MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 01/13/2025

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

MOSTLY FALSE	Claim by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I): H-1B guest workers are “being employed as dog trainers, massage therapists, cooks, and English teachers.” PolitiFact rating: Mostly False (H1-B visas are for highly skilled foreign workers. The majority work in computer-related fields. Some school districts facing shortages of qualified teachers have hired using H-1B visas.) Are H-1B visa holders hired as dog trainers, massage therapists? Here’s what Bernie Sanders misses
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): California Gov. Newsom refused to sign water restoration declaration. KGW rating: False (There isn’t a California water restoration declaration.) Fact-checking Trump’s claim about California water restoration declaration \| kgw.com Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: “Pfizer just released a few days ago the side effects of the jab” ; this lists contains more than forty medical conditions that are side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Science Feedback rating: Inaccurate (The list of medical conditions cited in the claim wasn’t released by Pfizer in 2025. It originates from a document submitted to the FDA in 2021 and has been publicly accessible online since 2022.) Pfizer didn’t release a list of COVID-19 vaccine side effects in 2025, contrary to allegations on social media
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: State Farm ended insurance coverage in Palisades in 2024. KGW rating: True (On March 20, 2024, State Farm announced it wouldn’t renew 30,000 homeowners’ insurance policies in California, including more than 1,000 policies in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades area. State Farm said the nonrenewals would occur on a rolling basis over the year, beginning on July 3, 2024. State Farm listed “catastrophe exposure” as one of the reasons it was not renewing the policies.) State Farm ended 1,000+ insurance policies in Palisades in 2024
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: A post shared on Threads claims to show Ukraine releasing a list of politicians, such as President Joe Biden, taking bribes. Check Your Fact rating: False (Zero evidence) FACT CHECK: No, Ukraine Didn’t Release List Of Politicians Taking Bribes
FALSE	(International: Pakistan): Ex-PM Khan’s party demands government to stop criticizing US, Israel AFP Fact Check rating: False Jailed ex-Pakistan PM’s party rejects fabricated report on release talks

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.