A Fact-Checking Journal of:

Shit My Mom Says

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A living archive of things Mom has stated as absolute fact — and what the evidence actually says.

6 claims from Mom · 0 times she was right
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Politics

Was the East Wing remodel paid for without a single tax dollar?

"Not a single tax dollar was paid for the remodel."

This claim is mostly true, but it leaves out an important distinction. The White House said Trump and private donors would fund the new ballroom structure, which is the part supporters usually point to when saying taxpayers paid nothing. But the same official announcement said the U.S. Secret Service would provide security enhancements and modifications, and later reporting said underground bunkers and other security-related work around the White House grounds would be paid for by taxpayers. It is also fair to ask who the private funders are and what they may expect in return. Later reporting identified 37 ballroom donors, including major corporations, wealthy political donors, and people or companies with federal contracts, regulatory interests, or other business before the administration. There is no public proof that donors were promised special treatment, but the donor list creates a real ethics concern because private funding for a White House project can raise questions about access, influence, and favoritism.

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Politics

China, birth tourism, and birthright citizenship: real issue, overstated conspiracy

"They are having babies here so the babies can come back in 18yrs and vote communism."

This theory mixes real facts with a much bigger conclusion that has not been publicly proven. Yes, birth tourism exists, and yes, there are real concerns about Chinese influence operations more broadly. But there is no public evidence showing that China has been definitively caught sending people here to have babies as part of a coordinated plan to create future American voters. The strongest evidence supports a real underlying issue, while the 'come back in 18 years and vote communism' part remains an overstated conspiracy claim.

🌾 Grain of Truth Investigate →
Science

Is CO2 good for the atmosphere because plants like it?

"CO2 is good for the atmosphere because it's what plants like."

This claim starts with a real fact but takes it too far. Plants do use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, and in some situations extra CO2 can increase plant growth. But that does not mean rising CO2 in the atmosphere is broadly good. Plant growth is also limited by water, nutrients, and temperature, and higher CO2 is one of the main drivers of global warming. So while plants do need CO2, the bigger claim that more atmospheric CO2 is simply good for the atmosphere is misleading.

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Science

Does CO2 keep Earth warm, and would we have an ice age without it?

"CO2 keeps the planet warm, and if we didn't have it we'd go back to the Ice Age."

This version is closer to true than the earlier plant claim, but it is still too simplistic. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that helps keep Earth warm enough for life, and without greenhouse gases the planet would be far colder. But CO2 is only one part of the greenhouse effect, alongside gases like water vapor and methane, and more CO2 is not automatically better. Scientists agree that extra human-added CO2 is strengthening the greenhouse effect and warming the planet beyond its natural balance.

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Food

Are major food companies secretly putting insects in everyday foods?

"Mom shared a link claiming there are bugs in the ingedients list of common foods"

This claim mixes a few real facts with a much bigger false conclusion. Some foods can legally contain tiny accidental insect fragments, and some insect-derived ingredients like carmine do exist and are supposed to be labeled. But the viral claim that major brands are secretly replacing normal ingredients with insects under fake names does not hold up. Barilla has publicly denied using insect flour, Reuters found Tyson’s insect-protein partnership was for animal and pet feed rather than human food, and there is no credible evidence that brands like Beyond Meat are secretly hiding mealworms in products sold as plant-based.

🚫 Mostly False Investigate →
Food

Is Taco Bell’s beef really only 50% beef?

"I watched a video and saw that Taco Bell's beef is actually only 50% ground beef."

This rumor is based on a real old lawsuit, which is why it sounds believable. Taco Bell’s beef mixture does contain more than just beef, including water and seasonings, so there is a grain of truth there. But the claim that it is only 50% beef is not what the lawsuit proved, and not even what the controversy was most known for. Taco Bell said its seasoned beef was 88% beef, and the lawsuit was eventually dropped.

🚫 Mostly False Investigate →