Did the Ottumwa City Council open a meeting with a prayer to Satan?
Did the Ottumwa, Iowa city council open a meeting with a Satanic invocation ending in 'Hail Satan'?
True
The Ottumwa City Council's invocation included 'Hail Satan.'
Yes, the Ottumwa City Council meeting on October 6, 2026, began with a prayer that included the phrases 'Dear dark father' and 'It is done. Hail Satan.' The claim is accurate and the video recording proves it.
GenuineClaims
✓ 3 trueThe Ottumwa City Council meeting opened with an invocation that addressed a 'dark father' and concluded with the words 'It is done. Hail Satan.'123
The Ottumwa City Council meeting held on October 6, 2026, included an invocation led by former council member Matt Dalbey, during which he openly referenced a 'dark father' and concluded with the phrase 'It is done. Hail Satan.' This affirmation is corroborated by the city’s official meeting recording, which includes audio of the invocation. Local media independently confirmed this occurrence, effectively establishing the claim as accurate.
The person who gave the invocation is a former Ottumwa city council member listed on the city's invocation schedule and is associated with The Satanic Temple of Iowa.14
Local reports identify Matt Dalbey as the invocation speaker, backed by city records that list him on the invocation schedule. Thus, it is plausible he is linked with The Satanic Temple due to his claims in discourse following the invocation.
Ottumwa's invocation policy allowed any resident to give an invocation, which is why the mayor could not legally stop the speaker ahead of time.14
Reports detail a city policy adopted in January 2026, allowing residents to deliver invocations during council meetings without restrictions on the content, affirming the legality of Dalbey's invocation.
What was posted
XThis post contains a video of the Ottumwa City Council meeting's invocation. The caption claims the invocation was directed to Satan, ending with 'Hail Satan.'
“HOLY SH*T @City_of_Ottumwa in Iowa opened up their most recent city council meeting with a prayer to SATAN. "Let us pray. Dear dark father... HAIL SATAN" WTF is wrong with these people???”
Who posted it
XAccount check
Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.
What stood out
- Account operated by Chaya Raichik, a former real estate agent known for reposting content from left-wing and LGBTQ+ individuals on TikTok and other platforms, often with mocking or derogatory commentary.
- Account has been suspended multiple times on platforms like Twitter and Instagram for promoting 'hateful conduct' and 'violence, threats or harassment against others' based on minority status.
- In March 2024, the Southern Poverty Law Center added Chaya Raichik to their hate watchlist as an 'anti-LGBTQ+ extremist'.
- Fact-checking organizations, including PolitiFact, have rated claims made by the account as 'Mostly False' and 'False'.
Signals (3)+
- Posting cadence
- High
- Follower ratio
- High
- Notable news coverage
- Texas State Representative Cody Harris cited the account in August 2022 to support claims about 'pornographic content' in public education, which were denied by the targeted school district.
Account checked October 8, 2026, 15:09 UTC
The media
Video✓ What is genuine
The video accurately depicts a municipal meeting, showing the invocation as it occurred.
The tells
- ●●● Strong signal The video's emotional tone and provocative statement may lead some to doubt its authenticity.our visual review
- ●●○ Supporting signal The clip's content about Satan and invocation could seem exaggerated, fostering skepticism.our visual review
Synthetic-media detector
Detector ranThe claim stands or falls on whether the media is real, so the detector ran.
Scores are the detector’s estimate for the file as uploaded. A low score does not rule out editing, a spliced caption, or footage shown out of context — those are judged above. Model v3.
How we checked the media
- Assessed the video of the invocation from the City of Ottumwa's official meeting recording.
- Cross-referenced with reports from local and national media outlets to ensure consistency.
- Verified that the recording showed the invocation at the beginning of the meeting.
Sources
5 sources reviewed- 1Ottumwa City Council Opens Meeting With Invocation ↗
Ottumwa Radio · ottumwaradio.comUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveEvidence
Provides confirmation of the invocation details and sponsor.
- 2‘Hail Satan’ Invocation At Ottumwa City Council Meeting Spurs Mayor To Order Moment Of Silence ↗
WBAP · wbap.comUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveFurther reading
Details the invocation content and public reaction.
- 3Controversy erupts at Iowa city council meeting following Luciferian opening invocation: ‘HAIL SATAN’ ↗
One America News Network (OAN) · oann.comLow reliabilityLEANS EXCLUDED — NewsGuard 20/100Context
Covers the public controversy stirred by the invocation.
- 4Ottumwa City Council Meeting Draws Controversy Over Invocation ↗
Ottumwa Post · ottumwapost.comUntiereduntiered — treated as signal only, never decisiveEvidence
Confirms the invocation policy allowing diverse perspectives.
- 5‘Dear Dark Father’: City Council Meeting Opens With Prayer To Satan ↗
Daily Caller · dailycaller.comLow reliabilityRight — partisanFurther reading
Reports on the occurrences and reactions regarding the invocation.
Further reading
- 1Ottumwa Radio Provides detailed information on what occurred during the meeting.
- 2WBAP Gives context to the invocation's impact and public response.
- 4Ottumwa Post Offers insight into the city's invocation policy and its implications.
The full story
On October 6, 2026, during a routine city council meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa, a scheduled invocation led by former council member Matt Dalbey captured massive public attention due to its unexpected reference to 'Satan.' The invocation began with the phrase 'Dear dark father' and concluded with the words 'It is done. Hail Satan.' This sequence provoked a vocal backlash from some attendees and led to a moment of silence ordered by the mayor. Reports indicate that Dalbey's invocation aligns with the invocation policy adopted by the city, fostering inclusivity but also drawing significant controversy. Several independent news outlets, including Ottumwa Radio and WBAP, reported the details surrounding the invocation, referencing the city's official meeting video as authoritative evidence, thus confirming the invocation took place as described.
Timeline
October 6, 2026
Ottumwa City Council conducts a meeting where the invocation by Matt Dalbey occurs, leading to public outcry. 1Ottumwa Radio
October 6, 2026
Ottumwa City Council meeting video featuring Dalbey's invocation is made publicly available.
How it was framed
The claim accurately represents a verifiable event that took place during the council meeting.
- Emotional language. The post uses strong language like 'HOLY SH*T' to evoke a reaction.
- Urgency. The caption implies immediate concern with phrases like 'WTF is wrong with these people???'
The post is from Libs of TikTok, a prominent account known for its commentary on cultural issues.
Bias
Leans anti-Ottumwa-council/outrage. The Libs of TikTok post caption uses incendiary language and all-caps ("HOLY SH*T", "WTF is wrong with these people??") to provoke outrage. The underlying video is an official meeting recording, but the post frames it to maximize shock and mobilize viewers.
Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.
How we checked
1 min 6 s- 1
Executed searches using specific keywords related to the Ottumwa City Council meeting and invocation.
- 2
Reviewed the city's official meeting recording for detailed verification of the invocation.
- 3
Cross-referenced the content with independent news reports from multiple reputable sources.
✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked
Why 88% confidence
ModerateOur confidence is moderate due to corroboration from multiple independent outlets which confirmed the meeting details.
Limits. No direct interviews were conducted with attendees of the meeting.
Spot it yourself
Spot the fakeLooks suspicious, isn’t proof
- The invocation content may seem outrageous to some, leading to initial disbelief.
- The source of the claim (Libs of TikTok) could trigger skepticism due to its reputation.
The actual evidence
- The official recording from the city confirms the content of the invocation.
- Multiple reputable news outlets reported on the invocation, reinforcing its authenticity.
- 1
Verify the source of the claim to determine its reliability.
Look for multiple independent reports confirming the content of the claim.
- 2
Inspect the original media for context.
Watch the full video from the official source.
- 3
Research similar past events.
Check the city's invocation policy to understand how it may allow such comments.
Takeaway
Always confirm surprising claims with credible sources and verify original media content before forming an opinion.
Questions people ask
Is the video genuine?+
Yes, the video is authentic and shows the invocation as delivered in the meeting.
Why did the invocation cause a controversy?+
The invocation's language and references to Satan were unexpected and caused a strong reaction from the public attending the meeting.
What is the invocation policy in Ottumwa?+
The invocation policy allows any resident to offer an invocation at council meetings, promoting inclusivity.
Go deeper
- Invocation
- A formal prayer or request for a blessing, often delivered at public meetings.
- Municipal
- Relating to a city or town or its local government.
- Controversy
- A prolonged public dispute or debate, often concerning a matter of opinion.
People also search for
For educators+
- How does social media influence public reaction to local government events?
- What role does inclusivity play in governmental policies regarding public expressions?
About this check
- Platform
- X
- Posted by
- @libsoftiktok
- Posted
- October 7, 2026
- Age when checked
- Under 24 hours old when checked
- Where it spread
- United States
- Audience
- US audience
- Language
- EN
- Status
- ● Post is live
- Verified
- October 8, 2026, 15:11 UTC
- Published
- October 8, 2026, 15:11 UTC
Reach. Libs of TikTok post 43,528 likes; Riley Gaines reaction 23,999 likes (verify.py); Fox News, Blaze, Twitchy coverage
This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.
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