OTTUMWA —
Let's face it, this presidential campaign is already getting ugly. With the conventions coming up in the next couple weeks, that's not going to change.
But wouldn't it be nice if you could fact-check the politicians on the spot?
You can, provided you have a smartphone and PolitiFact's new "Settle It" app. The app, developed by PolitiFact and the Poynter Institute, with funding from the Knight Foundation, allows people to check politicians' statements against what the facts really say.
Four options appear on the app's homescreen: Settle It, The PolitiFact Challenge, Trending and Favorites. Settle It allows people to search by name or keyword to settle specific questions. There's a reason the app calls it "PolitiFact's Argument Ender."
While that might be the draw for many (who doesn't like having the last word in a political argument?), the challenge part of the app is pure fun.
The challenge is a quick, five-question quiz with three options for answers: true, false, and "Pants on Fire." You get points for getting questions right. Gain enough points and you move up through levels like intern and Congressional aide.
While the challenge is fun, it's not up-to-the-minute and produces the same five questions until the next quiz is released. In other words, it gets repetitive fast.
But if you're looking for a quick way to check on whether that campaign ad is accurate or if you can trust what a pundit is saying, the Settle It app may well be for you.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Related Photos
Share your thoughts!
New app fact-checks politicians
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
-
-
In fan fiction, your favorite characters do what you want them to
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
-
VIDEO: Orlando shootout tied to Boston bomb suspect
The FBI says it was involved in a fatal shooting near Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports that the victim was a friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombing.
-
Okla. officials vow not to quit looking until everyone is found
The tornado that killed 24 people and injured at least 100 others in the Moore and Oklahoma City area cut a 17-mile-long path that started in Newcastle and ended at Lake Stanley Draper. Nine of the dead are children.
-
Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
-
Where to get the best deal on beer, haircuts, movies
Looking for a good deal on a six-pack of beer? Try Charlotte. A haircut that won't burn a hole in your wallet? Harlingen, Texas, is your best bet. A trip to the movies? Hilo, Hawaii, is supposed to be nice this time of year.
-
VIDEO: Tornado survivor's missing dog found during TV interview
Barbara Garcia was being interviewed by CBS News about how she survived the destruction of her home to Monday's massive tornado in Moore, when the dog she feared dead was suddenly discovered alive in the rubble of her home.
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
-
Okla. front pages capture tornado aftermath
View how several Oklahoma newspapers covered Monday's massive tornado in Moore. Please note that officials revised the death toll downward early Tuesday morning after some papers were printed, but it is expected to climb again as recovery efforts continue.
-
Corn planting soars on break in the weather
The percentage of corn planted in Iowa grew by more than 50 percentage points last week with what experts called the first really good week of weather for farmers.
-
VIDEO: Pres. Obama's remarks on the Okla. tornado
President Obama speaks on Monday's deadly Okla. tornado.
-
LIVE BLOG: Massive tornado hits south of OKC
A massive tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. Follow live coverage of the aftermath of the storm.
-
VIDEO: Tumblr sold to Yahoo! for $1.1 billion
Yahoo! has purchased Tumblr for $1.1 billion, hoping to compete more effectively with sites like Google and Facebook.
-
What you need to know about preparing for tornadoes
Tornado survivors and seasoned observers suggest people do two simple things to prepare for tornadoes: Know where to take shelter, and move quickly when the time comes.
-
VIDEO: How technology helps predict tornadoes
At the National Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the team charged with predicting tornadoes relies on ever-changing technology to determine when and where storms may strike.
-
SLIDESHOW: Tornado passes through Oklahoma
A fast-moving storm brought rain, hail and tornadoes to Oklahoma late Sunday afternoon and evening.
- More CNHI/Southeast Iowa Headlines
-
