MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 10/17/2025

Fact Check Search

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers that 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

MOSTLY FALSE	Claim by West Virginians for Health Freedom: “Vaccine makers are exempt from all liability for vaccine injury and death.” PolitiFact rating: Mostly False (Vaccine makers’ liability protections are not unlimited. Companies may be sued if the complaining party rejects the compensation fund’s offer; if negligence and fraud is alleged; and when a company’s vaccines are intended for adult use.) Are vaccine makers ‘exempt from all liability for vaccine injury and death’?
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Antidepressant drugs, known as SSRIs, “might be contributing” to school shootings. FactCheck.org rating: Unsupported (Experts say there is no direct evidence linking SSRIs to mass shootings.) RFK Jr. Misleads About Antidepressants and School Shootings
MISLEADING	Claim via Social Media: “Hamas is the only army in the world that wears civilian clothes during war and puts on uniforms during ceasefires.” DW Fact Check rating: Misleading (The image used was old — a still from a January 2025 video celebrating a prior peace deal, not the current ceasefire.) DW Fact Check: Gaza ceasefire disinformation — Israeli hostages freed, IDF withdrawal, and more
BLATANT LIE	Claim by President Donald Trump (R): “The Iran nuclear deal turned out to be a disaster.” PolitiFact Rating: False (The 2015 Iran nuclear accord successfully limited uranium enrichment and allowed strict monitoring. Iran largely complied until Trump withdrew in 2018, leading Tehran to scale back compliance.) Fact-checking Donald Trump’s speech in Israel on same day as hostage, prisoner releases Donald Trump Rating
FALSE	(International: Pakistan): Marco Rubio warned Israel of Pakistan attack in presser with Israel PM. AFP Fact Check rating: False Pakistan posts attribute fabricated ‘Israel warning’ to US secretary of state

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.