MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 01/09/2025

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

TRUE	Did He Say It?: President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” Snopes rating: True (Correct Attribution) Yes, Trump Said He Wants to Rename the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America’
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Grok AI: President Joe Biden rescinded a Medal of Freedom given to Trump’s “campaign manager, Bradley Birkenfeld, in 2021.” Politifact rating: Pants on Fire (Bradley Birkenfeld, a whistleblower, felon and former banker, never received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Therefore, Biden could not have revoked it. Birkenfeld also wasn’t Trump’s campaign manager. Finally, no president has ever rescinded the medal.) Grok said Biden rescinded a Medal of Freedom from ‘Trump’s campaign manager.’ That’s Pants on Fire!
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Panama banned Trump family from country for 100 years. USA Today rating: False (Not yet. Originated as satire.) No, Panama didn’t ban Trump family from entering country \| Fact check
MISLEADING	Claim via Social Media: A post on X claims that 13 U.S. states have blocked the adult entertainment website Pornhub from personal access Check Your Fact rating: Misleading (Those states have passed laws regarding age verification on adult websites. The parent company that owns Pornhub voluntarily removed access for residents of those states.) FACT CHECK: Are 13 U.S. States Specifically Blocking Pornhub?
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Cow farts [methane emissions from cattle] are blamed for climate change, but there are bigger issues like people burning millions of tires in the deserts of Kuwait. Climate Feedback rating: Inaccurate (Methane emissions from cattle (cows) increase global warming, but climate scientists explain that carbon dioxide (CO2) has been the main driver; they do not claim that cattle emissions are solely responsible. Cattle do, however, release far more greenhouse gas – and a more potent type – than those emitted during the tire dump fires in Kuwait.) Tire fires in Kuwait have a much smaller climate influence than methane emissions from cows, contrary to claims
FALSE	(International: Canada): Claim by Benny Johnson: Video shows a crowd celebrating Justin Trudeau’s resignation. KGW rating: False (The original June 16, 2016 video shows soccer fans at a venue inside Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, England.) This video doesn’t show a crowd celebrating Trudeau’s resignation Benny Johnson Rating

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.