TUESDAY EDITION
Snopes Debunker
Today's edition is sponsored by the company behind NordVPN, which Snopes' reporters rely on to protect their identities and access content throughout the world.
Because of their commitment to digital security, our business team reached out to them to see if they'd support Snopes' mission and sponsor our newsletter. They agreed. You'll notice any links to Snopes you click in today's newsletter have fewer ads thanks to this sponsorship.
Nord Security is offering a new product called Coveron that protects against identity theft, a mission I can get behind. Consider supporting this sponsor and giving the service a try. All readers of this newsletter will receive a discount using the code below.
— Chris Richmond, Snopes CEO
Editor's note: Snopes' business partnerships function separately from its newsroom of journalists, who make all editorial decisions. No funder dictates, nor influences, Snopes' fact-checking.
Target removed kid's Halloween costume from website amid backlash over blackface, minstrel imagery
A claim circulated online that Target removed a children's Halloween costume from its website after the company faced swift backlash.
Some people on social media criticized the costume as evoking racist minstrel and blackface imagery.
Reporter Laerke Christensen found the costume's original listing and reached out to Target for a response.
10 times we've examined Trump admin's alleged quotes about tariffs
Claims about the Trump administration’s comments on tariffs often circulate online — some real and others fabricated.
Sponsorship
Scammers are targeting older Americans more than ever — here's how to protect yourself
Last year, Americans over 60 years old reported losing more than $3 billion to fraud and identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission. One wrong click, one sketchy website, and your identity could be compromised.
Coveron — created by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN — helps you stay one step ahead of scammers by monitoring the dark web, watching for unusual credit activity and alerting you when something looks wrong.
And if identity theft or an online scam hits, Coveron helps you recover with expert support, including up to $2 million for identity theft recovery costs and added insurance benefits for scam-related losses. Use code SNOPES for up to 71% off.
Did Trump propose eliminating property taxes for some seniors?
Posts claimed the president's alleged proposal would apply to people age 65 and older who have paid off their mortgages.
Are US, Israeli militaries 'merging'? What defense bill actually says
The legislation would expand a longstanding alliance between the two countries' militaries rather than combining them.
Check the facts anywhere with the Snopes app
For more than 30 years, Snopes has been fighting misinformation. Now the facts are in your pocket. When you're not sure if something is true or false, just open the app and Snopes it. Save articles to your reading list, switch to night mode, see fact-check ratings at a glance, and even play our daily crossword. Available on iOS and Android for phones and tablets.
Does this image show creepy 'spider' on Mars?
We searched for evidence of NASA or credible media outlets publishing the image of an alleged “spider-shaped rock formation” on the Red Planet's surface.
Staff pick
Photo of Trump in Moscow is real, but not from his first visit in 1987
Over the years, people online have shared this photo allegedly showing a 41-year-old Donald Trump during his first visit to Moscow in July 1987.
While the photo is real, it wasn’t taken during his initial trip to the Russian capital.
Senior reporter Jordan Liles tracked down its origin — and broke down what we know about Trump’s visits to Moscow over the years.









