About Line Item

Line Item explains the money behind everyday American life: what things cost, who gets paid, and what the documents say about why. We make documentary films for YouTube and a written edition of each one here, with charts, data downloads and an evidence locker.

We work from primary sources: SEC filings, court records and government data. When a number appears on screen or on this site, the document behind it is one click away.

How we are funded

Line Item is independent. The site will carry advertising once it has enough readers. Advertisers never see or shape a story. We have no affiliate links.

How we work

Our standards are on the Methods page. Our films are narrated by an AI voice reading a script we write and fact-check, and we say so on every film.

General information, not financial advice.