Snopes’ favorite claims we unpacked in 2025

We often ask our reporters to write about their work and how they investigate rumors spreading online in our members-only newsletter, the Digest.

We decided to do something a little different to celebrate the end of 2025: We asked our staff members to pick a favorite story we published this year and explain why they chose it.

The articles on this list range from an investigation into whether Russia created an online “marketplace” for kidnapped Ukrainian children to a fact check of a video claiming rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on an unaired episode of educational children’s television show “Sesame Street.”

Two reporters picked the same story as their favorite from the year. Some reporters’ picks were influenced by reader response, while other choices were more personal.

Here are eight favorite claims Snopes unpacked in 2025, picked by our staff members:

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Black, bald man in a grey suit, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, an older white man in a navy suit, leave the White House. man wearing a blue suit.

“I’m especially proud of this piece because of the reader response it received. Claims like these rely on using complex legislative policy to confuse the public into believing the claim — and it’s always satisfying to be able to break those barriers down and help readers understand what’s actually going on.” —reporter Rae Deng

“This was an opportunity for a true visual investigation, and we took it. In response to claims Palestinian photographers in Gaza staged photos of people desperate for food — including a Time magazine cover — we analyzed multiple angles of the scene and even spoke with the Palestinian girl on the Time cover in question. In the end we debunked the claims, presenting proof that the people photographed were, in fact, waiting for food on the brink of devastating famine in Gaza.” —reporter Taija PerryCook

Reporter Jack Izzo also chose this article for his pick: “Using our platform to support and confirm the incredibly important and dangerous work of reporters in warzones is a massive amount of responsibility, especially now, given that it’s hard, if not sometimes impossible, to trust your eyes and ears. This story is a fantastic example of Snopes’ mission to examine all the evidence, no matter how sensitive the topic.”

A pink and blue striped trans flag in the blurry foreground of an image of the U.S. Capitol, a white dome.

“My reasoning for my favorite story is probably a bit unique. [Snopes reporter Rae Deng’s] story on how the OBB could affect gender-affirming care was published on July 1, a day after I started working at Snopes. Reading that story while I was still new and getting to know my new coworkers and job in general helped build my enthusiasm for working at Snopes. Seeing thoughtful, thorough coverage of a transgender care issue and having no involvement with it myself gave me confidence that I could feel comfortable on this team and gave me some optimism that I’d be proud of my work with Snopes. Prior to being hired by Snopes I was getting a little discouraged from doing more work in the journalism industry, and so that kind of lift-me-up was exactly when I needed it. A half a year later, I still feel that optimism hasn’t been misplaced.” —reporter Emery Winter

“This story stays with me because it shows how something that looks like a normal government ‘adoption database’ can actually sit on top of a much darker reality. Behind the profile photos were real children whose identities and ties to Ukraine may have been stripped away, in a pattern serious enough to trigger war crimes charges and international investigations.” —reporting fellow Aleksandra Wrona

“I picked this Labubu story as my favorite of the year because as a childless adult, I hadn’t even HEARD of a Labubu until we got reports that it was actually the demon from one of my favorite horror movies, ‘The Exorcist.’ Naturally, I had to investigate (spoiler: Labubus are indeed demon-free). It was a fun way to break up the usual news cycle.” —reporter Joey Esposito

Three young children are seen from behind, standing close together and looking out through a glass window. The child in the center has short blond hair and wears a bright blue fleece, while the two children on either side have long, light brown hair. One wears a floral-patterned shirt and has her hair in braids, and the other has loose hair and wears a light-colored top.

“I’m especially proud of this piece clarifying widespread misinformation about California AB 495, a bill aimed at helping families make caregiving arrangements during situations like deportation, incarceration or illness. Many rumors suggested the bill could facilitate child exploitation or allow someone who isn’t related to a child to gain custody without a parent’s knowledge or consent. In reality, these claims stemmed from misunderstandings of both existing state law and the bill itself. To clear up the misconceptions, I consulted with multiple experts and other sources. One of the most important parts of our fact-checking work is alleviating readers’ fears with facts, and I’m glad that this deep dive was hopefully able to do just that.” —reporter/web producer Megan Loe

“I really enjoyed working on this fact check about whether the late rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on an unaired episode of educational television show ‘Sesame Street.’ Shakur is an artist who means a lot to me and my family. Even though the video is fake, I understand the emotions that would make someone want to share the claim, which I think fact-checking can sometimes ignore. I also had a blast coming up with the subheadline, which had me combing through Shakur’s discography looking for the perfect reference.” —web producer/production editor Izz Scott LaMagdeleine