Glenn Kessler

Washington, D.C.

The Fact Checker

Education: Brown University, B.A. in history; Columbia University, M.A. in international affairs

Glenn Kessler has been editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker since 2011, making him one of the pioneers of political fact-checking. In a journalism career spanning more than four decades, Kessler has covered foreign policy, economic policy, the White House, Congress, politics, airline safety and Wall Street. He was The Washington Post’s chief State Department reporter for nine years, traveling around the world with three secretaries of state. Before that, he covered tax and budget policy for The Washington Post and also served as the newspaper’s national business editor. He joined the Po
Latest from Glenn Kessler

Facts in the Trump courtroom v. ‘facts’ in the court of public opinion

Trump is playing to the court of public opinion with easily debunked claims.

April 23, 2024

The murky facts about Trump’s failure to visit American war dead near Paris

President Biden keeps knocking Trump for skipping an important ceremony because he thinks war dead are “losers” and “suckers” but the actual reason remains in dispute.

April 22, 2024
In 2018, for reasons still in dispute, Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, which has 2,289 war dead.

Which Trump lies stick? Republicans believe some falsehoods more than they did six years ago, our poll finds.

Most Americans still don’t believe Trump’s falsehoods, but lies around election integrity have gained traction over time among Republicans.

April 9, 2024

Taxpayer dollars being used to fly ‘illegal aliens’ into U.S.? Nope.

People who receive humanitarian parole have to pay for their flights to the United States, despite what two lawmakers from Tennessee claim.

April 5, 2024
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate and the vaccine wars

Newly minted vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan made a numbers of claims that do not stand up to scrutiny.

April 4, 2024
Independent vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan

James Comer sums up his ‘evidence’ of Biden crimes. It’s scant.

The House Oversight Committee chairman bungles facts and makes sweeping generalizations in his case against the president.

March 28, 2024
(Craig Hudson for The Washington Post)

No, Donald Trump, migrants aren’t ‘killing’ Social Security and Medicare

In reality, undocumented workers pay taxes for benefits they will probably never receive.

March 26, 2024
(Tom Brenner for The Washington Post)

Follow the misinformation trail about Tyson Foods’ hiring

Fox News host Jesse Watters conjured a false narrative about the nation’s largest meatpacker. Other right-leaning outfits quickly followed.

March 25, 2024
Fox News host Jesse Watters aired a segment on March 14 about a Tyson Foods plant closing in Perry, Iowa.

The Campaign Moment: Democrats' risky primary gamble, 'bloodbath' and more

colleague Glenn Kessler, the editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker. They delve into the most important political moments of the week. Listen for these conversations every Friday during the 2024 campaign.

March 22, 2024

Trump’s mixed-up, invented and false account of his first impeachment

The former president regaled a rally crowd with a fictional version of his impeachment over a phone call with the Ukrainian president.

March 19, 2024