Essential Primary Sources
Congressional Research Service (CRS) The gold standard for neutral explanations of laws, executive authority, and federal power.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Independent audits showing how federal agencies actually perform—not how they claim to.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) The baseline source for jobs, inflation, wages, and economic reality.
National Archives Original documents, presidential records, and constitutional history.
Democracy & Civil Liberties
Brennan Center for Justice Clear, legal-focused analysis of voting rights and democratic systems.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Important constitutional litigation and civil liberties reporting (best used alongside primary sources).
League of Women Voters Practical voter education without partisan framing.
Elections, Money & Power
Federal Election Commission Raw campaign finance filings and election rules.
OpenSecrets Turns FEC data into readable maps of political money.
Ballotpedia Background on candidates, ballot measures, and institutions.
Investigative Journalism & Media Literacy
ProPublica Long-form, document-driven investigations.
Center for Public Integrity Focus on corruption, ethics, and accountability.
Columbia Journalism Review Helps readers understand how news is framed—and what’s missing.
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