MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/12/2025

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

FALSE	Claim by Tommy Tuberville (R): As head football coach at Texas Tech University, “I recruited (Patrick Mahomes) … I’ve got to be very good friends with him.” Politifact rating: False (Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., claimed on a podcast that he “recruited” Patrick Mahomes while coaching at Texas Tech, but Mahomes responded, “He did not recruit me.” Mahomes’ time at Texas Tech did not overlap with Tuberville’s tenure, and he stated that Kliff Kingsbury was the coach who recruited him.) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes: Sen. Tommy Tuberville ‘did not recruit me’
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Katherine Long, the journalist of the hit piece that got a DOGE employee to resign for spicy posts, is a USAID employee. How is this not a conflict of interest? Lead Stories rating: False (The reporter in question was previously employed by an organization that worked with USAID. At the time of this publication, Long was writing for the Wall Street Journal.) Fact Check: Reporter Who Broke DOGE Employee Resignation Story Did NOT Work For USAID When Article Was Published
TRUE	Did he say it?: In 2012, future U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted, “Why is Barack Obama constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority?” Snopes rating: True (Correct attribution as he tweeted it in 2012. He has recently surpassed Obama’s EO total.) Yes, Trump rebuked Obama in 2012 for ‘constantly issuing executive orders’
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: ‘Direct File’ tax program is no longer available to Americans. USA Today rating: False (Still there) Taxpayers can still use Direct File for free online filing as of Feb. 7 \| Fact check
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Bill Gates wrote an article headlined “Depopulation through forced vaccination: the zero carbon solution!” Full Fact rating: False (This article was written by another person about Mr Gates. We can find no evidence Mr Gates has written or said anything about killing people through forced vaccines.) Bill Gates did not write an article about using ‘forced vaccines’ for depopulation – Full Fact
FALSE	(International: United Kingdom): Facebook users have shared mugshots of two American criminals claiming that they are suspected serial killers who are currently roaming around various neighborhoods of the United Kingdom. Logically Facts rating: False Serial killers on loose in U.K? No, viral posts are false

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.