MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/18/2025

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

MISLEADING	Claim via Social Media: “We’ve had the flu vaccine for 78 years. We still have the flu.” Science Feedback rating: Misleading (Disease eradication depends on several factors, including the way a disease-causing microorganism behaves. Unlike diseases that have been eradicated, like smallpox and polio, the flu virus is more challenging to eradicate due to its tendency to mutate rapidly and its ability to infect animals in addition to humans.) Flu vaccine reduces risk of flu-related illness and hospitalization, even though it hasn’t eradicated flu
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: An image authentically shows a Truth Social post from U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he said of the prices of eggs and gas in October 2024, “On DAY ONE, I’ll SLASH prices.” Snopes rating: Fake (This image showed a fake post that never appeared on Trump’s Truth Social page. Even so, he genuinely and repeatedly made similar promises during his campaign.) Trump post pledging Day 1 price cuts on eggs and gas is fake
MOSTLY TRUE	Claim via Social Media: “Babies under 6 months have the second highest hospitalization rate after the elderly” Science Feedback rating: Mostly Accurate (Data from the COVID-NET surveillance network shows that, on average, the COVID-associated hospitalization rate of babies younger than 6 months is the second highest among all age groups, after the hospitalization rate of adults older than 75 years.) Infants younger than 6 months had the second highest COVID-associated hospitalization rate for most of the pandemic
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: Elon Musk spent $40 million buying Super Bowl commercials Lead Stories rating: False (He didn’t spend any.) Fact Check: Elon Musk Did NOT Spend $40 Million On Super Bowl Ads
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: The US Mint said it hasn’t made pennies since April 2023. USA Today rating: False (U.S. Mint data shows it has minted billions of pennies since 2023.) US Mint has put billions of new pennies into circulation since 2023 \| Fact check
FALSE	(International: India): Video shows an American reporter mocking an Indian journalist at the recent Modi-Trump press conference. The Quint rating: False Old Video Shared as Indian Journo Being Mocked at Recent Modi-Trump Presser

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.