Methodology

Every Crosscheck fact-check names the exact claim it evaluates, assigns one of seven verdicts, and cites the primary or independent sources behind that rating. Verdicts reflect the public record at the time of publication and are revised when the record changes.

What we check

We evaluate specific, checkable factual claims made in public political discourse — statements that can be confirmed or refuted against evidence. We do not rate opinions, predictions, or value judgments. When a single statement bundles several claims, we separate and rate each one, which is why a single article often carries a mix of verdicts.

How we rate

Each claim receives one rating on this seven-point scale. The full verdict index shows every fact-check grouped by rating.

• True Accurate and supported by the available evidence.
• Mostly True Accurate in substance, with minor caveats or missing context.
• Mixed Contains both accurate and inaccurate elements — the truth is partial.
• Unproven No conclusive evidence either way; the claim can't yet be verified.
• Misleading Individually defensible facts arranged to leave a false impression.
• Contested Genuinely disputed by credible sources; reasonable people disagree.
• False Contradicted by the available evidence.

Sourcing

We prefer primary documents — court filings, official records, transcripts, datasets — and independent reporting over secondary characterization. A claim is rated only when its sources are reachable and actually support the rating assigned. A source that blocks automated access is verified through an alternate retrieval, not dropped. Every cited source is linked so readers can check our work directly.

Corrections & updates

Errors are corrected in the open. We distinguish a correction (we got something wrong and fixed it) from an update (the record changed and we added new information) — and never relabel one as the other. Each is logged with a dated note on the article itself and listed on the corrections page.

How this publication is produced

Crosscheck uses AI systems to do the labor of fact-checking — monitoring public claims, retrieving sources, and drafting articles. No verdict is published without human review. Every draft goes to a human editor who checks the sources, the reasoning, and the rating before approving publication; drafts that don't hold up are revised or rejected. AI does the research; a person signs off on every rating. Errors that survive that review are corrected openly under the policy above.

Who we are

Crosscheck is written and edited by The Crosscheck Desk, an independent editorial project. We are not affiliated with any party, campaign, PAC, or advocacy organization, and we accept no payment for coverage or ratings. The publication is self-funded and carries no advertising. We publish pseudonymously and ask to be judged the way any fact-check should be: on whether the cited sources actually support the verdict. Reach the desk at [email protected].

Submit a claim

Spotted a claim worth checking? Send it to us. We review every submission, though we can't promise to cover them all.