MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/05/2025

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 TRUE	Claim by Ron Johnson (R): We’re one of the very few nations that allowed birthright citizenship. Politifact rating: Mostly True (About 18% of countries, mostly in the Western Hemisphere, offer unrestricted birthright citizenship, with the U.S. and Canada being the only “advanced economies” to do so.) Wis. Sen. Johnson says US is one of ‘very few’ nations with birthright citizenship
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Claim by Post: claims 1,500 IRS agents purportedly resigned after Trump threatened them with ‘border duty’ Check Your Fact rating: False (Originated as satire) FACT CHECK: Did 1,500 IRS Agents Resign After Trump Threatened Them With ‘Border Duty?’
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: Is the Defense Intelligence Agency memo announcing a pause to cultural holiday observances real? KREM rating: True (The memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press and confirmed by a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was sent in response to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal workforce.) Is the DIA memo pausing cultural holiday observances real?
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: Flight path data proves that American Eagle Flight 5342 suddenly reversed direction before fatally crashing into the Potomac River. Lead Stories rating: False (The reversal shown in a clip streamed by global flight tracking service Flightradar24 was due to a “jump” in data. The program switching between data sources caused that.) Fact Check: Flight Path Map Does NOT Prove Flight 5342 Suddenly Reversed Direction Before Fatal Crash
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Photo shows Black Hawk helicopter pilot in fatal crash worked for years with President Joe Biden at the White House. PolitiFact rating: False (Social media posts claiming to show U.S. Army Capt. Rebecca Lobach show a different woman who worked as a White House press assistant.) No, this photo does not show fallen Army pilot posing with Biden
FALSE	(International: United Kingdom): Heathrow is holding an ‘unclaimed baggage sale’. Logically Facts rating: False Fact-check: Is Heathrow airport selling unclaimed luggage? No!

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.