George Santos claims without evidence that Democrats are ‘trying to ban toilet paper’ – Yahoo News
New York Rep. George Santos. (Photo illustration: Jack Forbes/Yahoo News; photos: Drew Angerer/Getty Images, Getty Images)
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., perplexed many Twitter users when he posted a tweet Thursday night claiming that Democrats want to ban toilet paper.
Republicans are working to put Americans First and lower the cost of living, the freshman member of Congress wrote. Democrats are busy trying to ban toilet paper and gas stoves.
Its not clear what he was referring to. Theres never been an effort to ban toilet paper in either Congress or any state legislature. Some Twitter users mocked Santoss claim with references to imaginary bills like the Ban Toilet Paper Act of 2023.
Other commentators accused him of lying or noted the lack of evidence for his claims some commenters obliquely alluding to Santoss numerous lies about his biography and alleged lies about his campaigns finances to which he did not respond. A few joked that he had uncovered a secret nefarious plot.
Santoss office did not immediately reply to requests for clarification as to what he was referencing.
One possibility is that he may have fallen for an April Fools Day joke. On April 1, New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher, a Democrat from Manhattan, put out a fake press release saying he would introduce legislation to ban single-use paper products including toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues, paper napkins and cardboard boxes.
He fell for it big-time, Bottcher told Yahoo News on Monday of Santoss claim.
I dont know about you, but my dream is to live in a world where people look at a roll of toilet paper and say, What is that? Bottcher said in his spoof announcement. The text included a few hints that it wasnt on the square, like a quote from a fictional activist, Scottie Cotton, President of CAK (Coalition Against Kleenex), who said, I prefer to think of it as bringing back handkerchiefs.
A few social media users seemed to mistake Bottchers satire for sincerity, but most seemed to get the joke, as did local news outlets one of which built out the prank into a fake news story featuring interviews with skeptical constituents bearing pun names such as John Throne.
Story continues
Bottcher took notice of Santoss tweet, impishly responding that Our quest to ban toilet paper may have gone too far.
Bottcher told Yahoo News he was surprised his press release had been taken literally.
Santos outside criminal court in Manhattan, April 4. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
I thought long and hard about the best April Fools joke to do, and I picked something that I thought was so outlandish that no reasonable person would actually believe it, he said.
This isnt the first time the council member has played a prank. On April 1 of last year, he proposed banning all vehicles in Manhattan except golf carts an idea that some unironically embraced and that he said triggered a few calls from angry constituents.
One reason Santos may have been inclined to take Bottcher's statement seriously is that conservatives have been increasingly concerned that liberals will limit access to popular consumer products for environmental reasons. In February, right-wing Canadian author and professor Jordan Peterson denounced the petty tyranny of a sign in a public restroom encouraging people to use only as many paper towels as they need and to throw used ones into a recycling bin.
Santoss claim may also stem from an atmosphere of growing partisan polarization and increasingly separate sources of information for the left and right, in which news consumers are likely to believe the most extreme, implausible claims about their opponents agenda. For instance, at least 20 conservative politicians claimed last year that public schools are putting out litter boxes for students who identify as cats, despite no evidence of any such occurrence. And a majority of Republicans believe, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen through fraud.
On the other side, a meme from the progressive group Occupy Democrats that was widely shared on social media falsely claimed that a majority of congressional Republicans had voted to raise the retirement age for Social Security. (The Republicans mentioned in the ad belong to the Republican Study Committee, which has proposed gradually raising the age for collecting Social Security, but no legislation has come to a vote and its not clear how most of the groups members would vote on such a bill.)
It is, in fact, true that toilet paper has a significant environmental impact, due to all the trees that are cut down to make it: Theaverage U.S. consumer will go through the equivalent of 384 trees just for toilet paper in their lifetime. Deforestation causes loss of wildlife habitats and contributes to climate change, because trees absorb and store carbon dioxide.
Rolls of toilet paper at a Walmart in Houston. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
To mitigate the impact of toilet paper production, environmentalists propose using recycled paper instead of virgin wood but not banning the product outright.
The other half of Santoss claim that Democrats seek to ban sales of new gas stoves, an issue that has recently become a common Republican attack is comparatively better grounded. Although neither the Biden administration nor any Democrats in Congress have proposed such a measure, cities such as New York and Los Angeles are phasing out the sale of fossil fuel infrastructure (such as gas stoves and boilers) in homes, and some Democratic legislators and governors have proposed the same at the state level.
In January, Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said the agency was open to banning new gas stoves in response to a growing body of scientific research linking them to indoor air pollution and related health risks such as childhood asthma. But after swift backlash, CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric said the commission has no plans to consider such a proposal.
Link:
George Santos claims without evidence that Democrats are 'trying to ban toilet paper' - Yahoo News
- A red-state Democrat test-drives a 2028 message: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrat Joe Jaworski to run for Texas attorney general again - The Texas Tribune - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Key Democrat sends letter to Fox News seeking info on edited Trump interview - MSNBC News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Andy Beshear introduces himself to South Carolina as the normal Democrat - Semafor - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Ron Wyden, a Democrat, Wont Let Go of the Jeffrey Epstein Case, Either - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrat voters who sat out last election want candidates further to the left: poll - The Independent - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Is Phillys DA race over? Republicans are polling whether Democrat Pat Dugan could beat Larry Krasner as the GOP nominee. - Inquirer.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- A top Democrat believes Fox may have deliberately sought to shield then-candidate Trump from any further association with Epstein. - Yahoo - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Sonoma County family loses their dream home after yearslong battle over permits, court-appointed cleanup company - The Press Democrat - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- What to know about the race to replace the late Arizona House Democrat - USA Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Alabama Democrat who flipped seat held by Republican for 20 years is leaving office - AL.com - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Scoop: House Democrat probes Trump's 22-year-old terror prevention official - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Cuomo says he is Democrat, running on an independent line and Mamdani is socialist on the Democratic line - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion: From a Democrat: The importance of Ron Hart and differing opinions - Chattanooga Times Free Press - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- The Texas Democrat Trying to Force Trumps Hand on Epstein: It Seems Like Hes Trying to Cover Up - Vanity Fair - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrat accuses Trump administration of diverting 'critical resources' from fighting organized retail theft - Fox News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | As Democrat Beshear eyes 2028, hell need to deal with the groups - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'What are you hiding?': Democrat urges admin to release Epstein files - USA Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Virginia Democrat on possible shutdown: Its time to stand up for the American people - The Hill - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Bernie Sanders on AIPAC: "No Democrat should accept their money" - The Jerusalem Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Tame that red afro: And other things Id have done if I knew then what I know now - Belleville News-Democrat - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Temporary closure of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge for construction - Daily Democrat - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- I'm a Zionist Democrat. Mamdani has me asking if I must choose between my ideals and identity - The Forward - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Game on: Fields fill for Tennessees open 6th and 7th U.S. House seats; a Democrat in District 5 - Tennessee Lookout - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- House Democrat Calls on Kristi Noem To Resign Over ICE Lies - The Intercept - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrat rhetoric has gone from defund the police to attack the police, says GOP rep - Fox Business - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Vote 2026: Fellow Democrat gets in the governors race before Lamont - News 12 - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Palmer predicts GOP will increase majority 'The Democrat policies are so stupid' - 1819 News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- 2028 Watch: Another Democrat Contender Heads To South Carolina - FITSNews - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- PD reporter spends hours fishing at Santa Rosa lake with a rattlesnake in his kayak. Experts say he got lucky - The Press Democrat - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democratic Party of Arkansas chair announces he will step down effective July 15 - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democrat who says he stands for underdogs will be one in quest to unseat Hal Rogers - Kentucky Lantern - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Rep. McCollum Joins Every Senate and House Democrat in Opposing the One Big Ugly Bill - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (.gov) - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Mayors Fourth of July celebration - River Valley Democrat-Gazette - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democrat Jeffries Sets Record In Speech Delaying House Vote on Trump Bill - Yahoo Finance - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Lucas: Trump should demand the unconditional surrender of the Democrat Party - Boston Herald - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- There will be consequences for GOP in 2026 after passing Trump's bill, says House Democrat - NBC News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Appeals Court Lets Trump Remove Another Democrat From Independent Agency - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat Warned To 'Avoid Vulgar Speak' After Ripping Trump-Backed Bill - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democrat sets record with 8.5-hr speech before vote on Trump bill - Times of India - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pennsylvania House Democrat on Fetterman: If you dont want to be here, leave - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces he will run for U.S. Senate again - Houston Chronicle - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred is running again for US Senate in Texas - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Dan Haar: CT's top Democrat on how the party outside of New York should respond to Zohran Mamdani - CT Insider - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Geoff Duncan weighs whether to run for Georgia governor - as a Democrat - AJC.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Rips Fettermans Beach Gripe: If You Dont Want to Be Here, Leave - Yahoo - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2nd Democrat announces campaign to unseat GOP congressman - Grand Haven Tribune - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat Colin Allred announces campaign for Cornyn's seat, O'Rourke testing the waters - fox4beaumont.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Longtime Pa. Democrat says he wont run for reelection to Congress - PennLive.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democrat McMorrow to report $2M haul for Senate bid - The Oakland Press - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Pat Williams, Last Montana Democrat to Serve in the House, Dies at 87 - The New York Times - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrats fight to exercise their oversight duties - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Billie Butler wins special election to represent Somersworth and Rollinsford in NH House - New Hampshire Bulletin - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Democrat Wyden presses Bessent to commit to US sanctions on Russia - Reuters - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- House Democrat demands VA disclose any spyware, AI installed on agency computers as part of DOGE initiative - Stars and Stripes - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Zohrans Next Challenge: Another Disgraced (Former) Democrat - Mother Jones - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Trump wins over lifelong Democrat with 'big, beautiful bill' and more top headlines - Fox News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee - NBC News - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Rep. Robert Garcia elected top Democrat on Oversight panel, setting new path for partys opposition - Federal News Network - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Hear heated exchange between Pam Bondi and Democrat over possible foreign influence on Trump - CNN - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- 88-Year-Old House Democrat's Staff Walks Back Comments on Reelection Bid - Newsweek - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Top Democrat says Trump strikes on Iran a 'massive, massive gamble' - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- As a Seventy-Two-Year-Old Democrat, Am I Too Young to Run for Congress? - McSweeneys Internet Tendency - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Democrat AGs push to move OB-GYN tests out of Texas - Dallas News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Robert Garcia earns key backing for top Democrat on House Oversight Committee - Washington Examiner - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Top House Intel Democrat warns 'we have no idea' yet whether U.S. strikes were successful - CNN - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Senior Democrat blasts Trump for not seeking congressional authorization for Iran strike - The Times of Israel - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- The Star Democrat's top 10 online stories this week - The Star Democrat - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Robert Garcia is a young Democrat with an old-style approach to moving up the House ladder - Politico - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party reaches consensus to remain in government coalition - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Party affirms continued coalition participation, urges review of ties with Cambodia - Nation Thailand - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the GOPs Big Beautiful Bill will negatively affect the healthcare - 25 News Now - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Democrat Josh Weil Running for Senate in Bid to Unseat Ashley Moody - FlaglerLive - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Oklahoma Democrat Kalyn Free Pushed for New DNC Elections And She Wants a Seat at the Table - Oklahoma Watch - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat - AP News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Colorado's Jason Crow named ranking Democrat on bipartisan House cartel task force targeting fentanyl - ColoradoPolitics.com - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Democrat announces run against Ernst after her 'We're all going to die' comments - ABC News - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Some federal workers lost health coverage they had paid for. A Democrat wants answers - NPR - June 5th, 2025 [June 5th, 2025]
- Kentucky Senate Democrat switches parties to GOP in major blow to Dem Gov Andy Beshear - Fox News - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Long-time Kentucky Democrat switching parties - The Hill - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]