About & Methodology

Understanding our mission, standards, and commitment to accuracy.

Our Mission

Threats.watch is a public research database documenting individuals and organizations whose actions threaten liberal democracy in the United States. Our goal is to create a comprehensive, well-sourced record that serves researchers, journalists, policymakers, and citizens seeking to understand anti-democratic movements in America.

We believe that transparent, evidence-based documentation can serve as a powerful tool for accountability. We prioritize evidentiary discipline over rhetoric.

This is not a project of political opposition but of democratic preservation. We document threats from across the political spectrum based on evidence of anti-democratic action, not political disagreement.

Core Principles

Evidence-Based Documentation

Every claim is supported by verifiable sources. We distinguish between proven facts, credible allegations, and editorial assessments.

Transparency

Our methodology, sources, and editorial decisions are publicly documented. We acknowledge uncertainty and correct errors promptly.

Fairness

We apply consistent standards regardless of political affiliation. Subjects may dispute entries through our formal process.

Democratic Values

We defend democratic institutions, the rule of law, civil liberties, and the peaceful transfer of power—regardless of who threatens them.

Threat Tier Classification

We use a five-tier classification system that reflects both the nature and severity of anti-democratic activity. Tiers 1-3 require strong factual evidence of concrete actions. Tiers 4-5 involve more subjective assessment and are clearly marked as such.

Tier 1: Violent Extremist

Tier 2: Stochastic Terrorism

Tier 3: Anti-Democratic Actor

Tiers below involve more subjective assessment

Tier 4: Authoritarian-Aligned

Tier 5: Ideological Influencer

Source Standards

We categorize sources by type and reliability:

Tier 1
Primary Legal Documents
Court filings, indictments, convictions, regulatory actions, official records
Tier 2
Established News Organizations
Major newspapers, wire services, broadcast networks with editorial standards
Tier 3
Research & Investigative Organizations
Think tanks, academic institutions, investigative journalism outlets
Tier 4
Direct Documentation
Speeches, social media posts, interviews, public statements (archived)

Claims in Threat Tiers 1-3 require at least one Tier 1 or Tier 2 source. Threat Tiers 4-5 may rely more heavily on Tier 3-4 sources but require multiple corroborating sources.

Editorial Process

Every entity entry undergoes the following process:

1. Research & Documentation
Comprehensive review of available sources and evidence
2. Claim Verification
Each claim is verified against primary or secondary sources
3. Tier Assessment
Classification based on evidence strength and threat severity
4. Editorial Review
Secondary review for accuracy, fairness, and consistency
5. Publication & Monitoring
Ongoing monitoring for new developments and corrections

Corrections & Disputes

We are committed to accuracy and take corrections seriously:

Factual Errors
Corrected promptly upon verification, with correction noted on the entry
Missing Context
Relevant context is added when brought to our attention
Tier Reassessment
Entries may be reclassified based on new evidence or successful disputes
Removal Requests
Entries may be removed if fundamental claims are disproven

To dispute an entry, use our dispute form. All disputes are reviewed within 5-7 business days.