its September 5 APOD
The claim is true. NASA’s official Astronomy Picture of the Day archive lists “Chasing the Moon’s Shadow” for September 5, 2026, and the corresponding page gives the same title and date context.
Five notable actors appeared on Seinfeld
The claim is true. Five notable actors guest-starred on Seinfeld, and current entertainment coverage identifies a group of five who appeared on the sitcom before or during their later fame.
Japan and South Korea formed a business committee on birth rates
The claim is true. Business representatives from Japan and South Korea formed a bilateral committee in late August 2026 to cooperate on declining birth rates and population loss. The initiative is private-sector led rather than a government task force.