False claims about mental fitness lead the pack.

The mental acuity of President Joe Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, was a driving subject for political discourse and for rumors aimed at distorting our views on the issue. Don’t expect these claims to dissipate much as Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, has become the Democratic nominee. While these mental fitness claims largely hinged on the age of the candidates, there are plenty of rumors attacking Harris’ mental acuity — including one that featured a convincing impersonator.

The most popular method of spreading these falsehoods has been by circulating out-of-context videos and photographs, such as this video that purports to show Biden “waving” to nobody (he didn’t) or this video of Trump “forgetting” his wife’s name (he didn’t). Searching for the original footage can help you avoid falling for these deceptions.

Altered audio is on the rise.

While exercising careful, critical observation is often enough to detect...