​ THURSDAY EDITION Snopes Debunker 25 February 2021 Has Mr. Potato Head Gone Gender Neutral? Mr. Potato Head, the ubiquitous American toy that comprises a plastic potato featuring holes into which a variety of plastic parts representing body features and clothing can be attached (e.g., ears, eyes, nose, mouth, shoes, hat, pants) has been distributed by Hasbro since 1952. The following year, Hasbro introduced a Mrs. Potato Head version to the world. Snopes readers asked us if there's any truth to the rumor that the Potato Head toys will be going gender neutral in the future. Snopes founder David Mikkelson has more. Read More The Surprising Cost of Our Epic Court Battle  Learn more about the legal bills that are draining Snopes' fact-checking resources — and how you can help. Read More Fact Checks Did Joe Biden Use the N-Word in a Recorded Speech? Social media posts claimed he used the racial slur in a speech about international security. ❌  False   Was Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Shot and Her Dogs Stolen? Someone made off with Koji and Gustav, the singer’s French bulldogs. ✅  True   Did Former NYPD Officer Say Police, FBI Conspired In Assassination of Malcolm X? For decades, activists have maintained prosecutors convicted the wrong men in the murder. ✅  True   Did Ted Cruz Lose His Marriott Points After Cancun Trip? A routine review of content labeled satire. 🎭  Labeled Satire   Is This a Real Photo of Earth, Venus, and Jupiter Seen From Mars? There are some amazing and authentic images taken by the Martian rovers, but this isn't one of them. ❌  False View Latest Fact Checks We Believe in a Brighter Future Debunking misinformation is an unending challenge, and we thank our supporters for joining us in this fight. Whether you support us through contributions or by sharing our fact checks, we appreciate all that you do! $5 $10 $20.21 $50 $100 Other News Energy Executive: Texas Power Plants Turned off in Crisis The recent blackouts that left 4 million Texas customers without electricity and heat during a deadly winter freeze also unplugged plants that could have generated more power. Read More   Republican Wants to Require National Anthem in Wisconsin The national anthem would have to be played before all sporting events held at Wisconsin venues that received any public funding, under a bill that a Republican lawmaker has introduced. Read More   Chief: Capitol Assault Much Bigger Than Intel Suggested The agency’s incident command protocols were “not adhered to,” and there was a “multi-tiered failure.” Read More   Palm Beach County Refuses to Lower Flags to Half-Staff for Rush Limbaugh The Florida county refused to lower its courthouse flags to half-staff in honor of the late conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh Read More   Manhattan Prosecutor Gets Trump Tax Records After Long Fight The Manhattan district attorney’s office enforced a subpoena on Trump’s accounting firm within hours of a Supreme Court ruling and now has the documents in hand. Read More

View Latest News Staff Pick Did a Seattle Woman Find Cocaine in a Crochet Kit? News reports claimed that the woman got more than she bargained for at a Seattle thrift store in February 2021. Read More