MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 02/08/2026 (Weekend Edition)

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

BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: “An image shows Jeffrey Epstein still alive and walking the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel.” PolitiFact rating: Pants on Fire! (The image is AI-generated; the original version displays Google Gemini’s watermark, it first appeared in an AI-image Reddit forum, and the Hebrew street signage shown does not correspond to any real location in Tel Aviv.) Was Jeffrey Epstein recently spotted in Tel Aviv? No, this image is AI-generated
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: The school attended by Liam Ramos, the Minnesota 5-year-old detained by ICE, closed in early February 2026 due to a bomb threat immediately after Liam returned home on a judge’s orders. Snopes rating: True (The entire Columbia Heights Public Schools district closed on Feb. 2.) Did the school of Liam Ramos, 5-year-old detained by ICE in Minnesota, close because of bomb threat?
FALSE	Claim by Donald Trump (R): “Factory construction is up by 41%.” FactCheck.org rating: False (U.S. Census Bureau data show manufacturing construction spending peaked in 2024 and then declined under Trump; the “41%” figure comes from a White House comparison that relies on elevated spending driven largely by Biden-era CHIPS Act megaprojects and does not reflect the downward trend since late 2024.) Manufacturing Construction Spending Declines Under Trump Donald Trump Rating
FALSE	(International: United Kingdom): The UK government is introducing mandatory digital ID for babies and parents who refuse will face having their children seized. Australian Associated Press rating: False (The UK government has not announced plans to extend digital ID to babies under the penalty of child seizure.) No, the UK isn’t threatening to seize babies over digital ID \| AAP

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.