Fact check: Soros paying rioters

1. Summary of the results

The claim that George Soros is directly paying rioters is not supported by available evidence. While Soros' Open Society Foundations has provided grants to various organizations, including some connected to protest movements, there are multiple layers of separation between this funding and individual protesters ^[1]. University officials, including spokespersons from Berkeley and Yale, have explicitly denied any payments to protesters ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• The Open Society Foundations does provide legitimate funding to various organizations, including the Tides Foundation and Indivisible Project ^[2]
• Some organizations receiving grants are involved in Palestinian rights advocacy ^[1]
• These financial connections are several degrees removed from actual protest activities ^[1]
• The narrative about Soros paying protesters is part of a documented pattern of conspiracy theories targeting him specifically ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

• The claim appears to be part of a larger pattern of antisemitic conspiracy theories targeting Soros specifically ^[1]
• These accusations are often used to delegitimize social movements by suggesting they are not genuine grassroots efforts ^[3]
• The original reporting in the New York Post, which helped spread this claim, used misleading and unsubstantiated claims ^[1]
• Social media platforms have flagged these claims as misinformation ^[1]

Those who benefit from promoting this narrative include:

• Political opponents seeking to delegitimize protest movements
• Media outlets gaining engagement from controversial claims
• Those seeking to discredit George Soros and his legitimate philanthropic work