Leading Report

The Leading Report Twitter account was created in May 2022. A corresponding website was later created in February 2023. The fact-checking website Science Feedback traced the website's ownership to two individuals named Jacob Cabe and Patrick Webb. Cabe is a former baseball athlete, while Webb is a car wash owner who is an admin of the Facebook group "Patriots for Trump" and has a history of promoting misinformation on social media.

Leading Report has promoted misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines,{{refn|name="COVID"|Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines:{{Cite web |date=2023-05-22 |title=Neurological adverse events are very rare after COVID-19 vaccination and less frequent than after SARS-CoV-2 infection |url=https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/neurological-adverse-events-very-rare-after-covid19-vaccination-less-frequent-than-after-sars-cov2/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Health Feedback |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603153919/https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/neurological-adverse-events-very-rare-after-covid19-vaccination-less-frequent-than-after-sars-cov2/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Funke |first=Daniel |date=2023-07-31 |title=Posts distort UK data on Covid vaccines, death |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33Q434T |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Agence France-Presse |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207214330/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33Q434T |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Goldhamer |first=Marisha |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Posts misconstrue study on Covid antibodies transmitted by vaccinated |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33R86MD |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Agence France-Presse |language=en |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628084123/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33R86MD |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Yandell |first=Kate |date=2023-08-31 |title=COVID-19 Vaccines Have Not Been Shown to Cause 'Turbo Cancer' |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2023/08/covid-19-vaccines-have-not-been-shown-to-cause-turbo-cancer/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=FactCheck.org |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202162207/https://www.factcheck.org/2023/08/covid-19-vaccines-have-not-been-shown-to-cause-turbo-cancer/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McCreary |first=Joedy |date=December 7, 2023 |title=False claim 20% of New Zealanders who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines died {{!}} Fact check |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/12/07/false-claim-20-percent-of-vaccinated-new-zealanders-have-died-fact-check/71838499007/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812230848/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/12/07/false-claim-20-percent-of-vaccinated-new-zealanders-have-died-fact-check/71838499007/ |url-status=live }}}} climate change denial and false claims of electoral fraud in the U.S.,{{Cite web |last=Marcelo |first=Philip |date=2023-08-25 |title=No, there isn't a new lawsuit revealing 2020 ballot fraud in Georgia. An old video is recirculating |url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-election-trump-georgia-ballots-voting-715748800845 |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014002359/https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-election-trump-georgia-ballots-voting-715748800845 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McCreary |first=Joedy |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Ballot paper, not bad guys, caused Arizona's Election Day printer problems {{!}} Fact check |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/09/20/maricopa-county-printer-paper-fact-check/70895321007/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208015136/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/09/20/maricopa-county-printer-paper-fact-check/70895321007/ |url-status=live }} including the "ballot mule" conspiracy theory. It has also promoted the false claim that hydroxychloroquine is effective against COVID-19. The misinformation tracker NewsGuard gave Leading Report a score of 0/100, stating that it "severely violates basic journalistic standards".{{Cite web |last=Summers |first=William |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Senator shares baseless claim linking vaccines to stillbirths |url=https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/senator-shares-baseless-claim-linking-vaccines-to-stillbirths/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Australian Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111003401/https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/senator-shares-baseless-claim-linking-vaccines-to-stillbirths/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2023, after the Gaza war started, Leading Report tweeted that Hamas claimed to have received support from Ukraine. Hamas had not made such a statement.{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Ed |date=2023-10-09 |title=Fact Check: Hamas Did NOT Claim Ukraine Sold Them Weapons Used To Attack Israel In October 2023 |url=https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/10/fact-check-hamas-did-not-claim-ukraine-sold-them-weapons-used-to-attack-israel.html |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Lead Stories |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120130804/https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/10/fact-check-hamas-did-not-claim-ukraine-sold-them-weapons-used-to-attack-israel.html |url-status=live }}

In May 2023, Leading Report falsely claimed that Kevin McCarthy had called for the "immediate expulsion and possible prosecution of Rep. Adam Schiff for committing crimes of treason against the United States".{{Cite web |last=Funke |first=Daniel |date=2023-05-19 |title=House speaker has not called for US congressman's prosecution |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33FK6BT |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207214330/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33FK6BT |archive-date=2023-12-07 |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Agence France-Presse |language=en}}

In June 2024, Webb promoted a conspiracy theory that CNN would implement a 1-2 minute delay for a presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, "potentially allowing time to edit parts of the broadcast".{{Cite web |last=Liles |first=Jordan |date=2024-06-27 |title=CNN Won't Use '1- to 2-Minute Delay' During 1st 2024 Biden-Trump Debate |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cnn-debate-delay/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627225156/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cnn-debate-delay/ |archive-date=June 27, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Snopes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yurow |first=Jeremy |date=June 27, 2024 |title=CNN debunks social media rumors about presidential debate delay |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/06/27/cnn-refutes-claims-of-extended-delay-for-biden-trump-debate/74237826007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628005318/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/06/27/cnn-refutes-claims-of-extended-delay-for-biden-trump-debate/74237826007/ |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Novak |first=Matt |date=2024-06-27 |title=6 Viral Conspiracy Theories About the Trump-Biden Debate That Are Totally Fake |url=https://gizmodo.com/trump-biden-cnn-debate-conspiracy-theories-fake-1851564713 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629230555/https://gizmodo.com/trump-biden-cnn-debate-conspiracy-theories-fake-1851564713 |url-status=live }} The false claim was repeated by generative AI chatbots ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Robert |date=June 28, 2024 |title=OpenAI's ChatGPT And Microsoft's Copilot Reportedly Spread Misinformation About Presidential Debate Amid Growing Fears Over AI Election Dangers |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/06/28/openais-chatgpt-and-microsofts-copilot-reportedly-spread-misinformation-about-presidential-debate-amid-growing-fears-over-ai-election-dangers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702190627/https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/06/28/openais-chatgpt-and-microsofts-copilot-reportedly-spread-misinformation-about-presidential-debate-amid-growing-fears-over-ai-election-dangers/ |archive-date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Connatser |first=Matthew |date=June 29, 2024 |title=ChatGPT wrongly insists Trump-Biden CNN debate had 1 to 2-minute delay |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/29/chatgpt_presidential_debate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701164036/https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/29/chatgpt_presidential_debate/ |archive-date=July 1, 2024 |access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=The Register}}

In September 2024, following Trump's widely criticised debate performance against Kamala Harris, Leading Report claimed that an ABC News whistleblower would "allegedly" release an affidavit proving that Harris had been given the debate questions ahead of time. The claim originated from an account named "Black Insurrectionist", which did not offer proof for its claim. The claim was amplified by Bill Ackman.{{Cite news |last=Bolies |first=Corbin |date=2024-09-12 |title=ABC Denies Kamala Harris Was Given Questions Before Trump Debate |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/abc-denies-kamala-harris-was-given-questions-before-trump-debate |access-date=2024-09-13 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913010403/https://www.thedailybeast.com/abc-denies-kamala-harris-was-given-questions-before-trump-debate |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Rashid |first=Hafiz |date=September 13, 2024 |title=MAGA Pushes Laughable New Lie to Excuse Trump's Debate Face-Plant |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/185939/maga-trump-debate-conspiracy-abc-fact-check-questions |access-date=2024-09-15 |magazine=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583 |archive-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917215901/https://newrepublic.com/post/185939/maga-trump-debate-conspiracy-abc-fact-check-questions |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Merlan |first=Anna |date=September 17, 2024 |title=How the debate whistleblower car crash conspiracy went viral |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/presidential-debate-abc-whistleblower-car-crash/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918020250/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/presidential-debate-abc-whistleblower-car-crash/ |url-status=live |quote=Nonetheless, the affidavit story was quickly picked up by a variety of sources, including, as the Daily Beast first pointed out, a fake news site called Leading Report, whose tweet about the affidavit has been viewed nearly two million times.}}

In July 2023, Leading Report published an article claiming a "new comprehensive study" by Steve Kirsch, who is known for promoting misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, found "that for Amish children, who are strictly 100 percent unvaccinated, typical chronic conditions barely exist, if any at all", including "auto-immune disease, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, ADHD, arthritis, cancer, and autism". The article cited anecdotal evidence Kirsch provided, and Kirsch had made no claim of a study finding zero cases of the conditions.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-18 |title=Claim by Steve Kirsch that the Amish don't experience autism, cancer, or high COVID-19 mortality because they don't vaccinate is baseless |url=https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/claim-steve-kirsch-amish-dont-experience-autism-cancer-high-covid-19-mortality-because-they-dont-vaccinate-baseless/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725125636/https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/claim-steve-kirsch-amish-dont-experience-autism-cancer-high-covid-19-mortality-because-they-dont-vaccinate-baseless/ |archive-date=2023-07-25 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Health Feedback |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=BrieAnna J. |date=July 24, 2023 |title=Yes, there are cases of Amish children with autism, cancer and diabetes {{!}} Fact check |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/07/24/false-claim-no-amish-kids-have-autism-cancer-diabetes-fact-check/70444122007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006062306/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/07/24/false-claim-no-amish-kids-have-autism-cancer-diabetes-fact-check/70444122007/ |archive-date=2023-10-06 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2023-07-27 |title=No evidence that Amish kids have 'zero' cancer, diabetes and autism |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N39D0IN/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208104111/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N39D0IN/ |archive-date=2023-12-08 |access-date=2023-12-01 |work=Reuters |language=en}} A leader for the Amish Heritage Foundation stated they were aware of Amish children with each of these conditions, and that claims to the contrary are "anti-Amish tropes. It marginalizes us Amish people and contributes further harm toward Amish children who need medical care and attention".

In September 2023, Leading Report baselessly claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine would increase the risk of stillbirths. The false claim was amplified by Australian senator Matt Canavan.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.theleadingreport.com/}}
• {{Twitter|id=LeadingReport}}

Category:2022 establishments in the United States

Category:Internet properties established in 2022

Category:Anti-vaccination media

Category:Fake news websites

Category:COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and hesitancy

Category:Climate change denial