How we decide

Method

For each claim we find how a left-leaning and a right-leaning outlet frame it, then check it against primary official data. The bottom line comes only from that official data. Our home-page checker only finds checks we’ve already published; if a claim isn’t one of them, it says so and gives no verdict.

Sources

“Just the Facts” uses only primary, official sources, such as the Treasury, FBI, BLS and FEC. Each item links the source and quotes it word for word, as it read on the date we checked. If we can’t load and quote a source, we leave it out and say so. Every check has a Sources tab listing all of them.

How both sides are framed

Left view and Right view quote real, linked pieces from outlets or think tanks generally seen as left- or right-leaning. The lean describes the outlet, not the people involved. We quote them word for word and summarize their framing in one line; we don’t rate them.

Confidence rules

Each verdict shows High, Medium or Low confidence with a short reason. If a check’s data includes an explicit confidence, we show that. Otherwise we derive it with this rule, and the page says it was derived:

• High: two or more official items, each quoted word for word from a .gov primary source, no recorded disagreement between them, and no noted source gap.
• Medium: official quotes exist, but there is only one, or the check notes a relevant source we couldn’t load and quote.
• Low: no word-for-word quote from an official source, or the official sources disagree.

Corrections

If a source changes or we got something wrong, we fix the check, update its checked date and keep the sources current. To report a problem, use the contact in security.txt.