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Michigan church shooting suspect, AI chips & Freddie Mercury

Plus: Propagandist Joseph Goebbels banned comedians for joking about Nazi Party

Author

Izz LaMagdeleine
September 30, 2025

TUESDAY EDITION

Snopes Debunker

A person stands outside the open back door of a gray truck at night. Their shirt says FBI on it in yellow letters. Two red, white and blue American flags can be seen in the truck bed.

What we know about Michigan church shooting suspect's political affiliation

A Sunday service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan ended in tragedy after a driver rammed the church, opened fire and set the building alight, killing at least four people and wounding eight. Police later identified the lone suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, who died after law enforcement officers shot him outside the church.

After police confirmed the suspect's identity, claims about him being a conservative or a Trump supporter spread across social media. Readers also wrote in asking about his political affiliation. Snopes reporter Laerke Christensen investigated.

A white man stands next to a Middle Eastern man as they look at documents together. Coins with different symbols and colors on them are shown in the background.

Examining claim Trump accepted $2B bribe to sell highly sensitive AI chips to UAE, China

The claim was based on a New York Times article about two deals made within two weeks.

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Support Snopes With Our Monthly Membership

Snopes has been busy fact-checking political claims, including many involving President Donald Trump's administration. But we look into claims on every topic, not just politics. For instance, one of our favorite fact checks that published this weekend was about whether Freddie Mercury sang "of the world" at the end of "We Are the Champions," featured later in this newsletter. We need your help to keep doing this far-ranging work. By building our membership, we will be able to continue cutting straight to the facts on any subject our readers are interested in. We appreciate any support you can give.

A white woman wearing a cross necklace stands behind a microphone.

Don't fall for rumor Erika Kirk launched Christian dating app after husband's death

The rumor spread with an image supposedly showing a social media post by Charlie Kirk's widow. The post wasn't real.

An Asian man wearing a leather jacket sings into a microphone.

Freddie Mercury didn't sing 'of the world' at the end of 'We Are the Champions'?

The 1977 power ballad rocked the world, but some claim its big finale differs from how they remember it.

An image shows a white woman, two white men, another white woman and a white man standing next to each other. Several hold microphones. Looming above them is a white man wearing a suit and tie. Below, a full stadium is shown.

Did country music legends refuse to perform Charlie Kirk tribute at 2026 Super Bowl?

Facebook posts claimed Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson and George Strait were among the country music stars who refused to perform the tribute.

Staff Pick

A white man is pictured next to a newspaper headline that says, "Herr Goebbels Angered By Anti-Nazi Wit." The subheadline of the article says, "Comedians Banned For Humorous Remarks on Leaders."

Propagandist Joseph Goebbels banned comedians for joking about Nazi Party

Online users reposted the newspaper article from Feb. 4, 1939, following ABC's initial announcement it was suspending "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"