REVIEW Myths and misinformation about measles and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are persistent online, as documented in multiple reviews by Science Feedback. For decades, this misinformation has taken its toll on public health and contribu
Health Feedback→ Vaccine skeptics misconstrue studies to falsely claim that measles vaccine causes measles outbreaks
REVIEW In February 2025, social media posts appeared alleging that the current Texas measles outbreak, which began in January 2025, was caused by people who received the measles vaccine. One example is this article from The People’s Voice, publish
Full Fact→ Alcohol trial in football stands only for some women’s games
Alcohol trial in football stands only for some women’s games
PolitiFact→ Facebook posts – No, a vaccine campaign did not cause the Gaines County, Texas, measles case spike
A measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, was caused by “a public health initiative” to “distribute free measles vaccines.”
Full Fact→ Posts warning a killer is on the loose are false
The posts feature an image of a man who is allegedly on the run in connection with the incident, but this is not true.
Health Feedback→ “VAIDS” is not a real medical condition; causes of post-vaccination syndrome require more research
REVIEW A Facebook reel shared on 22 February 2025 claimed that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause “vaccine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” (VAIDS). The reel cited a study from Yale researchers that allegedly found these vaccines alter human biolog
Full Fact→ ‘Net Zero’ policy costs do not account for 25% of an electricity bill
A post shared on Facebook wrongly claims that 25% of an electricity bill is due to costs associated with Net Zero, and that these costs account for 40% of the recently announced energy price cap.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Did I Say That?’ Yes, Trump DID Call Zelenskyy ‘A Dictator’
Did U.S. President Donald Trump call his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy "a dictator"? Yes, that's true: Trump used the word "dictator" to describe Zelenskyy in a February 19, 2025, post on Truth Social. Despite that fact, Trump
Full Fact→ Image claiming Malia Obama received $2.2 million from USAID was shared as satire
The image is being shared by some as if it’s genuine, but there’s no evidence for the claim it makes.
PolitiFact→ Joel Kitchens – Do 90% of Wisconsin school districts ban cellphones during class time?
“90% of the (school) districts in Wisconsin already have a policy” banning cellphones during class time.
Full Fact→ Facebook post’s £3 ‘mystery box’ offer is not a genuine deal from Lego
The post directs users to claim a box by filling out a survey, but this links to a webpage that isn’t part of Lego’s official website.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: AI Image Shows Dead Pope Francis Laid Out In Front Of Congregation — Death NOT Announced
Is an image of what looks like the corpse of a dead Pope Francis seemingly laid out on two pillows, showing various blurry priests in the background, genuine? No, that's not true: The photo was generated using AI, according to an online d
The Dispatch→ Iran Makes Nuclear Strides
‘The Iranian strategy is to advance the program under fire.’
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: AI Video Shows Influencers Dancing At White House Holding ‘Epstein Files’ Binders — No Actual Dancing Was Reported
Did a video authentically show Rogan O'Handley, Chaya Raichik, Scott Presler, Liz Wheeler, Chad Prather and other people holding "Epstein Files" binders and dancing while exiting the White House? No, that's not true: An AI detection tool
The Dispatch→ But What Did Trump Actually Do?
It’s Yuval Levin all the way down.
The Dispatch→ ‘Christian Nationalists’ Have One Little Democratic Point
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment has at least as much to do with monarchy as with religious liberty.
The Dispatch→ Parents Need Power to Set Better Online Boundaries
There’s a role for government to play in giving parents authority over children’s digital lives.
The Dispatch→ In Ukraine, Foreign Fighters Warn of Russian Betrayal
Soldiers recall their fights in the Chechen wars and the republic of Georgia.
The Dispatch→ Donald Trump, Woodrow Wilson, and the Problems of a Free Press
The media’s rebuff of Wilson offers lessons for today’s correspondents.
Lead Stories→ Explainer: Is Joe Rogan Correct That Girl Scout Cookies Are ‘Toxic as Fuck’?
Is Joe Rogan correct that Girl Scout cookies are "toxic as fuck"? Here is what we know about the situation: Podcast host Rogan said on his program that a study of Girl Scout cookies shows they have high levels of glyphosate and heavy meta
FactCheck.org→ RFK Jr. Minimizes Measles Outbreak in Texas
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, downplayed the seriousness of an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, falsely claiming that people had been
The Dispatch→ Big Pimpin’
Trumpism is less a political project than a moral reboot.
Full Fact→ Trump and Starmer’s White House talks: fact checked
On Thursday the Prime Minister and the US President held their first face-to-face meeting since the latter’s return to office, discussing Ukraine, trade and a second state visit.
The Dispatch→ No, Roger Stone Did Not Discuss Massive Gun Confiscation With Trump
A memo addressed from Stone to Trump is fake.
FactCheck.org→ Posts Share Bogus Audio of Donald Trump Jr. Supporting Arms for Russia, Not Ukraine
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Quick Take A fake audio clip of Donald Trump Jr. saying that the U.S. should have sent weapons to Russia instead of Ukraine was shared across social media. Deepfake experts said
Lead Stories→ Explainer: Texas Child Dies Following Measles Infection — Key Facts About the 2025 Outbreak
In February 2025, public health officials in Texas reported the death of an unvaccinated child following a measles infection. As of this writing, national health authorities report at least three outbreaks of the highly infectious, vaccin
Internet Archive→ President Trump & British Prime Minister Hold Joint News Conference : CSPAN : February 27, 2025 3:28pm-4:03pm EST
[LIVE] President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a joint news conference at the White House following the conclusion of their closed-door Oval Office meeting. Sponsor: White House.This item belongs to: movies/TV-CSPAN.This item has f
The Dispatch→ Did Malia Obama Receive $2.6 Million From USAID?
The claim originates from a satirical Facebook account.
FactCheck.org→ Online Posts Misconstrue Data on Social Security Numbers
Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino. Quick Take Elon Musk shared a chart on X purportedly showing more than 398 million eligible numbers in the Social Security database. Online posts misconstrued the figures to wron
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: We Already Have The Epstein Flight Logs — Since 2015
Did the U.S. Justice Department just release the 1998-2004 flight logs for Jeffrey Epstein's Boeing 727? No, that's not true: We've had then since early 2015 and have embedded copies of the flight logs in several Lead Stories fact checks.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: BBC Did NOT Report ‘Elon Musk Is Wasting Everyone’s Time and Money’ — Screenshot is Fake
Did BBC News report that "Elon Musk is wasting everyone's time and money, and serves no real purpose"? No, that's not true: A search of the BBC News website on February 27, 2025, yielded no such report or headline. The broadcaster also di
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: NO EVIDENCE Michelle Trachtenberg ‘Died Suddenly’ Because Of COVID-19 Vaccination
Did actress Michelle Trachtenberg "Die Suddenly" at the age of 39 because of the COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: Social media posts spreading the speculation offered no supporting evidence. As of February 26, 2025, no investigating
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Claims Gene Hackman And Wife Took Their Own Lives — What We Know So Far
Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 26, 2025, and people are alleging that it was an "double suicide." Here is what we know: Oscar-winner Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their
The Dispatch→ Did the Philadelphia Eagles Reject Trump’s Invitation to Visit the White House?
Viral social media posts are unsubstantiated.
The Dispatch→ No, Maine’s Governor Did Not Say She’d Refuse to Collect Federal Taxes
Janet Mills has had a public dispute with President Donald Trump, but a viral image makes false claims.
The Dispatch→ Has Donald Trump’s Personal Travel Cost Taxpayers $10.7 Million?
The figure is an estimation based on costs from Trump’s golf trips in 2017.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Photo Does NOT Show Bill And Hillary Clinton Fleeing U.S. Before Epstein Document Release
Does a photo show Bill and Hillary Clinton fleeing the country just before documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case were expected to be released in late February 2025? No, that's not true: The photo circulating on social media is a still f
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: President Trump Did NOT Sign Executive Order Banning HOAs — Video Is A Joke
Did President Donald Trump sign an executive order banning HOAs (Homeowner Associations) in the United States? No, that's not true: The TikTok video making the claim offered no evidence it was real and it appeared to have been posted as a
Full Fact→ Is corridor care now the norm in hospitals?
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: GSA Has NOT Been Paying Chelsea Clinton $46,000 a Month Since 2003 — Story Originated On Satire Website
Did the General Services Administration send Chelsea Clinton $43,000 per month since 2003? No, that's not true: That story originated on a website named "The Dunning-Kruger Times" which has a clear disclaimer it publishes satire. It is ru