We heard no clapping; there’s no ovation in mashup of ex-Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s House speeches

Former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., speaks forcefully in a series of video clips shared in a recent Facebook post but the drama stops there. The post’s description suggests otherwise.

"'LISTEN NOW, SPEAKER' ANGRY Cawthorn SHREDS Pelosi with 'corruption' proof...gets OVATION," the May 6 post says.

It was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

A few things are wrong here. 

First, Cawthorn never says, "Listen now, Speaker," in the Facebook video. 

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Viral image

stated on March 17, 2024 in a Facebook post

Image shows “chaos unfolds on Senate floor — Chuck Schumer rushes out.”

Second, the video is a largely series of clips of him making short speeches on the U.S. House floor to what looks like a mostly empty chamber. 

Third, there’s no ovation. 

Instead, we have Cawthorn denouncing mask mandates, discussing  the Taliban, criticizing infrastructure legislation, and calling on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to assess the president’s mental competency. Plus, none of these videos is new. Cawthorn lost his reelection bid in 2022 after Republican challenger Chuck Edwards, a three-term senator, won the primary and then the general election.

We rate this post False.