In February 2026, fabricated audio clips circulated on social media claiming Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy discussed reinstating slavery, forced pregnancies, and eliminating church-state separation. The viral recordings showed people listening to an unidentified voice reading a purported transcript of the alleged conversation.

Snopes found no credible evidence the transcript was authentic. The videos spread across Threads, Facebook, and Instagram without verification. The claims included extreme policy proposals like mandating eighth-grade girls become pregnant and using religious schools as fronts for forced labor programs. Neither McConnell nor McCarthy has publicly supported such positions.

Both politicians have historically opposed slavery and supported school choice initiatives. McConnell has advocated for state-level abortion decisions rather than federal bans. The fabricated transcript contradicts their documented positions on reproductive rights and education policy. Representatives for both lawmakers were contacted for comment but had not responded at publication.