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Category: News

  • Harry Smith To Return To NBC News As A Contributor

    Harry Smith To Return To NBC News As A Contributor

    Harry Smith is returning to NBC News as a contributor, with plans to report on feature stories called Common Good.

    Smith’s return is official as of Monday, when he will appear at a Common Ground live event hosted by the network. The network confirmed his return, first reported by People. He told the publication, “I have long believed that there is more that unites us than divides us. It’s in our bones. It’s part of America’s DNA.”

    Smith departed the network in March, 2024 after 12 years, with a send-off on NBC’s Today. “I have nothing but gratitude,” he said. “Every time I would always come on this show, I was always welcomed so generously. I’ve had just this unbelievable array of phenomenal experiences since coming to NBC, and so I’m really full of nothing but gratitude. Every time I’ve come on, everyone would drop their phones, pay attention to the story and then respond.”

    Smith previously hosted CBS This Morning and its predecessor, The Early Show, for 17 years. After departing NBC News in 2024, he has been teaching at Central College in Iowa.

  • 21 rumors involving the United Nations we’ve examined

    21 rumors involving the United Nations we’ve examined

    Arkam, Susan M. . “The Failures of the UN in the Israel-Palestine Conflict.” OpenGlobalRights, https://www.openglobalrights.org/failures-un-israel-palestine-conflict/. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

    United Nations. “United Nations Charter (Full Text).” United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

    United States – General Debate, 81st Session | UN Web TV. 22 Sept. 2026, https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17/k17vgtoa6m.

    “Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations.” The White House, 5 Feb. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-and-ending-funding-to-certain-united-nations-organizations-and-reviewing-united-states-support-to-all-international-organizations/.

  • 9 times we’ve debunked fake Trump quotes

    9 times we’ve debunked fake Trump quotes

    Don’t believe claim Trump called Warren Buffett, other public figures ‘offenders of Jesus’

    June 14, 2026


    Had the claims been true, Trump would have offended celebrities, royals and religious heads, amo …

    Read More

  • 10 rumors involving the Secret Service we’ve unraveled

    10 rumors involving the Secret Service we’ve unraveled

    Yes, Vance’s security detail raised water level of Ohio river ahead of boating trip. Here’s context

    Aug. 7, 2025


    Officials said they raised the water level to ensure the safety of Secret Service personnel.

    Read More

  • Benjamin Netanyahu: 16 claims we’ve fact-checked

    Benjamin Netanyahu: 16 claims we’ve fact-checked

    Did Netanyahu once say, ‘America is a golden calf and we will suck it dry’? There’s no proof

    June 9, 2026


    The alleged quote from Israel’s prime minister has repeatedly resurfaced online since 2015, but …

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  • The truth behind footage that supposedly shows Italy’s PM Meloni wearing Palestinian flag at UN event with Netanyahu

    The truth behind footage that supposedly shows Italy’s PM Meloni wearing Palestinian flag at UN event with Netanyahu

    Claim:

    Videos authentically show Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wearing a Palestinian flag at a United Nations event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Rating:

    Fake

    In September 2026, as the United Nations held its annual meeting in New York, a video (archived) circulated online that social media users claimed showed Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wearing a Palestinian flag at a United Nations event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    One X user shared the video, writing:  

    BREAKING:📷  
    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni:
    “I am a woman and also a mother. 
    I cannot stand with someone who kills innocent children.”  
    The brave woman continued to walk around wearing a Palestinian flag around her neck in front of Netanyahu.

    The same video also circulated elsewhere on X (archived, archived).

    Snopes previously investigated the footage in May 2026. We found then it was fake.

    The clip came from a TikTok account (archived) that created several fake videos of the same scenario and contained visual signs of artificial intelligence software.

    The TikTok user marked some of these videos as AI-generated, though the label was missing from some versions of the footage that spread widely on other platforms. We confirmed the video was an AI-generated fake because it showed an incorrectly rendered Palestinian flag at the eight-second mark. 

    There’s no record of Netanyahu and Meloni attending the same U.N. event in 2026 either. According to the reputable photo agency Getty Images, the two last met in March 2023 in Rome. Meloni did not attend the annual meeting in September 2026.

    Meloni targeted by AI and deepfakes

    It was unclear why the TikTok account in question decided to create a fake video of Meloni suggesting she had a poor relationship with Netanyahu.

    In August 2025, Meloni criticized the Israeli military’s response to the 2023 Hamas attacks as “beyond the principle of proportionality.” In April 2026, she announced Italy would not renew a defense agreement with Israel. She reportedly did not specify a reason beyond referring to “the current situation.”

    Meloni wrote (archived) on X on May 5, 2026, that she was the subject of several popular AI-generated photos, including one that appeared to show her in underwear. 

    The Italian prime minister wrote, “Deepfakes are a dangerous tool, because they can deceive, manipulate, and strike anyone. I can defend myself. Many others cannot.”

    “Deepfake” is an umbrella term for AI-generated content. This content can be generated by altering existing, authentic material or created from scratch. According to the Alan Turing Institute, the U.K.’s national institute for data science and AI, deepfakes are often created “with the intention to deceive or entertain viewers.”

    For further reading, Snopes routinely debunks fake or deepfake content.

    Sources

    BARRY, COLLEEN. ‘Israeli Attacks on Gaza Are “beyond the Principle of Proportionality,” Italy’s Meloni Says’. AP News, 27 Aug. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/italy-meloni-gaza-condemns-israel-c6fac4c49322871f60eb4ebf88c2bd30.

    FRANKEL, JULIA, and PHIL HOLM. ‘These Numbers Show How 2 Years of War Have Devastated Palestinian Lives in Gaza’. AP News, 7 Oct. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/october-7-deaths-israel-hamas-war-707cd188234d3fa5bb3129426cf703c5.

    Ghiglione, Davide, and Laura Gozzi. ‘Italy Will Not Renew Defence Agreement with Israel, Meloni Says’. BBC News, 14 Apr. 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr71184ex91o.

    Smith, Whitney. ‘Flag of Palestine Liberation Organization’. Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Palestine-Liberation-Organization.

    Swatton, Phil, and Margaux Leblanc. What Are Deepfakes and How Can We Detect Them? 7 June 2024, https://www.turing.ac.uk/blog/what-are-deepfakes-and-how-can-we-detect-them.
     

  • 25 claims about US-Canada relations we’ve investigated since Trump was reelected

    25 claims about US-Canada relations we’ve investigated since Trump was reelected

    Boak, Josh. “Trump 50% Tariffs Target Canadian Autos, Alcohol and Cheese.” AP News, 20 July 2026, https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-50-tariff-autos-alcohol-cheese-ca268ef24992b16695954c4c2e5eae6a. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Gillies, Rob. “Canada-US Trade War Further Ruptures a Historic Alliance.” AP News, 22 Aug. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trade-war-trump-carney-tariffs-4d18583fe52134ca8550652ad9772d2c. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Gillies, Rob. “Trump Widens Trade War with Canada beyond Tariffs. Here’s What to Know.” AP News, 9 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/canada-trump-carney-trade-war-tariffs-4620ffb5ecc029322217207fa6758431.

    —. “Mark Carney Signals Canada May Hold off on New Retaliation Against Donald Trump Trade Measures.” AP News, 10 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-tariffs-ford-carney-700d1eaad7f1aa87f1d7875222691b35. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    Pettypiece, Shannon. “Trump Puts Tariffs on Thousands of Goods From Canada and Mexico, Risking Higher Prices.” NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/trump-puts-tariffs-thousands-goods-canada-mexico-risking-higher-prices-rcna194542. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

    —. “Trump Slaps Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, Risking Higher Prices for U.S. Consumers.” NBC News, Feb. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-slaps-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-risking-higher-prices-us-consu-rcna190185. Accessed 22 Sept. 2026.

  • 14 rumors we’ve investigated about US-China relations

    14 rumors we’ve investigated about US-China relations

    CBSNews.com, Caitlin Yilek Politics Reporter Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at, et al. Trump Gives Primetime Speech on Elections as White House Alleges Chinese Access to Voter Data. 17 July 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-primetime-speech-elections-china/.

    Christensen, Laerke. “Image Claiming to Show Trump with Young Girl during China Visit Is Fake. Here’s Proof.” Snopes, 19 May 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-girl-gift-china-visit/.

    ———. “No, China Didn’t ‘cancel’ US Beef amid Tariffs Tit-for-Tat.” Snopes, 14 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/china-cancels-us-beef/.

    Deng, Rae. “Did Canada Import Chinese Steel and Resell It to US to Avoid Tariffs? What We Know.” Snopes, 4 Sept. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/09/04/canada-chinese-steel-us-tariffs/.

    ———. “Trump Posted Conservative Radio Host’s Derogatory Statement about People of India, China.” Snopes, 24 Apr. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-people-india-china-post/.

    ———. “Unpacking Claim Trump Admin Dumped Gifts from China before Leaving Country.” Snopes, 18 May 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/05/18/trump-dumped-gifts-china/.

    Esposito, Joey. “Talarico Voted against Bill Meant to Protect Texas Land from Chinese Interests. Here’s Why.” Snopes, 3 Sept. 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/talarico-china-texas-land-bill/.

    Ibrahim, Nur. “Fake Image Shows Trump, Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang with Fists up in Front of CCP Flag.” Snopes, 15 May 2026, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-musk-huang-fists-up/.

    In Their Own Words: Officials Refuting False Claims of Voter Fraud | Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/their-own-words-officials-refuting-false-claims-voter-fraud. Accessed 24 July 2026.

    Izzo, Jack. “Chinese Investors Are Buying Farmland Around US Military Bases?” Snopes, 23 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/07/23/chinese-farmland-military-bases/.

    Kasprak, Alex. “What We Know About Alleged ‘Secret Affair’ Walz Had with Chinese Communist Party Official’s Daughter.” Snopes, 4 Nov. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/11/04/walz-jenna-wang-ccp/.

    ———. “Yes, Biden Commuted Sentences of Chinese Spies and Sex Offender. Here’s What Else We Found.” Snopes, 21 Dec. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/biden-pardon-chinese-spies-for-prisoner-swap/.

    MADHANI, AAMER, et al. “Trump Hails Deep Friendship with Xi as China’s Leader Urges ‘Healthy’ Competition between 2 Powers.” The Associated Press, 24 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-state-visit-e21305f04e21bae2c083282a8bfc8321.

    Moseley, Terry. “Trump Revives 2020 Election Meddling Allegations. Here’s What Followed.” USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/07/16/trump-2020-election-challenge-explained/90936765007/. Accessed 24 July 2026.

    Pavlounis, Zachary. “Trump Says These Documents Prove His False Claims of Election Fraud. Here’s What They Really Say.” The Associated Press, 17 July 2026, https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2026/trump-says-these-documents-prove-his-false-claims-of-election-fraud-heres-what-they-really-say/.

    PerryCook, Taija. “Examining Trump’s Post about Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping Conspiring against the US.” Snopes, 3 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-post-putin-kim-jong-un/.

    Rascouët-Paz, Anna. “Examining Claim Trump Accepted $2B Bribe to Sell Highly Sensitive AI Chips to UAE, China.” Snopes, 30 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/09/30/trump-bribe-2-billion-uae-china/.

    ———. “Trump Reportedly Threatened to ‘bomb the [Expletive] out of Moscow’ and Beijing. Here’s Context.” Snopes, 11 July 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/07/11/trump-bomb-moscow-beijing/.

    ———. “US Trade Deficit with China Smallest Since 2010?” Snopes, 1 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/us-trade-deficit-with-china-smallest-since-2010/.

    Trump Alleges China Meddled in 2020 Election and Questions Voting Security Ahead of Midterms. 17 July 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2k9wvv5wyo.

    US-China Trade War | PIIE. 25 Aug. 2026, https://www.piie.com/research/trade-investment/us-china-trade-war.

  • Djibouti urges world to help as Yemen war drives refugee influx

    Djibouti urges world to help as Yemen war drives refugee influx

    Djibouti’s foreign minister has told the United Nations General Assembly that the country cannot handle the arrival of thousands of refugees fleeing renewed fighting across the Red Sea in Yemen without international support.

    Published On 27 Sep 2026

  • ‘Saturday Night Live’ Opens Season With Riff On Donald Trump’s Need For More Time With Zohran Mamdani: “Please Let Me Stay Here With You”

    The cold open of the new season of Saturday Night Live featured Ramy Youssef as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, getting another visit from President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson).

    It was a riff on their latest meeting earlier this week, an unlikely lovefest between the left-wing mayor and the right-wing commander in chief.

    On SNL, though, it was Trump who couldn’t seem to get enough of Mamdani who, in contrast to the president, has enjoyed high approval ratings.

    The skit presented Trump as susceptible to even the slightest hint of attention from Mamdani, who in reality has skillfully managed the relationship with moments that have flattered the president.

    RELATED: ‘SNL’ Season 52 Premiere Delayed In Many Areas Due To College Football

    “Mr. President, you are here again,” Youssef’s Mamdani told Trump.

    “I missed my day one, Zohran Mamdani,” Johnson’s Trump said. “For some reason I can’t really figure out, I really, really like you.”

    The mayor responded, “That’s very kind, but wouldn’t you rather be in D.C.? We’re in the middle of El Nino.”

    “Oh, El Nino. We don’t like big storms, especially when they are in Spanish.”

    The skit opened with Mamdani monitoring the storms on the East Coast, before he gets an unexpected visit from Trump.

    “Somehow when I am with you I’m just firing on all cylinders,” Trump told him. “Maybe it is because we’re both from Queens.”

    “Isn’t it funny to think I could have grown up in one of your apartment buildings in Queens?” Mamdani then asked.

    “Not with that last name,” Trump said.

    RELATED: How ‘SNL’ Introduced Season 52’s New Cast Members Saidah Belo-Osagie & Grace Reiter

    The skit also featured the first appearance of Trump aide Natalie Harp (Ashley Padilla), who makes an unexpected appearance at the Trump-Mamdani lovefest. “I came here in case you needed anything,” she said, before singing a Beyoncé verse, Baby boy, you’ve been on my mind.

    “Isn’t she great? She’s like the girl from Obsession but blonde,” Trump then said to Mamdani.

    Before she left, she told Mamdani, “If you hurt him, I will end you.”

    The Trump-Mamdani relationship has complicated the president’s midterm message, that Democrats have fallen prey to the extremes, whether that be socialism or communism. Mamdani is one of the most prominent democratic socialists following his election last November.

    Mamdani told Trump that he was “still riding high on that Knicks championship.”

    Trump responded, “I went to one game, ruined the vibe, and then dipped.”

    The skit ended with Trump telling Mamdani of D.C., “Don’t make me go back there.”

    “Please let me stay here with you,” Trump pleads with the mayor.

    “Okay, only if you give us $21 billion for a housing project in Queens,” Mamdani said.

    “Are you out of your mind?” Trump said.

    “What if I follow you back on Instagram?” Mamdani asked.

    “It’s a done deal,” Trump said.