Good evening and welcome to what could be a pivotal moment in the presidential campaign. President Biden and former President Donald Trump are gearing up for their first debate of 2024 in Atlanta. This is a rare opportunity where anything could happen, potentially shaking up the entire race. I, for one, will be glued to my screen watching every moment of it. You can join us live at nytimes.com to catch all the action.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, I will be hosting a live chat with a team of colleagues including Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan, Lisa Lerer, Reid Epstein, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Shane Goldmacher, Maya King, Adam Nagourney, Michael Grynbaum, Peter Baker, and Alan Rappeport. We will be there to help you navigate through every twist and turn of the debate.
After the debate concludes, I will be back with a special edition of On Politics, where I will share my thoughts on what transpired and guide you through our comprehensive coverage. Stay tuned for that!
Before the debate kicks off, it’s important to understand how fact-checking plays a crucial role in events like these. Tonight, we have a dedicated team of 29 individuals (yes, 29!) who will be fact-checking every statement made by the candidates. Susanna Timmons from our Trust team explained the process and emphasized the importance of holding both candidates accountable for their statements.
Linda Qiu, our fact-checking lead, will be heading the team to sift through the rhetoric and determine what’s true, false, or in need of context. It’s crucial to differentiate between statements that are exaggerated, misleading, or simply lacking context. The most damaging kind of statement is a misleading one, as it appears true but is used in a deceptive manner.
Our fact-checking process involves drawing on our own reporting as well as that of our competitors to verify claims. We aim to provide readers with the sources of our information, including data, studies, and research. Our approach to fact-checking is impartial, evaluating claims from all candidates across the political spectrum.
While both Trump and Biden are subject to fact-checking, Trump’s track record of false and misleading claims has resulted in more fact-checks on him than any other candidate. We have even delved into the tactics behind his dishonesty to provide a comprehensive analysis.
Readers also play a vital role in our fact-checking process. You can email us at factcheck@nytimes.com to suggest claims for us to investigate. Your input is valuable in ensuring that we hold all candidates accountable for their statements.
For more information on our fact-checking process, you can visit our website. Stay informed and engaged as we navigate through this crucial phase of the presidential campaign.