MEBRO · DISINFO DESK
Investigations
Long-form dossiers on the hoaxes, deepfakes, and death rumors that go viral — each one stamped with a verdict and printed with every source on the record.
Viral Misinformation
The Empire State Building Climbers Flew One Banner About Love — The "Political" Flags Going Viral Are AI Fakes
Two real daredevils scaled the Empire State Building on July 1, 2026 and unfurled one banner about peace — but the viral images showing "Donald Trump is a pedophile" and other political flags atop the spire are AI-generated fabrications.
FILED JUL 10, 2026 · UPDATED JUL 10, 2026 · 10 SOURCES
Viral Misinformation
The Somali Daycare Fraud Panic: How a YouTuber's Unsubstantiated Claims Triggered Mass Detentions and Two Deaths
Nick Shirley's viral YouTube video claimed Somali-run Minnesota daycares were committing billion-dollar fraud. State investigators found children present at 8 of 9 named centers. The unsubstantiated claims triggered $185M in frozen funds, more than 4,000 detentions, and two Americans killed by federal agents.
FILED JUL 9, 2026 · UPDATED JUL 11, 2026 · 25 SOURCES
Viral Misinformation
Russell Brand Is Not Dead: Anatomy of a Celebrity Death Hoax
How an ambiguous tribute post, a grief-coded photo, and engagement-hungry algorithms turned a living man into trending obituary fodder.
FILED MAR 13, 2026 · UPDATED JUL 8, 2026 · 29 SOURCES
Investigative reports — not user-submitted fact-checks.