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Rumor ICE hired journalist, Ukraine 'sting operation' claim & more

Rumor ICE hired journalist, Ukraine 'sting operation' claim & more

Plus: Does 'David vs. Goliath' video really show rhino and tiny deer headbutting each other?

January 20, 2026

TUESDAY EDITION

Snopes Debunker

A woman stands smiling at the camera. On the left she is wearing a dark T-shirt and pants, and on the right is a more close-up photo of her smiling at the camera.

Was anti-ICE journalist Laura Jedeed hired as deportation officer?

A rumor spread online that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hired an independent journalist with minimal vetting, despite her history of openly criticizing ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security.

The claim originated from the journalist, Laura Jedeed, who recounted in a recent Slate article how ICE supposedly hired her as a deportation officer. Snopes reporter Anna Rascouët-Paz reviewed documents from Jedeed to examine the claim. Here’s what we could verify.

A screenshot shows an image of a white man surrounded by a crowd of people. Words in Farsi, Iran's official language, are seen below the image.

Did Iran threaten to assassinate Trump? What we know

An alleged death threat was reportedly displayed on a sign held by a member of the public during a funeral for members of Iran's security forces.

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A Latino looks with his left arm outstretched as he speaks into a microphone.

Ted Cruz once said Trump 'would have nuked Denmark'?

The clip spread in 2026 as the Trump administration sought to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

A white man wearing a tuxedo and white woman wearing a white dress appear to kiss.

Do photos confirm Elon Musk and Sydney Sweeney are dating? Not so fast

Online users shared several images allegedly confirming photographers captured the tech billionaire and actor spending time together.

Four white men are pictured. On the left side, two men outlined in white clasp hands while looking at the camera. On the right side, two men outlined in yellow look down while speaking. In the background, a map that appears to show Ukraine is shown.

Did Ukraine run 'sting operation' providing false intelligence to US that was leaked to Russia?

The rumor appeared to stem from a mistranslation of an interview on French news television.

Staff pick

From left to right, a small deer and rhino appear to headbutt each other. A yellow arrow points to where the two animal's heads meet.

Does 'David vs. Goliath' video really show rhino and tiny deer headbutting each other?

In early January, a short video spread widely online showing a rhino and muntjac deer headbutting each other and seemingly playing together in the snow.

Some social media users suggested the footage was generated using AI tools — but not every animal clip is fabricated. Reporter Aleksandra Wrona has the details.