MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 05/20/2025

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 by Donald Trump (R): RFK Jr. banned eight artificial dyes from the food supply. FactCheck.org rating: Misleading (No ban exists yet; the administration is negotiating voluntary phase-outs.) Trump Overstates FDA Plans on Food Dye Bans Donald Trump Rating
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made a request on X.com for opinions about whether the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should investigate “a mysterious shell company” tied to three Democratic senators that received $622 million. Lead Stories rating: False (Satire Origin) Fact Check: SATIRE Page Created Fake Karoline Leavitt Post About Three Democratic Senators Skimming Hundreds Of Millions From Ukraine Military Aid
FALSE	Claim by Stephen Miller: The Immigration and Nationality Act “stripped Article III courts, that’s the judicial branch, of jurisdiction over immigration cases.” Politifact rating: False (Federal courts have limited jurisdiction over immigration cases, which are generally handled by immigration courts — under the Justice Department, not the judiciary branch. The Immigration and Nationality Act did not strip federal courts of their function to rule on the constitutionality of a president’s immigration actions.) Stephen Miller said courts can’t rule on Trump’s immigration actions. Legal experts say he’s wrong.
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): “It’s a genocide that’s taking place” in South Africa against “white farmers.” FactCheck.org rating: Unsupported (Most of the violent acts are committed during robberies in a country where most of the wealth and land post-apartheid is still owned by a relatively small white minority.) Trump’s South Africa ‘Genocide’ Spin
FALSE	Claim by RFK Jr.: It’s “all true” that the measles vaccine wanes quickly, was never fully safety tested and contains fetal debris. Politifact rating: False (Data shows that the two-dose measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles and experts say protection doesn’t wane. Scientists tested the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, called MMR, before it was approved for use and continue to perform ongoing safety surveillance research. Serious adverse effects are rare. The MMR vaccine may contain trace amounts of fragmented DNA, but it does not contain whole fetal cells or fetal DNA.) HHS Secretary RFK Jr. tussled with Sen. Chris Murphy about measles vaccine safety. Who was right?
FALSE	(International: India): The video shows Russian President Vladimir Putin recently calling Pakistan a “terrorist country”. The Quint rating: False This Video Shows Russian President Calling Pakistan a ‘Terrorist Country’? 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.