A mural in an alley in downtown Springfield, Ohio. The city is home to a large Haitian community and was thrust into the spotlight after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that members of the immigrant community of eating the pets of local residents. Online influencers have continued to keep their attention on the city. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images hide caption
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, speaks to reporters after the presidential debate with Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption
Vote buttons are displayed during a presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. Darron Cummings/AP hide caption
Far-right activist Laura Loomer speaks to the media prior to the beginning of former President Donald Trump's Trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15 in New York City. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images hide caption
Political commentator and YouTuber Benny Johnson (left) speaks with Eric Trump, a son of former President Donald Trump, during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Johnson made videos for Tenet Media. The Justice Department accused a company matching Tenet's description of working closely with employees of Russian state broadcaster RT to covertly spread pro-Russian narratives in the United States. Johnson says he was not aware of Tenet's ties to Russia. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks alongside Ukrainian officials at the Department of Justice in 2022 in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
A voter entering a polling place in Mountain Brooks, Ala., on Super Tuesday on March 5, 2024. Alabama is one of several states where GOP officials are launching fresh efforts to purge their voter rolls of noncitizens, even though there's little evidence noncitizens vote in significant numbers. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images hide caption
The scene from a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz rally in Detroit on Aug. 7. Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that another picture of the rally showing a large crowd was generated by artificial intelligence. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) speaks with reporters after walking off “Trump Force 2” at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on July 30, 2024 in Reno, Nevada. Vance is the subject of a joke that went viral on social media last week, highlighting the challenges of sorting fact from fiction in a contentious presidential election. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption
Scarlett Lanzas, second from right, and other information navigators do an exercise in which they use orange string to symbolize how communities are interconnected, at a Nov. 8, 2023, orientation for a pilot project on combating bad information. Keyvan Antonio Heydari hide caption
Spanish speakers are an increasingly important segment of voters. New research examines their exposure to viral lies and conspiracy theories. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption
A 2013 file photo of an Epoch Times newspaper box in New York City. The outlet was founded by adherents to the Falun Gong spiritual movement but it has morphed into a pro-Trump conservative news organization in recent years. Earlier this month, the organization's chief financial officer was arrested on federal money laundering charges. Mark Lennihan//AP Photo hide caption
A reporter for The Epoch Times holds a microphone during a media event on Oct. 23, 2023, in Berlin, Germany. The Epoch Times is owned by Epoch Media Group and is affiliated with the Falun Gong movement. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption
The director of Resource Center Matamoros, Hugo Terrones, spoke to Muckraker founder Anthony Rubin and his brother after the pair showed up at RCM's office asking about volunteer opportunities. But they were never allowed inside. Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for NPR hide caption