MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 09/18/2026

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only use fact-checkers who are either signatories to 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 TRUE	Claim via Social Media: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell voted against or blocked measures mandating employees receive sick leave in 1993, 2015, 2020 and 2022. Snopes rating: Mostly True (McConnell voted against sick leave-related measures in those years, though the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act provided unpaid leave, and in 2020 he voted for a temporary COVID-19 paid sick leave bill while opposing a stronger amendment and reportedly blocking an extension.) Did Mitch McConnell vote against sick leave during 4 separate years?
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Supreme Court justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett both disclosed “gifts” from the George Soros Foundation. Lead Stories rating: False (The claim originated from a satirical Facebook page labeled “Nothing on this page is real.”) Fact Check: John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett Have NOT Both Disclosed ‘Gifts’ From George Soros Foundation
FALSE	Claim by Zach Lahn (R): Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand “wants to raise Iowans’ taxes by $7,500 per year.” PolitiFact rating: False (Sand has criticized state and federal tax cuts and supports some sales tax increases, but his campaign said he does not support reversing Iowa income tax cuts, and the cited tax savings do not add up to $7,500 per household.) In governor’s race, Zach Lahn says Rob Sand wants to raise Iowans’ taxes by $7,500 a year. Does he?
BLATANT LIE	Claim by Ken Paxton’s campaign: James Talarico said, “God is nonbinary” and “God is not a Christian.” FactCheck.org rating: False (Talarico made those statements in separate contexts about human categories and Christian nationalism, but the AI-generated ad combined them into a fictionalized presentation.) Paxton’s AI-Heavy Ad Leaves Out Context of Talarico Remarks About Christianity
FALSE	(International: Russia): This video shows a Hindu teacher being assaulted by Muslims in Bangladesh. The Quint rating: False Video From Bangladesh Falsely Shared as One of Hindu Woman Being Assaulted

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.

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