Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is commondreams.org legit or a scam?
AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns commondreams.org?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for commondreams.org. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · commondreams.org over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 29 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since Sep 19, 2011 · 1 registrant change since 2011 · last checked Oct 5, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredMay 13, 1997commondreams.org was registered on May 13, 1997.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 19, 2006 – Nov 3, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described commondreams.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 3, 2013 (9 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Registrar
Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR)Sep 19, 2011 – Feb 27, 2014Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for commondreams.org, from Sep 19, 2011 to Feb 27, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)Network Solutions, LLC
Registrant
Registrant recordsSep 19, 2011 – May 22, 2026Registration records for commondreams.org are held from Sep 19, 2011 to May 22, 2026 (150 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Zone file
No nameserver records held, Feb 2014 – Jul 2016Nameservers: softlayer.comSep 19, 2011 – Feb 27, 2014Registration records listed softlayer.com nameservers (ns1.softlayer.com, ns2.softlayer.com) for commondreams.org from Sep 19, 2011 to Feb 27, 2014.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
Let's EncryptApr 12, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 (latest)Let's Encrypt issued 18 certificates for commondreams.org from Apr 12, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 14, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 5, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 5, 2026
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (19)
May 13, 1997Registration: commondreams.org was registered on May 13, 1997.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Jun 19, 2006 – Nov 3, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described commondreams.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 3, 2013 (9 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “'Thanks to the Internet, progressives are organizing like never before -- despite a mainstream media dominated by corporate and right-wing viewpoints. And there is no more important website than Common Dreams. I swear b…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Sep 19, 2011 – Feb 27, 2014Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for commondreams.org, from Sep 19, 2011 to Feb 27, 2014.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Sep 19, 2011 – May 22, 2026Registrant: Registration records for commondreams.org are held from Sep 19, 2011 to May 22, 2026 (150 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Said about itself in 2006
Jul 1, 2006
“'Thanks to the Internet, progressives are organizing like never before -- despite a mainstream media dominated by corporate and right-wing viewpoints. And there is no more important website than Common Dreams. I swear b…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 18, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Jul 5, 2016 – Jun 5, 2017
Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for commondreams.org, from Jul 5, 2016 to Jun 5, 2017.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Squarespace Domains II LLCSquarespace Domains II LLCJul 15, 2017 – Oct 14, 2026 (latest)Registrar Squarespace Domains II LLC (IANA 895) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 15, 2017 and most recently on Oct 14, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Registrant changeFeb 21, 2025The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Feb 21, 2025. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
1 registrant change, 2011–2026
Nameservers: worldnic.comJul 5, 2016 – Jun 5, 2017Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns75.worldnic.com, ns76.worldnic.com) for commondreams.org from Jul 5, 2016 to Jun 5, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to worldnic.comJul 5, 2016commondreams.org's nameservers moved from softlayer.com to worldnic.com at some point between Feb 27, 2014 and Jul 5, 2016. Last seen at softlayer.com: Feb 27, 2014 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Jul 5, 2016 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 2 years in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: Google DomainsJul 15, 2017 – May 21, 2021Registration records listed Google Domains nameservers (ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com…) for commondreams.org from Jul 15, 2017 to May 21, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Google DomainsJul 15, 2017commondreams.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to Google Domains between Jun 5, 2017 and Jul 15, 2017. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jun 5, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Google Domains: Jul 15, 2017 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: CloudflareNameservers: CloudflareJun 24, 2021 – May 22, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (jill.ns.cloudflare.com, marty.ns.cloudflare.com) for commondreams.org from Jun 24, 2021 to May 22, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to CloudflareJun 24, 2021commondreams.org's nameservers moved from Google Domains to Cloudflare between May 21, 2021 and Jun 24, 2021. Last seen at Google Domains: May 21, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Jun 24, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Google Trust Services
May 13, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026
Google Trust Services issued 10 certificates for commondreams.org from May 13, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 4, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
GlobalSign nv-saMay 18, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026GlobalSign nv-sa issued 2 certificates for commondreams.org from May 18, 2026, the latest valid until May 6, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Sep 19, 2011 – Feb 27, 2014
Zone file: Registration records listed softlayer.com nameservers (ns1.softlayer.com, ns2.softlayer.com) for commondreams.org from Sep 19, 2011 to Feb 27, 2014.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jul 5, 2016 – Jun 5, 2017Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for commondreams.org, from Jul 5, 2016 to Jun 5, 2017.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 5, 2016 – Jun 5, 2017Zone file: Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns75.worldnic.com, ns76.worldnic.com) for commondreams.org from Jul 5, 2016 to Jun 5, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jul 5, 2016Zone file: commondreams.org's nameservers moved from softlayer.com to worldnic.com at some point between Feb 27, 2014 and Jul 5, 2016. Last seen at softlayer.com: Feb 27, 2014 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Jul 5, 2016 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 2 years in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jul 15, 2017 – Oct 14, 2026Registrar: Registrar Squarespace Domains II LLC (IANA 895) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 15, 2017 and most recently on Oct 14, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Jul 15, 2017 – May 21, 2021Zone file: Registration records listed Google Domains nameservers (ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com…) for commondreams.org from Jul 15, 2017 to May 21, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jul 15, 2017Zone file: commondreams.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to Google Domains between Jun 5, 2017 and Jul 15, 2017. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jun 5, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Google Domains: Jul 15, 2017 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jun 24, 2021 – May 22, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (jill.ns.cloudflare.com, marty.ns.cloudflare.com) for commondreams.org from Jun 24, 2021 to May 22, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jun 24, 2021Zone file: commondreams.org's nameservers moved from Google Domains to Cloudflare between May 21, 2021 and Jun 24, 2021. Last seen at Google Domains: May 21, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Jun 24, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Feb 21, 2025Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Feb 21, 2025. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Apr 12, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 18 certificates for commondreams.org from Apr 12, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 14, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 5, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 5, 2026
May 13, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 10 certificates for commondreams.org from May 13, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 4, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
May 18, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Certificate: GlobalSign nv-sa issued 2 certificates for commondreams.org from May 18, 2026, the latest valid until May 6, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 18, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Registered 1997 · site is live · HTTPS valid
Common Dreams publishes progressive news and commentary for readers seeking alternatives to mainstream media coverage. The site aggregates reporting and opinion from a progressive perspective on politics, policy, and social issues.
Authority 78/100— ahead of 78% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
78 is a percentile: higher than 78% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #11,790)+8
Verified continuity: 29.5 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+2
Calibration adjustment (published map)+15
Model score: 40/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 78/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What commondreams.org said about itself, 2006
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
'Thanks to the Internet, progressives are organizing like never before -- despite a mainstream media dominated by corporate and right-wing viewpoints. And there is no more important website than Common Dreams. I swear by it. And I donate to keep it going.'
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
1997
Domain registered (May 13, 1997).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 19, 2006); profile edited 9 times through 2013.
2013
Self-description at the time:
“CommonDreams.org is an opinion source geared towards ultra-liberal politics.”
✓ domain continuity 29 years registered✓ live verified Nov 1, 2026
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 72 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 72 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment