Covid

Did Statista publish a graph detailing the nationalities of the people described as "mercenaries" who fought for Ukraine and were killed in the Kursk region of Russia? No, that's not true: The data on the Statista website doesn't show the graph shared on social media. Unlike authentic charts published by that company, the graph omitted the source of the figures…

Does a draft paper by scientists at The Cleveland Clinic "reveal" that the 2024/2025 flu shot increased the risk of flu, as social media posts claim? No, that's not true: This study's finding that vaccination was "associated with" a higher risk isn't the same as showing the vaccine is what caused increased risk. The authors of the study found that…

Did South Korea issue a warning about mRNA vaccines, saying "6 billion people now have VAIDS" as a viral article claimed? No, that's not true: VAIDS is not a real condition and the story making originated on a notoriously unreliable website that did not cite any source to back up the claim in the headline. The only study cited in…

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 officers or credible media organization reported any connection between vaccination and Trachtenberg's death. "Died Suddenly," the name on an X account posting the…

Did a rumor about Kash Patel ordering a SWAT raid on three Pentagon officials, and the existence of surveillance footage capturing a four-star general shredding documents, originate with reliable news sources? No, that's not true: The story originated in a TikTok video that did not offer any sources or evidence. Neither Patel's X accounts nor news websites indexed by Google…

Has the Trump administration proposed payment of a 2025 economic stimulus check to Americans, as multiple social media posts claim? No, that's not true: Viral social media posts circulating in February 2025 built traffic by spreading the rumor that stimulus checks of up to $8,000 were soon to be distributed. But there is no public record of President Donald Trump…

What is chlorine dioxide, and is it a safe and effective cure or treatment for multiple health ailments, including childhood autism and COVID-19 infection? No, that's not true: Chlorine dioxide is a gaseous chemical that makes a bleach-like substance when added to water. The highly reactive chemical is used as a cleaning agent and can be fatal if ingested. Even…

Did a story about JAG arresting Phyllis Fong, the USDA inspector general who defied her dismissal by President Donald Trump, originate on a news website? No, that's not true: The story first appeared on Real Raw News, a site with a legal disclaimer that says it "contains humor, parody, and satire." The site has a long history of publishing made-up…

Did President Donald Trump sign an executive order on February 3, 2025, announcing the purchase of 2 billion doses of COVID shots from Moderna and Pfizer? No, that's not true: The order established a sovereign wealth fund, a government-owned fund that directs funding from various resources. In a video of the signing, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recalled purchasing pandemic-era…

Does a video accurately report "breaking news" about a woman who found a truck full of children's bodies in Mexico? No, that's not true: No recent news story matches the narrative's details as of this publication. The video clips in the montage are years old and were pulled from various sources, including different real news stories about bodies found in…