FactHub reusable chart

How often I-645 news stories reported key budget and campaign facts

Share of mainstream (58) and conservative (16) news stories about I-645, June 1 to Oct 21, 2026, that included each of seven key facts. Each fact is labeled with the campaign whose claims it rebuts.

Credit: FactHub Research Team, from dataset wa-i645-media-coding

Node: chart:wa-i645-media-key-facts

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Slope chart with one line per fact, from mainstream news to conservative news. Mainstream: relief survives repeal 16%, not dedicated to K-12 14%, no current budget relies on the tax (as fact) 3%, the 2027-29 outlook counts on it (as fact) 10%, lawmakers can lower the threshold 26%, union money or No outraised Yes 10%, Heywood's stake 2%. Conservative: 31%, 44%, 6%, 0%, 19%, 25%, 6%. — Mainstream news stories rarely included the facts that rebut the No campaign: 3% said, in their own voice, that no current budget relies on the tax, 16% that the relief survives repeal and 14% that nothing is dedicated to K-12. Conservative news stories included those facts more often (6%, 31% and 44%) but never stated the No side's strongest fact, that the 2027-29 budget outlook counts on the revenue, which mainstream news stated in 10% of stories. Both groups rarely mentioned Heywood's personal stake (2% and 6%).

What this chart asks

What share of mainstream and of conservative news stories told readers each key fact about I-645, and which side's claims does each fact undercut?

Why it is shown this way

A slope chart: one line per fact joins its share in mainstream news to its share in conservative news, so the direction of each gap is visible. Bars colored by group would stack, and long fact names do not fit as x-axis labels.
Each fact's label names the campaign whose claims it rebuts, so readers can see whether omissions fall on one side.
The y axis starts at zero so shares are comparable.

Data and accessibility

Download chart data · Open accessible table · Download PNG · Download SVG

Dataset wa-i645-media-coding, analysis omission-chart

Sources

This chart draws on the sources of the dataset versions it visualizes.

Washington I-645 media coverage, coded (June–Oct 2026)

Seattle Times Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Spokesman-Review Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
The Columbian Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Everett Herald Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Tri-City Herald Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Washington State Standard Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KUOW Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Cascade PBS Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
The Stranger Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Deseret News Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Cascadia Daily News Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KOMO Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KING 5 Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KIRO 7 Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KXLY Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Fox 13 Seattle Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Axios Seattle Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
KREM Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
The Center Square Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Seattle Red/KTTH Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
MyNorthwest/KIRO Newsradio Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Washington Policy Center Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: Advocacy group. Free-market think tank that argued for I-645 (repeal); its staff are quoted as Yes-side sources. Its own I-645 posts are coded rows (opinion).
The Daily Wire Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
Lynnwood Times Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: News report. News publisher whose coverage is the subject of the coding; its I-645 stories (June 1 to Oct 21, 2026) are rows in the stories table. It has no stake in the counts beyond its own coverage.
NPI Cascadia Advocate Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: Party to the dispute. Northwest Progressive Institute, part of the coalition opposing I-645; it published the No coalition's legal memo. Its blog posts are coded rows (opinion).
The Stand Publisher of coded I-645 stories. Each story's exact URL is in the stories table (column url); the publisher's site is listed here.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved (publisher copyright). Story text is not redistributed. The dataset holds coding, story metadata and quotes of 25 words or fewer.

Reliability: Party to the dispute. News site of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which opposes I-645 and whose president debated for the No side. Its posts are coded rows.
Washington Research Council, "New brief: I-645: Repealing the State Individual Income Tax" (Sept. 22, 2026) Anchor for facts O3b (no current appropriation relies on the tax) and O4 (the 2027-29 outlook assumes the revenue). Free copy
Retrieved October 21, 2026. All rights reserved. Linked only.

Reliability: Other. Business-funded nonpartisan fiscal research group. Its brief states both that no current appropriation relies on the tax and that the four-year outlook assumes $2.698 billion from it in 2027-29.
Washington Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Voters' Pamphlet (Edition 10, Spokane) Anchor for fact O1 (the Attorney General's explanatory statement says the tax relief would remain in place) and for the ballot sentence text.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. Washington State government publication. Linked only.

Reliability: Government. Official state publication. The explanatory statement and ballot disclosure are written by the Attorney General's office; the statewide text is the same in every edition.
Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, enacted 2026 supplemental budget outlook (Apr. 22, 2026) Anchor for fact O4: the outlook counts ESSB 6346 revenue in 2027-29.
Retrieved October 21, 2026. Washington State government publication. Linked only.

Reliability: Government. State council that adopts the official four-year balanced-budget outlook; lists ESSB 6346 at +$2,309.18 million (net) for 2027-29.

Limitations

Search-based sample of 58 fully read mainstream and 16 conservative news stories; one story more or less would move the conservative shares by about 6 points.
Budget facts O3b and O4 count only the reporter's voice or a neutral source; mentions only inside an advocate's quote are excluded here and shown in the dataset.
Including a fact is not the same as getting the story right, and omitting one is not by itself an error.

Articles and datasets using this chart

Version details

The exact citing versions, and the version of this chart each cites.

Article i645-media-coverage-omissions — version 4 (published) cites version 3
Article i645-media-coverage-omissions — version 3 (published) cites version 3
Briefing wa-i-645 — version 6 (published) cites version 3
Briefing wa-i-645 — version 4 (published) cites version 3