thirtyeight

ThirtyEight is a data journalism website founded in 2010 by Nate Silver, a statistician and writer best known for his work on baseball projections and presidential election forecasting. The site was created as a platform to publish research‑based analyses that use statistical modeling and historical data to predict outcomes in sports, politics, economics, and other fields. ThirtyEight’s content is authored by a mix of senior analysts, freelance contributors, and experts in various subject areas, and is intended for a broad audience of readers interested in quantitative insights.

The site’s structure comprises several sections that focus on specific domains. “Sports” publishes articles on team performance, betting odds, and individual player statistics. “Politics” covers election projections, polling analysis, and policy outcomes. “Economics” features forecasts on GDP growth, market trends, and demographic change. In addition to long‑form feature stories, ThirtyEight provides interactive data visualizations, downloadable data sets, and a monthly newsletter that summarizes key findings. The site also runs a “Key Charts” series that highlights significant statistical trends.

ThirtyEight’s methodology emphasizes transparency, giving readers access to the data sets, code, and assumptions underlying each analysis. The website has cultivated a reputation for rigorous statistical standards; its work has been cited in mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. Over time, ThirtyEight has expanded its brand through books and a sister site, Medium.com/ThirtyEight, which hosts op‑eds and broader commentary. The mission remains to advance public understanding of how data can inform decision‑making and to keep a skeptical eye on conventional wisdom.