Today: Walz's Military Record, Ursula Le Guin and 1908 London Olympics

Plus: Papuan Fisherman Caught Giant Axolotl Sea Creature? [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc3NmNnpyMWw5di8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) WEDNESDAY EDITION Snopes Debunker Aug. 14, 2024 Today: Walz's Military Record, Ursula Le Guin and 1908 London Olympics [A white man smiles at a podium that says Vice President of the United States. To his right stands a Black Asian woman wearing a blue suit.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcjFreDNlaXFqNC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Unpacking the Controversy Over Tim Walz's Military Service During an Aug. 7 [campaign rally](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNmcxNjZhdWZ2MC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) in Michigan, GOP U.S. vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance [reopened](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOTVpdjV5aTN5ci8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) a series of old attacks against his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, challenging his military record. "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did?" Vance said at the rally. "He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him." Vance's statements have placed renewed focus on three allegations that have previously been leveled against Walz by political opponents: that Walz "abandoned" his National Guard unit right before he would have been deployed to Iraq, lied about serving "in war" and lied about the rank at which he retired. Snopes Senior Reporter Alex Kasprak unpacked each allegation: [Read Now](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcmZsemliM3dhei8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) More From Snopes [A crowd of people stand to the side of a large jet that says UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOTB1aTFmZHUwZS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Real Pic of Crowd at Rally for Harris and Walz in Detroit? The campaign reported a staff member shot the photo. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYmQ4amRvcGVlYi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Russian Textbook Claimed Trump Lost 2020 Election Because of Voter Fraud? [An image shows Russian text next to an image of a white man wearing a suit.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvajBvZzhrMjBmZi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) "Probably how it's written in all of Europe," one X user said of the publication. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYjE5dDA5Znk5Ni8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [A X post claims that the UN is set to declare monkeypox and bird flu as global emergencies and deploy troops worldwide.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveXc1bGloZ2Z6NS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Is UN Set to Declare Mpox and Bird Flu 'Global Emergencies,' Deploy Troops Worldwide? The unfounded claim was shared by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among others. It needs significant context. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcHJ4czkweHprZi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [A X post claims that Taylor Swift endorsing Kamala Harris had MAGA loosing their minds.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaHE5MjFtZnJkMC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Did Taylor Swift Use Instagram to Subtly Endorse Harris for President? The photo was taken from Swift's official Instagram, where on Aug. 6 she shared a carousel of pics from her concerts in Warsaw, Poland. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNmdrYnY2YnRsbC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [A black and white image of a white woman is next to a colorized photo of a white woman.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvamVzNDV0a3Yway8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Ursula Le Guin Once Said She's 'Rankled by JK Rowling's 'Reluctance' to Credit Other Writers? The “Harry Potter” series and Le Guin’s “Earthsea” series both depicted schools for wizards. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY3M2b2o4bzJqMS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [A white woman is pictured next to a white man.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc3UwZzV2ZHY2dy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Bill Gates and Ghislaine Maxwell Are Related? Online posts have long alleged that the tech magnate's mother was the sister of Maxwell's father, owing to their shared last name, Maxwell. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbGQ3dGg5bG10bC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [A white man holds a ball over his head standing on a raised piece of wood. Several people wearing suits surround him.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdXVneGtkNTk5dS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Real Footage of the 1908 London Olympics? Social media users posted footage from what was claimed to be the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMzl0cjB2cm53NS8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Staff Pick [Two fishermen hold large pink creatures on a boat.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcjRrZG91c29tZC8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Papuan Fisherman Caught Giant Axolotl Sea Creature? In comments, many social media users suggested the images were AI-generated. [Read Story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdzRobWt1NHNkZy8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) [View Editor's Picks](~/AASU4wA~/RgRon0R6P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY2hjZGd1MXVvYi8_bGhfYWlkPTQ4MzYwJmxoX2NpZD10cGs2cTdta2QwJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCma7e7-8ZsM-L-9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWw~~) Keep Us Debunking Without the ongoing support from our readers, we could not continue our work. Give today! 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