Methodology

A story begins with current reporting and four to ten reachable sources. Syndicated copies count as one reporting family. Material claims are mapped to exact evidence, contradictions must share subject, scope, definition, and time, and the timeline preserves uncertainty. Central claims carry weight 100; validated contradiction-linked claims use materiality; other material claims carry weight 50. Below 20% weighted inconsistency is verified, 20–80% is questionable, and above 80% is highly questionable. Fewer than two independent reporting families yields insufficient evidence.