"My sense is that, when you look at what people such as former Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have said over the years, you don't go with a story unless you have two independent sources to confirm it"
About this Quote
The subtext is defensive and strategic: he’s telling you what he won’t repeat, what he won’t validate, and what you shouldn’t demand he validate. In an era when lawmakers are constantly baited into confirming classified details or amplifying unverified claims, “two independent sources” becomes a convenient moral and procedural shield. It lets him refuse to comment while sounding principled rather than evasive.
Context matters because Wyden, as a longtime Senate voice on surveillance and intelligence oversight, often lives in the space between what he knows and what he’s allowed to say. The quote quietly converts that constraint into virtue. Notice the phrasing: “My sense is” softens the assertion, and “people such as” widens the authority beyond just two names, signaling a whole tradition of gatekeeping. It’s not only about truth; it’s about legitimizing restraint in public discourse and reminding audiences that accountability begins with standards, not certainty theater.
Quote Details
| Topic | Truth |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Wyden, Ron. (n.d.). My sense is that, when you look at what people such as former Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have said over the years, you don't go with a story unless you have two independent sources to confirm it. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-sense-is-that-when-you-look-at-what-people-129196/
Chicago Style
Wyden, Ron. "My sense is that, when you look at what people such as former Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have said over the years, you don't go with a story unless you have two independent sources to confirm it." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-sense-is-that-when-you-look-at-what-people-129196/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"My sense is that, when you look at what people such as former Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have said over the years, you don't go with a story unless you have two independent sources to confirm it." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-sense-is-that-when-you-look-at-what-people-129196/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
