Setting It Level

How We Rate Claims

Our ratings

• False The claim is not accurate.
• Misleading Contains some truth but leaves a false impression.
• Missing Context Accurate on its face but leaves out facts that change the picture.
• True The claim is accurate.

Our rules

1. Nonpartisan. We check claims from every part of the political spectrum, and we track the balance.
2. Claims, not people. We rate a specific statement, not the person who shared it. We quote exactly and link to the original post or an archive.
3. Primary sources first: official data, documents, transcripts and the original post or video.
4. Multiple outlets. Beyond primary sources, we confirm with more than one outlet, including left- and right-leaning ones and established fact-checkers.
5. Show the work. Every check lays out the claim and the facts side by side and lists every source.
6. Corrections. If we get it wrong, we fix it openly, note the change on the page and log it on our corrections page. Email [email protected].