Item: MBFC’s Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 04/18/2026 (Weekend Edition)
Rating: Right
Author: Media Bias Fact Check

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 by Elon Musk: COVID-19 vaccines may have killed tens of thousands of people in Germany. FactCheck.org rating: False (The claim is based on a misuse of vaccine safety monitoring data; reported deaths after vaccination are not evidence of causation, and large studies show no increased risk of death from COVID-19 vaccines.) Elon Musk Amplifies Baseless Claim About COVID-19 Vaccine
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement condemning an insult aimed at Pope Leo XIV and wrote, “the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person.” Snopes rating: True (Correct Attribution) Iran’s president condemns ‘insult’ to Pope Leo XIV, calls ‘desecration of Jesus’ unacceptable
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: Hegseth falsely presented lines from Pulp Fiction as a real biblical quote Lead Stories rating: False (Hegseth described it as a prayer used by the “Sandy One” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission in Iran, saying it was “meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17.” He did not claim it was the actual Bible verse. Known as “CSAR 25:17,” it paraphrases a speech delivered by actor Samuel L. Jackson’s character in the film, which itself is not an accurate recitation of the passage from Ezekiel.) Fact Check: Pete Hegseth Did NOT Falsely Present Lines From ‘Pulp Fiction’ As Real Bible Verse
FALSE	(International: North Korea): Video shows Kim Jong Un offering to mediate between US and Iran. AFP Fact Check rating: False Old North Korean leader speech misrepresented as offer to mediate Mideast 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.