You may be aware of the rightwing allegation making the rounds that the Biden administration is about to ban gas stoves nationwide. West Virginia’s senior senator, Joe Manchin, who certainly knows how to use such rumors to his advantage, was one of the first politicians to jump on it on:

This is a recipe for disaster. The federal government has no business telling American families how to cook their dinner. I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on. https://t.co/8IEFM44UvE

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) January 10, 2023

Of course, that was not the case*, as the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission quickly explained:

I want to set the record straight.

Contrary to recent media reports, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the @USCPSC has no proceeding to do so. Read my full statement: pic.twitter.com/bYS1GLEpXP

— Alex Hoehn-Saric (@HoehnSaricCPSC) January 11, 2023

Fact checkers have also refuted the rumor. Here’s the Associated Press:

Recent comments by a Consumer Product Safety Commission member prompted claims that the Biden administration plans to ban gas stoves nationwide. But officials say no such ban is in the works. Here are the facts. https://t.co/Qmi2fGVpho

— AP Fact Check (@APFactCheck) January 13, 2023

(See also, Reuters.)

Perhaps, our senator was just acting in the best interests of consumers. Or maybe, there were other influences. From Open Secrets, here are the top recipients from the natural gas transmission and distribution industry in this (21-22) election cycle -- note that no other senator comes close to Manchin’s total:

In related matters, this story broke yesterday:

INBOX: Manchin’s chief of staff becomes a top oil lobbyist pic.twitter.com/sQdoHZpjwa

— Adam Aton (@AdamAton) January 12, 2023

That’s our senator – always looking for our best interests.

*As the various fact checkers point out, the CPSC source was speculating and not discussing stoves currently in use.