Facts Matter: Historians dispute McCarthy's statement on U.S. land gains

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy recently posted to his social media accounts a claim he made in October at the Oxford Union.

"In every single war that America has fought, we have never asked for land afterwards, except for enough to bury the Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom we went in for," McCarthy said during an Oct. 28 event.

But this claim is "undercut by two centuries of U.S. history," according to PolitiFact, citing land gains following conflicts with Mexico, Spain, Filipino rebels, Japan and Native American tribes.

Various historians on social media criticized McCarthy for this statement. A community note added to his post on X provided examples of U.S. land gains. Some of those cited include the United States-Mexico war in 1848, the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Second Samoan Civil War in 1899 and wars against Native Americans.

Cameron University military history professor Lance Janda told PolitiFact McCarthy's claim was false.

"You could quibble in some cases over whether we 'asked' for land and whether 'ceding' or 'annexing' is the same as taking," Janda said. "But if the question is whether McCarthy was incorrect, it's easy: He is."

Old Black Friday clip resurfaces

Recent social media posts appear to show proof of a sluggish economy, pointing the blame at President Joe Biden.

Following Black Friday, video shared on Instagram shows a woman unlocking the door on the inside of an electronics store, as cameras record what is happening. When the door opens, a single customer enters and walks down an empty aisle, amid signs reading, "Black Tag Event."

"The 'swarm' of Black Friday shoppers in Biden's economy," reads the caption on the video.

But this clip isn't recent and it wasn't filmed in the U.S., according to The Associated Press. The incident was recorded in 2017, before Biden was president, at Curry's PC World, an electronics store in London.

On Nov. 24, 2017, journalists had assembled at the Oxford Street store to report on Black Friday crowds, but were disappointed when greeted by a lone shopper, a man named Marcel who was there to pick up a preordered laptop, the British newspaper The Independent reported.

University of Houston professor Barbara Stewart told the AP that Black Friday crowds have decreased while there has been an increase in online shopping.

"So if we buy more online, we do it even on Thanksgiving Day rather than getting up in the morning at 4 o'clock and standing in line," she said.

Overall, there was a small increase in Black Friday foot traffic in stores this year over last year, the AP said, and online spending increased nearly 7.5% over 2022.

Crash not linked to terrorists

An explosion was reported Nov. 22 at the Rainbow Bridge at the U.S.-Canada border. Video was soon released showing a car, traveling fast, become airborne as it crashes into a facility and bursts into flames.

Social media users were quick to report the incident.

"UPDATE: Terrorist attack confirmed," read a Facebook post. A TikTok user wrote, "A terrorist attack just happened in the United States at the Rainbow Bridge."

But those posts are inaccurate, according to PolitiFact. The FBI said the crash was not related to terrorist activity.

"A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified," the FBI's Buffalo, New York, field office said in a statement. "The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation."

Killed in the crash were married couple Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, who authorities said were on the way to a concert in Toronto, PolitiFact said. Investigators are looking into the possibility the crash was due to a mechanical failure.

Greene post is fake

A social media post on Thanksgiving Day appears to show Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, addressing the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.

"Sorry PETA, we are eating good today. Who wants to come join us?" read the caption on a photo of Greene preparing a Turkey.

But this post is satire, according to Reuters. Although the account is called "Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody)," some users reacted as if it were true.

The image used in the fake post was taken from a Thanksgiving Day photo Greene posted in 2022 with the comment, "From my home to yours, I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving!"

In some versions of the fake post, the word "Satire" isn't visible.

• Bob Oswald is a veteran Chicago-area journalist and former news editor of the Elgin Courier-News. Contact him at boboswald33@gmail.com.