3 Easy Ways You Can Fact-Check News in 2025 (Guide)

Hey everyone, it's Ashi and Taka from Rights N Threads.

We're living in a time when figuring out fact from fiction feels hard af.

But as Maria Ressa says: 

“Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without all three, we have no shared reality, and democracy as we know it—and all meaningful human endeavors—are dead.” 

Deepfake videos are looking more real, AI-generated articles have false information..

It's honestly exhausting trying to figure out what's actually happening in the world.

But this is by design.

When people can't trust any source of information, democracy dies.

We've been having this conversation a lot lately between ourselves..

How do we stay informed without losing our minds?

How do we know what to believe when there are so many lies? 

For the past 3 months, we've been researching different ways to fact-check during the chaos happening in America today..

Here's some tools we found that actually work for us.

Why Fact-Checking Is Harder Today

Remember when we could just check Snopes and call it a day?

It's different now.

The misinformation landscape has evolved faster than our ability to combat it.

We're dealing with:

• AI-generated content that's getting really hard to spot
  
  
• Social Media Algorithms designed to confuse everyone
  
  
• The Trump Administration Attacking Journalists 
  
  
• Social media where anyone can pull out their phone and create "breaking news" that goes viral before anyone can verify it
  
  
• Paid influencers spreading lies
  
  

You see..

Waiting for experts to call out fake news after its already spread? just doesn't cut it.

We need to become our own first line of defense.

The REAL Cost of Misinformation

This isn't just about being well-informed (though that matters).

When people can't agree on basic facts, we can't have productive conversations about solutions. We can't hold our representatives accountable.

We can't organize effectively for change.

And let's be honest, this confusion benefits the fascists by design.

When everyone's arguing about what's real,

nobody's focusing on what needs to change.

So here are 3 practical tools we've been using to navigate this mess and stay grounded in reality.

 

Tool #1: Media Bias/Fact Check Browser Extension

 

What it is: A free browser extension that instantly shows you the reliability and political bias of news sources as you browse.

Why we love it: Instead of having to remember which sources are trustworthy (who has time for that?), you get real-time feedback. When you land on a website, you'll see a simple rating showing:

• Factual accuracy (how often they get things right)
• Political bias (left, center, right)
• Overall reliability score
  
  

How to use it:

1. Install the Media Bias/Fact Check extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge
2. Browse the web normally
3. Look for the small icon that appears next to links and on websites
4. Pay attention to sources rated as "Mixed" or "Low" for factual reporting
   
   

Pro tip from Taka: Don't just dismiss sources because they have a political lean.. even biased sources can report facts accurately. Focus on the factual reporting score first, then consider the bias.

Click Here To Get Media-Bias Fact Checker

 

Tool #2: Strategic AI Fact-Checking with ChatGPT and Perplexity

 

Yes, we know it sounds ironic to use AI to fact-check in an age of AI misinformation.

But we realized it's how you use AI that makes all the difference.

 

For ChatGPT: The Right Prompts Matter

 

Instead of just asking "Is this true?", we've developed these specific prompts harness AI's critical thinking capabilities:

 

Prompt #1: Source Analysis

"I found this claim: [paste claim here]. Can you help me identify:
1. What specific factual claims are being made?
2. What evidence would I need to verify these claims?
3. What are the most reliable sources I should check for this type of information?
4. Are there any logical fallacies or red flags in how this information is presented?"

Prompt #2: Perspective Checking

"I'm reading about [topic/event]. Can you help me understand:
1. What would be the strongest arguments from different political perspectives on this issue?
2. What questions should I ask to avoid confirmation bias?
3. What context or background information might I be missing?"

Prompt #3: Research Strategy

"I want to research [specific topic] but I'm concerned about misinformation. Can you suggest:
1. Three types of primary sources I should look for?
2. What expert credentials or institutional affiliations would be most relevant?
3. What warning signs might indicate unreliable information on this topic?"

 

For Perplexity: Trace the Sources

 

Why Perplexity is different: Unlike ChatGPT, Perplexity cites its sources and pulls from current web content, making it easier to verify claims.

How we use it effectively:

1. Ask specific, factual questions rather than broad ones
2. Always click through to check the cited sources
3. Look for multiple independent sources confirming the same information
4. Pay attention to the date of the sources; breaking news can change rapidly
   
   

Example query: "What evidence supports the claim that [specific policy] will have [specific effect]? Please cite recent sources."

 

The Golden Rule of AI Fact-Checking

Never treat AI as the final authority.

We use it as a research assistant that helps us ask better questions and find better sources. The AI's job is to help us think more clearly, not to think for us.

 

Tool #3: Ground News - See Every Angle

This tool has been a game-changer for us.

Ground News aggregates the same story from multiple sources across the political spectrum, so you can see how different outlets are covering the same events.

Why this matters: Even when sources are reporting facts accurately, they can still create wildly different impressions through:

• Story selection (what they choose to cover)
• Framing (how they present the information)
• Emphasis (what they highlight or downplay)
• Context (what background they include or omit)
  
  

How Ground News works:

• Enter a topic or browse current stories
• See how left-leaning, center, and right-leaning sources are covering it
• Identify which sources are reporting which details
• Spot what information might be missing from your usual news diet
  
  

What to look for:

• Facts that all sides agree on (these are likely solid)
• Facts that only one side reports (these need extra verification)
• Different interpretations of the same facts (this helps you understand the debate)
• Stories that some sides ignore completely (this reveals priorities and blind spots)
  
  

Ashi's take: Don't just read sources you agree with. Read the other side too. The goal isn't to find "the truth" from one perfect source.. it's to understand the full picture and make informed decisions.

Try Ground News (and support independent journalism) →

 

Bonus: How to Spot AI-Generated Videos

With tools like Google's VO3 and other deepfake technology getting scary good, we've been studying how to identify fake videos.

Here are the telltale signs we've learned to watch for:

Technical Red Flags:

• Weird blinking patterns or eyes that don't quite focus naturally
• Mouth movements that don't perfectly sync with speech
• Hair and clothing that move unnaturally or seem to "float"
• Background inconsistencies or objects that morph slightly
  
  

Context Red Flags:

• Videos of public figures saying things dramatically out of character
• Perfect video quality for supposedly "leaked" or "candid" footage
• Lack of metadata or source information about when/where it was filmed
• Only appearing on suspicious or partisan websites
  
  

Quick Verification Steps:

1. Reverse image search key frames from the video
2. Check the source—where did this video first appear?
3. Look for corroboration—are mainstream outlets reporting on this?
4. Trust your gut—if something feels off, it probably is
   
   

Your Action Plan: Building Better Information Habits

Here's how we're putting this all together into a sustainable practice, and you can too:

Daily Habits:

• Install the Media Bias/Fact Check extension
• Diversify your news sources (use Ground News to find gaps)
• When you see breaking news, wait for multiple sources to confirm before sharing
  
  

Weekly Habits:

• Spend 10 minutes checking how different sources covered a major story
• Practice using AI prompts to research one topic that interests you
• Unfollow or mute social media accounts that consistently share unverified information
  
  

Monthly Habits:

• Review and update your trusted source list
• Check if any of your regular news sources have had fact-checking issues
• Practice identifying AI-generated content with online training tools
  
  

The Bottom Line

We can't control the flood of misinformation, but we can control how we navigate it.

These tools aren't about finding perfect, unbiased sources (they don't exist).

They're about building your ability to think critically, ask good questions, and make informed decisions even when the information landscape is messy.

Democracy depends on informed citizens.

In 2025, being informed means being skilled at fact-checking and finding the receipts.

These tools will help you do exactly that.

Start using these tools today.

Don't wait for the next breaking news or election cycle.

Build these habits now, so you're ready when they're not.

The fascists are counting on us to give up.

To be so overwhelmed we stop paying attention, so they can continue to remove our rights. 

Don't give them that satisfaction.

Stay curious. Stay skeptical. Stay informed.

Ashi & Taka

 

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What's your biggest challenge when it comes to fact-checking news? We'd love to hear from you. Drop us a comment below and let's figure this out together.