Independent Political Report has long welcomed readers to share information, challenge ideas, and discuss the people and organizations we cover. Some of the most useful details in third party and independent politics come from people who are directly involved or simply know something others may have missed because they’ve already been paying attention.
We want to preserve that spirit while keeping the discussion useful and welcoming to everyone. Disagreement is fine, and often expected. Personal attacks, harassment, and behavior that derails the conversation are not. With that in mind, we ask readers to follow the guidelines below.
What We Expect
We welcome comments that:
- Offer thoughtful perspectives, constructive criticism, or genuine questions
- Provide context, relevant links, or personal insight
- Challenge assumptions or disagree, both respectfully and in good faith
We expect commenters to:
- Remain civil, even in disagreement
- Engage ideas, not attack individuals
- Stay on topic and contribute to the discussion
What We Moderate
We do not tolerate:
- Comments intended to provoke, antagonize, or demean others
- Personal attacks, harassment, or efforts to intimidate or derail conversation
- Profanity or vulgarity
- Spam, promotional content, or unrelated links
We focus on the intent and effect of comments, especially when language is used to harass, belittle, or target other readers.
Comments may be removed if they are used:
- As a weapon against another commenter
- In a way that derails conversation
- To dominate or drown out diverse viewpoints through volume rather than substance
Identity and Accountability
While we allow pseudonyms, we encourage consistent identities to build community trust. Commenters who repeatedly violate our guidelines or use aliases to do so may be temporarily or permanently suspended.
Moderation Process
- Comments are typically post-moderated, meaning they appear immediately but may be reviewed and removed later.
- Moderation decisions are made by editorial staff members based on these guidelines and may include warnings, removal, or bans.
- Appeals or questions can be directed to: [email protected]
A Note on Our Mission
Independent Political Report is published by Outsider Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to increase public understanding of and participation in underrepresented political activity by the media and other organizations. As such, we are ethically bound to maintain neutrality and a focus on public benefit. Our commenting space exists to further understanding and dialogue, not to serve as a platform for campaigns, endorsements, or personal crusades.
Adopted by the Outsider Media Foundation Board of Directors on May 19, 2025.