Election season is upon us, as Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary is six weeks away. As always, Bridge Magazine is committed to nonpartisan, fact-based reporting that cuts through the noise and hyperbole that are ubiquitous in politics.

Today, we are launching a series of weekly stories leading to the primary on how proposals from Democratic presidential contenders would affect Michigan. Because President Trump faces only token opposition, Bridge is not examining Republican proposals before the primary but will in advance of the Nov. 3 general election. 

This coverage marks a commitment to deeper, ongoing reporting on campaigns for federal offices than in previous years at Bridge. 

Michigan will play a crucial role in the presidential election, and we are dedicated to ensuring our residents are as informed as possible. In February, we will publish the Michigan Fact Guide that examines key issues in Michigan. In early March, Bridge will publish a voter guide shortly before the primary.

All year, we will fact-check political ads and assertions from candidates and their proxies in a feature that debuts today (Monday) called Michigan Fact Squad.

You may remember it in previous years as Michigan Truth Squad. The name change is more than cosmetic. It reflects an acknowledgment that “truth” can be elusive in life and especially in politics. 

In 2018, during Michigan’s gubernatorial election, Bridge sometimes struggled to discern the truthfulness of ads, especially those that strung together a series of indisputable facts to reach a subjective, often charged, conclusion. 

Were those ads true? False? Misleading? In many cases, the answer depended on the bias of the viewer or voter.

Truth may be subjective, but facts aren’t. 

The new Michigan Fact Squad will still subject political advertisements and rhetoric to the same intense scrutiny and weighing of facts. It still will call out lies, correct misstatements and praise candidates for telling the truth. 

But it will no longer conclude with a “call” characterizing ads as false or misleading. Too often, doing so required subjective judgment that is better left to readers.

This is a change we don’t take lightly, as the Truth Squad was one of our more popular features. But it’s one we feel is important to remain Michigan’s news leader for unbiased, fact-based journalism.

Please let us know what you think.

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under our Republication Guidelines. Questions? Email republishing@bridgemi.com