The Fine Print

Ratings & Terms

How to read what we publish about a person — and the limits of it.

Our ratings are opinion.

Everything Independent 2026 publishes about a person — the stars, tiers, grades, and verdicts, including “Not Fit for Public Office,” “Summer School,” and “Back to School” — is editorial opinion: our judgment of a figure’s public conduct measured against a published standard, the Seven Articles. These are not statements of objective, verifiable fact about any individual, and they are not accusations of any crime.

We show our work.

Every rating is derived from a stated method applied to information that is already public — campaign-finance filings (FEC), voting and public records, official statements, and reporting we cite. The Seven Articles and the scoring rule are published in full, so any reader can see the basis for a judgment and reasonably reach a different one. Where we assert a fact, we source it; where we draw a conclusion, it is ours.

Rhetoric is rhetoric.

Labels such as “Summer School,” “Back to School,” “detention,” and any reference to Schoolhouse Rock are rhetorical and satirical. They voice disapproval of conduct against our civics standard. They are not literal claims that any person is enrolled in, assigned to, disciplined by, or required to attend anything.

“Not Fit for Public Office” is opinion.

It means, and only means, that in our view the figure’s conduct — judged against the Seven Articles — falls short of the ethical bar we advocate. It is not a claim that the person is legally disqualified from office, is incompetent in any medical or professional sense, or has broken any law.

Public roles, public concern.

We evaluate officials and candidates in their public capacities, on matters of public concern. We do not publish private facts.

Good faith, and open to correction.

These judgments are offered in good faith and without malice. We can be wrong, and we want to be corrected: every review carries a Challenge this review process that requires a specific reason and sources, and any official named may respond — in writing or by phone. Substantiated challenges are reviewed, and a rating is revised or withdrawn where warranted. On bias →

Not advice.

Nothing here is legal, financial, electoral, or professional advice, nor an instruction on how to vote.

Independent 2026 is an editorial house — it builds and endorses; it does not solicit, pool, or distribute funds. See the reviews →