Fact Checking

MBFC’s Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 07/15/2024

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Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers who 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

TRUE	Claim via Social Media: Project 2025 recommends military entrance exam for public school students. 10TV rating: True (Project 2025 recommends military exam for public school students.) Project 2025 recommends military entrance exam for some students
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: The COVID-19 vaccinated will pay more or be ineligible for life insurance. USA Today rating: False (There’s no evidence life insurance rates or eligibility are affected by getting COVID-19 vaccines. There’s no data to show COVID-19 vaccines are causing harm, which would be needed for them to affect life insurance rates.) COVID-19 vaccine does not limit access to life insurance \| Fact check
FALSE	Claim via Social Media: “Every single McDonald’s french fry comes exclusively from potatoes grown on Bill Gates-owned farmland.” PolitiFact rating: False (One farm that supplies potatoes to McDonald’s is owned by Bill Gates, the philanthropist and Microsoft Corp. co-founder, but it is not the sole supplier. The company’s websites in the U.S. and elsewhere list other potato suppliers.) No, McDonald’s french fries don’t all come from potatoes grown on Bill Gates’ farms
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: About 25% of the U.S. federal budget goes to foreign aid each fiscal year. KGW rating: False (It is around 1%) No, 25% of the annual U.S. federal budget does not go to foreign aid
MOSTLY TRUE	Claim by Joe Biden (D): In 2020, nine NATO members reached an alliance goal of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, and that number rose to 23 members in 2024, recent NATO data shows. PolitiFact rating: Mostly True (In 2020, nine NATO members spent at least 2% of their annual gross domestic product on defense, according to NATO data. In 2024, 23 NATO members will spend at least 2% of their GDP to build up their defenses, recent NATO data shows.) Joe Biden’s Mostly True claim about growth of NATO countries hitting 2% of GDP on defense Joe Biden Rating
FALSE	(International: France): A group of 50 people protested a French supermarket’s card-only policy, causing the store to reinstate cash payments. Full Fact rating: False (It is against the law for businesses to refuse cash in France in most circumstances, and there is no evidence this protest occurred.) French stores cannot legally refuse cash – Full Fact