Unfortunately I've found journalists and/or their sources often lie about basic facts too, even when those facts are easily checked. You'd think they wouldn't

Unfortunately I've found journalists and/or their sources often lie about basic facts too, even when those facts are easily checked. You'd think they wouldn't do this. Probably they do it because they know most people will take factual claims at face value, or the journalists are so sloppy/confused that they themselves don't realize the claims are wrong.