Washington Post shuts down Presidential fact-checking database founded in Trump-era

The Washington Post has decided to adjourn its presidential fact-checking database, which it launched under former US President Trump. 

The database assesses claims made in remarks, interviews, news conferences, prepared speeches, and Tweets. At the Post, a fact-checking team analyzes the President’s claims, and “Any statement that would merit at least Two Pinocchios — essentially “half true” – was included [in the database].” Glenn Kessler, the Post’s chief fact-checker, attributes the decision to close the operation to an imbalance of “false or misleading claims” between the two presidents.

He writes, “Through April 26, Biden has made 67 false or misleading statements, according to a Washington Post Fact Checker analysis. That compares to 511 such statements in Trump’s first 100 days.” As per the International Fact-Checking Network code of principles, by which the Post’s team operates, “(1) A COMMITMENT TO NONPARTISANSHIP AND FAIRNESS: We fact-check claims using the same standard for every fact-check. We do not concentrate our fact-checking on any one side. We follow the same process for every fact-check and let the evidence dictate our conclusions. We do not advocate or take policy positions on the issues we fact-check.” Kessler claims the Post will continue fact-checking the president outside of a database. 

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ARTICLE: ANTOINETTE AHO

POLITICS EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

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