Total Disasters

Our methodology

We document actions that raise substantial ethical questions without asserting that every questionable action was illegal or that every allegation has been proved.

Inclusion standards

Prefer original documents, unedited recordings, government reports and court opinions. If primary material is unavailable, seek independent corroboration and say what remains uncertain.

Evidence labels

Official finding means an oversight authority or court reached a stated conclusion, within the scope of that decision. Recorded statement means original audio or transcript establishes words used. Direct record and Executive order identify primary documentation of actions. Financial records describe documented transactions, not automatically corruption. Documented action and Court proceedings do not imply final adjudication.

Legal status is separate

A preliminary injunction, appellate ruling, agency opinion, indictment, acquittal, dismissal and final judgment mean different things. Each entry must identify the precise status and any later changes before publication.

Accuracy, context, and corrections

Our editorial focus is critical of Trump and his administrations, but accuracy requires presenting relevant administration explanations, material counterevidence, and the distinctions between personal, campaign, and official conduct. Corrections should be dated and preserved. Audio and video excerpts must not be edited to distort meaning.

Editorial selection and prominence

Articles are selected for their public consequence, gravity, documentation, durability and historical significance. Inclusion is not a verdict of criminal wrongdoing. A documented event may still have disputed intent or contested legal significance. Topics spanning multiple events require event-specific verification.

Publication and evidence standards

What qualifies: identifiable acts supported by a government decision, recording, court record, underlying financial document, or attributable reporting. A report, allegation, legal finding, and conviction are different kinds of evidence; we name the difference.

What a source proves: sources attached to each case identify the most relevant portion to read. A Democratic committee-staff report is labeled as such; an inspector-general finding is limited to its actual scope; interim court orders are not characterized as final merits judgments.

Video policy: embedded clips and timestamps should be accompanied by adequate provenance and context. An event time is not necessarily a playback timestamp.

Corrections: material changes should be documented, sources periodically rechecked, and the status of litigation updated where relevant. This publication is critical editorial commentary, not a legal adjudication.