72 hour rule.

This is why research is needed. It's a very clicky headline, perfectly designed to play to our biases. That makes me instantly wary.

Without some credible corroborating particulars (that can be proven or disproved), I get out my container of salt and search for a grain to lodge with this story.

Look at how the story gets pumped up.

STAGE 1

(reportedly) Assemblyman Holley:

Sources tell me Barack & Michelle Obama have just boarded a private jet and are leaving the country!

FACT: Holley wrote a "source" (unidentified, anonymous) said [N] to him.

STAGE 2

Gunther Eagleman:

BREAKING: NJ Assemblyman Jamel Holley claims the Obamas have FLED America on their private jets!

They know!

NOT FACT:

Holley did NOT claim that the Obamas Fled. He reported that a source told him they were leaving the country. The only claim he actually made is that a source told him [N].

Injection:

"Fled" implies running wildly to escape [Y]. Might be true, might not be true, but we don't even know if the Obama's leaving the country is even true yet.

"They Know!" Again, 100% conjecture on the part of Eagleman. Not a fact. What do they know?

As my old daddy used to say, if something ain't a bucket, don't treat it like a bucket, and if something ain't a fact, don't treat it like a fact.

Stage 3

Hal Turner

There is a SINGLE Report from an elected public official in New Jersey, CLAIMING Both Barak and his "wife" Michelle, FLED the United States last night around 10:00 PM eastern US time.

NOT FACT:

Holley did not claim that the Obamas "fled" or did anything else. He claimed that a source told him [N].

Even though Turner takes u the Eagleman narrative as if it is fact, at least he acknowledges:

So the facts are murky right now.

Endeavoring to confirm or to disprove.

So, folks, this is a case of hype. There might be something to this story, or there might not be.

It's wise not to jump to conclusions without actual facts OR to promote wild, sensational stories without facts. We have the propaganda media to do that!

Speculate all you want, but researchers research, and facts matter.

Addendum: looking through X feeds to find any information. So far, only reproduction and amplification of narratives. No further facts.

Note: apparently, Michelle already "fled" the country a year ago. How about that?

https://x.com/BARACAPTAINBARA/status/1699475297194660024

<facepalm>

PS. Good post, OP. Because yes, "NEEDS DIGGING".