PolitiFact

Partisan gerrymandering is not illegal under federal law

Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature approved a new congressional map that could help the GOP flip four seats in the midterm elections. State Democrats say the map, put forward by Gov. Ron DeSantis, conflicts with Florida’s Fair Districts amendment prohibiting drawing districts with partisan intent. DeSantis has offered several reasons for the changes, including population growth. Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, went further, saying after the April 29 vote that it was not only illegal on a state level, but also federal. "Even if Fair Districts falls, you still have general principles of map drawing, and you still have, under federal law, you cannot engage in partisan gerrymandering," Driskell told reporters. "It would not be OK to draw that map based on partisan data." Gerrymandering is drawing district boundaries to give one political party, incumbent or group an advantage. No federal law says states cannot undertake partisan gerrymandering. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering claims are "political" questions that federal courts can’t answer. "The court ruled the matter ‘nonjustiable’ by federal courts," said Rick Hasen, a UCLA School of Law election law expert. "It recognized the argument that partisan gerrymandering could be unconstitutional but it wasn’t

Did Graham Platner play ‘key role’ in rape kit bill?

Fact-checking Graham Platner that his campaign played a ‘key role’ in passing Maine rape kit bill National Women 2026 Midterms Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at a news conference April 30, 2026, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP) If Your Time is short In 2024, Maine’s legislature passed a bill requiring the state to inventory untested rape kits and establish a rape kit tracking system. Gov. Janet Mills did not sign that or 34 other late-arriving bills, saying she feared a legal challenge since they were last minute. In January 2026, Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, invited the author of a rape kit bill to speak at his town hall and encouraged the audience to call the governor. One month later, Mills said in a statement she included rape kit funding in her supplemental budget proposal, which became law in April. It’s not simple to parse whether Platner deserves credit for that. Graham Platner, the Maine Democrat who hopes to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, has taken heat for comments he made about rape more than a decade ago. His campaign strategy emphasizes his present views, including his support for legislation to improve tracking of

The mixed science on diet sodas, and how to kick your habit

Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info Packs of Diet Coke and Coke Zero are displayed on a market shelf in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP) If Your Time is short Large observational studies have found a correlation between diet sodas and negative health outcomes like Type II diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular issues. But short-term controlled experiments haven’t consistently proven the same. Doctors advise against consuming too many added sugars. So if the choice is between full-sugar soda and diet soda, diet is likely a better option. But choosing water or a non-sweetened drink is more nutritionally advisable. To quit a diet soda habit, try replacing the soda with another carbonated or caffeinated beverage, and pair the new drink with an existing routine. And stay hydrated — you may be reaching for a can just because you are thirsty. The research on diet sodas has about as much clarity as a glass of Diet Coke. Studies contradict one another. Some are funded by the beverage industry. The way they are structured can lead to different findings.

4 marijuana misconceptions explained

Stand up for the facts! Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info If Your Time is short The federal government’s reclassification of medical marijuana products as Schedule III drugs doesn’t federally legalize marijuana, but it might extend tax breaks to some cannabis businesses. Marijuana can be addictive and rates of substance use disorder involving the drug are rising. Driving while under the influence of marijuana is illegal; studies show marijuana use impairs a person’s driving. The federal government has changed its view of marijuana’s dependence and abuse risks, causing some confusion about what that means for Americans. Like heroin, ecstasy and LSD, marijuana was formerly classified as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse. Marijuana will now be regulated alongside drugs considered to have legitimate medical applications such as Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids. The Justice Department reclassified state-licensed or FDA-approved medical marijuana products as Schedule III drugs on April 23. Although the change signals a major shift in federal policy, its practical effects are more subtle. Most states have already adjusted their own laws to

Bernie Sanders misleads on OBBB and health insurance

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour event at Arizona State University, March 20, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP) Bernie Sanders said the GOP bill removed 15 million Americans from healthcare. That’s premature. If Your Time is short The Congressional Budget Office said in 2025 that the One Big Beautiful Bill — signed into law by President Donald Trump in July 2025 — would increase the number of people without health insurance by 10 million through 2034. Separately, an enhanced tax credit for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act expired. About 4 million people were expected to lose insurance because of that change. Although 15 million people are expected to eventually lose coverage, it hasn’t happened yet. Initial 2026 figures from January show a decline of about 1 million since 2025. Democrats say Republicans have ignored voters’ concerns about affordability, including health insurance as they supported President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax and spending bill. "As a result of the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' 15 million Americans have been thrown off the healthcare that they need," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said during a committee hearing that included testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert