MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 10/20/2026

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

BLATANT LIE	Claim by Byron Donalds (R): Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has paid off “most” of its state debt and now has “almost no debt.” Gigafact rating: False (Florida’s total direct debt fell from about $21 billion in 2018 to $14.6 billion by June 2025, a reduction of roughly 30%. Even using tax-supported debt, the decline was from $17.5 billion to $10 billion, meaning less than half was paid off.) Has DeSantis paid off ‘most’ of the state debt during his tenure?
TRUE	Claim via Social Media: A screenshot shared online in September 2026 authentically shows a 2012 tweet from U.S. President Donald Trump, reading, “Don’t let Obama buy the election by handing out unlimited free money to states.” Snopes rating: True Old Trump post about Obama using handouts to buy election spreads online after $5K ‘dividend’ promise
MOSTLY FALSE	Claim by Zach Nunn (R): “We have cut the largest taxes in U.S. history.” PolitiFact rating: Mostly False (Measured as a share of the economy, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is not the largest tax cut in U.S. history. Its new tax cuts rank tied for sixth-largest since 1980, while including the extension of the 2017 tax cuts places it third.) Zach Nunn said Republicans passed the largest tax cut in U.S. history. This is Mostly False.
MISLEADING	Claim by Mike Rogers (R): Abdul El-Sayed “has taken money from groups associated” with the Muslim Brotherhood and from individuals who openly support Hamas, Hezbollah and al-Qaida. Politifact rating: Misleading (Some El-Sayed donors or supporters have documented associations with organizations or individuals connected to Islamist groups, and one supporter publicly referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as “freedom fighters.” But Rogers’ wording broadly attributes those associations to El-Sayed himself, while PolitiFact described the evidence as cherry-picked and did not establish that El-Sayed supports those organizations.) Fact-check: El-Sayed and Rogers level personal attacks in first Michigan Senate race debate
FALSE	(International: India): Garbage dumped on Delhi’s streets to thwart planned protest. AFP Fact Check rating: False Old video of sanitation workers’ protest falsely linked to youth rally in India

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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