Today is the day the data comes alive

After a week of testing, data ingestion and refining the look and feel of the primary source data site, it’s time to take it for a test drive. Just try not to crash it. (only joking)

So today is the last day I’m going to devote an entire piece to the Truth Matters Project. I’ll keep providing summary updates in my normal posts, but those who come here for my political commentary will see normal service resume after the weekend. Thank you all for your patience, given the time I spent away from writing to focus on what I believe will become a revolutionary tool.

To stay up to date on the project, email info@truthmatters.org.uk with the subject ‘TM count me in’. This will add you to the Truth Matters mailing list for project-specific information. It will provide release dates for new modules, as well as fixes arising from bug reports and user feedback. I think it’s important to separate my writing from the project to better structure these two important parts of what I do.

I hope you’ll indulge me one last time as I outline the road ahead so I can give you a full picture of where we are and where we are headed. To begin, as stated, I’m all in, and the Truth Matters Project's long-term aim is to become an international organisation dedicated to preserving democracy and social justice on both sides of the Atlantic. There are no second chances in this game; nobody knows what the midterm elections will deliver relating to any hope of change.

I know how stressed those who care about America's future feel right now, and please rest assured I am with you more today than I have been since I got into this fight just before the 2020 election. The challenge for me isn't whether I can help, but how. I have sat and pondered this on many an evening as I wind down for the day.

My Substack writing has become an important part of my life. As I’ve said many times, it’s given me a new sense of purpose in retirement. It keeps me from being under the feet of the love of my life, but much more than that, it gives me a chance to share thoughts that would have been wasted on shouting expletives at the radio and TV newscasters. I realise my brand of unvarnished truth can feel uncomfortable to some at times. However, when I decided to write long-form content, I promised myself my work would be a journal of life as I saw it, unfiltered, from a man who's been around the block a few times and has no time for the nonsense we’re so often spoon-fed by those who really should know better.

If I’ve learned anything from this challenging journey, it’s that you can’t go far wrong if your sole purpose is to tell the truth without fear or favour. The idea that truth is what you want it to be is absurd, yet we live in a world submerged in the hateful detritus social media dumps on us every day. I have never wanted to put my work behind a paywall, and I never will. I’m more than happy to let my work speak for itself and let people decide whether it warrants support. To date, that strategy has served me well, and it helps me deliver my thoughts FREE forever, for all.

A little over a month ago, I built the framework for a project that had lived in my head for over three years. I had no idea whether it would work, especially given I'd tried to bring it to life twice before and failed. This time, however, I’ve finally pulled it off (I think). Some might say, ‘How did you build it in four weeks?’ To that, I say, because every minute detail of it has simmered in my head for far too long. This week I strategically rolled out two smaller elements: the Library and the Screening Room. This has allowed me to see how the application renders across the myriad mobile devices out there, using a variety of browsers.

Many will legitimately ask why bother. Let me try to address that head-on. Once propaganda overtakes critical thinking, the truth becomes much harder to find. We now live in a world where a lie can travel around the globe before the truth can pull up its pants; we all have a lot of work to do to address this harsh reality. If you examine how the Republican messaging machine works and why it’s been so successful at capturing the narrative, you'll see it comes down to repetition. Repeating the same false claim over and over plays into our human weakness and how our brains work.

As we navigate the day, our brain runs like a well-oiled precision instrument, until it doesn't. To retain the information it’s processing, it does what AI does: after a while, it compresses memories into summaries of what happened. So if you’ve been told a lie six times and the truth once, it can, and often does, believe the lie because it leaves a more vivid footprint in our mind. This is why propaganda is so powerful, and the reason it’s become Trump’s weapon of choice every time.

Remember: a lie repeated by one source resonates less than the same lie repeated by multiple sources; the brain weighs the first less but struggles with the latter. It aggregates the response, and that aggregation is the magic sauce because it buries the truth and distorts perception.

In contrast, it’s no secret that the Democratic messaging machine has never managed to match that of the Right. That’s simply because so often, all Republicans sing from the same deceitful hymn sheet. They speak with one voice, which is how they control the narrative. In addition, they deploy triggers to punctuate the lies, like transgender sports and election fraud. They're just fringe issues mixed with a grain of truth to create a toxic cocktail that appeals to our base instincts.

So what does all this have to do with my project? I believe that the reason the public falls for this dangerous nonsense that Trump peddles daily comes from a lack of civic education. If you don’t know how government works and how policy decisions affect your daily life, how can you be expected to make informed decisions about who to elect to best represent your interests? My argument is that politics has become so far removed from everyday life that people believe neither party has their interests at heart, no matter who they support. That, my friends, indicts the political class on both sides of the Atlantic.

On two occasions now, America has chosen a man of questionable character to lead it at home and on the global stage. I certainly have no doubt about Trump’s ability to deceive. It would be funny if he claimed he built the greatest economy in the world in his first term, were it not so dangerous. To my mind, there’s no question that the tried-and-tested ‘keep ‘em dumb and poor’ philosophy of the Republicans has served them well over the decades since Reagan. Trump said it himself: ‘I love the poorly educated’ (Nevada caucus victory speech, 23 February 2016).

It never ceases to amaze me, the joy with which his often fiscally challenged cult members seem more than happy to cheer themselves into economic slavery, with their blind faith in his ‘jam tomorrow’ lies. The constant promise that the check is in the post has littered his latest term in office, audacious in its intent to deliver much-needed relief that never materialises. He’s done it all his life. Meanwhile, with around 28% of adults struggling with basic reading tasks, it’s not difficult to see what lies at the heart of the problem.

This is a good point to take a break if you want to split this read in two.

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PART TWO - Finding a solution

What I’d like to do in this second part of today’s post is try to explain what value the Truth Matters Project brings to the table.

Today introduces Matter of Record’s first module. This site reflects my deliberate decision to separate primary source data from Truth Matters' political advocacy. It’s an independent, nonpartisan public record of Congress, holding over 13 million primary source records that show how government operates and how those you elect serve as legislators and represent your interests. The separation speaks to the fact that anyone, regardless of their politics, can check the facts for themselves.

Please feel free to explore the data the system holds, as it appears in today’s new module. Please note that while this data is live, it is a PREVIEW. It’s like looking at a car in the showroom and trying to imagine what it might feel like to drive. You can sit in the seat and get a feel for it, but nothing beats putting your pedal to the metal and finding out exactly what it can do. What you are seeing today is the bog-standard model, without the trim, spoiler, or low-profile wheels.

The strength isn't in the data; it’s in what you make of it. This primary-source repository provides a comprehensive dataset for exploring how policy intersects with everyday life for the average American. As you’ll see when you open a state card, the system currently uses census data to break down key measures for that state. Again, this is just an initial sample of the census data available.

While the data is informative in its own right, I describe it as inert. It’s standing in isolation. It’s sat there, waiting for the chemical reaction that happens when you link a socioeconomic dataset to the Congressional data; that’s when it really comes alive. We'll plug this in over the weekend and test it. I’m not going to offer any spoilers except to say that if you are impressed with what you see today, strap yourself in, because the lion is about to roar.

I feel confident on so many levels that this is it. This is the one that I believe will be a game changer. The question you MUST ask is: if they’re not serving you, it’s time to ask, ‘Then who are they serving?’

I have little doubt that those who would prefer you not to have structured access to the information will attack the site. Rest assured, availability is a top priority. By the time the system shifts from preview to production, a full security strategy will be in place to host off-grid, so to speak. We're taking every measure to deliver resilience through careful, diligent compliance across every aspect of the sites. I license and log every image, video, tool, and service to prevent frivolous lawsuits. I’ve applied the same diligence to this project that I apply to my writing. It’s checked, checked, and checked again.

As I’ve stated previously, I've funded what you see out of my own pocket, with assistance from Substack revenue; that’s it. I deliberately chose NOT to take investment from outside organisations or PACs. It's designed to stand or fall on small-dollar donations. The minimum donation is $5, with a $500 cap. Small donors can join this journey by becoming a paid subscriber to Truth Matters or by making a one-off donation through the Buy me a Drink link at the foot of every post.

I mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating: if just 1% of the money spent in Texas on a man who is, in my opinion, the most corrupt politician in the state’s history, were donated, this project could fund a full complement of staff on a living wage for a decade. Pause to think about that for a moment. The Truth Matters Project is my gift to the American people. When I can’t do it any longer, I will hand it over FREE to my successor because this is NOT about fame and fortune; it’s about preserving and sustaining American democracy.

This is built on the premise that ‘If you build it, they will come’. To date, I have asked nothing of anyone. My mission has simply been to prove it could be done. Whether it survives is out of my hands. As I’ve always said, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’. What I would say to anyone who remains a sceptic today: let’s circle back when I’ve taken the brakes off and tuned the turbo. Then tell me it’s not what’s needed.

To stay informed about the wider project's progress, email info@truthmatters.org.uk with the subject ‘TM count me in’ to be added to the project mailing list.

On Monday, I will be returning to my daily political news and commentary posts. If you want to stay up to speed on Truth Matters Project updates, join the mailing list. If you are simply a follower or subscriber to my advocacy writing, normal service will resume on Monday as things wind down toward the midterms. Thank you to everyone who supports what I do. None of it would be possible without you, so THANK YOU.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Vote early; vote like your life depends on it because IT DOES. For one day every two years, your voice carries as much weight as any American citizen, whether you're a billionaire, butcher, baker, or candlestick maker, so make it count; DO NOT be the turkey voting for Thanksgiving.