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Sources & Attribution

Readers should be able to distinguish our presentation from the material it is based on.

Last updated September 9, 2026

Primary sources

We favor original public records and first-party documentation when available, including statutes, bills, votes, agency publications, government databases, filings, transcripts, public statements, and official reports.

Secondary sources

News organizations, academic work, research institutions, and other secondary materials may be used for context, discovery, or corroboration. Their reporting should not be presented as though it were an original government record.

Paywalled reporting

When reporting behind a paywall is relevant, The Independent Brief may summarize the factual substance within applicable legal limits and provide attribution. We do not republish full copyrighted articles.

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