Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Michigan Lawmaker Who Peddled Trump's Election Lies Introduces Bill That Would Fine 'Fact Checkers'

Michigan Lawmaker Who Peddled Trump's Election Lies Introduces Bill That Would Fine 'Fact Checkers'
State Representative Matt Maddock/Facebook

Matt Maddock, a Republican state Congressman from Michigan, is well known for his refusal to accept the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election.

Like others in the GOP, Maddock's never questioned the legitimacy of the results of his own election.


Maddock and his wife, the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, even organized multiple busloads of people to participate in the January 6 insurrection.

Obviously, provable facts aren't a high priority for Maddock and fact checkers have been a constant annoyance for him.

Retaliating against those who point out when he is lying, Maddock recently introduced the Fact Checker Registration Act.

It would require all fact checkers in Michigan to register with the Secretary of State and "insure themselves with $1 million fidelity bonds."

In a proud post about his new bill, Maddock wrote to fact checkers:

"Don't be wrong, don't be sloppy, and you better be right."

According to the bill, any fact checker could be sued by any party for "any wrongful conduct that is a violation" of state law and would be subject to a "$1,000 fine per day for each day the violation continued."


Maddock commented his bill was written because "people and businesses are being unfairly targeted and deplatformed and canceled because fact checkers deem them 'false'."

He said:

"But is there any accountability when a fact-checker gets it wrong? There isn't. Sloppy fact checkers like Snopes destroy lives, destroy business, destroy politicians and there is no penalty when they get it wrong."

Maddock failed to cite any instances in which Snopes or any other fact checker had been wrong.



On the subject of what qualifies a person as a "fact checker," Maddock toldHuffpost in a text message:

"I don't think anyone knows how many fact checkers are doing business in Michigan but we will find out!"



Michigan Democrats denounced Maddock's law.

They pointed out it was an obvious violation of the first amendment and did nothing to address public figures who continuously lie.



Michigan Democrats called for the censure and removal of Maddock.

They cited his "continued attempts at undermining democracy by fomenting election conspiracy theories and assisting with the heinous attack on the U.S. Capitol."


It's unclear whether or not Maddock's bill will gain support in the Michigan House, but even if passed it would likely be vetoed by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

More from Trending

Ty Burrell
JC Olivera/Getty Images

Ty Burrell Reacts To Fans Thinking He 'Died' After He Missed 'Modern Family' Reunion

Contrary to rumors on the internet, actor Ty Burrell, who played Phil in the hit sitcom Modern Family, is not dead.

He is in fact in the living world. He and fellow costar Jesse Tyler Ferguson discussed this and more in a recent podcast episode of Dinner's on Me, with the clip of their discussion of Tyler's supposed passing posted on Instagram to tease the episode.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from Kane Smith's TikTok video
@kane_smith97/TikTok

TikToker Freaks Out After Large Group Of Monkeys Suddenly Descends Upon Pool In Thailand

There are so many ways to ruin a vacation, but there's nothing like a vacation fail brought on by a large troop of monkeys.

TikToker Kane Smith (@kane_smith97) was enjoying a quiet and restful afternoon in a pool at a secluded resort that was off the beaten path in Thailand—but after an unexpected incident, he suspected the resort was quiet for a reason.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Kristi Noem Slammed For Filming Truly Disturbing Video In Front Of Migrants At El Salvador Prison

Homeland Security Secretary and puppy killer Kristi Noem is under fire after filming a sociopathic video in front of caged detainees in El Salvador while threatening to hunt them down.

Or, at least she appeared to—the video contains a very obvious glitch that makes it clear the video was faked with a greenscreen. Guess Noem isn't as tough as she'd like us to believe.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from Ashton Hall's morning routine video
@ashtonhallofficial/TikTok

Fitness Influencer's Bizarre And Extreme Morning Routine Leaves TikTok Floored

Fitness influencer Ashton Hall has left the internet baffled, and very thirsty, thanks to his viral TikTok video showing off his elaborate six-hour morning regimen.

Yes, you read that correctly. It takes him six hours of physical and mental preparation to start the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mark Kelly; Elon Musk
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images

Mark Kelly Perfectly Shames Elon Musk After Musk Doubled Down On 'Traitor' Accusation

Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly fired back once again at billionaire Elon Musk after Musk doubled down on his accusation that Kelly is a "traitor" for backing Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.

Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot and astronaut, recently made his third visit to Ukraine since 2023, where he visited a military hospital and met with Red Cross staff. During his visit, he spoke with wounded service members and spent time with pilots who have flown combat missions defending against Russian air attacks.

Keep ReadingShow less