It is indeed true that fact-checking political claims often seems like an impossible task. Politicians sometimes tend to twist facts, throw around accusations or take figures out ofcontext. Populist politicians are the best in this club, and they are the ones who make the fact checker’s job so much more difficult. But we must never…
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed!” These are the words that were blasting through the radio on Halloween in 1938. “War of the Worlds” interrupted the news bulletin and music to declare that aliens were invading the earth. It was theatrical, melodramatic and spectacular. You could call it…
Being first is one of the driving forces behind journalism. Beating the competition is what many journalists strive for, but that sometimes means the work is not done properly. This has consequences for the media in general, as it undermines public trust. Yet there is another way for journalists to distinguish themselves from the competition,…
Combating fake news involves more than simply checking facts; it requires careful consideration of when correction is helpful and when it is counterproductive. Due to the illusory truth effect, people often remember the core of a message, while the nuances fade. When you scroll through social media, it seems as if everyone is speaking at…
In recent years, vegan and vegetarian products have become more than just food choices, but the lifestyle statements. Supermarkets are filled with “eco-friendly,” “cruelty-free,” and “plant-based” labels that promise a greener, more ethical future. But behind these feel-good slogans lies a powerful marketing strategy that often simplifies complex environmental realities. The “green” image has become…
Over the last 20 years, veganism and vegetarianism have shifted from niche dietary choices to a whole cultural movement. What used to be a personal food preference became a guide to a lifestyle that cares about health, but also respects the environment, animal welfare and sustainability. Questions like “Are they healthier or restrictive?”, “Environmentally essential…
Nigel Farage held a press conference in Westminster on 21 July 2025, which was also published on YouTube by ITV News under the headline “Farage pledges to ‘halve crime in five years’ in law and order speech.” During the conference, he claimed that “The crime survey for England and Wales is based on completely false…
When economist Paul Collier introduced the “Bottom Billion” theory, he described a vast population—mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa—trapped in systemic poverty, political instability, and chronic vulnerability. These communities have contributed almost nothing to the climate crisis, yet they are the most exposed to its consequences. Their carbon footprint remains negligible, often less than a fraction of…
How the debate about crime committed by foreigners leads to migrants being perceived as dangerous in public opinion, even though most of them behave in accordance with the law and what that does to those affected. Thick raindrops struggle through gray air, their course changed by branches whipping in an approaching storm. A thin ray…
Jutta Paulus from the Green Party has criticised the Green Deal to rnd.de. However, as the subject of the Green Deal is so extensive and involves so many laws, it is worth taking a closer look. Why are we looking at the Green Deal in more detail? The European Green Deal is an EU package…