POLICY / PUBLIC RECORD
Source Policy
Effective September 1, 2026
What counts as a source and how readers can retrace the documentary path.
Source hierarchy
We prioritize official repositories, court systems, agency reading rooms, legislative records, presidential libraries, and the National Archives. Reputable academic and journalistic sources may supply context or discovery leads.
Pull it yourself
Whenever practical, a story includes the document title or identifying description, date, author or issuing body, archive or agency, release date, and a direct link. The goal is reproducible reporting: a reader should be able to locate the same paper.
Mirrors and archives
If an official link moves or fails, we may link to an official successor location or a reputable web archive while identifying it as a mirror. A mirror is not treated as stronger evidence than the source custodian.
Redactions and missing pages
We do not imply that concealed text says something the released page cannot establish. Missing pages, referral markings, exemption codes, and redaction status are reported when materially relevant.
Submitted material
We do not solicit classified, hacked, stolen, or unlawfully disclosed material. Tips should point to lawfully public sources. Sensitive personal information may be withheld even when a record is public.