3. Marjorie Taylor Greene and COVID-19 vaccines
The claim: In August 2021, Greene said COVID-19 vaccines were failing because vaccinated people could still become infected and spread the virus.
The evidence: Breakthrough infections were known to occur, but they did not establish that vaccines were ineffective. Evidence showed that COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of severe illness, and vaccination also offered protection against infection, although protection against infection varied over time and with variants.
Why it matters: Greene treated the existence of breakthrough infections as proof of overall vaccine failure, a conclusion that did not follow from the evidence.
4. Mo Brooks and rising sea levels
The claim: In 2018, Brooks argued that sediment from rivers and rocks falling into the ocean were major causes of sea-level rise.
The evidence: Scientific research identifies two major drivers of global mean sea-level rise: the expansion of seawater as it warms and the addition of water from melting land ice.
Why it matters: His explanation conflicted with established scientific evidence about the principal causes of rising seas.
5. Rick Santorum and the scientific consensus on climate change
The claim: In 2015, Santorum disputed the widely reported finding that approximately 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agreed that human activity was driving global warming.
The evidence: FactCheck.org reviewed his interpretation and found it misleading. Multiple studies involving thousands of researchers supported a strong scientific consensus that human activities were the primary cause of recent global warming.
Why it matters: This is an example of challenging a scientific conclusion by misrepresenting the research used to establish it.
What do these examples actually show?
There is an important distinction between three behaviors:
Being wrong: A politician makes an inaccurate statement, possibly through misunderstanding.
Rejecting evidence: A politician continues to dispute well-supported findings after credible evidence contradicts their position.
Knowingly misleading people: A politician makes claims they know are false. Establishing this requires stronger evidence, such as private communications, admissions, or documented warnings they received.