Thank You for 300, errr 302, errr 305, errr....

I'm not sure what has us more amazed.

Is it the growing support of many people who recently discovered our little news organization? People, who want to get news from an organization dedicated to defending the First Amendment (a United States thing), supporting underrepresented peoples, and holding those in power accountable? The people across our channels saying, "yes, the truth matters," after years of feeling like we were screaming into an empty void? 

Is it the Patreons we have from around the world and realizing that our reach due to TikTok (which whom we have a love/hate relationship) is larger than our wildest dreams?

Is it the people stepping forward asking to volunteer, help us grow, and offer support?

We'll take it, all of it. We are here because of you, and we appreciate all of you.

We started to build our fact-checking muscle in 2020 while reporting on Black Lives Matter protests in the United States. A core strength we grew during that time was earning trust and respect across multiple sources to show the truth. We talked on camera with protest organizers, city officials in Seattle, police officers, controversial figures such as Raz Simone, and leaders within the Blue Lives Matter and pro-police organizations. We even interviewed the Proud Boys in March 2021 in an unexpected on-camera confrontation that turned into a 30-minute discussion. No, I won't be having a BBQ with any of them in the future, but we found common ground.

Common ground. In our polarized world, we forget about common ground. Safe communities, income stability, fair wages, good jobs, economic opportunity, honorable and trustworthy leaders, a secure retirement, stable housing, clean water, good schools, and our children to have a better life than ourselves. I would like to believe everyone reading these words would agree that everyone, regardless of nation, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, language, or religion wants these things.

I've said many times, the world focuses on the 20% that divides us, not the 80% that unites us. Because drawing attention to those issues is very - profitable. Profitable for politicians, special interests, corporations, and journalists.

In the summer of 2020, we ate a lot of teargas and pepper spray, took some baton hits, and a couple of rubber bullets. Your author had a flash-bang grenade tossed at him (and got a harsh lesson on wearing hearing protection before things get spicy). One of our field editors is still recovering from her injuries in July 2020. Through it all, we stuck by our principles - the truth matters. Just because we show someone burning an American flag, doesn't mean we agree with it. Just because we broadcasted a speech by Seattle Police union president Mike Solan, doesn't mean we agree with it.

The truth matters.

Our defense of the truth, while operating to the highest standards of integrity, enabled us to embed with a small group of insurrectionary anarchists (in the poly science definition - insurrection is a loaded word). We were able to because we built trust and reached agreements on how to cover their actions. Some criticized us as "presstifa," yet simultaneously we were fairly covering Blue Lives Matter events and defended a reporter of the Post Millenial after she was assaulted.

Looming In the background, COVID-19 took a summer break, but we knew it would be back in the fall. As COVID-19 exploded, we realized there were vast amounts of conflicting information and active disinformation.

We knew that virology and epidemiology were not our lanes, and we needed to work with subject matter experts. Our diligent coverage reached a new high in March 2021 when we interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci. That work is being considered for a PNW Emmy and was submitted for nomination (not by us). Yes, we're proud, and rightly so (even if Zoom let us down and the recording quality was a frustrating 360P)

We now come full circle - back to Ukraine - and why many of you arrived in the last two weeks. This month, we learned the robust system we developed over 2-1/2 years is effective for many news topics. We can quickly analyze large amounts of data, separate fact from fiction, and summarize it. Our internal joke is we're trying to emulate the BBC circa 1982 with a 2022 twist. The twist? Still provide assessment and opinion, but make it unmistakable when you transition from facts.

If you've read this far, I have two messages. First and foremost, thank you for your support. I have had a vision since 2016 on how social media and independent journalists can completely transform how news is delivered. Collectively, we are a step closer to making that vision a reality.

Second, at some point, our coverage of the war will end. Either the war itself will end, or people will tune out. We hope that you continue to trust and support us as this journey continues. (no, we are not transitioning - there is no subtext in this paragraph)

There are plenty of news organizations worldwide that go to great lengths to tell you what to think. We prefer to give you facts and let our audience draw their conclusions with the points provided.

Three months ago, many on the team thought the appetite for fact-based journalism was dead. Two plus years of covering endless trauma had taken a toll on all of our health. Some had burned out and moved on, and many of us were struggling.

Thank you for proving us wrong and restoring our faith.