Who we are, and who pays for it.

A fact-checker is only as good as its credibility, and credibility depends on being open about money, ownership, and method. Everything below is part of our standing commitment to the reader — the same standard we hold the people we check to.

Ownership

The Baseline is an independent newsroom. It is not owned by, operated by, or financially controlled by any political party, campaign, candidate, PAC, or government body. Any change in ownership or control will be disclosed on this page.

Funding

We are funded by reader support and transparent, disclosed sources. We do not accept funding that comes with editorial conditions, and no funder — at any level — gets to see, approve, or kill a check before publication. Where a funder has a stake in a topic we cover, we disclose that relationship on the relevant check.

Non-partisan method pledge

We serve a center-left audience, but our method is non-partisan. We apply one fixed verdict scale and one sourcing standard to every claim, regardless of who said it — and we check claims from politicians our own readers support by exactly the same rules. A fact-checker that only ever finds one side wrong isn't checking; it's campaigning.

How we make verdicts

An automated desk finds claims by tracked public figures, gathers independent sources, and publishes a check only when it clears a fixed gate: a named public figure, at least two independent sources it actually cites, a confidence floor, and a daily cap. Every automated check is labeled as such until an editor reads it, and an editor can edit or unpublish any check in one click. The full process is on our methodology page.

Corrections & accountability

When we get something wrong, we fix it openly and log it — see our corrections policy. Anyone, including the people we check, can challenge a verdict on the evidence.

Our staff & standards

Bylines, editorial roles, and conflict-of-interest disclosures are published as the newsroom staffs up. Editors recuse themselves from checks where they have a personal or financial interest.

Questions about funding or governance? Contact us.