fact checking Walz's MN Covid record

Used source file [ ..\json\online-engagement_fact checking Walz's MN Covid record_[1272353513934163990]_2024-10-24.json ]

2024-08-12T01:49:18.996+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

replying to another channel


2024-08-12T01:49:19.307+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

sorry, I should have put this in a thread! I'll start one now.


2024-08-12T01:49:41.914+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

so first off all, it wasn't a snitch hotline, it was a question hotline, for people who had questions about a covid, which as we can all remember, there were a Lot. Calling it a snitch line is a gross mistatement of an effort to help people who are feel more comfortable making direct phone calls, like many in the elderly population.


2024-08-12T01:50:06.747+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

I don't know what to say about the morgue except that one building to tackle a possible catastrophe seems like a wise choice, even if it ultimately ended up costing the state ~1 million. It was sold to a midwest trucking company.


2024-08-12T01:53:05.149+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

Math and reading scores are down nationwide as schools are still recovering from the pandemic. Walz signed a bill to give kids breakfast and lunch at school, in order to help kids learn at school. Christopher Columbus?! That disease-spreading conman has been on a pedestal for 400 years! There's plenty of other people (of all ethnic backgrounds) who deserve the light.


2024-08-12T01:55:16.304+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

Ok so the flag was racist AND it was also hard to read - take it from a Chicagoan, having a flag that people want to put on cozies, t-shirts, or even get tattooed on their bodies is the epitome of positive branding.


2024-08-12T01:55:38.433+00:00 by rootsmusic [ rootsmusic ] avatar

In <#1260333091319451660>, a volunteer has compiled his fact-checks at https://discord.com/channels/1242249109298221066/1250550849998946417/1271490633995124777


2024-08-12T01:56:19.511+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

Oh I don't have access! can we share it here?


2024-08-12T01:58:55.559+00:00 by rootsmusic [ rootsmusic ] avatar

<@492419525099126806> Changed link above to his cross-post. But <#1260333091319451660> has also pinned the team's compiled fact-checks (don't know if it has the above link's pdf).


2024-08-12T02:05:50.261+00:00 by rootsmusic [ rootsmusic ] avatar

In , select "combat misinformation on Twitter". Then you'll see <#1260333091319451660> in the channels pane.


2024-08-12T02:15:02.324+00:00 by Megan Marie Sullivan, Chicago IL [ tlmic ] avatar

Thanks! I will totally check out the Combat Misinformation on Twitter channel!


2024-08-12T21:16:22.651+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

Source of the "snitch line" appears to be a recent article on Breitbart. Breitbart admits that this was in the very early days of the pandemic when the hysteria was at its height (March 2020). The Minnesota Reformer, wrote: Walz has said that while his executive order grants him powers to fine or jail people who violate the stay-home order, his administration is telling police departments to warn people rather than issue citations. Violations carry penalties of up to a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail. The city of Edina cited such complaints when it decided to further restrict use of public spaces because residents were not adhering to social-distancing guidelines. This was in the VERY FIRST weeks of the pandemic. So yes, there was a hotline, but I haven't seen any reports about arrests or what happened.


2024-08-12T21:20:05.443+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

Morgue story appears to be true, as well. It was early days, the first months of the crisis; it was never used and was sold a year later.


2024-08-12T21:20:40.435+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

The "fraud scheme" lacks any details. Can't fact-check it without more.


2024-08-12T21:21:37.546+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

Minnesota IS #5 in best places for business: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/top-states-for-business-minnesota.html

5. Minnesota

2024-08-12T21:25:29.806+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

A good background on the take down of the statue in Minnesota is here in the Smithsonian magazine. It's backstory about Native Americans around the country pulling down these statues. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/meet-the-indigenous-activist-who-toppled-minnesotas-christopher-columbus-statue-180979488/

Meet the Indigenous Activist Who Toppled Minnesota's Christopher Co...

2024-08-12T21:27:23.283+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

He did not "authorize" it apparently. It happened after the George Floyd protests, apparently.


2024-08-12T21:28:34.173+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

The media attention on this incident is promoted by Italian-heritage Trumpists as an attack on Walz.


2024-08-12T21:34:02.8+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

Rest of it is pretty much what I would call "exquisite propaganda" -- Allegations and assertions that are cherrypicked and presented without context to convey a message. For example in 2022, 120,555 moved INTO the state. Google's AI summary on the matter: In 2022, Minnesota's population grew by 1.0%, or 59,733 residents, due to net international migration. This was the result of 120,500 people moving into the state and 124,300 moving out.


2024-08-12T21:35:01.764+00:00 by Rebecca Joyce [ rebeccafromvirginia_20678 ] avatar

And I don't see a disinformation channel other than community notes, even though I have my profile set to be in the disinfo group. 😄