Glenn Kessler is leaving the Washington Post's Fact Checker after nearly 15 years. His work revitalized fact-checking in the U.S. through the 'Pinocchio' rating system. He extensively documented over 30,000 false statements made by President Donald Trump, becoming a key figure in accountability journalism. Kessler's departure raises concerns about institutional challenges within the Post and declining support for fact-checking. He notes that social media has accelerated the spread of misinformation, complicating efforts to combat false claims in an increasingly polarized media landscape.
Kessler became best known for his meticulous tracking of President Donald Trump's false and misleading claims, documenting more than 30,000 statements during Trump's first term.
The biggest change is that social media has allowed false claims to just shoot around the world faster than ever, and it makes it harder to stamp out.
Kessler's work helped rejuvenate fact-checking journalism in the United States, along with organizations like PolitiFact and others.
His signature 'Pinocchio' rating system served as a fun shorthand for measuring political dishonesty.
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