MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/21/2025

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	Claim via Social Media: Actor Zach Galifianakis was friends with an unhoused woman for years, paying her rent and inviting her to Hollywood events. Snopes.com rating: True (The unhoused woman in question was named Marie “Mimi” Haist, who became unhoused following the breakup of her marriage in the 1970s.) Yes, Zach Galifianakis befriended an unhoused elderly woman, took her to Hollywood premieres
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): Volodymyr Zelenskyy “started” the war in Ukraine with Russia. PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire (This is Russian disinformation as Media outlets worldwide covered Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged it as a “special military operation,” saying the offensive would “seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.”) Did Ukraine start its war with Russia, as President Donald Trump said? No, Russia invaded Donald Trump Rating
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: In February 2025, Toyota and Honda were planning to shutter manufacturing plants in the U.S. as a result of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Snopes rating: False (Neither Toyota nor Honda announced that they had decided to close manufacturing plants in the U.S.) Toyota and Honda are not closing US plants due to Trump’s tariffs. Here’s what they said
FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): Judges “want to try and stop us from looking for corruption” and “hold us back from finding all of this fraud.” FactCheck.org rating: False (The court rulings do not prevent fraud investigations; they block unconstitutional funding freezes that bypass congressional authority.) Trump Distorts the Facts in Attack on the Courts Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim by thepeoplesvoice.tv: Bill Gates Caught Pumping Deadly Bird Flu Jabs Into America’s Food Supply. Lead Stories rating: False (There is no mention of any food supply in the U.S. being injected with bird flu vaccines in the entire body of the story, which was published on a site that routinely makes up quotes and sources.) Fact Check: NO Evidence Bill Gates ‘Caught Pumping Bird Flu Jabs Into Food Supply’ In Story With That Headline — Not Even A Mention People’s Voice Rating
FALSE	(International: India): PM Modi traveled in a taxi during his official visit in France. The Quint rating: False Edited Image Viral to Falsely Claim That PM Modi Travelled in Taxi in France

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.