PolitiFact launches Kickstarter to live fact-check the 2015 State of the Union

We started PolitiFact in 2007 with the promise of separating fact from fiction in the spin offered by politicians. We were honored to win journalism's highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize, for our work covering the 2008 presidential election.

Since then, we’ve published nearly 10,000 fact-checks and brought our independent accountability journalism to nearly a dozen states. Last year, we launched PunditFact with the help of grants to try to keep TV’s talking heads honest.

We have built apps and redesigned our website so you can see our fact-checks better on your iPhone, Android or tablet. We want to keep finding ways to innovate, and for the first time, we’re asking for your help.

We’re hoping to raise $15,000 through Kickstarter to cover the 2015 State of the Union and Republican response. Our work can be time intensive (we once spent six weeks on a fact-check about Marco Rubio’s time in the Florida House) and on a night like the State of the Union, it requires all hands on deck. Specifically, we want to attempt two things we’ve never tried before.

SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER HERE.

First, we want to provide instant, live fact-checking for President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union and the Republican response. By funding a team of 10 journalists, you’ll get rapid-fire, objective, authoritative analysis of Obama’s address. The fact-checks will come through a live blog that will include video and text of Obama’s speech.

Second, you’ll also get an annotated version of the speech by the next morning. It will go into even deeper detail on Obama’s every word.

And we’ll do the same for the Republicans. Wondering if something Obama said was true, or if the criticism from Republicans is warranted?

With your funding, we can provide answers in near real-time.

You also have the chance to get rewards, including a PolitiFact coffee mug and a limited edition Pants on Fire button.

For $100, we’ll even let you pick a claim that we’ll fact-check.

The speeches are Jan. 20, 2015, so we don’t have a lot of time. Please consider donating today. Thanks.

SUPPORT OUR KICKSTARTER HERE.