The daily check-in

Trending, checked.

Twice a day we pull the posts going viral on TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook and run them through the record. Each entry is a published verdict — what we found, why, and the sources behind it.

540 checks

Did Zelensky spit at King Carl XVI Gustaf?

X · At least 3.7M views, 12,000 likes, 2,500 quote posts per IBTimes UK; verify.py shows 13,962 likes; @DanielMacl1n copy 45.7K likes (X syndication) · resurfaced

False

The clip is a real but edited/truncated video that omits the handshake; reputable wire and official footage show the king and Zelensky did shake hands on April 17, 2026, so the post's implication that the king refused the handshake and that Zelensky spat is misleading and false.

PoliticsConflictView details→

Did Zohran Mamdani post a video coaching people on how to evade ICE?

X · @nicksortor 22,638 likes; @DC_Draino 10,274 likes (adds that it is 'so they can illegally vote' and be counted in the 2030 census); @Deancain 13,540; @SenMikeLee 8,507; original @NYCMayor video 84,822 likes; Mediaite coverage 23 Oct

Misleading

The video is authentic and was posted by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani; it provides standard 'know your rights' legal guidance in Spanish and lists the city's Immigration Legal Support Hotline. Characterizing the clip as 'coaching illegals to evade ICE' or as 'openly assisting federal crimes' is misleading — the mayor is giving lawful rights information and a referral to legal help, not instructions to commit crimes.

PoliticsView details→

Did Sabrina Brizzola claim Italy has achieved substantial recovery in early school leaving?

X · 5,153 likes on the clip (X syndication, 23 Oct); 'sabrina brizzola' 500+ on Google Trends IT; Repubblica, Corriere, Il Fatto, Fanpage coverage

True But

A genuine Porta a Porta clip shows Sabrina Brizzola, coordinator of the Unione degli Universitari, making claims about Italy's reduction in early school leaving and scholarship coverage and being interrupted by host Bruno Vespa; the broadcast and the on‑air admonishment are confirmed, while the student's statistical wording is partly supported but some specific claims (notably the assertion that Italy is uniquely failing to cover all scholarships) are exaggerations or misleading.

PoliticsEconomyView details→

Did Yolanda Díaz say she found out about SMI taxation through the press?

X · 1,843 likes (X syndication, 23 Oct); 'smi' 1000+ on Google Trends ES; El País, RTVE, LaSexta, ABC coverage; ministers rebutted

True

The video is authentic footage of the post–Council of Ministers press conference on 11 February 2025 where Yolanda Díaz said she 'found out through the press' about the SMI taxation and Pilar Alegría denied that account; multiple reputable Spanish outlets and the La Moncloa transcript corroborate the exchange.

EconomyPoliticsView details→

Did a viral video show massive demonstrations in Poland?

X · 6,903 likes (X syndication, 23 Oct); Maldita check 22 Oct

Misleading

Authentic aerial footage from Warsaw is being reused out of context: the video matches footage from the November 11, 2017 Independence Day march at Rondo Dmowskiego and does not show the October 2026 protests it is being used to illustrate.

PoliticsView details→

Did a man decapitate the Iwo Jima statue?

X · 9,030 likes (X syndication, 23 Oct); Melugin origin 7.5K likes; NY Post, Fox, Townhall; White House statement

True But

Police and multiple news outlets confirm that a Stafford man identified as Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano was arrested Oct. 21, 2026, after allegedly using a sledgehammer to damage the Iwo Jima statue at Quantico. Fox News reports (citing unnamed federal sources) that the suspect is a Mexican national and former DACA recipient, but that immigration detail is not independently confirmed in police releases or by other major wire services at the time of this check.

CrimePoliticsView details→

What did Donald Tusk say about Poland's asylum policy?

X · 158,385 likes on Tusk's post (X syndication, 23 Oct); opposition rebuttals; Konkret24 analysis 22 Oct

Misleading

The X post attributed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 18 October 2026 is genuine and widely reported, but its line 'we do not accept applications' is misleading: Poland has a time-limited, territorial suspension on asylum applications at the Belarus border, yet continues to receive asylum applications elsewhere. Other statements are political pledges or reflect existing hardline policy.

PoliticsView details→

Did a video show Milan citizens fighting back against migrants?

X · 150,260 likes (X syndication, 23 Oct); Facta reports over 14M views; copies in ES, FR, DE, RU, ZH; new Facta investigation 23 Oct

Misleading

The video is authentic footage from violent protests and looting in central Milan on Oct 18–19, 2026 showing a man confronting people outside an Under Armour store. However, the caption's claims that the crowd are '3rd world migrants' and that 'the people of Milan' collectively are beating them back are unsupported and misleading.

CrimePoliticsView details→

Did Enes Kanter Freedom get kicked out of a WNBA game?

X · 45,064 likes (X syndication, 23 Oct); 'enes freedom' 2000+ on Google Trends US; ESPN, NYT, Guardian, People, Fox coverage

True But

A video posted by Enes Kanter Freedom showing arena staff and officers preventing him from taking his purchased seat at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals is authentic and corroborated by multiple reputable outlets. He was denied entry/escorted out after refusing a private suite offered for his security, but his claim that he was removed specifically "for supporting women" is his interpretation and not independently established by officials.

SportsPoliticsView details→

What is the alleged amazing news from Melania Trump?

X · White House comms director's post, 759 likes within an hour (X syndication, 14:45Z 23 Oct); 'melania trump' trending on Google Trends US; CBS, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Mediaite coverage

Can't Verify

I could not verify the tweet's claimed "amazing news" from Melania Trump described as a "major step towards peace." The image appears to be an authentic press photo of Melania Trump, but searches did not locate a specific authoritative news item matching the claim; related peace-focused activity by the First Lady in 2026 exists but does not corroborate this exact post.

ConflictPoliticsView details→

Did Trump mention a booing crowd for Lindsey Graham at a SC rally?

X · 3,069 likes on the post (X syndication, 23 Oct); Newsweek fact-check 22 Oct

Misleading

The footage is authentic rally video and Trump did say Lindsey Graham 'passed away unexpectedly' and 'we love Lindsey Graham.' However the post is misleading: reporters who reviewed full footage found the boos in the clip were aimed at a heckler, not at Lindsey Graham, so the caption's implication is out-of-context.

PoliticsView details→

What did Rupert Lowe say about the near-blackout on June 23?

X · 5,331 likes per X syndication 23 Oct; Times 21 Oct 'Grid operator accused of cover-up over near-blackout'; Spectator 20 Oct 'How close did Britain come to a blackout in June?'; Tice calls NESO whistleblowing report a 'whitewash' (319 likes)

True

The video is authentic and shows MP Rupert Lowe calling for an independent, engineer-led review into system stress on 23 June 2026. Official regulator pages and parliamentary records confirm system stress during the week of 22–26 June and ongoing NESO/Ofgem reviews and a whistleblower investigation, supporting the post’s claim.

EconomyEnvironmentView details→

Did Flávio Bolsonaro Use AI to Create Fake Supporters?

X · vatniksoup post 22,890 likes (per X syndication 23 Oct). Comprova: character's Instagram profile has 522K+ followers; montages on Instagram, TikTok and X. Comprova check published 23 Oct, Lupa 20 Oct.

Misleading

The video frames are from real campaign events but have been digitally altered: AI-generated female avatars were inserted into footage of Flávio Bolsonaro rallies and circulated by social profiles (the so-called "Bolsonaro Bombshell"). Reputable fact-checkers confirm the manipulations and that the pages monetised followers, but they did not find public evidence that Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign directly created those AI profiles.

PoliticsTechnologyView details→

Did the carnage spread to Italy and other parts of Europe?

X · 5,083 likes per X syndication 23 Oct; video attached. Context: Le Monde, Guardian, Caixin 20 Oct report protests and clashes in Milan and Italy; Independent 22 Oct 'Europe's riots spread to Spain'

True But

The video appears to be authentic phone footage of looting and smashed shop windows. Major news outlets reported that unrest beginning in France did spread to Italy (notably Milan) in mid‑October 2026, so the factual portion of Nigel Farage's caption (that carnage reached Italy and other parts of Europe) is supported; the broader political characterisation in the caption is opinion.

PoliticsCrimeView details→

Are voting machines switching Democratic votes to Republican ones?

X · @DaizyZeeX 22.9K likes; @climatepaige vote-flip post 53K likes; @Suzierizzo1 8K likes (per X syndication 23 Oct). Snopes (False) and Lead Stories both covered the multi-state wave on 22 Oct.

Misleading

The post is misleading. While local voters in Tennessee and some other places reported touchscreen mis-selections during early voting, reputable reporting and fact-checkers find no evidence that voting machines are automatically changing Democratic votes to Republican ones; officials attribute the problems to user error, calibration, or device setup and emphasize voter-verified paper ballots and checks.

PoliticsView details→

Did Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff damage a WWII globe?

X · 1.75K likes per X syndication 23 Oct; Snopes (True) 22 Oct; picked up by Radio-Canada 22 Oct.

True

Multiple news outlets report (citing The Washington Post and an Army statement) that staff working for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth damaged a World War II–era globe associated with Dwight D. Eisenhower while attempting to move it into Hegseth's Pentagon office on Feb. 3, 2026; the description and photographs published by reporters match the image in the post.

PoliticsOtherView details→

Did No Kings rallies occur across the U.S. on October 17, 2026?

X · 38.7K likes per X syndication 23 Oct; Snopes rated the collage Miscaptioned on 22 Oct.

True

The post accurately describes October 17, 2026 "No Kings" rallies held across multiple U.S. cities; reputable news organisations reported the nationwide day of action and published dated photos and video that corroborate the claim. The montage appears to use real footage consistent with those events.

PoliticsView details→

Did Trump say Elon Musk restored Ukraine’s Starlink access?

X · WSJ report 22 Oct, Trump on camera 22 Oct; Kyiv Independent 22 Oct quotes a Ukrainian official calling the claims 'all false' (161 km/h cap still in place); Spiegel 22 Oct. Clip 131 likes per X syndication 23 Oct

True

The video is authentic press-pool footage of President Trump on Oct. 22, 2026. He did tell reporters that he would not comment on who called Elon Musk and said "the bottom line, he put it back." Major news outlets reported the same exchange; reporting on whether Starlink was fully restored contains conflicting technical accounts.

ConflictTechnologyView details→

Did a court filing identify Ilhan Omar under a false identity?

X · 28.7K likes per X syndication 23 Oct; Fox News 'not her real name' story and Trump calling on Omar to resign at Iowa rally 22 Oct (Newsweek); Omar's office calls it a smear.

True But

The image reproduces a real D.D.C. government filing that refers to Rep. Ilhan Omar as "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." That naming in the motion is confirmed by court-recap postings and news reports. However, the poster dds the inference that DOJ therefore believes she is present in the U.S. under a false identity; the filing's use of multiple names does not by itself prove DOJ holds that belief.

PoliticsCrimeView details→

Did Micheál Martin say 'How dare you lecture me about Irish neutrality'?

X · Fianna Fail clip 229 likes; rebuttal quote-post by ex-MEP Clare Daly 1,000 likes (X syndication API, checked 2026-10-22). Dail passed second stage 79-71 on 21 Oct; wide coverage (TheJournal, RTE, Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Clare FM)

True

The video is authentic Dil footage of Taoiseach Michee1l Martin speaking in Leaders' Questions. The Fianna Fe1il caption accurately represents his remarks: he did challenge opponents with 'How dare you lecture me about Irish neutrality' and argued that Russia should not be able to veto Irish participation in peacekeeping. His statement that Russia is attacking Ukrainian civilians is supported by UN reporting.

PoliticsConflictView details→

Did Trump call Google Maps to rename the Atlantic Ocean?

X · 14,590 likes on X (syndication, 2026-10-22); picked up by Hindustan Times trending and Terra Brasil Notícias 22 Oct

True But

Authentic rally footage shows Donald Trump saying he called Google Maps and asked to rename the Atlantic Ocean to 'Trump Ocean' and that Sundar Pichai refused; multiple reputable outlets reported the remark, but Google/Sundar have not independently confirmed the alleged conversation.

PoliticsTechnologyView details→

Is the Partido Popular's video claiming PSOE members are corrupt authentic?

X · 25,555 likes on the PP post (x-syndication, 22 Oct); it replies to Sánchez's viral 'Sí, soy zurdo' video; La Vanguardia, HuffPost ES, Cadena SER coverage; PSOE weighing legal action over the AI impersonation of Begoña Gómez

False

The video is an AI-generated montage published by the Partido Popular that fabricates statements by several PSOE-linked figures. The alleged admissions of criminal conduct in the clip are not real — reputable Spanish outlets report the post is synthetic and the lines are fabricated.

PoliticsTechnologyView details→

Is the US State Department issuing ordered departures for Gulf embassies?

X · Azhari post 491 likes; State Dept spokesman Tommy Pigott's quote-rebuttal ('This is inaccurate... Saudi Arabia only') 1,926 likes (syndication 22 Oct). JFeed (22 Oct) still reports 'U.S. officials told Reuters that missions in other Gulf states would also order family members to leave'; JNS and ynet

Misleading

The post echoes a Reuters exclusive saying the U.S. was preparing ordered departures 'across the Gulf', but the State Department spokesman subsequently said the ordered departure applied only to Saudi Arabia; the post is therefore partly true and misleading in its geographic scope.

ConflictPoliticsView details→

Did Abdul El-Sayed's campaign receive overseas donations?

X · 45,201 likes on the X post (x-syndication, checked 2026-10-22); NY Post 22 Oct reports the organizer was fired; El-Sayed/Rogers debate coverage across Fox, NY Post, Blaze · resurfaced

Can't Verify

The image is a genuine screenshot from an O'Keefe Media Group undercover video in which a man identified by the publisher claims the Abdul El‑Sayed campaign gets donations from overseas and acknowledges foreign contributions would be illegal. The El‑Sayed campaign disputes the speaker's employment and the allegation, and there is no independent, authoritative evidence or public enforcement action confirming that illegal foreign contributions were accepted.

PoliticsView details→