It was founded in 2014 by Tim Bousquet, former news editor of The Coast alternative weekly paper.

Bousquet, known for covering local politics and undertaking long-term investigations and media analysis, describes the outlet as an "independent, adversarial news site devoted to holding the powerful accountable".

[2] A standard subscription costs $10 per month.

The website is ad-free, with Bousquet having expressed an aversion to advertising.

[3] The outlet also produces a podcast called "Examineradio".