The Rubbish-meter
Mainstream headlines, scored for spin. Every Check reads the article, checks the primary sources, and shows its working.
The Rubbish-meter rates how far a headline’s framing sits from what the underlying facts support. R1 is the base fact, unspun. R10 is pure rubbish. Every Check shows its workings and links its sources.12345678910Close to the factsSelectiveSpin-heavyMisleadingScores are Rubbish Talk’s editorial opinion on presentation and emphasis. They are not an allegation that any outlet has acted dishonestly.
Cut the spin. Read the facts.Suspicious of a headline? Check it.Today10 checks
R2/10Lightly altered“EU sends envoy to Beijing as rising exports from China raise economic anxiety”ABC News Business · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates ABC News’ (AP wire) headline on the EU’s Beijing trade envoy a 2/10 because the "rising exports" framing is accurate and directly…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Bank governor urges John Healey to use budget to allay market fears amid bond turmoil”Guardian Business · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Guardian’s headline that Andrew Bailey "urged" John Healey to use the budget to calm markets a 2/10, because Bailey’s actual…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Just three energy firms will supply 74% of British homes after Eon-Ovo merger: Will it drive up bills?”Daily Mail Money · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Daily Mail Money’s claim that three suppliers will serve 74% of British homes after the Eon-Ovo merger an R3/10 because the figure…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Cost of living squeeze over past five years has left working families £2,900 worse off, Resolution Foundation analysis shows”Daily Mail Money · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail’s claim that cost of living pressures have left working families "£2,900 worse off" a 3/10 because the figure is…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R4/10Selective“Inflation on many everyday items was entirely due to tariffs, NY Fed says”CNBC Top News · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that tariff-driven inflation on "many everyday items" was "entirely" tariff-caused a 4/10 because the underlying math…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“‘TSMC’s September sales surge year-over-year as AI drives chip demand’”CNBC Top News · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that TSMC’s "September sales surge year-over-year" a 2/10 because the 54.6% annual gain is confirmed by TSMC’s own…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“AI chip boom pushes Samsung profits to record $80bn”BBC Business · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates BBC’s claim that AI chip demand pushed "Samsung profits to record $80bn" a 2/10 because the figure matches Samsung’s own guidance…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“PepsiCo cuts earnings forecast as North American turnaround takes longer than expected”CNBC Top News · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline that PepsiCo "cuts earnings forecast as North American turnaround takes longer than expected" a 2/10, because the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R1/10Base fact“Ex-Barclays traders jailed for rigging interest rates have convictions quashed”Guardian Business · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Guardian’s headline that "ex-Barclays traders jailed for rigging interest rates have convictions quashed" a 1/10 because the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“5 traders jailed for rigging key interest rates have their convictions quashed”ABC News Business · 8 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates ABC News Business’s headline on the Libor traders’ quashed convictions a 2/10 because the Court of Appeal ruling, the identical…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
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R3/10Lightly altered“Porsche to prioritise top-end models as it braces for a contraction in sales and 9,000 job cuts”Daily Mail Money · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Daily Mail’s claim that Porsche is "bracing for a contraction in sales and 9,000 job cuts" a 3/10 because the figures check out…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“UK becomes first major economy to pay 6% to borrow since eurozone crisis as bond market rout pushes yields to highest since 1998”Daily Mail Money · 4 October 2026 (updated) sourceRubbish Talk rates Daily Mail Money’s claim that the UK became the "first major economy" to pay 6% to borrow a 3/10, because the underlying numbers…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Federal Reserve officials expect another rate hike will be needed this year, according to minutes”ABC News Business · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates ABC News’s headline on the Fed’s October 2026 minutes a 2/10 because it drops the qualifier "most" from "most officials," nudging…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Trump’s diesel order exposes White House limits to counter surging fuel prices”CNBC Top News · October 7, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that Trump’s diesel executive order "exposes White House limits" a 2/10, because the order only defers (not…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Samsung forecasts record third-quarter profit of $80 billion on the back of AI boom”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on Samsung’s "$80 billion" Q3 profit a 3/10 because the figure is accurate and the AI-chip driver is real, but the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“‘Employers added 29,000 jobs in September, missing economic forecasts’”CBS MoneyWatch · October 2, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CBS MoneyWatch’s claim that employers added 29,000 jobs in September, missing forecasts, a 2/10 because the figure matches the BLS…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Americans are paying 62% more for water than a decade ago, study finds”CBS MoneyWatch · October 7, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CBS MoneyWatch’s claim that "Americans are paying 62% more for water than a decade ago" a 2/10 because the figure matches Food &…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“’Winter is coming’: IMF chief sounds alarm over global economy as UK borrowing costs hit new 28-year high in bond market rout”Daily Mail Money · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Daily Mail Money’s headline on IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva’s "winter is coming" warning and the UK’s 28-year gilt high a 2/10…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Fed officials see another hike coming, but no sign as to when, minutes show”CNBC Top News · October 7, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on the September FOMC minutes a 2/10 because both halves of the claim, a hike expected but no timing signal, match…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Supertanker chartered from Gulf Coast to China for $76 million, 10 times higher than pre-war level”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that a supertanker was chartered from the US Gulf Coast to China for $76 million, 10 times the pre-war rate, a 2/10…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Paramount closes $110 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery”CBS MoneyWatch · October 6, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CBS MoneyWatch’s headline that "Paramount closes $110 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery" a 2/10 because the figure…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“10-year Treasury note yield hits highest level since 2002 as traders brace for key bond sale”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that the 10-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since 2002 a 2/10 because the 5.35% print and the auction…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Royal Mail plans to cut 2,500 jobs”BBC Business · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates BBC’s headline "Royal Mail plans to cut 2,500 jobs" a 3/10 because the feed headline drops the "head office and support function"…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Trading platform Webull’s China ties create national security risk, congressional panel finds; stock drops 18%”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on the House Select Committee on China’s Webull report a 3/10 because the claim is correctly attributed to the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Boots sold in £7bn deal to Canadian billionaire family”BBC Business · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates BBC Business’s headline that Boots was "sold in £7bn deal to Canadian billionaire family" a 2/10 because the deal is accurately…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“India’s central bank hikes rates for the first time since 2023 as inflation risks build”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on the RBI’s 25bps hike to 5.50% a 2/10 because the move was fully priced in by economists, confirmed by…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“’Get your house in order’: IMF chief’s stark warning for France over surging bond yields”CNBC Top News · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva’s "get your house in order" warning to France a 2/10 because the quote, the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“IMF chief urges governments to tighten belts as global debt levels soar”Guardian Business · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Guardian’s claim that the IMF chief urged governments to "tighten belts as global debt levels soar" a 2/10 because the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Royal Mail to cut 2,500 jobs by the end of next year as part of sweeping organisational overhaul”Daily Mail Money · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail’s claim that Royal Mail will "cut 2,500 jobs by the end of next year" a 2/10 because the figure, timeframe and…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Troubled South West Water owner taps investors for £550m days after being handed record fine for sewage spills”Daily Mail Money · 7 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Daily Mail Money’s claim that Pennon "taps investors for £550m days after being handed record fine for sewage spills" a 2/10…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
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R3/10Lightly altered“Chancellor plans major intervention to help poorer UK households with rising energy bills”Guardian Business · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Guardian’s claim that John Healey is planning a "major intervention" on energy bills a 3/10 because the reported plan, a £100…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R5/10Selective“Anduril lands $2.9 billion Navy submarine shipyard contract days after Luckey joins Pentagon weapons group”CNBC Top News · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on Anduril’s Navy deal a 5/10 because it drops the word "up to" from a ceiling-value contract and pairs the award…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“‘Trump hedges on paying back government for ads that already aired’”CNBC Top News · 5 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that "Trump hedges on paying back government for ads that already aired" a 2/10 because Trump’s own on-record quote…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“‘Trump announces $6.6bn defense shipyard owned by top Republican donor’s firm’”Guardian US · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Guardian’s headline on the $6.6bn Anduril shipyard a 3/10 because every figure and the donor claim check out against the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“France could spark the biggest bond market and euro crisis since Greece, warns ALEX BRUMMER”Daily Mail Money · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Alex Brummer’s Daily Mail column claiming France "could spark the biggest bond market and euro crisis since Greece" a 3/10 because…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R1/10Base fact“Why UK diesel prices have breached the £2 per litre mark”BBC Business · 2 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates BBC Business’s headline that UK diesel has "breached the £2 per litre mark" an R1/10 because the figure, 200.01p a litre, is the…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“British Airways plans record 106-seat business class on Airbus A380 jumbo jets”CNBC Top News · October 6, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that British Airways is building a "record 106-seat business class" a 3/10 because the seat count is accurate and…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Paramount takes over Warner Bros in $110bn Hollywood merger”BBC Business · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates BBC Business’s headline on the Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros Discovery merger a 2/10 because the $110bn figure, the takeover…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Britain battered in global bond market rout as borrowing costs rise to highest level since 1998”Daily Mail Money · 1 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail’s claim that UK borrowing costs hit a 1998-era high a 2/10 because the 30-year gilt yield genuinely reached 6.029%…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“UBS CEO warns ‘hard measures’ are needed to tackle French debt crisis, as turmoil worsens”CNBC Top News · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline on UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti’s "hard measures" warning on France a 2/10 because the quotes and bond-market figures in…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R6/10Spin-heavy“Australian consumer confidence plunges to worst level since 1990s after RBA rate rise”Guardian Business · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Guardian Australia’s headline that confidence "plunges to worst level since 1990s" a 6/10 because the official Westpac-Melbourne…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Mortgage rates reach 3-year highs, pushing down housing sales”CBS MoneyWatch · 5 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CBS MoneyWatch’s claim that mortgage rates hit three-year highs and are pressuring home sales a 2/10 because Freddie Mac’s own…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Why are the UK’s energy costs so high? Report reveals why electricity bills have rocketed 147% since 2010”Daily Mail Money · 23 September 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail’s claim that UK electricity bills have "rocketed 147% since 2010" a 2/10 because the figure is lifted directly…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Paramount completes blockbuster £80bn takeover of Warner Bros, sparking fears of higher prices and job losses”Daily Mail Money · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates the Daily Mail’s claim that Paramount’s $110bn (£80bn) Warner Bros Discovery takeover is "sparking fears of higher prices and job…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R4/10Selective“Trade deficit hits $105.6 billion, widest since just before Trump tariffs enacted last year”CNBC Top News · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that the trade deficit is the "widest since just before Trump tariffs enacted" a 4/10 because the figure is accurate…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Britain is on ‘thin ice,’ warns ex-Bank of England chief economist, and it must act to ‘appease financial markets’”CNBC Top News · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline that Andy Haldane says Britain is "on thin ice" a 2/10 because the quotes are verbatim, properly attributed, and…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R2/10Lightly altered“Goldman: Diesel prices set to stay high through 2027 as refineries struggle to meet demand”CNBC Finance · 6 October 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s headline that Goldman sees diesel prices staying high through 2027 a 2/10 because the article’s own figures, a forecast…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R4/10Selective“Trump opens red-dyed diesel to truckers in bid to slash fuel costs”Fox Business · October 5, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Fox Business’s claim that Trump "opens red-dyed diesel to truckers" a 4/10 because the order actually opens the fuel to "anyone"…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R3/10Lightly altered“Trump Allows Dyed Diesel on the Road: How Could It Affect Gas Prices”Newsweek · October 6, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates Newsweek’s headline on Trump’s dyed-diesel executive order a 3/10 because the piece poses an open question, "how could it affect…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail
R5/10Selective“Trump allows cheaper, dyed diesel on highways to blunt historic fuel-cost spike ahead of midterms”CNBC Top News · October 6, 2026 sourceRubbish Talk rates CNBC’s claim that Trump’s dyed-diesel order was timed "ahead of midterms" a 5/10 because the article’s own reporting never sources…Read the Rubbish Check →ShareXFacebookLinkedInEmail