Source desk
Show the receipts.
A persuasive story is not enough. This project ranks evidence by how directly it supports a claim, preserves uncertainty and links readers to the original record whenever possible.
Source hierarchy
What carries the most weight.
- 1. Primary recordsCourt filings and orders, statutes, regulations, official government records, contracts, financial disclosures, campaign filings, corporate filings, sworn declarations and original datasets.
- 2. Direct statementsOfficial speeches, interviews, organizational publications and on-the-record statements — useful for what a person or organization says, not automatically proof that the statement is true.
- 3. High-quality independent reportingReporting that names sources, links documents, seeks response and can be independently corroborated.
- 4. Specialist analysisUseful when methodology and underlying evidence are visible. Analysis is distinguished from fact.
- 5. Social media and commentaryGood for finding leads and public statements. Not sufficient by itself for major factual claims.
Useful public databases
Places we check repeatedly.
Federal Register
Rules, executive documents, notices and federal administrative actions.
Open Federal Register →OpenSecrets
Campaign finance, lobbying and influence data assembled from public records.
Open OpenSecrets →ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
IRS nonprofit filings and financial information for tax-exempt organizations.
Open Nonprofit Explorer →Live election records
November 2026 watch links.
These links are included because the underlying facts are changing quickly. Readers should check the live record rather than rely on an old screenshot.
- NAACP et al. v. Blanche et al. — Democracy Docket case pageFiled October 16, 2026; challenge concerning federal election monitors. Live case page →
- Vote.govOfficial federal gateway to state voter registration and election resources. Vote.gov →
- USAGov state election office directoryOfficial directory for state and local election administration contacts. USAGov →
How we handle uncertainty
A missing answer stays missing.
We can point to it.
The source directly supports the proposition being made.
The evidence converges.
The interpretation is reasonable and supported by multiple facts, but the final link is not directly documented.
We do not fill the blank.
Unknown donors, vendors, intermediaries, motives or data sources remain unknown until evidence identifies them.
Correction standard
If the record changes, the site changes.
Research pages are working documents. When a later filing, original record or better source materially changes a conclusion, the goal is to update the wording and evidence label rather than defend an outdated interpretation. Major corrections should preserve enough context for readers to understand what changed and why.
Confidence should rise because the evidence improves — not because the story becomes more emotionally satisfying.