MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/28/2025

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

BLATANT LIE	Claim by Kevin O’Leary: “We’ve never audited government for 100 years.” PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire (For decades, inspectors general have audited the federal government looking for waste, fraud and abuse. The Government Accountability Office has been doing it for more than a century. These auditors’ findings are public and accessible online.) No US government audits for the last 100 years? Here’s why ‘Shark Tank’ star Kevin O’Leary is wrong
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: A post shared on X claims that Fox News reported a Ukrainian psychological unit got $140 million per month from United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Check Your Fact rating: False (There is no evidence for this claim or that Fox News reported it.) FACT CHECK: No, Fox News Did Not Report That A Ukrainian Psychological Unit Got $140 Million Per Month From USAID
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: A photograph accurately shows a U.S. “distress” flag hung upside down from the side of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park by a group of employees. Snopes rating: True (A photojournalist for the San Francisco Chronicle captured the image and it is available on that newspaper’s website. Furthermore, the protesters released a statement to the newspaper and admitted to placing the flag there.) Workers hung upside-down US flag from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: Electric vehicles cause infertility. Being in an electric car will lower your testosterone. Science Feedback rating: Unsupported (Electric vehicles do generate low-frequency magnetic fields for their occupants, but there’s no evidence that these fields have any impacts on fertility or on human health in general – they’re significantly lower than recommended exposure limits. There is also no conclusive evidence that this exposure will lower testosterone levels or harm the human reproductive system.) No evidence that EVs cause infertility, and their magnetic fields are similar to those from household electronics
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: It’s “official” that President Donald Trump is signing an “order from Elon Musk giving taxpayers who have filed their 2024 tax returns a stimulus check for $5,000.” PolitiFact rating: False (I also have a bridge for sale. There have been no announcements and only minimal cuts have been made.) Is it ‘official’ that Trump approved a $5,000 ‘DOGE dividend’ stimulus? No.
FALSE	(International: Russia): Claim by Andrei Kelin: “Zelenskyy said he would quickly make peace with Russia, but instead, he started a war.” VOA rating: False (Russia invaded Ukraine.) Russia’s UK ambassador falsely claims Zelenskyy started Russia-Ukraine war

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.