PolitiFact

For the first time since 2009, PolitiFact is recalibrating the Lie of the Year — our award for the most egregious falsehood we've seen in a year's worth of fact-checking. This year, we want to focus less on the offenders who perpetuate the falsehoods, and more on those who are hurt by them. So “congratulations” 2025. PolitiFact names you Year of the Lies. 🧵 buff.ly/0xMtlSp

During an Oval Office meeting with Japan’s prime minister today, President Donald Trump said the U.S. gets practically no oil from the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. does get less than other major countries do, but that doesn’t mean Iran’s blockage of the strait would have negligible impact on the U.S. and its economy. Oil is priced internationally, and the U.S. continues to import substantial amounts of oil. So the U.S. will also be hit when the price of oil rises. buff.ly/qfTF9Xy

Thirteen American service members have died in the Iran war. AI-generated videos of toddlers crying over flag-draped coffins are going viral. buff.ly/V1O14zC

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised the U.S. would have a definition of “ultra-processed foods” by April. Experts have long disagreed about the term, but Brazil might have an answer. buff.ly/1kpHEEe

President Donald Trump said the U.S. has “destroyed 100% of Iran's military capability” and Iran is “totally defeated.” However, Iran continues to fire drones and missiles, and some experts say this means the country is not defeated. buff.ly/RUFk4MO

Over several days, social media users stoked rumors that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dead. The narrative was fueled by out of context videos, fake images and accusations that the Israeli government used artificial intelligence to deceive. buff.ly/jUZpGyR

Lymphatic drainage massages, or gentle massages that stimulate lymph movement throughout the body, get a lot of social media buzz. But you probably don’t need one unless you’re experiencing a lymphatic system issue such as swelling. buff.ly/2m62Ft8

Even as the Trump administration has changed vaccine recommendations, major insurance companies have largely continued to cover vaccines the U.S. government previously recommended. A recent court ruling hasn’t altered that. buff.ly/htbpZBS

During a Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he responded “immediately without the facts” when he called Alex Pretti a “deranged individual.” Mullin did not walk back comments criticizing Sen. Rand Paul. politifact.com/article/2026/m…

Sen. Gary Peters said Homeland Security Investigations agents have been transferred to immigration enforcement. About 6,000 HSI agents, “almost the subagency’s entire contingent of law enforcement officers,” have been diverted to support ICE’s mass deportation efforts, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. buff.ly/1kwozXh

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., repeated the incorrect statement that President Joe Biden "lost track of 450,000 children who were trafficked across our border." That's wrong. buff.ly/i1USPqN

Lymphatic drainage massages, or gentle massages that stimulate lymph movement throughout the body, get a lot of social media buzz. But you probably don’t need one unless you’re experiencing a lymphatic system issue such as swelling. buff.ly/2m62Ft8

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., asked Mullin, “Who won the 2020 election?” Mullin replied: “We know that President Joe Biden was sworn into office,” but did not say that he won. As a House member, Mullin denied the legitimacy of the 2020 election. buff.ly/1kwozXh

As the Senate debates the SAVE America Act, many lawmakers will point to polls showing bipartisan support for voter ID. But polls present voter ID as a yes or no choice without nuances. buff.ly/rlpYoHR

Senators said during Mullin's confirmation hearing that FEMA has stalled awarding contracts or grants. That’s accurate. A directive from Kristi Noem requiring her sign off for any expenditure over $100,000 delayed billions of dollars in grants and loans. buff.ly/kzomras

President Donald Trump said today on Truth Social “No Rigged Mail-In Voting (We are the only Country in the World that allows this!).” Dozens of countries allow mail-in voting. We rated a similar statement by Trump as False. buff.ly/0W0y0jj

Mullin said the Trump administration has “actually recovered over 160,000 kids that were trafficked or lost during the Biden administration.” And that at one point the number of lost children was 385,000. This distorts federal data. buff.ly/i1USPqN

After federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Mullin told Fox News that Pretti was "a deranged individual that came in to cause massive damage with a loaded pistol.” During his confirmation hearing, Mullin told senators “those words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn't have said that.” Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, had a concealed carry permit. Video analysis did not show him approaching law enforcement with a handgun. buff.ly/4AnX3NS

Lankford asked Mullin how he would improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both Lankford and Mullin represent Oklahoma, a state prone to tornadoes. Mullin has previously said FEMA is necessary but the agency is hard to work with. buff.ly/1kwozXh

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said, "the American people should know this: ICE is right now funded with more money than it's had in past budgets, and the partial shutdown that we have right now has nothing to do with ICE." ICE is funded, but Homeland Security’s shutdown began after midnight Feb. 13 because of a funding impasse in Congress. Democrats proposed several measures to rein in ICE agents, including requiring them to wear ID and no masks, prohibiting enforcement at schools and churches and expanding training. Republicans rejected that plan. buff.ly/1kwozXh

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. asked Mullin to explain his recent comments about the “smell” of war and “special assignments” outside of the Department of Defense. Here’s what we know. buff.ly/9elYn6T