MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 11/04/2024

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers who are either a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) or have been verified as credible by MBFC. Further, we review each fact check for accuracy before publishing. We fact-check the fact-checkers and let you know their bias. When appropriate, we explain the rating and/or offer our own rating if we disagree with the fact-checker. (D. Van Zandt)

Claim Codes: Red = Fact Check on a Right Claim, Blue = Fact Check on a Left Claim, Black = Not Political/Conspiracy/Pseudoscience/Other

Fact Checker bias rating Codes: Red = Right-Leaning, Green = Least Biased, Blue = Left-Leaning, Black = Unrated by MBFC

FALSE	Claim via Social Media: Video shows “illegal ‘voters’ cutting the line” to vote in Pennsylvania. PolitiFact rating: False (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, election officials said in a statement that a viral video captured a brief conversation between a group of voters, their translators and a local election official at a polling location. The voters in the video were there to apply for mail-in ballots. The older and disabled voters were allowed to sit, rather than stand in line, as their applications were processed, which is standard procedure. Only U.S. citizens who are registered to vote in Pennsylvania would have been able to apply for a mail-in ballot.) Video doesn’t show illegal Pennsylvania voters cutting line
FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): “No, no crime is way up. … The FBI put out charts that crime was down initially … and it turned out that their stats were very wrong and very misleading.” FactCheck.org rating: False (The revisions made by the FBI still show crime is down.) Crime Stats Still Show a Decline Since 2020 Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Barack Obama said Donald Trump ‘tried to kill’ Mike Pence. USA Today rating: False (The post misquotes Obama, who in a campaign speech supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, said if Trump “does not care that a mob might attack his own vice president, do you think he cares about you?” Obama did not say Trump “tried to kill” former Vice President Mike Pence.) Post misrepresents Obama campaign speech in Pittsburgh \| Fact check
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: 132,336 duplicate absentee ballot applications were submitted in PA for the 2024 election, and that is proof of election fraud Lead Stories rating: False (Pre-emptive fake election fraud claims have already begun. Mail ballot applications are not actual ballots, and such requests are verified specifically to ensure that one voter gets one ballot.) Fact Check: Canceled Mail Ballot Applications In Pennsylvania Do NOT Prove Voter Fraud — It Proves Election Officials Verify Requests Before Sending Out Actual Ballots
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: An X post claims that President Obama repealed the Smith-Mundt Act in 2012, allowing the government to promote “propaganda” on domestic radio and television Check Your Fact rating: False (The Smith-Mundt Act was not repealed, but was amended by President Obama in 2012. This amendment did not authorize “state-backed propaganda.”) FACT CHECK: Was The Smith-Mundt Act Repealed By Barack Obama in 2012?
FALSE	(International: Palestine): An image shows a Gazan child suffering from the side effects of polio vaccine. Australian Associated Press rating: False (The image has been miscaptioned and the child is suffering from a skin disease.) Gaza polio vaccination campaign targeted by misinformation – Australian Associated Press

Disclaimer: We are providing links to fact-checks by third-party fact-checkers. If you do not agree with a fact check, please directly contact the source of that fact check.