• Meta plans to end US fact-checking partnerships in March, and payments continue through August.
• Meta has cited "changing free speech perceptions" as part of the reason for their decision.
• Meta's global fact-checking support remains, including an IFCN's Business Continuity Fund.

Meta's US fact-checking partnerships will officially end in March, and payments to partners will continue through August, according to a conversation between Meta and International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) director Angie Holan.

Details of the exchange were revealed during a private IFCN meeting attended by 151 members, the audio of which was obtained by Business Insider. These details have never been reported before.

Meta provided details about the program's end to the IFCN and said that the company's new approach was prompted by "changing perceptions of free speech" and a desire to "allow for more free speech" just 45 minutes before the company posted a blog post about the decision written by Joel Kaplan, Meta's new Republican public policy head.

Severance and a support fund for fact-checkers

Contracts with all ten fact-checking organizations in the US will end in March, with payments continuing until August. Organizations that have not signed contracts for 2025 were offered the option to participate in a severance program.

Kaplan's post announced that Meta will replace its fact-checking partnerships with X-style Community Notes — but the Meta executive told Holan that the rollout of Community Notes is expected to take time.

They indicated that the system would be built and implemented throughout 2025. When asked whether the company intends to expand Community Notes globally, Meta gave a noncommittal response, saying it would first monitor the program's effects in the US and consider the regulatory landscape in other countries.

Participation guidelines for the program remain unclear.

When Holan pressed Meta on how the IFCN should navigate the divide between U.S. changes and the status of global programs, Meta's response was vague, advising the IFCN to "stay present for both constituencies."

Holan expressed disappointment during the conversation, describing Meta's fact-checking program as one that "positively influenced a whole ecosystem of fact-checking" and emphasized that the work was never about censorship.

"This seems like politics," she told the Meta executive, who declined to confirm or deny political motivations, stating only that they were "personally proud" of the program's legacy.

Meta's support for other IFCN initiatives will remain unchanged. This includes the IFCN's new Business Continuity Fund, designed to provide temporary financial assistance to fact-checking organizations affected by natural disasters, civil unrest, military conflicts, or state repression.

The fund aims to help impacted organizations resume their normal operations as quickly as possible and ensure the safety and well-being of their team members. Meta also confirmed that a separate WhatsApp-related grant program would continue.

However, when asked whether Meta would continue sponsoring Global Fact, IFCN's flagship annual conference, the executive had no definitive answer, suggesting that IFCN "stay in conversation" about the issue.

Despite the end of its US fact-checking program, the executive left the door open for continued communication with IFCN, saying Meta was "open to keep talking" about ways to support public information efforts.

If you're a current or former Meta employee, contact this reporter from a nonwork device securely on Signal at +1-408-905-9124 or email him at [email protected].

Attorney General Merrick Garland in a court filing on Wednesday said the Justice Department plans to release publicly special counsel Jack Smith's findings on Donald Trump's alleged efforts to subvert 2020 election results.

Why it matters: Trump's federal 2020 election case was dropped after his presidential victory, and he has relentlessly fought any effort to release information about the investigation's findings.

• Garland in the Wednesday court filing said that the department will not release the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, as to "avoid any risk of prejudice" to Trump's co-defendants in the case, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, whose cases are still pending.
• Garland said that "for the time being," the report over Trump and his co-defendants' handling of classified documents will be "made available for in camera review" by the chair and ranking members of House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

• Dietitians and nutritionists shared the best things to eat for lunch on the Mediterranean diet.
• A chicken wrap with apples and nuts can be a filling Mediterranean-inspired lunch.
• Try almond-stuffed dates or apple slices with almond butter for a light meal or snack. 

For the eighth year in a row, doctors and dietitians have named the Mediterranean diet the healthiest eating style. 

It emphasizes the consumption of fresh produce, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and fatty fish. Those who follow the Mediterranean diet also seek to limit their intake of red meat and heavily processed foods.

With so much variety, it's hard for this diet to be boring. If you've found yourself in a rut, though, we've asked dietitians and nutritionists to share their favorite easy lunch ideas for anyone trying to eat a Mediterranean-style diet.

Make a Mediterranean-style chicken wrap packed with protein and fiber.

Registered dietitian and nutritionist Jill Weisenberger told Business Insider that one of her favorite Mediterranean-diet lunches is a simple chicken wrap. 

"Mix diced chicken with chopped walnuts, apples, and celery," Weisenberger said. "Hold everything together with Greek yogurt and add some greens before wrapping it up."

Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for extra flavor and vitamin C. 

A lentil-filled salad can be a filling lunch.

Lentils are legumes that are packed with protein and vitamins. 

"Lentil salad is a filling dish full of delicious Mediterranean ingredients that are sure to keep you full with a ton of fiber and great texture," Weisenberger told BI.

To make a simple lentil salad, mix prepared lentils with chopped scallion and torn spinach or arugula. Add a few jarred artichoke hearts and dress with lemon and olive oil. 

Make a bowl with farro, eggplant, and white beans.

Stephanie Nelson, registered dietitian and lead nutritition scientist for MyFitnessPal, told BI that a bowl with white beans and farro (a nutty grain common in Italian cooking) is a quick and satisfying lunch option.

"This recipe packs in the protein," Nelson said. "The Mediterranean diet should be primarily plant-based, so a farro and bean salad fits the mold exactly." 

To make this dish, chop and sauté an eggplant with garlic in olive oil, then add cooked farro, white beans, a small amount of tomato sauce, and a sprinkle of thyme and oregano. Top with feta cheese, if desired.

For a sweet and light lunch, have some almond-stuffed dates.

Registered dietitian Marisa Moore told BI that one of her favorite sweet treats to enjoy while following the Mediterranean diet is a serving of almond-stuffed dates. 

"The crunchy almonds deliver a dose of good fats and plant protein, and there's plenty of fiber in the dates to keep you energized and full," Moore said. 

If you don't like almonds, you can swap out chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, or pistachios. For a more substantial meal, pair the stuffed dates with Greek yogurt or a small lentil salad.

Try making a homemade chicken pita with fresh herbs.

For a filling and portable lunch, Nelson recommended putting vegetables and chicken breast seasoned with garlic and rosemary in a whole-wheat pita.

"Packed with vegetables and whole grains, an herbed chicken pita is also high in the types of protein encouraged by the Mediterranean diet," Nelson said. 

For the vegetables, try adding carrots, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato. You can also add a dollop of Greek yogurt mixed with dill to prevent the pita from being too dry. 

Whip up a satisfying tuna sandwich with a twist.

For an easy Mediterranean-inspired lunch, opt for a tuna sandwich made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Nelson told BI that this results in a lighter version of a classic.

To make this sandwich, mix canned or fresh tuna with Greek yogurt, chopped celery, and a sprinkle of salt. Serve on whole-grain bread, and add tomato, arugula, or spinach for extra flavor and vitamins. 

Assemble a snack board for a lunch with a lot of variety.

Snack boards are a fun way to keep lunchtime interesting by incorporating many different flavors and nutrients into one meal. 

"Create a Mediterranean-inspired snack board with hummus, olives, fresh-cut vegetables, dried fruit, and a handful of spiced almonds," Moore said.

The protein and monounsaturated fats in this spread can help keep hunger at bay for longer.

Roasted chickpeas can be the star of a savory meal.

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are one of the staples of the Mediterranean diet.

"I love transforming chickpeas into an easy lunch by tossing them with olive oil and spices and roasting for a crunchy, savory meal," Moore told BI. 

Serve the roasted chickpeas over fresh spinach or kale with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of tahini. You can also pair them with a serving of roasted chicken for extra protein or roasted eggplant for more fiber. 

Apples and almond butter can make for a light plant-based lunch.

Moore suggested a simple plate of apples and nut butter for days when a heavy lunch doesn't sound appealing

"Pair fresh apple slices with a spoonful of nutrient-rich almond butter for a dose of good fats, protein, and fiber," Moore said. 

Also consider keeping preportioned servings of chopped apples and almond butter in the fridge for a grab-and-go option. 

Try a salmon Niçoise salad for a generous serving of vegetables and protein.

Niçoise salad is a French dish traditionally made with boiled eggs, tomatoes, olives, and tuna or anchovies. 

"I recommend a Niçoise salad made with salmon for a tasty twist on a classic," Weisenberger said. "You can also include extras like boiled potatoes, steamed green beans, or other vegetables."

All of the ingredients in this salad are usually served cold, though the salmon may be eaten hot.

This story was originally published on January 1, 2021, and most recently updated on January 8, 2025.

• Biden says he thinks he would've defeated Trump in 2024, "based on the polling."
• Polling consistently showed Biden losing handily to Trump before he dropped out in July.
• The president also says he's unsure if he would've been able to complete a second term.

President Joe Biden said in an interview this week that he believes he could have defeated President-elect Donald Trump if he had remained the Democratic nominee, rather than stepping aside for Vice President Kamala Harris.

"It's presumptuous to say that, but I think yes," Biden told USA Today.

The president was less sure, however, that he would've been able to serve out the entirety of a second term, noting that he would have been 86 years old at the end of it.

"When Trump was running again for reelection, I really thought I had the best chance of beating him. But I also wasn't looking to be president when I was 85 years old, 86 years old," Biden said. "Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I'm going to be when I'm 86 years old?"

Though Harris came up short in the 2024 election, many prominent Democratic lawmakers have argued that she helped the party stave off an electoral disaster by replacing Biden, who lost the confidence of Democrats after a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June.

Rep. Angie Craig, a Democratic who represents a swing district in Minnesota, recently told NBC that Trump "would have taken, I believe, if Biden had stayed on the top of the ticket, 30 to 40 House seats with him."

Instead, Democrats actually gained one seat in the House.

Biden said that his belief that he could've done what Harris couldn't is "based on the polling." Polling at the time showed the president losing handily to Trump.