The Record · weekly wrap-up
The Week in Grades
Jun 15–21, 2026 · 1240 reports fact-checked, averaging a B+
Every week Clad wraps up what its fact-checks found: the best- and worst-graded coverage, the claims most disputed by the evidence, and the stories that were covered heavily from one side. This is the same review the Sunday newsletter carries — kept here for the record.
Of the 1240 lean-scored reports this week, 269 leaned left, 663 read centered, and 308 leaned right.
Top of the Class, Bottom of the Barrel
See all →Best graded this week
Most disputed claims
Willy Burgdorfer’s work on ticks was connected to a biological weapons project
Burgdorfer discovered the Lyme bacterium; claims of bioweapons admissions appear in activist interviews but are rejected by scientific consensus and his documented career Read the full report →
Lyme disease outbreak near Connecticut may stem from escaped bioweapon ticks
Museum and ancient DNA evidence shows the pathogen predates U.S. labs by centuries; 2019 congressional review found no supporting evidence Read the full report →
Trump met Sisi first in a hotel; Sisi then showed little interest in meeting Clinton
Contemporary reports confirm Sisi met Clinton first for over 70 minutes before Trump on September 19, 2016. Read the full report →
Sisi's meeting with Clinton lasted about one minute because he did not want to see her
Clinton-Sisi meeting exceeded one hour per multiple 2016 accounts and campaign readouts. Read the full report →
Mexico is sending rapists and criminals across the border
Widely criticized as unsubstantiated generalization; CBP data showed varied migrant profiles with no evidence of systematic policy. Read the full report →
Blindspots
Andy Burnham drew 14 reports this week, and the coverage leaned heavily toward the right — if you only watched one network, you likely got one side.
Democratic Party drew 10 reports this week, and the coverage leaned heavily toward the right — if you only watched one network, you likely got one side.
DACA drew 6 reports this week, and the coverage leaned heavily toward the left — if you only watched one network, you likely got one side.