Washington Post’s fact-checker Glenn Kessler takes buyout after 27 years with outlet

"After more than 27 years at The Washington Post, including almost 15 as The Fact Checker, I will be leaving on July 31, having taken a buyout," Kessler said on Facebook. "Much as I would have liked to keep scrutinizing politicians in Washington, especially in this era, the financial considerations were impossible to dismiss."

"When I started in 2011, there were only a handful of fact-checking organizations around the world, and I have been thrilled to watch the movement expand across the globe. So many of these brave and diligent fact checkers have become good friends," he said.

"My fact checks were routinely the most-read articles on The Post’s website. I had my detractors, from both the left and right, but many readers appreciated my efforts to sort out the truth in political rhetoric," Kessler continued.

Of the decision to leave, he said, "I didn’t want The Post to have a gap in fact-checking coverage during this fraught period in U.S. history. But we couldn’t work out an agreement."

"In 2018, when the Fact Checker team was compiling a database of more than 30,000 Trump claims, I told the New York Times that 'I have the best job in journalism,'" Kessler said. "I still believe that, and I’m sorry to leave without a replacement lined up. But it’s the right time for me. I hope The Post finds someone to carry on this important project."

There have been shake-ups at the outlet since October 2024 when owner Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said that the paper would not be endorsing Kamala Harris for president. He called the decision principled and went on to congratulate President Trump when he won the White House. The move from Bezos spurred staff resignations and subscribers to flee the outlet en masse.

Executive editor for the paper Matt Murray has been downsizing staff through a Voluntary Separation Program started in May. This is the last week of that program.