Debunking the rumors and outright lies about Hurricane Helene and the relief efforts

the Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer has a regular feature called "Reality Check".  From the blurb:
"Reality Check
NC Reality Check reflects the Charlotte Observer’s commitment to holding those in power to account, shining a light on public issues that affect our local readers and illuminating the stories that sets the Charlotte region apart. Email [email protected] "

Here's a new Reality Check article:
"Helene fact check: Here are the rumors and the reality in Western North Carolina"
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article293523249.html

 

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by janea4old

^ Well worth reading.
Some of the rumors and lies are insane, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene's nonsense. 
But also other lies that might seem reasonable to the naive,
either because they are carefully crafted lies that *seem* real, or because the lies have been claimed as true by someone they believe, or simply because these lies have been repeated so incessantly.

It's good to have the facts onhand when talking with friends/relatives/neighbors who sincerely believe this garbage.

Any conversation we can have with anyone, if it changes one vote --- that one vote could make a difference in a local or national election.

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by janea4old

Another "Reality Check" feature (fact-checking article from the Charlotte Observer)

"Starlink reconnects Western NC reeling from Helene. Who gets credit becomes political." 
(bringing Starlink internet to the region after the hurricane damaged the local Internet infrastructure)
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article293356009.html

The article says that Trump falsely claimed credit, saying that he requested the units from Elon Musk, and a Republican congressmen claimed Trump got Musk to do it.
But FACT: actually FEMA had already requested Starlink for this purpose and the system was already in N.C. when Trump made his claim.

It also says that *previously* (months or years ago) there had been a grant application to provide Starlink to the region.  Now, Republicans and rumormongers are blaming Biden admin for denying that application back then. 
FACT: the reason the grant was denied back then:

After Starlink filed that application, the FCC determined that it didn’t qualify for funding. According to a letter from the FCC chairperson, the agency found that Starlink:

• Couldn’t provide internet at the required speed set by the FCC.
• Would have imposed “high start-up costs on rural consumers,” requiring subscribers to buy a $600 dish to access internet.
• Proposed using some funds to provide internet to places like parking lots and road medians, which are not underserved rural households like the program intended.

.

 

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by janea4old

52 minutes ago, janea4old said:

Republican congressmen claimed Trump got Musk to do it.

Edit. My error.
My intention was singular, not plural -- the autocorrect changed it to congressmen from congressman, as the article referred to a specific person.
But the bigger error I made was that the article
actually says that a N.C. Republican *state senator* claimed this.
Not a congressman. 

Yikes that I messed up in relaying a fact-check!

 

(I mean we already know that Republican U.S. congresspersons are telling lies, but it's important that I not add to the misinformation!)

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by janea4old

Non-profit newspaper from Asheville NC giving nonpartisan updates:
https://avlwatchdog.org/

 

 

Meanwhile, some of the Beltway is clearly losing patience:

 

The legendary Sally Field shares her abortion story. Warning: This gets considerably detailed about her horrific experience and is not for the faint of heart.

2 hours ago, Vee said:

The legendary Sally Field shares her abortion story. Warning: This gets considerably detailed about her horrific experience and is not for the faint of heart.

Watching/listening, I cried a lot.

Then I pictured Norma Rae standing on the table holding up a Kamala sign.

There seems to be a lot of butt hurt males over at TwitX because Kamala Harris dared to go on the Call Her Daddy podcast as above.

Who says misogyny is dead?

oh wow today's question on Call Her Daddy --- and the Kavanagh hearings
 

Edited October 7, 20241 yr by janea4old

1 hour ago, Wendy said:

There seems to be a lot of butt hurt males over at TwitX because Kamala Harris dared to go on the Call Her Daddy podcast as above.

Who says misogyny is dead?

The same people who were roasting Harris for not doing more press are now saying it's inappropriate for her to go on podcasts during the Helene aftermath. And of course she is still being attacked over not doing enough media...or not doing the right kind of media. It's a full court press, likely because they think if they push hard enough they can get Trump the "mandate" he is now demanding.

 

5 hours ago, DRW50 said:

The same people who were roasting Harris for not doing more press are now saying it's inappropriate for her to go on podcasts during the Helene aftermath. And of course she is still being attacked over not doing enough media...or not doing the right kind of media. It's a full court press, likely because they think if they push hard enough they can get Trump the "mandate" he is now demanding.

 

Autocorrect can be a plague (mine changed that immediately to plaque) but it is still strange to me that Politico let "neigh on" get through for "nigh on". How about "nearly" if "nigh on" is too hard?   

 

 

Trump held a contest to join him on stage at his rally in Butler. Was it a scam? (popular.info)